by Payton Rome
Before I could respond, she hung up the phone. I shook my head and took another look around to make sure no one had seen me on the phone. Guilt was building inside me.
“What are you doing here?” I whispered to myself.
“That’s a good question.” Her voice came out of nowhere. “What are you doing here?”
I spun around to see Savannah standing behind me. I laughed nervously. “Oh, hey Savannah.” I shifted uncomfortably. “I talk to myself a lot when I work.” I was mumbling.
Her face was tight, and she raised her eyebrows. “You should know that Echo is questioning your veracity and frankly,” she crossed her arms, “so am I.”
A rush of adrenaline surged through my body, and my chest tightened. “Echo is questioning me?” I didn’t really give a damn about my cousin, but Echo. There was no way I would give her up. Not again.
She offered a bemused smile. “Yes, Echo is questioning you.”
Nausea took over my stomach, and the room spun. My mind raced. I needed to get it together. I had done nothing wrong. Not yet. There was a way to explain the phone calls and not get caught. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
“I’ll talk to her.” Confidence slowly crept back in. “There is nothing for either of you to be questioning.”
She raised an eyebrow and tapped her foot. “Who were you on the phone with just now?”
I shook my head and let out a nervous chuckle. “Oh,” I waved my hand, “that was just a guy I used to work with in California.”
She crossed her arms in front of her. “He calls a lot.” Her tone dry.
Echo must have told her about the earlier call. “Yeah, he’s upset that I left.” I nodded my head. “I left him with a lot of work to do on his own.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Sure you did.” She turned and paused, “I’m watching you, cousin.”
I stood, paralyzed for a while after she had gone. It’s funny, really. I had worried about how Sadie would react if she found out that I was falling for her cousin. But I never worried or considered how Echo would react if she found out that I was working for her cousin. I knew Sadie’s version of their history and was quite certain that if ever she were to tell it, Echo’s side would be a much more credible version. Sadie wasn’t exactly a Girl Scout.
I looked back at the wall and realized that I was no further along than I had been an hour previously. Autumn surely wouldn’t want to keep me around if it took me all day to patch a small hole. I shook my head to forget the circus playing inside it and allowed myself to get caught up in working. I would deal with everything and everyone else later.
“Oh, you’re still on this wall.” Leonardo didn’t hide his disappointment. “Well, I need you to come with me.”
Without making eye contact, I nodded and gathered my tools. I couldn’t help but wonder how the hell Echo went from swallowing my come at 4am this morning to questioning my intentions less than 12 hours later. Damn Sadie and all of her phone calls. She was an impatient bitch.
I followed Leonardo and was surprised when he led me to Autumn’s office. Of course, it made sense. It was just a surprise.
“Please, sit.” She motioned to the chair in front of her desk. “I realize that things have been so crazy around here, we didn’t have time to talk.” Her face soft and welcoming.
My body relaxed upon the realization that she wasn’t aware of mine and Savannah’s earlier conversation. “Well, it is a busy time.” I remained alert, just in case she was one of those people that pretended to be nice before she pounced.
She nodded her head. “Yes, it is.” She stared at me for a moment before speaking again. “Leonardo told me about your conversation earlier.”
I let out a sigh. “Oh.”
“Don’t be mad at him.” Her voice soft. “We didn’t know Troy. The story we were told, well,” she paused, “was different. It never occurred to me I should question it.”
I could tell by her tone and her expression that she was sincere. Guilt was taking over. All these years I wanted nothing more than to do to the Cross family what they had done to me; destroy them. I spent so much time plotting and scheming that I got lost in the story I created. Which wasn’t real. It was my father who deserved my wrath, not the Cross sisters.
“Troy?” I don’t know how long she had been trying to get my attention. I was lost in my guilt, desperately trying to figure a way out of the mess I’d gotten myself into.
I shook my head. “Sorry. I’m not good with feelings.” I mumbled gruffly.
Her teeth were bright white and shined when she smiled. “I understand.” I wondered if her attitude would change once she knew the truth about me.
“I should get back to work.” I nodded my head, eager to get out of her office. “I’m not getting as much done as I thought I would today.”
She cocked her head to the side. “Perhaps Echo is too much of a distraction?” She winked and giggled softly.
Laughter erupted from my belly. Typical women, gossiping. “That may be.” I wasn’t a kiss and tell kind of guy, so I had no intention of engaging in a conversation about my love life with the best friend of the woman I desired so much. Plus, it was best that she thought that to be my distraction.
I promptly left her office and returned to the wall I had been trying to patch all day. It wasn’t like me to struggle with work. That was the one thing I always did efficiently well and I never let my personal life get in the way. Clearly, I needed to get out of the mess I’d gotten myself in. I just didn’t know how.
Once I finished the patchwork, I realized I needed to find Leonardo because he hadn’t told me what I was working on next. I pondered the idea of just looking around to see what else appeared broken. But I didn’t want to draw more attention to myself, so I set out to find him. As I came around the corner in the back of the offices, I heard Leonardo and Marcus whispering in the hallway. I stopped cold and listened.
“I don’t think we should tell either of them.” Leonardo said.
“I agree.” Marcus’s voice full of relief. “But we need to do something about it.”
“We will confront him, chase him off.” Leonardo sounded angry. “I will not let him cause pain here.”
“What about Echo?” His tone was one of concern.
“What about Echo?” Leonardo scoffed. “It’s better if she doesn’t know what kind of man she’s fallen for. It will save her grave pain later.”
They were talking about me. I wondered what they knew. Or rather, how much they knew. I knew Marcus was a cop and doubted he could track me. Guess I was wrong. I scoffed softly to myself. There was no way these two clowns were going to chase me off. I wasn’t leaving Echo. But they were right. What I needed to do was talk to Echo. Come clean about who I was and why I was there. I quietly found my way back to the lobby.
“Where’s Echo?” The guy at the front desk seemed scattered.
“Um,” he looked around as though he really didn’t know, “I think she’s in her office. I’ll get her.”
I shook my head and leaned against the desk. “Just tell her that Troy really needs to talk to her.”
“Don’t you have work to do?” Her voice cut me from behind.
I spun around, surprised to hear anger in her voice. “I’m on a break.” I looked around to make sure no one else was with her. “I need to talk to you.”
She crossed her arms and tapped her foot. “Okay.”
I shook my head. “Not here.” I grabbed her arm and tried to pull her toward the front door.
She pulled back. “Here is just fine.”
I let out a heavy sigh. “Echo, please. I need to talk to you in private.”
She threw her hands up in the air. “Fine, but no funny business, I know how to defend myself.”
Puzzled by her statement, I stopped. “Why would you need to defend yourself?” I was actually a bit hurt by her words. “I would never hurt you, Echo.”
She motioned toward the door, and we walked in silence
. I knew she was questioning me, but I didn’t realize she thought that I wanted to hurt her.
“I’m not who you think I am.” I started.
“There’s a surprise!” Her voice laden with sarcasm.
“Echo!” My chest tightened and heat rose up my neck. “I didn’t peg you for the type that wasn’t willing to hear someone out. Maybe I was wrong about you too.”
Her face fell, and she lowered her head. “Fine. I’ll listen.” Her voice soft and notably sad.
I grabbed her hand and laced it in mine. “When I was 16, my dad cast me out. Told me I would never be part of this family again.” I searched for a reaction, but her face remained still. “I stayed in Coventon for a while, waiting for the dust to settle. I guess I hoped that my Uncle William would reach out to me. But he didn’t and then he died.” Her face softened, and she tightened her grip on my hand. “They didn’t summon me to the funeral, and I guess that’s when I decided that my father really did exile me. I was angry and wanted revenge.” I stopped, unsure of how I could tell her the rest.
“I’m so sorry, Troy.” She rubbed my arm with her other hand and motioned for me to sit down on the wall.
I shook my head. “No, you won’t be sorry when I tell you the next part.” I avoided eye contact and reluctantly continued. “A demon I had befriended told me about the West Coast Magi. A group, he said, that would surely take me in.” I let out a heavy sigh. “So I hitched my way out to California and found your cousin Sadie.”
She pulled her hand back, causing me to look up. Her face was red with anger. “You know who I am?” It wasn’t really a question, though. More of an accusatory statement.
I nodded my head.
“Did you know at the wedding?” I could see the wheels turning. She was piecing it all together.
I nodded my head again. “I didn’t…”
She cut me off. “You didn’t what? Think I would ever find out?” She paced. “Mother fucker! You used me.”
“No!” I grabbed for her arm, but she pushed me back. “Echo, no, I did not use you.”
She stopped and put her hands on her hips. “Oh, what would you call it then?”
“I,” stammering, I fought the urge to yell back, “I didn’t realize I was going to fall for you.”
She scoffed loudly and rolled her eyes. “Whatever, asshole. I don’t believe you. And I’m telling Autumn.”
She spun on her heel and dashed through the lobby.
Chapter 6
Echo
I burst through Autumns door, unannounced. “This motherfucker,” I motioned toward Troy who was fast on my heels, “is a plant for the West Coast Magi.”
“I can explain.” There was a desperation in Troy’s voice.
“Oh,” I scoffed loudly, “I wanna hear this.”
“How about we all calm down and have a seat.” Autumn irritated me when she was all motherly like.
“Calm?” Fury reined throughout my body. “I spent the night with this guy. I let him do things I have never let a man do, not even Roman fucking Mounts.”
“Okay,” her eyes wide with surprise, “what if I talk to Troy alone so you can go regain your composure?”
“Maybe that is best.” Troy interjected.
“Fuck you. Fuck both of you.” I had never cursed at Autumn before. “I deserve to hear the rest of his pathetic story.”
“Oh, you mean the one you wouldn’t let me finish in private?” His face was red, the veins in his forehead protruded.
“OKAY!” Autumn’s yell was likely heard by all the employees. “Both of you,” she motioned toward the chairs in front of her desk, “sit.”
I fell into the chair and crossed my arms over my chest. Troy followed suit.
Autumn let out a heavy sigh and turned her attention to him. “Talk.”
He caught her up to speed on everything he had told me and paused.
“See?” I yelled. “He’s a plant for my cousin. MY COUSIN of all people.” There was no mistaking the hurt in my voice.
“Echo please,” Autumn remained calm, “let him finish.”
He looked nervous as he continued. “I spent years working for the Hughes family; doing everything I could to stay in their good graces.” He looked at me and when our eyes met, he glanced back to the ground. “A couple of years ago, Sadie made advances toward me.” He looked back up at me. “But I didn’t. I never…” his voice trailed off.
“It’s okay Troy,” Autumn still calm despite his admissions, “go on.”
He turned his attention to the window. “Right before Savannah’s wedding, Sadie summoned me.” He let out a heavy sigh. “She told me that Autumn stole her place as High Priestess and that the Demon Nigel had stolen the Hughe’s Family Book of Talents. The Demon that helped me find the West Coast Magi.” He shifted in his chair, still looking out the window. “Nigel had broken his alliance with us,” he paused, “with them, and she needed me to help her bring back honor to her family. She promised she would make it worth my while, though, I figured out real quick what she meant was that she wanted to bed me.” He rolled his eyes and chuckled. “That one is unbelievable.”
I scoffed loudly. “That one is?” A sarcastic laugh escaped my lips.
“Echo!” Autumn scolded. “Let the man speak.” She nodded at him but said nothing.
He glared at me for a brief second before focusing on the window again. “The anger I had built up toward the family was great. I didn’t care if there wouldn’t be a real pay out for my involvement. I just wanted revenge.” He took a few deep breaths and looked between me and Autumn. “I came to the wedding to get the lay of land and to insert myself back into your lives.” He motioned toward Autumn. “I did not,” he looked at me, “intend to fall for you. Yes, at first, I just wanted to get laid.” He shook his head, a look of shame spread across his face. “I never thought I would fall for you.”
He seemed so sad. I almost felt bad for being so mean to him. Still, he used me and my gut was right; he was a bad guy. “So what,” I couldn’t refrain from interjecting, “you expect me to just forget why you’re here because you like me?”
He shook his head. “I more than like you,” his eyes full of pain, “but no. I expect nothing from you at this point. I just wanted to come clean.”
“Wait,” this time it was Autumn’s turn to interject, “there is more for you tell.” She held his gaze, her eyes narrow.
He nodded his head. “Yes.” He stood and paced. “When I went back, there was a meeting of the West Coast Magi where we devised a plan. I was to accept your job offer, earn your trust, and infiltrate.” He stopped in front of the window, his hands laced together behind his back. “We didn’t know how long it was going to take, but we knew I needed to get The Book of Talents back in their hands so that Sadie could take her place as High Priestess.” He turned and cocked his head. “I’m not so stupid that I don’t know the truth. Despite my rebellion against The Order when I was young, I know who the rightful heir is.”
“Then why?” Autumn’s voice still calm.
He shook his head and shrugged his shoulder. “To retaliate against my father, I suppose. I was angry for all those years. Angry at you too.” He motioned toward her with his head. “You never came looking for me; you were my favorite cousin.”
“Troy,” her calmness was fading, “I told you earlier that I didn’t know.”
He nodded his head vigorously. “I know, I know.” He sat back down. “After last night with Echo and then talking to you today…” his voice trailed off and he let out a long sigh. “I know I came here for the wrong reasons.”
We both stared at him, waiting for more to come out of his mouth.
He parted his hands and shrugged. “I don’t know what else to say. I want to stay. I want to make this right.” He turned his attention to me. “I want to spend the rest of my life making this up to you, Echo.”
His statement surprised me. Did he just propose to me? My head was spinning when I had a revelation. �
�Wait,” I gave him my best death stare, “if you know who I am, then you know we can’t be together. So I call your whole story bullshit.”
He pulled back, looked at Autumn, then back at me. “I know the rules of the West Coast Magi, Echo.”
I rolled my eyes and scoffed. “Then you know I’m off limits.”
He threw his hands up in the air and looked at Autumn, his eyes pleading. “That rule doesn’t apply here, right?”
Autumn leaned back in her chair. “Echo’s father will still cast her out if she engages in a relationship with you, Troy.” She smiled softly. “But you are correct, that rule doesn’t exist within The Order.”
My gut calmed, but I remained cold. “I see, you just don’t care if I’m exiled.”
He shook his head. “Of course I care.” He leaned forward, his voice softened. “But it’s a ridiculous rule that Sadie herself doesn’t follow, so I think you’ll be okay.”
I scoffed and shook my head. “You don’t know, Troy.” Anger overwhelmed me again. “I will not lose my sister or my mother over a crook like you.”
My words stung him, I could tell by the shadow that cast over his eyes.
“It’s forbidden, Troy.” I tried to soften my tone. “It’s simply forbidden.”
The room fell uncomfortably silent. I wondered what Autumn was going to do with him. She was pretty forgiving if she believed there was good in a person. But, let us not forget that he just confessed some pretty major crimes to the High Priestess of The Order. That could be a real problem for him. I couldn’t take the silence any longer.
“So,” I turned and gave her an expectant look, “what are you going to do?”
She sighed and looked up at the ceiling. “First, we will deal with the family side of this.” She sighed again. It seemed to me like she was sad. “Then I suppose I will need to deal with the other side of this.”
I didn’t know what she meant, but I knew she’d take care of it. I looked at Troy. I had created this image of him as a strong, controlling man. The ideal alpha male, you know, not a narcissist but controlled and able to handle his woman. Suddenly, he seemed small. I hated that I thought that of him. I wanted him to be what I needed. But the fact remained, he was a Cross, and I was a Hughes.
