Death eBook 9.8.16

by Lila Rose

  “There’s my happy girl,” he announced, joining me at the kitchen table after a quick kiss on my cheek.

  “You really have a death wish.” I laughed and stood to warm my coffee while I made him a cup.

  “You learn pretty quickly when you live as long as we have to make your own fun whenever you can. I have no illusions that my brothers will be kind to me when it is my turn to meet my mate. Might as well enjoy the opportunity to annoy him while I can.” He smiled and took a sip of the coffee I’d just handed him before I sat back with him and he continued, “Besides, I came to see if you wanted to go for a walk before Dean gets back. I noticed your beautiful garden the day we met, and thought you’d enjoy walking in ours.”

  I perked up at this. I had been busy with work and the boys, and only now did I notice I’d been cooped up in Dean’s apartment since I arrived. “First off, the garden is my bestie Fallon’s baby. Without her, my front yard would still be a mound of dirt and weeds. No lie. It’s like she’s part garden gnome. Wait. Are those real too, garden gnomes?”

  Once Falcone stopped chuckling he finally answered, “No. Neither are vampires or werewolves, and Nessie died over a hundred years ago.” My face must have been epic because his goofy laugh was back in full force. “Let’s go downstairs for some fresh air and—what do the kids say these days? Some 411?”

  It was my turn to laugh. “If the kids are thirty-five years old, then yes, that’s what they’re saying. Should we let Dean know, or maybe leave him a note?”

  “Don’t worry, I will let him know once we’re down there.” He winked and tapped his temple.

  I gave him an inquisitive look, raising my brow, but saved my questions for when we settled downstairs.

  We walked for a good twenty minutes, admiring the flowers as Falcone entertained me with funny historical facts, before we found a pair of secluded adirondack chairs to settle into. The things he told me were crazy. I’d discovered no one really knows who officially invented the fire hydrant, because the patent was burned in a fire. The irony was not lost on me. Also, that Falcone’s friend Voltaire, who was an eighteenth-century writer, historian, and philosopher, was asked to renounce Satan on his deathbed. Apparently, his last words were: “This is no time for making new enemies.”

  “I’m sure you have tons of questions,” Falcone started.

  “Only a few hundred or so,” I joked and rolled my eyes.

  “Fire away,” he prompted.

  With a deep breath, I thought of what I wanted to know the most and began, “Okay, you call each other brothers, but are you actual blood brothers? Do you have any other siblings out there? Are the rest of the Navah gone now?”

  He smiled. “No, as far as we know. Yes, and yes,” he answered quickly with a mock severity that cracked as soon as I registered the answers and shouted, “There’s more of you?”

  “No.” He laughed. “But some of our mothers went on to have families after we were born. I myself had a beautiful younger sister who I got to cherish and raise when our mother and her father both died of influenza, just after her third birthday. It was so hard to watch her grow old and pass on, but I wouldn’t trade the time we had for anything. I watched over her descendants for many centuries, till the 1950s. Poor Jonathon made it through the war only to be killed barely four years later by a drunk driver, two weeks before his wedding. It was like I lost Faustina all over again.” I reached over and held his hand as he composed himself. It seemed, even after a millennium, the loss of a loved one was still felt. The memories never faded and were forever honored, safeguarded in one’s heart and mind. It was good to know.

  Falcone cleared his throat. “So, what else did you want to ask?” he queried, needing a change in conversation that I was more than willing to provide.

  “Why are you all in LA? Not New York, Paris, or London. I thought you would be most needed in Africa and places struggling with food supplies, not Tinsel Town.”

  “We have always been stronger as a team. We settle where we are most needed, but at times, when secessary, we travel in pairs. Even though we’re impossible to kill, we can still be seriously injured.” His severe tone made me think it had happened in the past and was the reason they traveled in pairs. An image of Warren standing at the end of the couch popped into my mind. His scars held a story, a story linked to Falcone’s words.

  Shaking my head, I asked, “Impossible to kill?” But not impossible to hurt. Warren’s scars were proof of that. In other words, worry would always be present when Dean, and even his brothers, went out to do whatever they did for humankind.

  “Well, after all you have seen and heard this week, you should know by now nothing is impossible,” Falcone boasted.

  “Okay, but that doesn’t explain LA of all places.”

  “That would be another of fabulous Falcone’s history lessons.” He grinned. “You see, after we captured Kayne, we needed to find him some place secure to stay while we searched for a cure, or at least I had hoped to find one. Though, I don’t think my brothers will support my search if he continues to kill innocents.

  “Anyway, this part of the world held only a few tribes in the 1300s and was surrounded by fault lines, mountains, deserts, rivers, and oceans. Those all helped strengthen the seal on Kayne’s tomb. We watched the development of the area closely for many years. When the rail line finally made its way out here 500 years or so later, the population boomed from five thousand to a hundred thousand in under thirty years. We knew it was time to relocate closer. After Warren wrapped up the Treaty of Versailles, we headed back to what was now the United States of America. Once in New York, we temporarily settled for a while, waiting for the library to be packed and transported in small inconspicuous lots. It also allowed Connor time to wreak a little havoc on the stock market.” He paused and shot me a wink.

  I assumed since the treaty was signed at the end of World War I that he was referring to the crash of 1929. “Connor doesn’t do anything by halves, does he?”

  “No, indeed he does not.” Falcone offered an understanding smile and continued, “We headed west soon after, to the aptly named Los Angeles to set up our new home. Unfortunately, I’d barely unpacked and sorted the last crate of artifacts when we were all called back to Europe to deal with Kayne’s disciple Adolf.

  “All of it was in vain though. I have been researching to see what we missed, how the Order of Decay found Kayne through books they had stolen from us. After two days of digging in the local archives, I have found that there was a sect of the Order right under our damn noses the whole time. A faction of Nazi sympathizers called the Silver Legion of America, who had a compound just outside of LA. They were discovered and disbanded in 1941, but obviously they were able to complete their mission before they were caught. They were so obvious too, wearing a uniform of silver shirts with a bloody capital L over the left breast, displaying their allegiance to Lord Decay,” he finished with a note of disgust. All the boys seemed to hate being outwitted. Even by each other.

  “Speaking of Kayne and his newfound freedom, why didn’t I die? I mean, don’t get me wrong, I am grateful to be alive and all, but it was horrific to watch them all in agony until it ended.” My stomach coiled tightly from thinking of it. “There were children on that train. Why did they have to die if there’s a reason I survived?” Raw emotions tore through me, causing me to choke up with unshed tears.

  Falcone’s face was filled with understanding when I finally looked up. “Survivor’s guilt,” he mumbled.

  “What?” I whispered.

  “Survivor’s guilt. It’s the feeling of guilt for having survived a catastrophic event in which others died. I have struggled with it myself in the past. Completely normal given the circumstances, but it’s also a symptom of PTSD. Promise me you will let one of us know if it persists or worsens?” He waited until I agreed before continuing, “You are only a victim of circumstance and blessed genetics. There are only five women in the entire world who would have been immune to Kayne�
��s ability: our mates. It’s one of the ways we know you’re one of our true mates. You’re actually immune to all of our gifts. Connor’s charisma, Warren’s ability to heighten aggression… none of it affects you. Only when Dean lost his ever-loving mind did we know you were meant for him.” By his smile, I could tell all the brothers were still giving Dean a hard time and enjoying every second of it. “Is there anything else you’d like to ask me?” he questioned with that stupid all-knowing look he seemed to get when, well, when he knew he was right.

  The one thing I wanted to ask the most, I didn’t know if I could ask him or if I should wait and talk to Dean about it. On the other hand, if anyone had answers to all my questions, it would be the group historian sitting next to me. I chewed on my lip, took a deep breath, and decision made, I asked, “It’s about the mating process. Dean said it wasn’t final till the words were spoken. What did he mean?”

  “Know how I told you upstairs that vampires and werewolves didn’t exist?” He didn’t wait for my nod this time, but I did it just the same. With an opening like that, he had my full attention. “Well, most mythical creatures don’t, or at least, no longer do. One of the lores that is true is alchemy, a craft of science and magic. The art is mostly dead now, though a lesser form of skill is still practiced by a group of true-born earth witches. Dean will most likely need to contact them to perform the rites, but that’s after I find the rites in the archives. It has been a very long time since I have seen that tome. I don’t even know where to begin.”

  I took a deep breath and informed him, “I guess you better start searching because it looks like I’m sticking around a while.”

  His smile was wide. “I could not be happier. I just wish I could be around when you finally tell Dean you accept his ugly mug. Now, we must get you back before my brother wears a hole in the wood pacing the floors.” He stood to leave.

  “He’s back? How do you know?” I asked as I joined him.

  He tapped his temple again. At my drawn brows, he sighed. “Dean didn’t explain the horsemen’s mind link, did he?” Shock filled me, but wanting to know more, I shook my head and Falcone continued, “Of course not. All of my brothers and I have the option to communicate via our minds.” He paused because he was laughing too hard to continue. “By the look of horror on your face, I can tell you have jumped to the wrong conclusion. We cannot see or hear your time with Dean.” He blushed. “Except what is heard through the walls,” he teased with a wink.

  I was sure my face was redder than a stop sign. Falcone gave me a chance to calm myself before he added, “Unlike the emotional mate link you and Dean share, ours is not always open. Ours is more like a walkie-talkie or a telephone. We don’t hear every thought; we only talk to each other through a mental link. The only one who now can’t is Kayne. It was one of the first things we noticed when he started to deteriorate.” Seeing how sad Kayne’s downfall made Falcone made me realize that there had once been more than the monster I had met on the train.

  Bumping Falcone’s shoulder with mine to break his solemn pout, I asked, “So, Dean told you he’s upstairs?”

  He offered me a small smile, “Yes, about forty minutes now. He’s also grumpy as hell because he sensed how upset you were before and wanted to come storming down here. I put him off, which doesn’t make him happy either. Next lesson I will teach you is how to build a wall in your mind to keep him out. Oh, he will hate that.” His smile turned into one of pure joy, of one sibling torturing another. I couldn’t help my matching smile even as I shook my head at his antics as we made our way inside to find my mate.

  Chapter Eleven

  DEAN

  Twenty minutes earlier

  Fucking hell, why did she want out of the building with Falcone, of all goddamn people? She knew how I felt about them and when I sensed her upset, I tripped over my own feet getting to the door, only to stop when I’d connected with Falcone and he told me she was okay, just going through some emotions about the train wreck. I wanted her to go through them with me. Then again, I didn’t think my idea of wrapping her up in a bubble so she didn’t have to feel anything would go over well with Julie. So I let her be.

  Didn’t stop me from worrying still. As I paced the floor of my apartment, I smacked myself in the forehead. Get it together, prick. My mind was messing with me. Even though I understood Julie wanted time, my emotions were overriding everything and screwing with my brain. With Julie’s need to get away from me, her accepting Falcone’s company was like a slap in the face.

  One could definitely go insane with finding a mate.

  One second I was telling her I understood what she wanted, and then the next I felt like crying in a corner until she returned. I was worried she wouldn’t come back. I was sick to the stomach at the thought that something could happen to her, and even though I knew my brother wouldn’t do anything, I couldn’t help but think Falcone was filling her head with many reasons why she shouldn’t accept me as her mate.

  I was fucked in the head.

  Still, I found myself smiling because I couldn’t fucking wait until my brothers went through all this and then they’d know what hell I was going through.

  Pacing and waiting like a good little bitch was getting me nowhere. Just as I started to reach for a beer in the fridge, the apartment phone rang, which usually meant someone was there to see one of us. Never would I admit I ran like a crazy girl for the phone.

  “Hello?” I barked into the intercom.

  “Sir, I have a lady here to see Miss Julie.” It was one of our desk clerks in the lobby, and I could have sworn I heard a snort in the background when he said lady.

  “Put her on,” I instructed.

  “Yo, this is Fallon, Julie’s friend. I want to see her to make sure no one has carved her into little pieces.”

  Stifling an unexpected chuckle, I said, “I’ll be right down.”

  Before I headed out of my apartment, I slipped my cell phone into the back pocket of my jeans and then made my way out to the elevator.

  As soon as the doors slid open, I spotted her leaning against the lobby desk, glaring at the elevators as she waited. Her wild black-and-red hair was the first thing I noticed. She kept her hard gaze on me as I exited the elevator. No one else was around, which was good, because I didn’t want our employees witnessing me getting my ass chewed out by a female. Since Julie arrived, we’d kept the employees to a minimum. They were used to unscheduled paid days off. One would just assume a high-profile client who liked privacy was here for Connor’s company, which took up a good portion of the building. The only ones to remain were those trusted enough to know who we truly were. With Kayne’s large number of followers, it was a necessity to have our own.

  Fallon was short, and trying to come across as intimidating with her stiff posture and hard gaze. However, it did nothing for me, other than force me to fight my smirk.

  I was impressed when she didn’t waver from her cool exterior under my menacing stare. I clipped out, “Julie isn’t here right now,” and gave a small nod to Samuel, or as he liked to be called, Mr. S. He was one of the few who knew who we really were. He’d shown us he could be trusted, and if I had to guess, he regretted it because he’d become a man of many jobs around the building. He was also in charge of our other employees.

  She crossed her own arms over her chest and tapped her foot on the concrete floor. “Then where is she?”

  “Out getting some fresh air.”

  Her hands went to her waist. “She only walks when she gets stressed. What in the fuck did you do to her?”

  “Those things you will have to ask her when she comes back.”

  “So, I’ll wait.”

  “I’d prefer if you called her before you came, to make sure she wants your visit.” I didn’t want Julie stressed more than she was if her friend was going to bombard her with questions.

  She poked me in the chest and said, “Listen here, big guy. Julie will always want to see me. We’re BFFs and no dude, hot or not,
will come between us. So I will stay. I will wait in your huge fucking building, and Julie will be happy to see me.” She shifted back a little while her eyes ran over my body. “Which one are you?”

  “Dean.”

  Her smile was near blinding, it was so big. “She was right about something.”

  “What?” I glared.

  Her snort was annoying. “You’ll have to ask Julie what she said about you. Hos before bros, dude.” She hit her chest twice with her fisted hand before she proceeded to raise it up over her head with her hand still fisted in the air.

  The woman was strange.

  Rolling my eyes, I offered, “I suppose you could wait in the lobby, but I hope you don’t mind my staying as well.”

  She laughed, walking to the waiting area. “I don’t mind a bit of eye candy while waiting, but I can promise I won’t steal anything if that’s what you’re worried about.”

  Was that all women thought of me? Eye candy? Suddenly, I felt violated and used.

  Please, balls, come back to my body, my dick is missing you and he’s worried he’ll turn into a vagina soon.

  Shaking my head, I found Fallon had already made herself comfortable in one of the many couches around the room. I made my way over and sat in the one opposite her.

  “Do you like Julie?” she asked, bringing her legs up on the couch and crossing them.

  “Yes.”

  “How much?”

  “A lot.”

  “How is that possible? You’ve only had like a day or two with her?”

  “Ever heard of love at first sight?”

  She snorted. “I don’t believe in that bullshit.”

  “What made you ask in the first place?”

  “I can smell her all over you.”

  I quirked a brow at her. “That’s not something a human would say.”

  She leaned back, her hands resting on the armrest, where she started tapping her fingers. “And that’s not something a normal human would say.” Shit. I fucked up there. What has Julie told this woman? Fallon hummed under her breath and said, “Julie’s perfume is a scent I’m used to and I can smell it on you.”