Death eBook 9.8.16

by Lila Rose

  Finally, Connor stood back, the poker in his hand pointed to the ground. “Talk,” Connor ordered.

  The fool slumped forward, his breathing labored, and shook his head.

  “Right,” Warren clipped.

  Connor whistled. “Dude, you’re fucked now.” I nodded, agreeing. When Warren was done, he was goddamn done.

  From the wall, Warren took a deep pan with a lid. I blanched; he hadn’t used this method for a fucking long time. He went to the corner of the room and placed something in the dish.

  “Seriously?” Connor asked. He also looked a little green around the gills.

  Warren’s jaw clenched. “Always works.”

  Scurrying sounded in the pan, and I shuddered.

  “W-what is that?” Minion asked.

  Warren didn’t answer. He took a belt off the wall next and walked to the prisoner. With swift movements, the lid was gone, the opening was placed against the minion’s stomach and the belt was tied tight around his waist.

  Warren stood back.

  We waited.

  And waited.

  Until…

  “No!” he screamed. His eye flitted down to his stomach, then to all of us. Pleading held within it before his eye went back down to his stomach. He moved, shifted, yelled, but nothing would stop it.

  The rat was hungry and he smelled food. The minion’s flesh. Right then, it would be biting and clawing its way into his gut to get to the juicy meat on the inside.

  “Tell us what we want to know,” Warren barked out the order. “Tell us and we’ll stop this pain.”

  “N-no.”

  “Dean, rile the critter up,” Connor called; he’d gone back to sitting in the chair.

  Grabbing a knife from the wall, I stalked to our prisoner, who still fought the rat digging into his gut, eating his skin and intestines bit by bit, by writhing against the wall. Little did he know, nothing would stop the animal from feasting.

  Stopping in front of him, I touched the blade tip above the man’s stomach, where the pan sat, and then slowly, as he whimpered and cried, I slid the blade up, causing his blood to flow.

  “No, no, no!” he screamed. The rat was on the move. For some reason, a fresh flow of blood always caught the animal’s attention and now it would be clawing its way upwards.

  “Stop, stop.”

  “Talk,” I snarled.

  His eyes flashed wide with realization no one was coming to rescue him, and he was dead either way. By us, or if Kayne got his hands on him, he wouldn’t trust he hadn’t talked and kill him anyway. It was time to choose to go quickly, or slowly and painfully.

  Thank fuck, he chose quickly.

  “You are all dead anyway.” He cringed and flinched as the pain still sliced through him from the animal. “My Lord will kill you all.”

  “He can’t,” Warren roughly said.

  Even though he was in agony, he smiled. “He can. He is looking for the athame now, a dagger that holds the magic to end all your lives. We brought him back to k-kill you all. Only a brother can wield it.” He cringed. “Then the w-world will be ours.”

  Connor laughed. “There’s no such thing.” Smiling, I shook my head and patted Warren’s back.

  “They brought him back for a fool’s journey. At least looking for it will keep him busy, while we find him and lock him up again,” I said.

  Warren smiled and nodded. He looked to me and Connor, saying, “Get some rest, brothers. I’ll wrap up here.”

  Eager to get out of there, I started for the door and reached out to Julie. I’d kept our connection to a minimum while we did what we had to, just enough to know she was okay. Excitement pulsed through my blood, which pumped through my veins, until Falcone chose that moment to crush it all.

  Julie is asleep. She is exhausted. Recon in the morning, Julie wants to know everything. Talking with women has tired me also.

  Goddamn it. I hadn’t meant to send my complaint through our connection, because then Falcone’s laughter at how eager I had been to see my mate rang through my mind.

  Still, even if it pissed me off, I didn’t let it get to me too much. They would soon feel the way I had and I would enjoy the crap out of my revenge.

  Chapter Fourteen

  JULIE

  The previous night, after Fallon went home, I’d waited another two hours to see if Dean would return. Falcone had come back eventually. While sitting with me, he’d noticed I kept glancing at the door and finally said it could take all night, so I decided to go to bed, alone, in the guest room.

  My alarm jolted me from sleep, with my heart in my throat I quickly glanced at the clock. Double dang it. It was 8:00 a.m., which meant I’d only had three hours of sleep because I’d spent most of the night tossing and turning. My brain refused to shut up worrying about my doctor’s appointment. I’d also been wondering what the guys had learned in their questioning, and worst of all I’d realized how much I’d missed Dean. Though, what didn’t help was that my sheets still smelled of him. Eventually, in the early hours, my body finally took matters into its own hand, too exhausted to function another minute.

  Groaning, I rolled out of bed after hitting the alarm for the fourth time and stumbled to the door. I didn’t care if I was only in my white Victoria’s Secret bra top cami and gray banded boyfriend pants scrunched up to my calves; I needed answers to what had happened last night and coffee ASAP, or someone could get hurt. I padded out of my bedroom and the apartment barefoot, down the hall, following the heavenly scent of life that some absolutely amazing person had brewed.

  As I walked in, all conversation ceased, not that I cared. I was on a mission. It was an older twelve-cup glass pot. I grabbed a clean Horsemen Hedge Funds mug and started making magic. The first sip was bliss. I closed my eyes and moaned in pleasure as I swallowed down the second sip. I opened my eyes to find all four boys staring.

  “Talk dirty to it,” Connor ordered in a breathy whisper, earning him a growl from Dean and a slap in the back of the head from Warren.

  “Shhh. I’m having a moment with my coffee,” I answered and took a seat next to Dean. He pulled my chair close and my free hand into his and squeezed. It was exactly what I needed. As soon as he made contact, my stress, tension, and worry from the last however many hours we were apart melted from my body. I was under no illusion that my body recognized Dean as my mate and automatically felt safe and secure in his presence.

  Warren cleared his throat to regain the room’s attention. “Now that we are all here, let’s debrief so we may all get back to work. The idiot last night gave us nothing on where Kayne is, but we do know why they brought him back. The wankers have this ridiculous notion that there’s an athame out there that is blessed with the ability to kill us.”

  Connor and Dean were laughing, even Warren’s mouth held an amused smirk at the absurdity. Only my eyes went to Falcone, and stayed there as I watched the color drain from his face.

  “Falcone? What is it?” I asked. The other boys sobered up and started to pay attention.

  Falcone directed his answer to me. “I have never read or heard of such an item…” I started to relax until he continued, “But it is probable. One would assume when the Navah were creating superior beings to prevent destruction, they would have also created a means to destroy them. An athame forged by one of the master ironsmiths of the Navah would be able to do massive damage.” He glanced quickly at Warren and then back to me. “You need to remember that alchemy was widespread and powerful once. It was aimed to purify, mature, and perfect certain objects and the transmutation of base metals, like lead, into noble ones. Also to create things to diffrent disease cures, or an elixir of immortality, and probably ways to reverse it too.” I could hear the worry in his voice.

  “If alchemy was so powerful, why aren’t there more people doing it?” I asked, squeezing Dean’s hand and taking strength from our connection to soothe some of my worries.

  “Just like any trend, something else came along. Modern became pref
erred by the public. Alchemy is partly magic. It’s an unseen factor, whereas modern medicine is backed by scientific data, and the process can be followed from ingredients to results.” The silence, as we all digested everything Falcone had told us, was eerie.

  “So you think the wanker was telling the truth, that there may be a way to kill us out there in the world?” A somber Warren finally asked the question probably running through all our minds.

  Falcone shook his head. “Not for sure, but it’s something we need to consider as probable. I’m going to put my whole research team on combing the archives. Sorry, Dean, I will need to put those who were searching for the mating rites on this also.” Dean nodded but didn’t seem happy about it.

  Warren, with new purpose, handed out marching orders. “Good. Connor, can you get your finance guys on searching the finances of all known Order of Decay members? Dean and I will head out and retrace Kayne’s steps since his awakening, see if we can find out where they’re hiding the bastard.”

  Clearing my throat, I said to Dean, “If we’re done, I need to go get ready for my doctor’s appointment. Do you want to send a car and man with me?”

  I believed my mate’s head almost spun off his shoulders at my question. “What doctor’s appointment? Are you ill? Are you injured?” He was now up out of his chair, twisting me this way and that looking for god knows what.

  Whoops, I guess I forgot to tell him about my follow-up. “Er, it’s nothing, just my follow-up from the accident, and I need to get some blood work done?” Hmm, that sounded more like a nervous question than a statement. I glanced at Falcone, who seemed to be very busy looking anywhere but at us. No help there. I looked back to Dean hoping he missed my hesitation, but he was looking at Falcone also. Darn, he was onto me.

  Dean looked back at me, then announced to the room, “Everybody out.” They all jumped up and rushed to the door. Chickens. Dean quickly added in a low, clipped voice, “Everyone, except Falcone.”

  Falcone turned slowly and whimpered. “Really, I’d prefer to leave with the others. This seems like a private moment.”

  “Since you already seem to know what is wrong with my mate, there seems to be no reason for you to need to leave. Take a seat.” Aw man, now he sounds pissed. He turned back to me. “Okay, my jewel, start talking.” He crossed his arms over his chest and narrowed his gaze at me. Yep, definitely mad.

  “Um, well, I need to have a follow-up and some blood work,” I so ineloquently answered.

  “Yes, you already said that. Now, what aren’t you saying? What blood work and why does Falcone know, but I, your mate, do not?”

  “Falcone was with Fallon and me last night while we had a bit of a girl-bond moment. And well, she made a comment about how as long as we were safe, she was happy for me.”

  The lack of understanding was clear on his face. “Of course we’re protecting you. I would never let anything happen to you.”

  Was he really that naïve? “Um, no, honey. Not that kind of protection.”

  Still nothing from him except to blink.

  Oh, God. He had no clue what I was talking about.

  Falcone saved me from having to try again. “Jesus, Dean. Even I’m not that thick and I live with my nose in a damn book. Condoms. You never used condoms, and now she needs a pregnancy test due to your negligence. Now that you know, I am leaving this highly uncomfortable conversation. Good luck with him, Julie. I fear he may be a lost cause.”

  I took a moment to watch him leave. Actually, I was stalling before I turned to gauge Dean’s reaction. I didn’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t the soft, loving, and teary-eyed expression I found.

  “A baby? Our baby?” Oh my, he liked the idea. I was so conflicted. “Julie, you know how long I have lived, waited… I had given up hope of ever finding you. We all did. The thought of having a child of my own”—he reached out and tenderly touched my face—“one with your amber eyes and auburn hair, nothing could make me happier.”

  Dean’s thumb glided over my cheek, and I wanted to cry because I was about to hurt him yet again. I whispered as I looked into his eyes, “I want that for you, Dean, for us, one day. I really do. Just not today. It’s too soon. I’ve accepted we’re mates and fated to be, but having a child on top of that would send a screw loose in my brain. We also have the threat of Decay running around. It’s just not the right time. Too much is going on and it scares me. I’m sorry, Dean.” I felt like I didn’t deserve the love and understanding in his eyes.

  He leaned forward, pressing his forehead against mine. “My sweet jewel, I understand, and we will wait until you’re ready if this is not our time. If the results say you’re with child, then we will manage, together. You’re no longer alone in anything. Now, let’s get ready for our appointment.” He started to get up but paused went I didn’t join him.

  I stilled, my eyes widened. “Our appointment? I thought you needed to help Warren? I’ll be fine. I’m sure Steven will just have a few questions, and then he’ll run the test. You would be more help with finding Decay.”

  Seriously, the situation was going to be stressful enough, I didn’t want to have to deal with Dean’s disappointment at my relief if the test was negative.

  While I was worrying about upsetting him, Dean’s frustration grew; his hands wouldn’t stop clenching and unclenching. “First off, I’ve already let Warren know through the link I’ll meet him in a few hours. Besides, we’re waiting to see what Connor can find, and Warren’s mapping out the locations to look at later.” His jaw clenched tighter before he bit out, “Second, who in the hell is Steven? You have a male doctor?” His voice rose. “Connor’s dick will fall off from VD because of his whoring ways before I ever let another man touch you! Doctor or otherwise, I’m going and that’s final.”

  It didn’t look like I was going to budge the bossy baboon, and since I was running late, I jumped from my seat to glare up at him, and I huffed. “Fine! Whatever.”

  I despised waiting rooms. They were always boring and uncomfortable. At least it wasn’t crowded. I hated having to sit next to strangers. At best, they wanted to chew your ear off talking. At worst, they smelled like a hooker looking for a payday, or like someone who hadn’t bathed since Carter was in office. Luckily, I didn’t need to worry about that because there was only one other patient across the room. Then again, he probably only kept his distance because Dean had scowled at him when he arrived and kept at it until he was seated as far away as he could, and still be in the room.

  Leaning over to my overbearing, pushy mate, I whispered, “You didn’t have to come with me.” I had no idea why I kept repeating this to him. Perhaps it was due to nerves.

  As though Dean could feel my agitation, which he probably could, he reached out for my hand and rubbed circles on the top of it. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” His gentle touch helped soothe my frayed nerves and settle my churning stomach. Not that I’d tell the lug nut he was a huge help. However, the stupid grin he wore said he already knew.

  “Julie?” the nurse called from the door to the back exam rooms. Dean was up and across the room, holding the door next to a confused nurse, before I was able to move a muscle. I sighed and stood to join him for, I guess, what was our appointment.

  The nurse, who was a cute twentysomething blonde, guided us back to room two. Upon entering, I went straight to the exam table and jumped up on it. The nurse puttered around taking my blood pressure and temperature, while I took a moment to observe that even in unflattering scrubs, she had a nice tush and tatas. But the most interesting thing was how Dean didn’t notice her. Not at all. She could have been a runway model and still I didn’t think he would have noticed. Darn. That made it hard to stay mad at my mate for being overbearing.

  “Ms. Michaels, the doctor will be right in.” And with a polite smile, she turned on her heel and left. From the other side of the door, I heard the chart slip into the pocket on the door.

  My ears then picked up the doctor’s voice saying s
weetly, “Belinda, good to see you again.”

  The nurse giggled. “You also, Doctor.”

  “I’d like very much to see you after our shifts.”

  Gag.

  “That can be arranged.”

  “Good,” he replied and opened the door a little, but I saw him with his hand in the nurse’s as he raised it and gently bit the tip of her finger. Another giggle before she winked, turned to leave the hall, and the doctor walked all the way in.

  Hmm, it seemed he was a sweet talker to all the ladies.

  Dr. McMullan, without pause, walked directly to me. He didn’t even notice Dean. How did anyone not notice Dean? He was freaking gorgeous. The doctor approached and stood right against the side of the table. I could see Dean stiffen, readying for attack.

  “How are you feeling, Julie?” Without giving me time to answer, he grabbed my hand and continued on, “Have any of your memories returned at all?”

  As soon as the doctor, who had a death wish, touched me, Dean started to growl. Only, he stopped when I promptly and politely removed my hand. I didn’t know if it was my rejection or Dean’s growling, but the not-so-observant doctor finally noticed there was another in the room.

  Sounding truly surprised, he asked, “I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you there. Are you a friend of Julie’s?”

  I just couldn’t help myself; I honestly couldn’t. I giggled. Not because it was funny, but because it was ridiculous, awkward, and Dean looked ready to kill. I answered before Dean could with, “No, this is Dean. Dean, this is Dr. McMullan.” I didn’t think another explanation was needed, so I continued on before either asked for one, “I’ve been well and have regained my memory fully, but unfortunately it was nothing that could help the police.” True enough. I knew nothing that would help the human police, at least.

  In a more professional mode, the doctor moved over to a wheeled stool and scooted back over to me before hitting me with rapid-fire questions. “I am so glad the loss was only temporary. What day did it come back? Did something trigger it or did it return slowly? Have there been any other issues since your memory returned?”