Whispers From The Dead
B. L. Brunnemer
Copyright © 2017 by B. L. Brunnemer
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
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Contents
Also by B. L. Brunnemer
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Ethan
Isaac
Epilogue
Sneak Peek At Book Four
For The Latest On the Veil Diaries
Also by B. L. Brunnemer
Trying To Live With The Dead
When The Dead Come A Knockin’
When To Fear The Living
Dedication
Thank you to everyone who helps get my stories out of my head and into print!
Robert; thank you for cooking so much while I write.
Melissa: you saved my butt again!
To my poor Alpha/Beta readers; thank you for reading the extremely short first version of this book and encouraging me not to throw it out.
* * *
And thank you to Adytum Library for all your wonderful editing ladies!
Thank you Grondin Designs for not only the beautiful cover, but the title as well!
Thank you Susan for proofreading your butt off!
Chapter 1
April, Friday
“Lexie.”
“Hmm?”
“Can you stop looking out the window and focus?” Dr. Smith asked. I let the sheer curtain drop and turned around on the plush couch in her office. Dr. Smith was a nice woman with kind gray eyes and endless amounts of patience. At least it seemed that way to me. She’d been my shrink since January. After the abduction and assault, everyone thought I should have someone who could help me through it. Miles had found Dr. Smith, an expert in dealing with the after effects of trauma. Trauma, I had suffered trauma. I huffed to myself and focused as she asked, “How are the nightmares?”
“They are happening less, around four times a week now.” My voice turned raspy. I took a sip out of my now ever-present water bottle so it would go away.
“And did you shower after them?” she asked gently. I sighed. My nightmare was always the same. Clay Ordin was forcing me to walk through the snow back to the cabin. Then he would call me ‘his’ and grope my chest, then between my legs. It wasn’t as bad as it could have been, but that didn’t stop me from feeling like I needed a shower after every dream.
“I showered after only two of them this week.” The raspy note from my voice was gone.
Dr. Smith’s eyes ran over my face.
“How did you stop yourself from showering the other two times?” she asked.
I reached down and ran my fingers through Hades’ fur. The dog had gone through a big growth spurt over the last few months, he was getting rather intimidating. I took him everywhere with me now. “I reminded myself that it happened in January, this is April. I pet Hades while doing those counting exercises,” I said. Dr. Smith smiled gently.
“That’s good to hear, Lexie.” Her voice was encouraging. I gave her a small smile. “Any panic attacks?”
I shook my head. “Not since that last one at Vegabond.” The bar had been packed, everyone kept touching me. Not on purpose, the place had just been that crowded. I didn’t like it. The next thing I knew I was having trouble breathing. Miles had realized what was happening. The boys worked together to get me out the side door and into the fresh air. I made a point not to go into crowded places now.
“Have you had any flashbacks?” Dr. Smith asked.
“Nope, not since I told the guys not to touch me from behind unless I know it’s them,” I replied. “But I still have flashes occasionally.”
Dr. Smith’s eyes narrowed at me. “Are they still walking you to class?”
“Every single one,” I admitted.
She smiled and shook her head at the same time. “Have you gone anywhere alone this week?”
I smirked. “Miles is in the waiting room.” Dr. Smith sighed deeply as she shook her head again. She had met the guys at our first appointment. Zeke had insisted that one of them be there, they had just forgotten to choose who and everyone had shown up.
“Lexie, you need to learn you can be without them. That you’re safe even if they aren’t there,” she said gently. I nodded.
“I know. And I think I’m ready to,” I told her. “With Hades, though.”
Dr. Smith smiled. “That’s a good start.”
“I’m also thinking of going to see about a job at the tattoo shop in town. See if I can learn anything,” I said. Dr. Smith smiled encouragingly.
“That is a great step, Lexie,” she said. Then her smile faded. “How are things with the boys?”
I looked over her shoulder at the wall of bookcases. “They’re supportive, loving, you know, the usual,” I hedged.
“Lexie,” she said in her ‘come clean’ voice. I sighed and met her eyes.
“Zeke and I are still having problems. I still haven’t been able to hug him since the hospital,” I admitted. “I tried and… had a flashback.”
Understanding lit Dr. Smith’s eyes. “Is this affecting your relationship?”
I shrugged. “He’s distant but always around.”
“He’s also probably struggling, Lexie,” Dr. Smith explained. “From what you’ve told me he’s a protective person, and you were attacked. That’s going to take some time for him to deal with.”
“I know.” I checked the clock on the wall. “Time’s up.”
She chuckled. “That’s my line,” she chided. I snorted. “Your homework this week is to go out without the boys, go to the tattoo shop and try to hug Zeke again. Remember your exercises.” I nodded and got up off the couch with Hades’ leash in hand.
“Thanks, Doc,” I called over my shoulder as I opened the door.
Miles looked up from the magazine in his hands. His high cheek bones and angled jaw made him cute, but it was his smile that showed you how handsome he really was. That and the intelligence in his emerald eyes whenever he got excited about something. His wavy, brown hair was back to curling a little again, he needed a trim. He pushed the bridge of his black-rimmed glasses back up his nose before getting to his feet. His eyes ran over me, his mouth a tight line.
“Is everything alright?” he asked in his quiet timbre. I nodded.
“I just have some homework,” I explained as we headed for the door.
Miles opened the door for me then followed me out into the hallway. “What kind?”
“The kind that Zeke isn’t going to like,” I admitted. Miles hit the button for the elevator then gave me a gentle smile.
“If it’s what’s best for you, he’ll do it,” Miles reassured me. I raised an eyebrow as the elevator doors opened.
I waited for them to close before I told him, “She wants me to go out alone.” Miles’ silence was enough to make my shoulders tense.
“If it’s what the doctor suggested and what you want, we’ll do as you ask,” Miles said in a careful voice. He was right. I just didn’t want to be the one to tell Zeke. It
seemed like I have done nothing but hurt him since I came back from the hospital. After my last attempt to hug him, he’s walked on eggshells around me and kept at least three feet distance between us at all times. And that conversation about our kiss? Forget about it. ‘When you’re ready’ he’d say. I hated this. We reached the ground floor.
“I know,” I muttered as we walked out into the lobby. “Our communication hasn’t exactly been the best lately.” Several people spotted Hades and backed away quickly. I had gotten used to that reaction lately and I honestly didn’t mind.
Miles walked me to his car in silence. I opened the back door so Hades could jump in.
When I turned around Miles’ eyes were full of understanding.
“He’ll listen to you, Lexie,” he reminded me, holding the passenger door open. I nodded. He was right. I was the only one who could get Zeke to listen.
I got into Miles’ car, and he closed the door behind me. When Miles climbed in on the driver’s side, he had a small smile on his face. “But right now, the guys are surrounded by the twins’ cousins. They’ve been sending me an SOS every five minutes for the last hour.”
I chuckled, “Let’s get over there and watch the chaos.
* * *
That was exactly what we found at the twins’ house. Pure chaos. Well, the backyard was. The twins’ four cousins were in town. They visited every spring vacation for a few days when their school had two weeks off. Lucky. This just happened to be the day that Maria, the twins’ mom, and Ana, her sister, went out to the spa for some pampering while leaving the boys in charge of the kids for the afternoon. Miles and I had been more than happy to go to my appointment earlier.
We stepped out onto the back porch and gaped. Toys littered the lawn as Isaac was chasing Amelia, a four-year-old little girl in pigtails, while her twin sister, Isabel, was playing quietly with her dolls in the shade on the lawn. Their six-year-old brother, Marcos, chased Isaac trying to soak him with the hose. The oldest boy, Mateo, had water balloons and he wasn’t afraid to use them on Asher. I let Hades off the leash. He ran off to join the fun chasing Marcos.
Ethan noticed us from his spot on a lawn chair in the shade near Isabel. He got up and crossed the lawn, getting hit in the process. By the time he reached the safety of the porch, his shirt had several big wet patches. Ethan’s square jaw, wide full lips, and straight nose made him the heartbreaker of our school. Even with his jaw length black hair back in a tie, showing off the five silver rings running up his ear lobe, he was still yummy. His chocolate eyes had dark rings under them as they ran over me.
“Hey, how’d it go?” he asked in his smoky, smooth voice. I shrugged.
“Not bad. I’ve got homework though.” I ran my eyes over his face. “Are you sleeping alright?”
“Yeah, fine,” he assured me. “What’s your homework this time?”
I looked around the backyard. “I’ll tell you later. Were you hiding out?”
Ethan grinned. “Nah, it was my turn for a break. But Zeke’s hiding. He’s changing the oil in our car in return for not having to watch the kids.” He leaned on the rail next to me and watched the chaos. Mateo nailed Asher in the back with several balloons, soaking him. Everyone started laughing as he turned to chase the eight-year-old.
Isaac stopped chasing Amelia and climbed the steps to shoot a look at Ethan. “Your turn. Who gave the twins sugar?” he asked, out of breath.
I smirked.
“That was Asher and you,” Ethan said as he headed down the stairs. Isaac took his spot next to me. Isaac and Ethan were identical twins, but that only meant they looked the same. While Ethan wore all black, Isaac wore bright colors. His black hair had been dyed a vibrant blue with darker blue streaks through it. The sides were still shaved and the top shorter than it was a few months ago. Isaac nudged my shoulder and gave me a smile. I bumped back with my own and grinned.
“You up for tonight, Red?” Isaac asked. I thought about it. There was a party tonight on the shore across the lake. It’d be my first party since January.
I chewed the corner of my lower lip and nodded. “Yeah, I think so.”
Isaac nudged my shoulder, getting my attention again. “We can leave anytime. Just say the word.” His reminder warmed my heart.
“I know.” I tucked a flyaway hair behind my ear.
Asher came up the stairs huffing and puffing. Asher was your typical boy next door. If you lived next to a model that is. His high cheekbones and sharp chin belonged in commercials. His short, sandy blond hair was freshly trimmed. His white undershirt was soaked, clinging to the muscles of his chest, arms and stomach. I had to remind myself not to stare.
Asher glared at Isaac. “Get back out there, I need a break,” he huffed as he went to sit down on the wooden bench at the end of the porch. His ocean eyes met mine. And I mean ocean. With blue, light blue and white flecks, his eyes reminded me of an ocean wave crashing. I turned to watch him drip water onto the porch.
“Aren’t you supposed to be this hot-shot Quarterback?” I teased. He shot me a half grin.
“Yeah, I am. But nothing can outlast a four-year-old on a sugar high,” he countered.
“You gave them cookies, didn’t you?” I asked. He leaned back and closed his eyes.
“Only one each,” he admitted. “But then Isaac went and snuck them the whole bag.”
I laughed at the anguish in his voice, then turned back and watched Marcos chasing Ethan with the hose as Ethan tried to get Amelia out of the way. I contemplated going inside when a girl’s cry went up instantly getting everyone’s attention. Isabel was soaked. Marcos had missed Ethan and hit his little sister. Marcos kinked the hose as he went to her already apologizing.
“No!” Isabel shouted. “I want Uncle Zeke.” Isabel turned and ran toward the old garage at the back of the yard. “Uncle Zeke!” she cried, wiping her face. Zeke came out of the open garage door, frowning as he wiped the grease off his hands with an old towel.
Zeke was a mountain of muscle. Two heads taller than me and a frame that was several times wider. He was a hard guy to miss. Not that he wasn’t handsome. His black hair, wide cheekbones, and a wide, strong jaw gave his face a very rough, frightening look. And when he scowled most people ran for it. His all black clothes, motorcycle boots and wallet chain didn’t help. The secret to getting along with Zeke was simple. Leave him alone and he’ll leave you alone. Unless you hurt me or pushed me… or insulted me… Okay, just leave me the fuck alone and you’ll be fine with Zeke. Isabel ran right up to him and pointed back at her brother.
“Marcos soaked me!” she cried, tears falling down her face. Zeke sighed. When he reached her, he knelt down. Isabel threw herself into his arms, crying about how she didn’t want to ruin her new dress. Zeke picked her up and whispered to her, calming her down as he strode back toward the now subdued boys. He came up to Marcos, took the hose and handed it to Isabel. The little girl squealed happily as she soaked her brother.
“Now, you’re even,” Zeke told her in his deep, gravelly voice. Zeke put her down and she happily chased after a screaming Marcos. Zeke’s sky-blue eyes spotted me. His gaze ran over me before he headed up the steps. “How’d your session go?”
I sighed. I was starting to feel like a broken record. “Good. I have homework.”
His brow drew down. “What kind?”
“I’ll tell you guys about it after dinner,” I promised. With the kids running around crazy it was too loud to tell them. Especially with what Zeke’s reaction was likely to be.
Since I came home from the hospital, someone had been with me every time I left the house. Zeke demanded it, and I needed it to be honest. I wasn’t looking forward to that conversation.
That chill ran down my neck, but it was like a finger-tip. A soul was nearby and I knew who. As the guys talked, I stepped back and headed inside.
“Red?” Isaac called.
“Just gotta use the bathroom. Damn,” I shot over my shoulder. There were small chuckles as I went
into the kitchen.
There, standing at the window looking out into the backyard was Sophie. The twins’ little sister’s soul. The eight-year-old girl was standing in front of the sink, watching her cousins and brothers out the kitchen window. She had Maria’s long black hair, big brown eyes, and a sweet, pretty face. Her eyes watered.
“Sophie?” I kept my voice soothing. She didn’t take her gaze off the others outside. “You can’t go outside, can you? Not without using the extra energy running around?” She shook her head.
“I’m ready, Lexie,” she all but whispered. She turned to me, tears running down her face.
“I want to cross soon.” My pulse skipped as her energy hit my barriers. They trembled once but held firm.
“Are you sure?” I asked gently.
She nodded and wiped her face. “I don’t want to watch them anymore. Mom’s mostly okay but Ethan keeps pulling me back. And Isaac…” She swallowed hard as her tears fell faster. “I need to go soon.” I moved to stand next to her and look out the window.
“We’ll need to talk to your brothers first. You know that,” I told her gently. She nodded.
“I can’t keep doing this,” she sniffed. My eyes burned as I blinked back my own tears.
“Can you wait till your cousins are gone at least?” I asked quietly. Sophie nodded, then gave me a sad smile.
“It was good to see them one more time,” she admitted. She wiped her face.
“I can wait a few more days. When I’m ready, I’ll break one of Ethan’s guitars.”
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