Chapter 16
A persistent banging on his door woke Damien at some god-awful time of the morning. Hell, when he opened his eyes it was still freakin’ dark out. “What?” he yelled, hoping whoever it was would go away. Damn it, was he ever going to get some sleep?
Gio’s deep voice invaded his room. “Rafe’s awake. Gabriel wants us all down in the dining room.”
That woke him up. “On my way.”
He almost fell out of the bed in his rush to get to the bathroom. He brushed his teeth and his hair, did his business, and was dressed before he could fully open his eyes. Out the door he raced, his bare feet skidding on the hallway carpet before he gained traction. Down the stairs he ran, two at a time, thumping so loudly that if Rafe hadn’t been awake that would have done it.
He grabbed the edge of the opening into the dining room and used his momentum to turn into the room, stuttering to a halt when he saw his brothers staring at him. Even Piotr was there, his gray eyes filled with amusement, his pale blond hair pulled back in a queue. He looked perfect, as always, in his gunmetal-gray suit.
Seth sat to Piotr’s right, his light brown hair messed up and his blue-gray eyes filled with sleepiness. His suit wasn’t nearly as pristine as Piotr’s, but at least he’d shaved, unlike Dante. Dante stood behind Seth, silently watching everyone the way he always did, both protectively and at the same time sizing them up, making sure they were fit for duty. Gio sat across from Piotr, chatting quietly with Sasha. Zeke sat in the seat closest to the dining room doorway, drinking coffee and blinking blearily. Micah was at the foot of the table, watching the head. The table was meant to seat ten, and for the first time in months it did just that.
His family was once more complete.
Damien took his seat next to Seth. “Morning.”
“Morning.” Seth passed over his coffee cup.
Damien grunted in gratitude and took a long sip before passing it back. “Thanks.”
“Welcome.”
Gabriel sat at the head of the table, Rafael seated at his right, next to Gio. Rafael looked like hammered shit. His face was cut and bruised, his left cheek worse than his right. Damien was almost certain it would scar. His hazel eyes were bloodshot, his bronzed skin ashy and pale. Even his hair, usually so immaculate, was wild, smooshed on one side and sticking out on the other. He sat hunched over, his arms over his stomach, obviously in pain. Damien almost protested his presence. Surely they could wait until Rafe was healed more. But the determination on Rafael’s face stilled his protest before he could voice it. There was something in his brother’s puffy face that made him think that, whatever it was Rafael had to tell them, it was urgent that they hear it.
“Good morning,” Gabriel said quietly. His calm demeanor was back, but from the sideways glances he kept sending Rafe, Gabriel was still concerned for the Azar’s health. “Rafael has some things to tell us, things I felt you needed to hear.” Gabriel nodded to Rafe. “Go on.”
Rafe cleared his throat, wincing when he was done. His voice, when he spoke, was raspy. “They took me off the street, right after my shift at the hospital.” Rafe stared around the table.
The inevitable notebook was pulled out of Dante’s pocket. “Did you see or hear anything out of the ordinary before you were taken?”
Rafe shook his head. “I didn’t even sense a Shem in the area.”
“Were you taken in daylight or at night?” Zeke asked, leaning forward.
“Broad daylight.” Rafe took a sip of water, grimacing as he did so. “They rushed my car, pushed me in, and took me.”
“We didn’t see anything on the surveillance tapes.” Dante scowled and made a note on his pad.
“Because Armitage Computing is the one who set up their security. I think they looped the feed and changed the times so you wouldn’t catch it.” Rafe rubbed his chest. “They’re also the ones organizing the Shem in Delaware, parts of Eastern Maryland, and Southern New Jersey.”
Zeke whistled.
“Damn,” Gio muttered. “I didn’t think they were that big.”
“We’ll need to contact the Eastern Maryland and Southern New Jersey cells and tell them what’s going on,” Micah added. His tone was filled with authority. “Zeke.”
“Got it.” Zeke began typing on his cell phone, texting the other cells.
Damien addressed Rafe, hoping he could answer some of his questions. “What do you know about Armitage Computing?”
Rafe grimaced. “Not much, I’m afraid, other than they were hired by the hospital to do the security. My captors spoke very little about their orders, but someone named Charles Armitage seemed to fill them with fear.”
“Charles Armitage?” Damien glanced around the table. “Sam told me Paul Armitage Jr. runs the company now.”
“He probably does, but that doesn’t mean he’s without relatives.” Dante made another note. “Think Sam will be willing to look into Charlie boy?”
Fuck no. Sam was in too deep already. There was no fucking way he was allowing her to delve any further into Armitage. “Dante.” He hoped his warning tone was enough, but somehow he doubted it.
“She’s the best we’ve got, my brother,” Dante said softly. “And we’ve already declared we’d guard her with our lives for what she’s already done. Doing this will not change anything.”
“Other than putting a bigger target on her back.” Damien shook his head. “No. Sam stays out of it.”
Dante scowled. “I think you should ask the lady rather than making decisions for her.”
“No.” That was final. “We’ll do things the old-fashioned way. I’ll see what I can find on Charles Armitage from the Neph database, you cover the ground. We’ll catch this guy, don’t worry about it.”
Gabriel cleared his throat. “Rafael also told me that he believes that Paul Armitage, both senior and junior, are involved, but that Charles runs the cell and calls the shots.”
Rafe nodded. “It was Charles who ordered me taken. They wanted to see if they could turn one of us.”
They all looked at each other, shaking their heads in disbelief. The thought of becoming the very thing they fought was both horrifying and disgusting. Feeding off of the pain of humans wasn’t something Damien could ever see himself doing, no matter what torture they tried.
“Was that all they wanted?” Piotr’s soft, accented voice broke the silence.
“They wanted to see how long it would take for me to break, and if I didn’t, I was to die. They were arguing about killing me not long before you rescued me.” Rafe took a deep breath. “And they have an Oracle working with them.”
Everyone looked at Seth. “It’s not Eli, damn it!”
“He’s your brother. He should have given you some deets on what it’s like to be an Oracle.” Zeke reached for Seth. “C’mon, brother. What could a Shem Oracle do to us?”
“The same thing Eli can,” Seth sighed. “They can see things that others can’t, future and past events, but it’s usually blurred, shadowy. Eli said it’s like trying to watch television through a blizzard from ten feet away.”
“They knew exactly where I’d be and how to grab me,” Rafe whispered. “I think the Oracle told Charles what to do, and he ordered it done.”
“Why were you in that house?” Gio interrupted. “I mean, I’d think they’d keep you somewhere more secure.”
“They were getting ready to kill me, so they took me out of where they’d been holding me and placed me in that house.” Rafe shuddered. “They couldn’t decide if they were going to burn the place down with me inside, or just shoot me and leave me in the basement.” He stared at them, but his gaze froze on Damien. “If you hadn’t found me when you did, I’d have died.”
“That house wasn’t just some safe house. The stench was building there for years.” Damien lowered his voice. “The children were growing up in there.”
“I’m still not sure how we missed their stench.” Zeke scowled at Piotr. “Did you ever smell anything?”
“Then they’ve figured out how to hide their scent, or they’ve figured out when and where we patrol. Or both.” Zeke started cursing softly. “We’ve gotten complacent if they’ve been there for years.”
Piotr nodded sharply, his expression one of disgust. “Indeed.”
“Did Charles have any other captives?” Gabriel’s tone was still soft, but there was an underlying anger there that Damien had never heard before.
“I…don’t know.” Rafe rubbed his head, grunting in pain. “I remember being in some kind of cell, cinderblock, with a solid metal door and no windows. Just a cot and a light.” He shuddered. “All I could smell was myself and the cinderblock. I couldn’t hear anything other than my own breathing. I couldn’t sleep without that single light shining on me all the time.”
“When did they feed you?” Damien noticed that, while Rafe was thin, he wasn’t skin and bones. They must have given him food at some point during the day.
“Once in the morning and once at night, unless…” He swallowed hard, lowering his head to the table. “I can’t, Gabriel,” he whispered.
Gabriel took a deep breath and put his hand on Rafael’s head. “They tortured him, cut him open and left him bleeding, and when he lost consciousness they’d put him back in his room. They wouldn’t feed him until he woke again. They asked him questions, of course, about us, how we operate, who we each are, but Rafael doesn’t remember much about those sessions other than he did everything in his power to remain silent.”
Damien wasn’t the first to stand and go to his brother. That honor went to Seth. But he wasn’t the last, either. They surrounded Rafael, hugging him, touching, reassuring him the best they could that he was home, safe and sound. It wasn’t until Gio and Sasha grabbed hold of him that he truly seemed to relax, easing into their arms with the same trust Damien would have given to Seth and Dante under the same circumstances. Those two, Gio and Sasha, were the ones Rafe was the most bonded to. He’d worked with them for years now, and it was their touch that truly grounded him.
Sasha, his expression heartbroken, looked at Gabriel. “Can we?”
Gabriel nodded, and the three men left the room.
“We need to find out everything we can on Charles Armitage. Who is he, how old is he, where does he live, is he in a relationship, what kind of angel-born is he?” Damien was still staring through the dining room doorway, haunted by the image of his last glimpse of Rafe’s face. The man had been through months of hell. He doubted their healer would be back on his feet any time soon. Even with Gabriel and Micah’s help, Rafe would have to heal most of the damage on his own, and using that kind of power was draining. Having been repeatedly abused, his system must be on overload, just working hard to keep him alive.
Now that he was home, the real healing could begin, both physically and mentally.
“I agree.” Dante flipped his book shut and put his hand on Seth’s chair. “Let’s start with info. Seth, I want you to look into relationships. See if Abby has ever heard of anyone having anything to do with the Armitages in her shop.” Abby was a hairdresser in a popular shop, Mane Event. “Maybe she can get some gossip that will lead us somewhere.”
Seth shook his head, disagreeing instantly. “Abby can’t be in the line of fire, Dante.”
Damien agreed. Seth’s wife had just given birth to a baby girl. “He’s right. Let’s keep Abby out of this.”
Seth’s smile was grateful.
Dante grunted. “I’ll look into the usual, workplace, home address, anything I can dig up on him.
Damien took the next logical step. “I’ll check the Internet and in our own databases. And remember, he might be an Armitage, but I’m not sure whether or not he works at the company or somewhere else.”
Piotr stood as well. “In that case, I’ll look below the surface of their business practices and financials.” He held up his hand when Dante started to protest. “I’m in the best position to do so, moĭ brat.”
“No one doubts that, my brother,” Damien replied, “but we need you to concentrate on Eli and why his cell master won’t let him go. You told Gabriel that you didn’t like his excuses, remember?”
“No, Gabriel told me that, but I have to agree with him. We’re being given a run-around for some reason, and I don’t like it.” Piotr’s expression turned icy cold. “But I swear I’ll find out why.” A smile crossed Piotr’s face, and it was almost as evil as the Shem in the basement. “I have an inside man, or should I say woman.”
“Don’t break their cell by feeding from them, asshole,” Zeke piped up, staring at Piotr in a mixture of horror and disgust.
Damien winced. Not that long ago he would have looked at Piotr the same way, but now he was aware of how lonely the man truly was. To have the man who supposedly guarded your back stare at you that way? No wonder Piotr was stand-offish. “He won’t. He knows what he’s doing. And if that cell needs breaking, he’ll let Gabriel know before he does it.”
Piotr’s expression immediately warmed. “Spasibo, moĭ brat.”
“You’re welcome.” For Damien, sticking up for Piotr was worth it on more than one level. Maybe Zeke would look at him differently from now on. God knew it had taken Seth and Abby to truly open his eyes to Piotr’s silent suffering.
“I… Huh.” Zeke rubbed the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable. “I guess I’ll help Piotr find out why Eli is being held from us.” Zeke grinned at Piotr. “We could kidnap him.”
Piotr rolled his eyes.
“Aw, c’mon. It’ll be fun!”
Piotr muttered something very uncomplimentary in Russian, causing Damien to sputter out a laugh. The small smile Piotr shot him was happy, plain and simple joy that someone got it. It was one of the few bright spots of the meeting.
Seth stood, clapping Piotr on the shoulder. “I’ve got to get back to Abby. She wants to know when she can come and see Rafe.” He shook his head. “I think she feels bad. She wants to cook for him.”
“She’s an excellent cook, my brother.” Dante glanced at Gabriel. “And it might do Rafe some good to see life growing, safe and sound.”
“Bring Beth,” Damien added. “Sam would love the company.”
“We’re getting so domestic around here.” Zeke batted his lashes. “Maybe we can get our nails done and talk about boys all night.”
Gabriel sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Children.”
Piotr stood and bowed. “Prebyvaniem bezopasny, moĭ brat.”
Stay safe, my brother. The Russian phrase was no different from the one Damien returned. “Stay safe, my brother. I’ll get you the info on Charles Armitage’s business as soon as possible.” He clasped hands with Piotr. “If you need anything, contact me.”
Piotr nodded once, but it was enough.
They quietly dispersed, each to their own tasks. Damien’s mind whirled with what he’d need to do. If Charles Armitage had come up on anyone else’s radar, he’d be in the Nephilim database. He’d start there, and pray something they could use popped up. If not, he’d have to access public information, and that could be trickier.
He stopped dead in his tracks in the living room, all thoughts of Charles Armitage, business, or Rafael dispersing at the sound of a child’s laughter.
Chapter 17
Sam yawned as she made her way down the stairs. Damien was nowhere to be seen, but voices were coming from the dining room. Rafe must have woken up. She prayed that he was doing well. Damien had been worried sick over him.
She shuffled halfway through the living room before she realized she wasn’t alone.
She blinked, rubbing her eyes to make sure she was seeing what she thought she was.
Nope. Her eyes weren’t, in fact, playing tricks on her. That was her Precious, having a quiet staring contest with a little girl. And that was Don Pablo, on his back, tiny legs in the air, getting the belly rub of a lifetime from a little boy.
“Are these yo
ur dogs?” the little girl asked. Her gaze never wavered from Precious’s face.
“Yes.” Sam tilted her head. “That’s Precious.”
The girl scowled. “That’s a silly name for a dog.”
Why did everyone make fun of her dog’s name? Precious was…precious.
Sam blew a raspberry.
The girl giggled and finally looked away from Precious. “Who are you?”
“Sam. Samantha Brody.” Sam took a seat on the chair across from the sofa. The two children were now staring at her instead of the animals.
Precious huffed and settled down at the girl’s feet, her eyes following the girl’s every move. Don Pablo, sensing he didn’t have the boy’s full attention anymore, barked once, startling everyone before he pranced over to Precious. The Chihuahua curled up against Precious’s side and promptly fell asleep.
Much like Don Pablo, the little boy curled up against his sister, looking frightened. The girl curled her arm around the boy, her gaze still locked on Sam.
“Can you tell me your names?” Sam wanted to help these two orphaned children, but she was clueless where regular kids were concerned, let alone traumatized angel-born. Starting with their names seemed like a good place, though.
“Nate!” The little boy smiled. “What’s the little doggie’s name?”
“Don Pablo, but you can call him Donny.”
Donny’s ears twitched at hearing his name, but he didn’t wake up.
“I’m Elsa.” The girl glanced at Precious. “Why’d you name her Precious?”
“She was my first dog, and when I rescued her—”
The girl’s eyes went wide. “You rescued her?”
“Yup. She’d been abandoned as a puppy. She was sick and needed love, so I took her home. I got her well again and loved her as hard as I could. Even when the treatments hurt, she just watched me and stayed calm. She was just so precious I couldn’t name her anything else.”
The little girl seemed to approve of that, because she let go just a little bit, relaxing her shoulders and giving Sam a small smile. “How’d Donny get his name?”
Speak Thy Name (The Nephilim Book 3) Page 15
