by Amity Hope
It was times like this, when he felt completely secure and content with her in his arms that he dared try to peek into the locked box of memories that comprised his past. As always, just one little nudge sent his heart racing and his stomach sloshing with a nausea that spiraled through him the harder he pushed. Ava squirmed against his side, as if she felt his mental anguish and he decided then and there, once and for all, that he was done.
Absolutely done trying to remember. Because while his current life wasn’t all glossed over happiness with motorcycle rides, steamy kisses and apple pies, he knew with unequivocal certainty it was infinitely better than his old life where he felt the darkness trying to stream in to pull him under.
He had absolute faith that his present and his future were curled into his arms. There was nothing in his past for him.
Once he’d decided that he wanted to make things work, once he’d stopped holding that part of himself back, his feelings for Ava had come back in a flood, almost overwhelming at times. He couldn’t remember her but he had no doubt he remembered exactly how he felt about her. And he felt the same way, still.
He realized he must’ve dozed off again at some point because light yet persistent kisses were being dotted across his neck and then down his chest. He pretended to be asleep a few moments longer just so Ava would keep up with her effort to wake him.
“Mmmm,” he finally murmured, unable to help himself as her hands slid all over him. “It could be dangerous for you to keep doing that.”
“How so?” she whispered. Her mouth was next to his ear and then she dropped her lips down ever so slightly to kiss the area right below it.
Gabe groaned as he grabbed her and flipped her over so she was on her back and he was propped above her. “Because,” he said, “I’m trying really hard to mostly behave myself and you make it really, really difficult sometimes.”
This, too, Ava had realized, was a side-effect of Gabe’s newfound morals. It was one that she thought she could do without.
“Why would you want to behave yourself?” she teased as she squirmed beneath him. Her hands, which had been resting on his shoulders, began a steady descent down his back and her leg looped around him.
“You can truly be a wicked girl,” Gabe said before his face grew serious. Ava stilled as he studied her. “But I want to behave because I love you and I don’t want to rush anything.”
His words had obviously taken her by surprise. She stared at him for a moment and then frowned. “You love me? Are you sure?” she finally asked. “Because I don’t want you to say it if you don’t mean it. I’m willing to wait for however long it takes.”
He had to fight the urge to scoff at her. “Yes, I’m sure and that’s not really the response I was looking for.”
A smile slid across her face. “Then say it again, please.”
“I love you,” he said before placing a kiss on her nose. “I love you,” he said again before placing another kiss on her forehead. “I really, really love you,” he said just before his kiss landed on her lips.
Ava responded by pulling him closer, wrapping her arms around him and kissing him back with so much longing that she hoped her actions told him what he’d cut her lips off from saying. She let her hands glide across his bare back. It was smooth now, flawless, and becoming familiar to her in the same way her body was becoming familiar to him.
She moaned into his mouth as the kiss deepened and he froze.
“And now I need a shower,” he said as he hopped up. “Right now. A long, cold one.”
“Now?” she pretended to pout.
“Right now,” he threw over his shoulder as he disappeared through the door.
By the time he came back Ava had her clothes set out for the day and she had just placed her chain with its two pendants on her dresser. When she showered or swam in the lake, she took them off. But only then.
Gabe picked them up, inspecting them.
“It’s so strange to see you holding that,” Ava told him. “I mean, I didn’t know it at the time but you wouldn’t even touch me if I was wearing it. And now you’re holding it.”
He clenched his fist around the cross. “I feel something emanating from it,” he said, surprising himself as much as Ava by the words. “But it’s not painful. It actually feels peaceful, maybe?”
“Yeah?” Ava asked with raised eyebrows.
He nodded. “Yeah. I like it.”
“Well,” she said in a teasing tone, “you’ll have to get your own because that one is mine.”
“Fine,” he said as he flicked his towel at her and she shrieked as she darted away. “Be that way. And I won’t tell you what I have planned for today.”
“Oh! You have to tell me! What are we doing today?” Molly had gone through with her plan and it had worked perfectly. Julia was now tucked away safely at her house and Ava had insisted that she wanted to stop by later in the day despite Molly’s protests that she was fine.
But for now, she had planned to spend some time with Gabe.
He grinned. “As soon as you’re ready, go get your helmet and I’ll show you.”
***
They had ridden for several hours, stopping for lunch at the little burger place he’d discovered. He had no idea if Ava had been there or not but was happy to find out that she hadn’t been. He had been pleased with himself when she raved about the hot fudge malts.
After that, they’d just enjoyed the ride.
When they were done, he’d dropped her off at Molly’s with the agreement that she’d call when she was ready for him to come get her.
He’d been relieved that she hadn’t asked what he was going to do with his afternoon. It was likely that she assumed he was going home.
He was going home, alright.
He cut the engine of his motorcycle and stared up at the enormous brick house for a moment. The house held no sense of familiarity. From what Ava had told him, he knew he’d lived in the smaller guest house around back. He couldn’t see it from where he was standing. For just a second he was tempted to go check it out.
If Rafe had left everything, the place would still be full of his personal belongings. Then he decided that there was nothing in that house that he would want. No music, no clothes, no anything was worth being tied to his past.
As he made his way up the walk, he contemplated ringing the bell but decided against it. It was best to act as though he belonged. As if he didn’t feel the least bit intimidated. He turned the knob and shoved the heavy door open.
He had decided he was not going to sit on his ass, waiting to find out what Rafe wanted. He was going to face this problem head on. Put a stop to it now, if he could. If it had been Rafe at the cabin the other night, he wanted to know why. No way in hell was he going to find out by sitting around, waiting to be blindsided.
“Rafe!” he bellowed. His voice echoed down the hallway as he stood in the foyer. He heard muffled footsteps and then one of the doors that dotted the hallway swung open.
“The traitor has returned,” Rafe noted in a voice that resonated boredom.
Gabe took a disgusted step back, away from the blackness that coated him. “What do you want?”
“What do I want?” Rafe asked. “You’re the one standing in my house.”
“And was it you at my house the other night?” Gabe wanted to know.
Rafe’s face remained carefully blank. “Your house? You consider that little hut your home? How…quaint.”
“What were you doing there?”
Rafe shrugged. “I think the question is what are you doing here?”
“I’d prefer not to be here. So why don’t you tell me what you’re up to so I can leave. I’m sure we’d both be happier that way.”
“You’re right,” Rafe agreed. “I do want something. Come.”
Gabe bristled at being ordered around like he was nothing more than Rafe’s pet. Yet he didn’t want to be in this vile place any longer than necessary. Just being in the house made his bones v
ibrate in disgust.
He followed Rafe into what appeared to be an office. Rafe sat behind the enormous cherry desk. Gabe seated himself in one of the chairs facing him. “Well?”
“Anxious, are you?”
“To get out of here? Yes,” Gabe agreed.
“What makes you think I want something?” Rafe demanded.
“Seems to me you are the type of person who always wants something,” Gabe diplomatically replied. He feigned boredom as his eyes wandered about the room. He tried not to appear too curious, or lost, as he noted the details around him. The desk was surprisingly bare considering Rafe had just emerged from this room. Three of the burgundy walls were completely bare as well. The fourth, the one behind Rafe, was lined with bookshelves. On one side were what looked like ancient tomes. On the other, a variety of objects that he could only guess at their use. Among them was a chalice that sent sparks shooting up Gabe’s spine. Another shelf housed a row of silver flasks that grabbed his attention.
Rafe followed Gabe’s gaze to the flasks and he smiled. It was a cold smile, one that looked forced, though Gabe had the odd notion that Rafe was suddenly trying to appear genuine. “There you have it. That’s what I want.”
“Silver flasks?” Gabe questioned, feeling annoyed. It looked to Gabe as though he had enough already. And what, he wondered, could silver flasks have to do with him?
“The blood, Gabriel,” Rafe grated out as if it were more than obvious. And likely, it would’ve been if Gabe had even a shred of his memory from the past. He didn’t want his brother to know that he didn’t so he nodded, as if he understood. “I want the blood,” Rafe continued. “The flasks are nearly empty. I need more of his blood.”
“His blood?”
Rafe nodded again as his face was split wider by that eerie grin. “Think of what we could do with that much power, brother. Just think of it! Without Father holding us back, it could all be ours.”
“I don’t want power so I guess you’re on your own,” Gabe said as he made a move to get to his feet. Not only didn’t he want power, but he was sure if they were to obtain it, Rafe would not be willing to share it. He had to wonder just what that blood allowed his brother to do. He would have to ask Ava if she knew, though he doubted he had told her any more than he’d absolutely had to.
“Sit!” Rafe barked at him.
With a sigh, Gabe sat. Not so much because he was told to do so but because he’d come here for a reason. He needed to find out what, exactly, his brother was up to. He didn’t have the answer to that yet. He wanted blood but…“What does this have to do with me? What was the message from Kara about?”
“Kara was the one kind enough to tell me you were back. I thought it only fitting she give you my welcome home. As for what this has to do with you, I need you to get Father back from wherever it is that you sent him,” Rafe replied as if there was a simple solution to what he deemed to be his problem. “I want him kept in the cage you created but I want him back.”
Gabe found himself laughing. “I didn’t send him anywhere. I definitely do not have the ability to get him back.”
“Surely,” Rafe said, the smile now gone, “you do. He told me he was meeting you at the old church. He told me the plans you had for him. It seemed laughable that you thought you could trap him. You! But somehow you did. And now you need to bring him back. If you were able to come up with the means to send him away, I’m sure that if you applied the same effort, you could find a way to bring him back. You did, after all, find a way to bring yourself back.”
Gabe ignored the last comment. He was doubtful that he brought himself back. But perhaps it was best to not let Rafe know that.
“I would never bring that monster back,” Gabe said coldly, “even if I could. Which, by the way, I cannot. You seem to be forgetting that I had the help of an angel. She’s nowhere to be found and if she were, we both know it wouldn’t matter.”
“Angel or no angel, you better find a way,” Rafe told him. “Or you and those lovely young girls you’re surrounded by better watch your backs every single day.”
Anger burned through him but he fought to control it. Instead, he tried to turn the conversation away from himself. “You would want him back here? Controlling you?”
“I simply want his blood,” Rafe stated. “I will be the one in control this time.”
“And you think he’s just going to hand that over to you?” Gabe asked in disbelief.
“No,” Rafe agreed. “But you don’t need to worry about the details. You get him back. I’m working on handling the rest.” He motioned to a book, the only item on the enormous desktop. It looked antiquated and well-used. The spine was cracked and the pages half-spilled from the binding. The cover appeared to be made of tattered brown leather but there were no discriminate markings to indicate what kind of book it was.
Although Gabe was pretty sure he knew.
He looked away from the book and stared at his brother. He thought Rafe was being oddly cordial. From what Ava had told him, they couldn’t so much as carry on a conversation in the past. Although, admittedly, this one wasn’t going all that well. “There’s no way to get him back. There just isn’t,” Gabe firmly told him.
“I’m sure you once thought the same thing about sending him away,” Rafe smoothly responded. “Father and I both underestimated you. I’m willing to admit you are far more clever than I ever gave you credit for. I won’t make that mistake again. In fact, I’m going to count on that cleverness of yours to undo this.”
“What do Cam and Julia have to do with this?” Gabe demanded.
“So you’ve met Cam? Charming young man, yes?” When Gabe didn’t respond, Rafe shrugged. “I like to plan ahead.”
Gabe remained quiet for a moment, pondering what he’d been told, yet knowing instinctively that Rafe would divulge no more on the matter. “Why do you need the blood, anyway?” he finally asked. “You have this,” he said motioning to the house, “I’m sure you have access to whatever funds you want, other—far better—houses, cars. What use is the blood?”
Rafe shook his head in disgust at Gabe’s lack of understanding. “I want absolute power. I want the kind of power it provides without the kind of constraints he always put on its use.”
“I was under the impression you had your own power to terrorize people with,” Gabe snidely replied. Or perhaps he was wrong? The only knowledge he had of his so-called brother was what Ava was able to relay to him. And all that she knew were the bits that he’d been willing to tell her, before.
“Using my own power is draining,” Rafe said through gritted teeth.
Gabe nodded, wondering if that was something he had known about his brother, the fact that his power had limitations. “I see. And having to exert yourself to get what you want is such a shame.”
“Sarcasm never suit you,” Rafe told him. “Now, since we seem to be getting nowhere, I’m going to lay it all out for you, nice and simple. You get me what I want and I’ll leave your precious Ava alone. Although, with her out of the picture, you’d be free to explore the charms of the much more intriguing Kara. I can guarantee to you that she is interested in giving you much more than that pathetic little kiss. There was a time when you would not have turned a girl like her down. She could be yours to do with as you pleased in a heartbeat. However, refuse to get me what I want and I’ll have fun coming up with all kinds of ways to entertain myself with Ava and her friends. Surely you haven’t forgotten what Father showed you? The games I’ve dreamt up for her?”
Gabe was nearly strangled by a feeling of disgust and dread. He, of course, had forgotten. Whatever Rafe spoke of was something he was certain he could add to his list of things he would be grateful to not remember.
“Or,” Rafe said smugly, “maybe I’ll just keep Ava for myself.”
Gabe lunged across the desk, his fist connecting with Rafe’s nose. Gabe barely registered the crunching sound as the bone broke, or the instantaneous flow of blood. He was too blinded by his
fury. “Don’t you ever threaten me with Ava,” he seethed. “I took down Azael. If you hurt her, I’ll do the same to you. And unlike me? I don’t think you’d be coming back.”
Rafe had been momentarily stunned. When he shoved Gabe off, Gabe didn’t go far.
Rafe forced a grin onto his face but it looked cold and fake. “I think I’ll take my chances,” he replied in a tone that was as icy as Gabe’s. “I’ll give you a week to think it over. To think about everything that could be ours. You just might change your mind. And if I know you little brother, you will. You’re more like me than you think. You’ll come to your senses as soon as you’re done playing with your new toy. I would hurry it along if I were you.”
Gabe turned and as he strode out of the office, Rafe’s confident voice shot out behind him. “One week Gabriel! Think about it!”
He was answered with the slamming of the door.
Chapter 21
“I’m still having such a hard time grasping it all. Every time I think about it, I feel like my head is going to implode. And now this?!” Molly turned to Ava. “Can Gabe even do that?”
“He can’t. And even if he could, he wouldn’t. There is no way he’d purposefully allow that creature back into this world,” Ava said with complete assurance. She was sitting on Molly’s bed, watching her friend pace the short length of her bedroom over and over again. “But Gabe said Rafe seemed truly convinced he’d change his mind.”
Because the old Gabe? He might have. In fact, the chances were pretty high that he would have. Ava was sure of it.
“Where is Gabe now?” Molly wondered.
“He had to work. Believe me, he didn’t want to go but he doesn’t want to lose this job, either. I told him I’d be fine but I wanted to talk to you. I thought you needed to know you should watch yourself. Don’t trust anyone,” Ava firmly told her.
She was not happy that Gabe had gone to Rafe’s without telling her first. She’d been furious actually, but after she’d calmed down a bit, she realized that maybe facing Rafe head on was for the best. At least now they knew what he wanted. “I think we need to tell Julia everything, tonight. She’s definitely part of Rafe’s plan and I think it’s better if she knows so she can watch herself, too.”
