by Sharon Kay
Her daughter, who had lightning ability. Holy hell.
The female was his daughter, as well.
The resemblance to her mother was unmistakeable. No wonder there had been something unique about her that he couldn’t explain.
She didn’t struggle in his grip. Had she traveled through portals before? As flashes of light popped in the darkness and they neared their destination, the knowledge born of cold certainty took hold.
If he didn’t turn her over to Splinter, Soren would. Antonio would be killed, unless he killed Soren first. But to turn over his own daughter? Or to kill his own brother?
Thud!
The portal opened inside the huge living room of the nicest condo he and Soren rented. Not only was the room big, but they had paid a witch a shit ton of gold to calculate the exact coordinates of the living room. This amulet, which he wore on his wrist, was for emergency escapes only. And today had definitely qualified as an emergency.
They dropped from the open ring to the plushly carpeted floor. The female scrambled away from him. “Where are we-”
She gaped as she turned toward the floor to ceiling windows along one wall. Lips parted, her gaze traveled from him to the glass. “We’re in…Lake Point Tower?”
“Smart guess.” He got to his feet.
She leaped up, backing farther away. “Who are you?”
He didn’t answer, simply stared at her, seeing her mother’s features and eyes that flicked from fear to anger.
“I know you took Cara. And you chased me. Why?”
He studied her another minute. “It’s what I do.”
“Chase women?” Disgust flickered across her face.
“Only the unique ones.” He stalked close to the big windows that provided a picture perfect view of Lake Michigan. “That woman was your mother?”
“She is my mother. And if anything happens to her, you’ll be sorry.”
“I have no wish to harm her.”
“Good.” Her tone was full of indignation. “Why did you bring me here?”
“How old are you?” he asked.
She paused. “What does that have to do with anything?”
He stalked to the adjacent kitchen, parched. “It has everything to do with everything…” Shit, he didn’t know her name. What had Concetta called her? “Enza, is it?” He grabbed two water bottles and returned to the living room.
“How do you—oh. She said my name.” Enza shifted her weight. “You still didn’t answer my question.”
“One, you didn’t answer mine. And two, you don’t seem too worried for having recently been at knifepoint.” He set one water bottle on the end table near her.
She edged toward the main hall that led to the front door.
“Don’t try to leave. The unit is warded. You can’t open the door.” Antonio chugged a long drink of water.
“Fine.” She folded her arms. “Why am I here?”
“Answer my question.” He stepped closer, menace creeping into his voice though he didn’t truly want to scare her. He just needed a damn answer to confirm this nightmare. “How old are you?”
Dark eyes went wide. “Twenty-eight.”
His brain started the math, but his heart was already back in Messina in the hot spring of 1988. Hours with Concetta weren’t enough. Days weren’t enough. The season was a haze of lust. He’d known from the minute he saw her that she was human, but she’d captivated him like few ever had. He’d stolen a necklace for her and had been so careless that the town police had caught him, and even taken a mug shot before Soren had been able to bust him out.
Gods. How had the insane events of life brought him back to the only female he’d taken a risk for?
“Enza,” he said slowly, as nearly three-decade-old memories slammed home. “Vincenza?” He raised a brow.
“Yes.” She folded her arms, wary. “Why do you care?”
“You’re named after your grandfather, aren’t you?”
She nodded. “How do you know that?”
“Allow me to introduce myself.” He took a step closer. “My name is Antonio Conte.”
Antonio Conte.
No. Chills raced down her arms.
He knew her grandfather’s name.
God, no!
Tony Conte…the syllables rolled through her head like the balls in a pinball machine, triggering colored lights and bells like awful, undeniable statements that exploded in her head. Enza backed up until her legs hit a couch, and she sank down as reality made her sick. “No.”
“I knew your mother a long time ago,” he said softly. “Then again it feels like yesterday.”
“Stop.” Enza wrapped her arms around her waist, fighting nausea. She wanted nothing to do with this man. “This can’t be true.” Rhys had guessed her father was a Deserati demon, but this one? “You’re a monster.”
The man—Antonio—studied her with curiousity. “I may seem that way.”
“Seem? You—you handed a poor defenseless girl over to a pack of evil demons!” She forced the words out around her horror. “You are despicable!”
“And you are naïve about the ways of our world.”
“I may be naïve but I know that you don’t treat people that way. Not unless you’re a criminal,” she hissed. Her fear washed away under a wave of anger. Anger that Cara had been turned over and might be harmed right this minute. Anger at her pursuer, catching up to her and her poor mother having to witness this.
And anger at this man who had no idea what it took to raise a child alone.
“Cara will serve a purpose with Splinter. When they find useful talent, they can be quite accommodating.”
“Really?” Fury coated her voice. “Like my mom served a purpose with you all those years ago?”
He shook his head, and had the nerve to look offended. “No. I was fond of Concetta.”
She glared at him. “Why did you leave?”
He shrugged. “It wasn’t like now, where it’s easy to keep in touch. I traveled. She was young, and on a vacation…” He ran a hand through his dark hair. “I had no idea about you.”
“Then why did you chase me the other day?”
“You used your power right in front of us. We didn’t know who you were, but we also couldn’t let you go.”
“You were going to turn me over to those creatures, weren’t you?” she asked.
“I work for them. So, yes.” A note of uncertainty crept into his voice. “I was going to.”
She studied him. He seemed so…human. So at home in this fancy apartment, with its view of the lake and its sleek leather couches. Her mom had always spoken fondly of him. Did she not know what he did? Or had he started his life as a kidnapper after he’d left Italy? “What do you mean?”
He paused, staring at her with intense brown eyes. If she didn’t know what a monster he was, she wouldn’t think anything bad about him. If he came into the shop, he’d easily pass for any other customer. There was nothing creepy or menacing about him—right now. “I just learned I have a daughter.” He gazed at her in wonder. “You’re powerful and already allied with the Watchers. Do you know how amazing this is?”
“But you were going to kidnap me…” She frowned “I don’t understand. I mean, I’ve been here all along.”
He paced along the window. “Do you know what it’s like to have everything in your life change in one heartbeat? Everything?” His tone implied that he didn’t expect her to say yes.
But he didn’t know her. “Yes,” she shot back. “I know exactly what you’re talking about.”
He stopped and took a long drink from his water. “There’s a story behind that sentence. What happened?”
She shook her head. “How can you pretend to care? You just met me.”
“You’re my—”
“Stop.” She held up a hand. “Don’t say it. Biologically we may be related but that’s the end of it. You don’t know me. I don’t want to talk to you.”
He flinched ever so slightly. �
��I deserve that. But even if you want nothing to do with me, I…”
Silence stretched in the fancy living room. Far below and in the distance sailboats dotted the bright blue lake. She waited until she couldn’t stand it any longer. “You what?”
“I won’t turn you over to Splinter. I can’t and I won’t.”
A wave of relief washed over her. “Thank you,” she said in a small voice, grateful, and not wanting to push her luck. But the memory of Rhys’s injury gnawed at her. And her mom, seeing all of this. God, how was she going to explain? “I need to go home.”
“That’s a problem,” Antonio said, sitting on the arm of the couch. “Soren—my partner—saw you use your power. If I don’t turn you in to Splinter, they’ll kill me. And he will pursue you until he finds you. He never, ever lets anyone or anything go.”
She swallowed hard. “But the Watchers…”
“They can’t be with you twenty-four seven. And even if they try, look at what happened today. I doubt your boyfriend meant for any of this to happen.”
Her eyes snapped to his. Boyfriend? Was that what Rhys was? It seemed like such an inadequate word for the intensity of what they had been through. But if not that, then what were they? “They won’t let Soren near me.”
Antonio ran a hand through his hair. “That will be their intent. But Soren and I have built a life on being resourceful. Judge it how you may. I won’t make excuses for what I’ve done. But Enza…”
She stared up at the man who had captured her mother’s heart all those years ago. “What?” she whispered.
“I’m done. That lifestyle has dulled and now, with almost harming my own flesh and blood?” He shook his head. “I’m done.”
That was the last thing she expected him to say. Relief mixed with the question of whether his statement was for show or if he really were having an epiphany. “You can walk away?”
“Not exactly.” He finished his water and set it on the glass top coffee table. “If I try to get out, they’ll puruse me. I’ll have a bounty on my head forever.”
“Then how can you say you’re done?”
“I haven’t figured that out ye—”
A key slid into the front door. Both of them turned. Enza eyed Antonio. “W-who has a key?”
“Only Soren.” Antonio stood, placing himself between Enza and the short hall that led to the front door. He slid a glance to Enza. “Who, incidentally, is my brother.”
Brother? Enza couldn’t contain her shock, jaw dropping as the door swung open and a filthy, bloodied man walked in.
“Thanks for leaving me back there, asshole.” He peeled off his dirty, torn shirt, revealing a carved chest that was still nowhere as sculpted as Rhys’s, criss-crossed by a set of leather holsters, and walked into the living room. “At least you have the female.” His words were slurred and his mouth didn’t seem to close properly. He stalked angrily toward Enza. “Your mate broke my jaw.”
“H-he’s not my mate,” Enza said, startled by the word. But oddly, following Antonio referencing him as her boyfriend, mate seemed like a better term. Even though she could barely understand the concept of a lifelong, telepathic, and emotional connection, she liked Rhys a lot. She didn’t want to stop spending time with him. Maybe not ever. But did that mean…
“So you’re just fucking him. Great,” Soren muttered.
“You don’t know that.” Fear slithered through her. Had they found the Watchers home and spied on them?
“You carry each other’s scents.” He glared at her like she was an imbecile but his eyes roamed her body. “You’re not very bright, are you? Then again, you don’t need to be, with lightning power and tits like those.”
A growl ripped from Antonio’s throat. “Never talk like that to her again.” He stepped closer to Soren.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Soren asked. His dark scowl slid from Enza to Antonio. “Oh, no. You’re not keeping her. She’s worth way too much for you to—”
Antonio grabbed Soren by the neck. “No, you idiot. She’s my daughter.”
Soren gagged and cursed.
Enza blinked against a sudden strange emotion at Antonio’s declaration. Even though she knew it was true, the words seemed too intimate and completely wrong. To have a man, for the first time in her life, claim her with that term. Daughter…Antonio didn’t have the right to say that, even if his DNA had helped bring her into the world. But she forced the indignation down, riveted by the two brothers before her.
“What the fuck?” Soren backed up, out of Antonio’s grasp. “How do you know? Where’d she come from?”
“Doesn’t matter. I’m telling you, it’s true.”
“You don’t have any children. What’s wrong with you? I’m your family.” Soren pointed to himself. “The only one who gives a shit what happens to us.”
Enza glanced between the two of them. Anger flowed from both, with an added dose of crazy from Soren.
He stalked to the kitchen, grabbed a paper towel, and wiped his face. “Whatever. Your daughter is about to make her daddy a lot of money. Let’s get her over to Torth before those goddamn Watchers show up.”
“She’s not going to Torth,” Antonio said.
“What?” Soren’s voice was low and lethal.
“You heard me. She’s not going.”
Soren’s gaze shone with disbelief and menace. “What the ever loving fuck is wrong with you? You don’t have a choice. We signed on with Splinter. No negotiations.”
“There’s always a choice.”
“You choose some bitch who you don’t even know, who shows up and claims to be your kid, over your brother, who’s been with you since the day you were born?” Soren stalked to the living room, fists clenched. “Since the day the clan found out you didn’t have lightning power, and started treating you like a second class citizen. Just like me.”
“She didn’t claim to be anything. I know,” Antonio hissed. “I recognized something in her.”
“You’re fucking delusional.” Soren shook his head.
“I-If you don’t have that ability, then…how do I?” Enza pushed the words out before she could change her mind about asking. This all made no sense.
“Another reason she’s probably not your kid.” Soren shot her a hateful glower.
Antonio ignored his brother and turned to her. “Not all of us have it. Really, only about ten percent do—”
“But it runs strong in our family clan,” Soren sneered. “We have a higher percentage than other families. Only thing is, it didn’t manifest in us. The less fortunate brothers. But we found a way to make more money than any of them, didn’t we?”
Antonio glared. “I said I’m done.”
“There is no done!” Soren shouted. “Are you insane? The only way to be done is if you’re dead. And you and I are too good of a team for you to die.”
Antonio paced along the huge window, shaking his head.
“Brother,” Soren went on, “we have a great life. Money, females, no strings, going anywhere in the realms we want.”
“No strings?” Antonio scowled. “We’re bound to Splinter for one hundred years.”
“And it’s worth it.” Soren’s eyes gleamed. “Let’s go. We’ll do what we always do. We’ll deliver our latest find, get paid, then kick back. Take a day or a week off in our favorite places. Come on.”
Antonio moved in front of Enza. “No.”
Soren’s face turned livid and he pulled a huge knife from the holster at his left pec. “Then I will.” He lunged for Antonio.
Enza shrieked and scooted away. The door. Could she get to the door? If Soren had opened it, would the wards be open now too? How in the hell did those things even work?
The thud of flesh smacking flesh reached her ears. A lamp shattered. The brothers grappled as she edged along the wall, desperate to reach the door.
Soren had Antonio pinned under him, knife held up. Antonio had a white-knuckle grip on his brother’s forearm, trying to deflect the th
ing. A bead of clear liquid dripped from the top of the knife, landing on Antonio’s cheek. What the hell is that?
He grunted. “You wouldn’t. You need me. Like you said, we’re a team.”
“Not if you bail because of sentimental bullshit.” Soren inched his knife hand down further.
Enza reached the front hall and tried the door. Locked. No! She twisted and pulled the knob in a panic. Was there a key anywhere around here? Did she need to unlock a deadbolt?
“Don’t even think about leaving, female!” Soren snarled from the living room. “I will find you.”
Oh god. Enza turned in horror, lost as to what to do next. Antonio pushed Soren’s hand to one side, wrenching his wrist at an unnatural angle.
The knife dropped. Both men lunged for it. In the flurry of arms and legs, Enza couldn’t tell who had it. Then a sickening gasp echoed off the walls.
She yelped as Antonio lay on his back, the knife deep in his chest. His ribs heaved. Blood poured from the wound.
Soren leaped to his feet faster than Enza thought possible and charged toward her, still shirtless, still looking like he’d been through hell.
She screamed and ran, but there was nowhere to go. Living room or kitchen? There was no time to even think. Soren reached her and spun her around, locking her to his chest. His arm was like a vise.
Words in an unfamiliar tongue slipped from his lips, from his injured jaw that had apparently already healed. Dread crawled up her spine. Antonio had said those words right before that portal had opened behind Java Genie. “No!” She tried to elbow him in the chest, kick his kneecaps, anything to disrupt what she guessed he was about to do.
But a shimmering ring appeared in the air in front of them. Beautiful colors skimmed across the surface like a soap bubble. “Noo!” she screamed again, but Soren ignored her.
He moved like a huge, unstoppable predator, lifting her off her feet, still caging her to his body. She couldn’t have done anything to stop him. With one giant step, he took them into the portal.
