Sacrifice

by Denise Grover Swank

  “You need sleep. You look like shit.”

  “You’re no beauty queen yourself.” James was evading him. No. Will was paranoid and crazy. James was concerned about him and wanted him to rest. It was no secret that James was the mother hen of the two. James had always gone to great lengths to protect him, acting like the brother Will never had. Will had almost died in the compound and it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that the realization had kicked James’s protective instinct into high gear.

  Still, the voice had warned him.

  Will nearly laughed at his thought. The voice. He was listening to the advice of a mysterious stranger over his best friend of twenty-plus years? That was fucked up. There was no voice. The voice had been his mind’s way of trying to cope with the situation.

  Will leaned back into the seat and closed his eyes. “I need to know what happened. What I’ve been doing the last month.” He needed to know more about Emma.

  He felt James tense. “You’re supposed to be sleeping.”

  “Consider it a bedtime story.”

  He hesitated then shifted his weight. “I’m not sure you want my version. It’s not pretty.”

  James’s answer was no surprise, but Will wasn’t sure he was ready to let go of the fantasy in his head.

  “You showed up on my doorstep after getting the shit beat out of you. Emma was with you and had brought you to me.”

  “So she knew about you? That’s totally unlike me.”

  “I know. I guess you told her because you were desperate. In any case, you were in bad shape, with broken ribs and, I suspected, a punctured lung. I told you that you had to go to the hospital and you refused. You said they’d find you there and get Emma. Emma, to her credit, wanted you to go as well. But then again, you weren’t any good to her if you were dead.”

  Will tried to associate the cold, calculating woman James painted with the woman in the woods and in his dreams. The two didn’t correlate. “Wait. How long ago was this? If I had broken ribs and a punctured lung—”

  “No jumping ahead in the story. Like an idiot, I agreed to let you stay at my house, and that night I woke up to Emma screaming. You couldn’t breathe and had turned blue, so I told you I was in charge and ran out to pull my car up to the door to take you to the hospital. When I came back I nearly shit my pants.”

  Will opened his eyes. “What happened?”

  “Emma was leaning over you in the bed, surrounded in this bright yellow light, and a spark of, like, electricity shot through you. Then Emma passed out.”

  “What was she doing?”

  James released a heavy sigh. “She healed you. All of your broken bones were gone, you could breath, even your bruises were gone.”

  “How could she do that?”

  “Her pendant. She had a pendant of fire that gave her power. But it’s gone now. Kramer took it.”

  “So she’s powerless?”

  “Yeah, I guess so.”

  But that didn’t ring true. Will remembered Emma using her power in the woods. The grease in his stomach tumbled like a washing machine.

  “The next day you left her with me to run off to South Dakota so you could figure out how to steal the book. She got pissed and ran off to Raphael.”

  “The guy in the woods? The guy who might have her now?”

  “One and the same. See? If he has her now, she’s there of her own free will. She left you to die in that compound.”

  Will wasn’t so sure about that, but kept his opinion to himself.

  “That night, Kramer’s men found her in town and tried to capture her. She got away but caused a massive forest fire in the process. You arrived back in town in time to help her get out of the woods alive.”

  “The town several miles from your lake cabin?”

  “Yeah.”

  That made no sense. If she left James’s place to run off with Raphael, why was she only miles from James’s cabin? There was nothing in that podunk town to keep her there. “How long had I planned to be gone?”

  “A few days.”

  “Why did she leave?”

  “Let’s just say that Emma and I didn’t make good roommates.”

  Will knew how confrontational and snide James could be. What if Emma left James but waited in town for Will? It still didn’t explain why she would run off with Raphael.

  “After the fire, I insisted on going with you to help you steal the book out of the compound and gather information about the Vinco Potentia and the Cavallo.”

  “Who?”

  “The group that kidnapped Jake. They kidnapped him when you were taking Emma to South Dakota.”

  “How the hell did I let something like that happen?” God, had he gotten sloppy? Maybe he’d botched everything so badly that his mind shut out the last month so he could forget it. He quickly dismissed the idea. It sounded preposterous, even in light of everything else.

  “I’m not entirely sure. I think you said Emma had fallen down a cliff and you’d left her son in the truck to go down and save her.”

  “Where is my truck?”

  “A molten mass of metal on a Colorado roadside.” James shot him a quick glance of sympathy. “The Cavallo blew it up when they kidnapped Jake. You and Emma thought they had killed him.”

  How could he forget all of this? It was totally crazy. Just like his feelings for a woman he couldn’t remember and a voice in his head. “You said I loved her.”

  “I said you thought you loved her.”

  “But you saw us together…” How did he ask this without sounding like a needy teenage girl? “Did it look like I cared about her?”

  “If you’re asking if you couldn’t keep your hands off her, the answer is yes. You even insisted on her sleeping with you when you had your broken ribs.” James scowled. “But you and I both know that lust and love are two completely different things. I think Emma took those feelings and made you think they were something else. We also know you’re not the kind of man to think with his dick. She manipulated you.”

  “So we went to South Dakota and stole the book, then we stole a plane to get away—”

  “You and Emma stole the plane, after she blew up a lot things in the process, and you crash-landed in Wyoming, where I picked you two up the next morning.”

  “We crashed?”

  “Your fuel tank and oil line got hit by bullets during your takeoff.”

  His frustration with his memory loss grew. People didn’t forget things like this.

  “Then we went to Montana. You and Emma had found out that Alex had Jake there—”

  Will shook his head in confusion. “I thought the Cavallo had Jake.”

  “Alex stole Jake from the Cavallo—keep up.” James snorted. “We stayed in a cabin a couple of towns away from White Horse, where Alex had him. I’d made a list of rental houses that I thought they might be keeping him in, and you left to go check it out.”

  The part where his present consciousness took over was coming up soon. “And I left Emma with you?”

  “Yeah, I suggested she stay and rest,” James said defensively. “She was pregnant, exhausted, and she’d just suffered a concussion. She didn’t have any business traipsing around in the middle of the night.”

  Why would James care about Emma if he thought she was a controlling bitch? This story was disturbing him more than he expected it to. And not only because of what happened to Emma. “And Kramer showed up.”

  James shot Will a glance. “Yeah, about forty-five minutes after you left.”

  “Did he hurt her?” He didn’t even remember her, but the thought of what she went through set his nerves on edge.

  James hesitated for several seconds. “No, I don’t think so.”

  That didn’t fit either. In the woods, her face was bruised and the nightgown she wore was bloodied. “What was she wearing?”

  “What?’

  “Was she wearing a white nightgown, way too big on her?”

  James shook his head slowly. “
No…”

  Either James was lying or she’d changed somewhere before he lost his memory. “Okay, so Kramer showed up. How’d he get her?”

  James’s hands twisted on the steering wheel. “Emma was exhausted so I sent her to bed. I was at the kitchen table working on research on the Vinco Potentia when the door busted open. I didn’t even have a chance to reach for my gun.” His eyes darted sideways then back to the road. “They held me at gunpoint and Kramer sent his men into the bedroom to get Emma.”

  “Did she put up a fight?”

  “No, she was drugged.” Pursing his lips into a thin white line, James took a deep breath. “Kramer’s men drugged her.”

  “How do you know that if you weren’t in the room with her?”

  “Because they said they were drugging her, you dickhead. What the fuck are you accusing me of?”

  Leaning his elbow on the car door, Will rubbed his eyes. “Nothing. I’m sorry. Go on.”

  “They carted her out to a van, put me in another van, and left.”

  “And you don’t know how she got away?”

  “Not a clue.”

  “But most prisoners are kept together. If she had broken loose or someone broke her out, your van would have stopped. In fact, the person breaking her out probably wouldn’t know which van was hers.”

  “Again with the accusations?”

  “It wasn’t an accusation, James.” Will lowered his voice. “Why are you so fucking defensive?”

  “Because I expected you to beat the shit out of me for letting them take her.”

  “I don’t even remember her. Why would I beat the shit out of you?” But he did want to beat the shit out of him. Just not for the reason James expected. He took a breath to settle his temper. “Then what happened?”

  “I don’t know. The next time I saw you was at the compound.”

  “And you have no clue how she got away?”

  “How many times do I have to say it?”

  James’s story sounded unlikely. Part of the story, anyway. There was a huge gap of time between when Kramer’s men put Emma in their van and Will was with her in the woods. And Raphael.

  What if James was lying to him?

  But why would he do that? What motive would he have? James wouldn’t lie to him. Would he?

  “You’re supposed to be sleeping.”

  “Yeah,” Will grumbled, sure he’d never sleep with all the doubt dancing in his head.

  ***

  Jake and Aiden stood on a hill at the edge of Aiden’s property. Aiden rested his hand on Jake’s shoulder, his fingers pressing into Jake’s flesh just enough to let Jake know who was in charge, but not enough to hurt. Being so close to Aiden usually made Jake nervous, but his hand kept him from wiggling. Aiden didn’t tolerate fidgeting.

  The air was hot, but not sticky like it had been in Texas and Arkansas. The cloudless blue sky stretched until it ended at the tops of the mountains on all sides. Sprawling vineyards dotted the landscape.

  “It’s beautiful here, don’t you think, Jake?” Aiden asked.

  Answers were always tricky with Aiden. Jake often thought he wanted one answer when Aiden actually wanted another. The wrong answer brought punishment of some kind, even if it was a stare. Aiden’s stares weren’t normal. His eyes would capture Jake’s and a fire would burn through Jake’s body.

  Jake clenched his fist, his nails digging into his palms as he gazed into the valley below. Mommy would think it was pretty here. “Yes, sir.”

  Aiden swept his hand in a dramatic arc. “This can all be yours.”

  Jake glanced up to see if he was joking.

  As always, Aiden read his mind. “No, Jacob. All of this can be yours. And I’ll tell you how: You are very special. My most special creation yet. Do you know why?”

  He shook his head.

  “You are the child of two very special parents. Your father is air and your mother is fire.”

  Tears filled Jake’s eyes at the thought of her, but he blinked them away and lifted his chin. The way Aiden liked.

  “You have the ability to control two elements. We’ve been working on fire, which admittedly isn’t going as I had hoped. I’ve decided to try your other element. Whether you realize it or not, you’ve already controlled air as well.”

  “I have?”

  “Yes, but those times were accidental. You were very upset and created a storm. When you learn to control it, you can do so much more.”

  Jake was scared to try it. Aiden was already upset over his failure at fire. What if he couldn’t control air? He peeked up at Aiden through his eyelashes. Aiden seemed absorbed in his speech and his promise of the valley and hadn’t noticed his thoughts.

  “Raphael is earth and he has your mother in his possession, but things aren’t going well.” Aiden scowled. “I may have to intervene.”

  Fear clutched Jake’s stomach. Was Mommy in danger?

  Aiden’s mouth lifted into a smile, which looked all wrong. Like a Mr. Potato Head earpiece jammed into the mouth hole. “Jacob, you will be stronger than all of the rest of them combined. We just need to teach you how.”

  That was the part that frightened Jake the most.

  Chapter Ten

  Dinner was almost as uncomfortable as the previous night. Emma had tried to excuse herself, but Raphael insisted they dine together under the pretense that they needed to become more unified. After the disastrous afternoon, Emma wasn’t sure that was possible. The last thing she wanted was to be with him, but he’d threatened to coerce her into staying, which meant touching her. She avoided that at all costs.

  She had to figure out how to break his hold over her. What she didn’t understand was why Alex’s touch didn’t affect her the same way. Raphael and Alex were supposed to be equals. Granted, her exposure to physical contact with Alex was more limited, just the night Jake was conceived and the night he came to her bedside at the compound, but she’d never felt anything with him. Other than revulsion.

  Perhaps it did mean that she was meant to be Raphael’s. The thought shot an arrow of anger into her fear. She refused to accept that possibility. She’d rather be dead.

  Raphael looked at Emma’s plate, his brow lowering. “Emma, don’t you like your dinner?”

  Although she wanted to tell him to go to hell, she forced a smile. “It’s great. I’m just not very hungry.” In spite of her efforts, her hatred slipped into her words.

  Raphael set his fork down and rubbed his temples. “I had hoped that we could eat together and get past our earlier unpleasantness.” He looked up and lowered his hands. “I’m sorry for my behavior this afternoon. It was inexcusable and I sincerely apologize.”

  The regret in his eyes almost made her believe him. And she might have, if it wasn’t the second time Raphael apologized for predatory behavior within twelve hours. Still, she had to play along, as grating as it was. She lowered her head and stared at her plate, trying to look subservient. “You’ve been under a lot of stress.”

  He gasped and placed his hand over hers. “Yes! You do understand. I knew you would if given enough time.”

  The pull to him was automatic and her heart fluttered in fear. Could she remove her hand without arousing his suspicion? She raised her eyes as she pulled her hand loose, reaching to pat his upper arm. “Of course, how could I not?”

  He poured himself a glass of wine and took a sip, his shoulders relaxing. “Time is short and your lack of progress is quite disturbing. I hadn’t anticipated this. You’re capable of powerful acts. You’ve done them before. Why are you holding back now?”

  Gripping her fork, she bit her lip and considered her response. “I’m still upset, Raphael. I’m sure that has something to do with it.”

  Raphael slammed his hand on the table, rattling the dinnerware and making her jump. “I should have made you forget him already.”

  She made herself answer slowly. “No. I just need more time.”

  He balled his fist. “Time is one luxury we don’t h
ave. I’m grieving as well, Emma. But we need to put our past behind us and move forward with the future. A new future.” Raising the wine glass to his lips, his face softened before he turned to face her. “Perhaps that’s exactly what we need. A new future.”

  She froze. “What do you mean?”

  “You are meant to be mine and the only thing holding you back from accepting our union is Will. Will is dead. I didn’t want to rush you too soon, but the fact remains that we need to join together before we face Aiden and Alex. If we join sooner, then you’ll receive the benefit of my powers as well.”

  “I’m not joining with you.” The words slid over her lips before she could restrain them. While she meant every word, telling Raphael was suicide. “Yet,” she added.

  He glared.

  “I’m sure I’ll make more progress tomorrow. Besides, you said I needed to have my full powers for us to join.”

  “You do have them. You no longer need the pendant.”

  “But my powers don’t work yet. I can’t use them on command. What if joining stops my progress?”

  “That’s not supposed to happen,” he said, but doubt filled his words.

  Her tension dropped a notch. He was listening. “But how do you know? You said everything is different this time.”

  “True…”

  “I say we give it more time. We need for us both to be at our best to win this.”

  He sipped his wine, his eyes focused on her. “You will agree to join with me?”

  Oh, God. She couldn’t do that, but she couldn’t tell him no, either. She smiled the sweetest smile she could muster. “We’ll both know when the time is right, Raphael. I don’t want to join with you with Will still fresh in my heart.”

  “I can make you forget him.” His words were husky as he exhaled.

  “And who will make you forget Emmanuella?”

  His exuberance faded. “She’s the past. You are my future.”

  She lowered her gaze. “You can’t love a woman for centuries, then simply forget her when the next one comes along, Raphael.” Looking up with a small smile, she added, “At least, I hope you don’t forget me so quickly.”