by King, Lori
Not that he would touch her. He warned her when they started this travesty of a marriage it wouldn’t be consummated, but she hadn’t believed him. Hence the weekly ritual. Sometimes she’d bring in some kind of sex toy, one night he’d found her tied spread eagle to the bed. He didn’t even want to know who had helped her into the position.
He pulled off the rest of his clothes, hoping they would tear as well, but they didn’t. At least one of his dress shoes left a dent in the wall. They could report he had a temper tantrum for all he cared. It had been an ugly fucking night and Portia was the cherry on top. He needed a long hot shower to erase the stench of the scum he brushed up against.
God, he hoped it would help his headache. Grabbing three ibuprofen and some Rolaids he chewed them all down, praying it would help his head and his stomach by the time he finished the hot shower.
He often wondered if they had audio and video in the shower too, it wouldn’t surprise him. Nothing surprised him about these bastards. Had he ever had such a bad headache? It was the woman at the party, she reminded him of his Annie, and then he had to listen to Lobado’s men talk about their new source of income. The pulse of pain in his head was so bad his eyes started to water.
What the fuck had he gotten himself into?
****
Annie reminded herself to be happy. She escaped from the people intent on kidnapping her baby, but all she could focus on was her baby’s father. Somehow she managed to drive Seth away. She took out his letter, went to her desk, and pulled out the tape. Carefully she taped the seams where it was coming apart because she had unfolded and folded it so often.
“Annie,
I won’t be coming home after this assignment. Things have changed. I have changed. I have decided on a new life. I deeply regret the promises I made to you but will be unable to honor.
I won’t defile our time together by speaking of it now, only know this, you are loved.
I am entrusting this letter with my father, so you can tell him if you need anything. I can no longer claim the name Natani, but you will always be cared for by the family of Natani.
Seth”
Annie pushed the paper flat against the desk. She didn’t know why she wanted to look at it. The letter had almost killed her when Rafe Natani, Seth’s father, had handed it to her almost a year ago.
****
Seth’s parents had found her at her apartment not far from the college in Farmington, New Mexico where she was spending a lot of her time. She was working on her doctoral thesis in Archeology based on the Anasazi, and using the college campus library.
“Miss Newman, you don’t know us, but we’re Seth’s parents. Would you allow us to come in?” Everything dropped away as Annie looked at the middle aged Native American couple on her porch. Dear God, Seth had died on assignment with the DEA. Annie grabbed her swollen abdomen and fell to her knees, staring up at the caring faces of Seth’s parents.
“Quick Rafe, let’s help her inside.”
“Seth, is he? Did he? Did he suffer?”
“Oh honey, no. He’s not dead. We’re handling this badly. Let us help you. Seth’s not dead. He’s fine.” The Natani’s helped Annie into her cooler apartment, and settled her on the couch.
“What can I get you to drink?” the woman asked as she hurried towards the kitchen.
“I don’t need anything. Where’s Seth? Is he hurt? Is he finally home?”
“He’s not hurt. He’s not home. My name is Rafe, the woman currently rummaging through your kitchen is my wife Wanda.” Annie looked at his hand holding hers over the large swell of her tummy. They both looked up at the same time.
“Am I going to be a grandfather?”
“I’d prefer to tell Seth he’s going to be a father first.”
“I brought you some lemonade. I also found some graham crackers, I thought they would suit.” Wanda sat down on the other side of her husband after handing her the glass and setting the plate on the coffee table. She squeezed her husband’s shoulder. “She’s so young.” She whispered to her husband, but Annie heard her.
“I’m twenty-four.”
Seth’s mother gave her a long considering look, Annie was used to it. She knew she had a baby face. “Do you want to see my driver’s license? I’m actually working on my PhD. I’m going to be twenty-five in three months.” She watched as Wanda relaxed.
“I’m sorry honey, I worry for you. I hate to see babies raising babies.”
“So do I, but I’m a grown woman, and I want my baby very much. Please tell me why you’re here, this is killing me.”
“Are you pregnant with our son’s child?” Mr. Natani persisted. Annie looked him in the eye, and was struck by the lack of family resemblance between Seth and his parents and then remembered the strange circumstances surrounding his adoption into the Natani home.
“I beg your pardon, but why are you here?”
This time Mrs. Natani spoke. “Annie, we need you to stay strong,” she looked down at her belly. “Especially now.” She opened up her purse and pulled out a letter and handed it to her husband, who in turn handed it to Annie. “Seth sent us a letter, with this letter enclosed. He said we needed to be here when you opened it.”
It was the first time she read those words. She didn’t say a word, didn’t cry, and showed no emotion. She was used to rejection. She didn’t know how she had managed to drive him away, but she had. It was the story of her life, she had done something so wrong her mother abandoned her all those years ago. The first foster home she lived in gave her back after two years.
She took small comfort in the fact he bothered to lie and say he had loved her. She would cope, she always coped, no matter what her age, she coped. Only this hurt a million times worse. But she wouldn’t give into the hurt, she had her daughter to think about. She stroked her tummy and murmured reassurance to Nell as she kicked in agitation. Her baby felt her Mommy’s upset.
“It’s okay, baby girl,” Annie crooned.
“We’re having a granddaughter, Rafe!” Wanda cried out ecstatically, and Annie burst into tears.
“You need…You need to leave.”
“Miss Newman, we’re not leaving. May I read the letter Seth gave you?” It fell out of her numb fingers and fluttered to the floor as Annie tried to hand it him. Picking it up, he read the note and then handed it to his wife. Wanda took longer to read it, and when she finished she stifled a sob.
“You’re coming home with us Annie,” the woman said when she stopped crying.
The rest of the afternoon was a blur. There was no way on God’s green Earth Annie would have thought her apartment in Farmington would be packed and she would agree to move to Shiprock with Seth’s parents, but it’s exactly what happened. Wanda Natani was a force of nature. Her husband was the steady wind behind the force, just steadily pushing, ensuring everything moved forward.
Annie didn’t have to lift a finger. Somehow packers and movers showed up out of thin air within hours of the Natani’s arrival. One of the moving men said he would drive her car to Shiprock, which is when she came out of her stupor.
“I’m more than capable of driving.”
“We never said you weren’t,” Rafe smiled easily. Seth had the same smile, and it always meant the same thing, she was going to lose an argument.
“Then please give me back my keys.” Annie held out her hand. The whole day was surreal. It was a month before she was due to deliver. Her thesis was a week away from being done, and it felt like her life was over. That kind of thinking was unacceptable. She needed to take control. She had her daughter to consider.
“Sure, Miss Newman, you can drive. But the roads from here to Shiprock are icy. Are your tires studded? We want you to be safe.”
Damn, he made sense.
“Annie, you need to call her Annie, Rafe. She’s our daughter now.” Wanda said as she came up and wrapped her arm around Annie’s shoulder.
“No, I’m not, what are you talking about?”
“Don’t panic, we’re not kidnapping you, this is totally your decision. But know from this day forward we consider you our daughter. We would have whether you were carrying our granddaughter or not. We don’t understand the choices our son has made, but he has much love for you, and therefore we have much love for you. You are part of our clan, our family, and our hearts.” She studied their faces and read the truth in what she said. For the second time Annie started crying.
“Miss Newman, I mean Annie, please don’t cry.”
“Hush Rafe, these are good tears. She knows she finally has a home.” Wanda pulled her into the warmest hug she could remember.
Annie rode in the Natani’s car to Shiprock. When they got to their modest adobe home, the moving truck wasn’t there. Instead an older woman was standing in the doorway, looking very elegant in a long caftan and boots.
“Mom. What are you doing here?” Rafe called out.
“A good question, since my son didn’t see fit to tell me he was bringing home my granddaughter and great-granddaughter.” The woman ignored her son and hugged her daughter-in-law before standing in front of Annie.
“Welcome Annie Newman. My name is Shilah Natani. I am your grandmother.” For the second time Annie was engulfed in a pair of loving female arms. This time Nell kicked out, surprising her and the older woman. Shilah broke away, and rested her hand on Annie’s belly. “And you little one, welcome. What is your name?”
“Her name is Nell.” Annie smiled, loving the fact Shilah treated Nell as an actual person, because in her eyes, Nell was a person, she just hadn’t come out to meet everyone yet.
“Welcome Nell, I am your great-grandmother.” Annie felt her baby kick in obvious excitement. It was like when she ate a piece of chocolate, or the few times she had gotten lost in a daydream about Seth. Nell was extremely sensitive, just like her Daddy. Tears formed for the third time but she willed them away. She was not going to ruin the joy her daughter was feeling at that moment.
“Granddaughter, it is going to be all right. This too shall pass.”
Annie looked into the eyes of a woman who though related to Seth by blood, really seemed to be his grandmother. Maybe there actually was hope.
“There is reason to hope. Trust me.”
Nell kicked again against this woman’s hand, as if she too was telling her to believe. Annie’s tears dried up.
“You are right. I am blessed.”
“You don’t believe it yet, but you will. You are strong my granddaughter. We don’t understand everything, but you need to know my grandson loves you.”
“I can’t Grandmother. I can’t hold onto that, it will break me. But I can believe in all of you. I can believe in Nell, and I can believe in myself.”
“That’s enough for now.” Shilah Natani pulled her towards the house, and they sat down while Wanda made hot chocolate. Again Annie felt Nell’s pleasure.
“I wonder where the moving truck is, I need to call them,” Rafe said as he pulled out his cell phone.
“It’s at my house,” Shilah stated. “The only room here, is Seth’s old room. Annie wouldn’t want to stay in it. It’s best she stays at my house.”
“Mom.”
“Shilah…” Wanda started.
“Annie, what do you think of that idea?” the older lady asked as she covered Annie’s hand with hers. Why was she so drawn to her? She turned her hand over and grasped it, like she would a lifeline.
“I would love to stay with you Mrs. Natani.”
“Please call me Grandmother, or Shilah whatever you are comfortable with.”
Annie thought it over. Her mother had abandoned her when she was six. She had never had a grandmother. Again, looking into this woman’s eyes was like looking into a part of Seth. Even though he had abandoned her as well, it was like a part of him was still with her.
“Grandmother. I want to call you Grandmother.” Nell kicked in agreement, and Annie gave a wan smile, the first smile since reading the awful letter.
“You’ll do Annie Newman.”
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Destiny of Three
Love of a Shifter Series, Book #3
By Bryce Evans
Chapter One
“Do you know who I am?”
Sullivan Grayson looked at the man in the black robe and shrugged.
“I don’t care. Your name isn’t important, only your money. If I do this and you don’t pay me then you’ll know who I am. You get me?” Sullivan spit at the ground, inches from the man’s shoes, then wanted to jump back when his eyes turned so red they almost glowed.
He knew who the man was, but it didn’t matter. What mattered was the difference this money could make in saving the lives of thousands of his people.
“Ahh, I see. You only want the money. That’s good. Well now, let’s get started.” The man walked over to his vehicle as he spoke. “My name is Regis Yulson, and I’m a collector, of sorts. I collect many things, but right now I’m looking for something that many before you couldn’t find. I don’t believe in beating around the bush, so I’ll get right to it: I’m looking for the Powerful Three.”
Sullivan snorted and scrubbed his hand over his face. “You and everyone else in the world.” He could sense the dread coming on again. He’d been feeling it ever since he got the message from Mac that someone wanted to hire him. “I’ve heard about the Powerful Three ever since I was a pup, and still nobody knows who they are or where they are. No one knows if they’ve even been born yet!”
Regis’s laughed at his answer and it gave Sullivan a prickling sensation all over his body. He’d heard about Regis Yulson and his quest to possess every supernatural artifact known. From what he’d heard, the vampire had a very nice collection. Rumor had it that he’d found the Seal of Soloman, which was sought after by every tomb raider. If that was true, it made him a very dangerous vampire. This man was also a historian, so it made sense that he would know all about the talisman, and what little was known of the Powerful Three. But why hadn’t he looked for it himself?
“I understand you’re a tomb raider and a respected tracker.” Regis’ black eyes sparkled as he added, “They say you can track and find anyone, and I’m looking for three particular people.”
“I don’t mind taking your money, Mr. Yulson, but it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. As I said before, nobody knows if the Powerful Three have even been born yet, or if they’re men or women. I don’t think I can be of any use to you.” Sullivan started to walk off.
“But you see, I do have an idea where they are,” Regis interrupted, his voice intense.
Sullivan stopped in his tracks and dropped his head. He knew he should’ve told Mac that he was taking a vacation, but the money was too good to pass up.
Sullivan turned around and faced the vampire. “You know where the Powerful Three are?” His voice was mild, and he hated that he couldn’t hide his curiosity. This man would pounce on it if he showed how much he was interested in folklore. This was the kind of thing that the Elders in his old pack would teach the pups. He would sit and listen, while his friends snuck out every chance they got. Not him — he would rummage through all the old scrolls his grandmother had and read every myth that had been written down.
“I’m a Seer, Mr. Grayson, and I have seen the Powerful Three. I need to know now if you will take this job. I don’t need to waste my time if you’re not interested, but if you are I will give you half the money up front and the other half when you locate them. All I need for you to do is find them, and I will do the rest. Do we have a deal?” Regis asked.
According to Mac, the man was going to give him one million dollars if he found the Powerful Three, and he would pay all his expenses as well. That was too much money to turn down. He could retire after this, which would allow him time to finish writing down all the myths and folklores that were known about paranormals, something no one had ever attempted before. Putting all of them in one place w
ould finally allow people to determine what was myth and what was true, and might help them to cure some of the diseases that were plaguing their people. The lives of his people depended on him getting this money. His only concern was why Yulson wanted him to find the Powerful Three. What did he want with them?
“You only want me to locate them and then tell you where they are?” Sullivan asked curiously.
“Yes, that is all I want you to do.”
Yulson gave him the creeps. He’d befriended many vampires over the years, but none had been as large as Regis, who stood six feet, five inches tall. He had Roman features, with an aquiline nose and olive skin, and gave off a magical aura that worried Sullivan. The rumor was that Regis wasn’t a born vampire, but had been granted life by the King of Vampires when he saved a friend’s life.
But if he was so powerful, why didn’t Regis look for the Powerful Three himself?
“Why don’t you find them? Obviously you have the resources and money,” Sullivan asked, but the vampire ignored him. Something didn’t feel right about this. His wolf was telling him to leave now. Accepting this deal was a mistake.
Apparently Regis knew he was about to turn him down, and sweetened the deal. “If you take this job, I’ll give you an extra five hundred thousand dollars. That will give you one point five million dollars, Mr. Grayson.”
Sullivan closed his eyes and smiled. He stuck his hand out to shake on it, not realizing that he’d just made a deal with the devil. “I’m in, Mr. Yulson.”
Before Sullivan could pull his hand back, Yulson turned it palm up and bit down into his wrist. Sullivan tried to knock the vampire off but Yulson’s guards grabbed and held him while Regis sucked his blood. He couldn’t move as the vampire drained him; the wolf in him wanted to rush forward, but he was too weak from the blood loss to shift.
Sullivan could feel his legs wobbling when Yulson let his hand go, jerking his teeth from his wrist. “When you make a deal with me, Mr. Grayson, you do it in blood. Your blood.”
He was too weak to resist as Yulson pulled him closer and whispered in his ear, “When the Powerful Three came to me in my visions, I couldn’t see their faces, but I could tell they were two women and a man. They live together somewhere where it snows. I saw them playing in the snow together, with a beautiful log cabin behind them. Whoever built the cabin has a lot of money; it was one of the most luxurious cabins I’ve ever seen. The rock pillars had to be brought in. It must be a billionaire’s home. That’s all I know.”
