by Faith Gibson
“Baby, everything is fine,” he assured her, pulling her into his arms.
“No, you don’t have to do anything like that, Raquel. I’m just Kaya. Think of me as your sister-in-law, because that’s basically what I am. Rafael, even though he is Clan leader, is now your brother-in-law. We’re your family, nothing more. Okay?” Kaya grabbed Rocky’s hands and squeezed.
“Okay. Sorry I freaked. I’m not used to all this. I went from being nobody with two friends to his mate with all these superheroes hanging around. I’m still trying to figure it out.”
“Superheroes?” Rafael asked.
Sin shrugged. “Let’s get out of here. I am ready for Priscilla’s cookies.”
“She made some fresh this morning,” Kaya said as they walked toward a waiting sedan.
“And Rafe didn’t eat them all?” Sin asked.
“Nope. She hid them from me.”
Everyone laughed except Rocky. She smiled, and Sin twined their fingers together. When they were seated in the backseat, he reached out and checked on her internally. Her heartrate was slightly elevated, and her mood was a little on the sad side. He couldn’t ask her what was wrong with Rafe and Kaya sitting up front, so he kissed her on the temple and poured as much love into the kiss as he could. Rafael and Kaya chatted on the drive home, making sure to include Rocky in the conversation. When Rafe asked her what she thought about the villa, her mood lightened, and she excitedly told them about Penelope and her family. “She taught me how to make cannoli, but I’ve already forgotten how.”
“Don’t worry about that. Between Ingrid and Priscilla, they’ll have you cooking like an Italian in no time,” Rafael beamed. When he pulled up to the security box, he rolled the window down and said, “Bella Mia.” Kaya’s face lit up, and Sin was no longer jealous of the love shared between the two of them. He had his own love, and Sin vowed they would be as strong as his brother and his mate were. The gate rolled open, and Rafe pulled the car down the long, winding drive. Several cars were lined up in front of the massive garage.
“Brother, you didn’t tell me you were having a party.” Sin would be glad to see his Brothers, but Rocky might not be ready for such a large crowd. She had just commented on being overwhelmed.
“I’m not, but when the mates found out Rocky was coming by to visit, they made a point of being here to welcome her to the family.”
“Yes, we need to tell her the truth about you badass Gargoyles.”
“What truth?” Sin asked Kaya, worried about what exactly the females had planned.
“You know, things like how possessive you are. How we can’t go anywhere by ourselves. How you want to lock us up in our bedrooms and never let us leave.”
“What is wrong with that?” Sin asked.
“My sentiments exactly,” Rafael chimed in.
Sin helped Rocky out of the backseat and took her hand. While Rafe and Kaya walked ahead, Sin told his mate, “I am sorry if this is overwhelming. At any time you need a break, you let me know, and we will disappear for a while. Okay?”
“Thank you, Sin. But I’m looking forward to meeting the others. Not to learn your secrets, exactly, but they will have a different perspective where you all are concerned, and I think I need to hear what they have to say.”
“Remember, sweetheart, we are already mated, so you can’t run from me now.”
Rocky grinned. “If I run, it will be so you can chase me.” She winked at him and laced their fingers together, pulling him toward the manor.
Chapter Thirty
Rocky was indeed overwhelmed at first, but not in a bad way. All of Sin’s brothers and a couple of his cousins were inside the house or on the back deck. Their wives were there along with some of their children. It made Rocky feel special that they’d all taken the time to come meet her. When the conversations started, it was clear they were excited to see Sin, too. It had been several years since they’d all been together, and it was evident they’d missed him, and he them.
As soon as Rocky was introduced to everyone, the women stole her away and shooed the men outside. For some alpha badass Gargoyles, as Kaya put it, they did as their females asked. Sin whispered in her ear before he left her alone, “Remember what I said,” and kissed her softly. When she turned around, all the women, whose names she had already forgotten, were smiling.
“That never changes,” the redhead said. She looked like a cross between Lara Croft and a biker chick.
“I’m sorry. I’ve already forgotten your names. My brain’s still a little foggy, so if I don’t remember everything, please forgive me.” Rocky hadn’t admitted her issue to Sin, because she didn’t want him to worry.
“Heck, I’m still calling roll when we’re all together,” a pretty blonde said. The graceful way she moved reminded Rocky of a dancer, only not a pole dancer like her. “Come on in the den. We’ll get comfortable, and you can hear our stories.”
“She’s not going anywhere until she’s had a cookie,” an older version of Penelope said.
“You must be Priscilla,” Rocky said as she grabbed a couple of cookies from the tub the woman was holding.
“I am, indeed. Welcome to our family.” Priscilla lovingly patted her on the cheek before she disappeared back into the kitchen.
Rocky followed the women into a den even more spacious than Sin’s. Finley had mentioned about Rafael having the family over. She could see why he would need a house so big if there were more people than the handful who had shown up that day. Once they were seated, Kaya said, “I’ll start since I was the first of us to mate with our men.” Rocky ate her cookies while Kaya told her how she’d met Rafael and how she’d been taken prisoner by Isabelle’s brother. Rocky had plenty of questions, and Kaya answered every one of them patiently.
Next was the biker chick, Tessa. It shocked Rocky that Tessa was a half-blood. When she asked the woman about her fangs, Tessa happily popped them out like they were discussing lipstick instead of sharp canines. Tessa’s story took longer because not only was she a half-blood, but she was also the infamous baby who had been cloned back when the world fell apart. “Yep, Jonas is her father,” Tessa said, indicating the pretty brunette sitting next to her on the sofa.
Isabelle, another half-blood and daughter of the doctor who caused the apocalypse, took that as her cue to take over the conversation. Rocky couldn’t believe these women had been through as much shit as she had. Isabelle had been coerced into traveling to Greece by the daughter of the same man Sin had gone to see. Rocky hoped she never ran into that Kallisto bitch, or she’d claw her eyeballs out. How dare she kidnap a child? As if Connor knew they were speaking about him, the boy entered the den quietly. His mother stopped talking when he approached Rocky.
“I drew this for you.” He handed her a piece of paper, and on it was a beautiful park. Rocky had never seen the place before, but it was somewhere she would like to visit.
“Thank you,” she told him as he exited the room without another word.
“Do you mind?” Isabelle asked.
“No, of course not. Your son is very talented,” Rocky said as she handed the picture over.
Tessa leaned over Isabelle so she could see the drawing. “These are usually premonitions. Thank the gods he didn’t draw you with Alistair.”
When Isabelle showed the drawing to the other women, they all smiled. “Do you recognize the park?” Isabelle asked, handing the paper back.
“No, but it’s beautiful. He has premonitions?”
Isabelle smiled. “Yes. He can also communicate with Dante mentally. When Kallisto kidnapped him, Connor would draw images giving Dante clues to where he was. He’s an amazing child.”
“Wow. I’m so glad you got him back.” Rocky would never have a child of her own, but it didn’t mean she wouldn’t love the other ones. She would be the best aunt all these babies had ever seen whenever she was around. Since she and Sin lived on the West Coast, Rocky didn’t guess she’d be seeing them often. “Okay, who’s next?”
“Sophia, you’re up,” Tessa said when Abbi was finished. Sophia was also a half-blood, and she had traveled to Egypt when Kallisto kidnapped her parents. Rocky was really beginning to hate that bitch. Even though Sophia’s story had its really bad parts, there was lots of laughter when she recounted wearing prosthetics and pretending to be an old woman. “You should have seen the look on Nik’s face when I kissed him and called him ‘sonny’.” Rocky didn’t miss the way Sophia guarded her small belly the same way Kaya did.
“Hey, are you okay?” Isabelle asked, taking Rocky’s hand in hers.
“Yeah, it’s just…” Rocky didn’t want to tell them why she was sad, but they had all opened up to her. “I guess you want to know about me.” Rocky took a deep breath and started at the beginning with her parents’ deaths. She didn’t leave anything out. If these women were going to be her sisters, as they all claimed to be, she thought maybe they could help her get over the sadness she felt. Help her squash the notion she was inadequate because she couldn’t have kids. When she got to the part about Tommy, Tessa flew off the couch and started cursing.
“That motherfucker. Where is he? I’ll rip his dick off and…”
Rocky interrupted her. “He’s dead.”
“Oh. Well I hope it was painful.” Tessa sat back down, but the anger on Rocky’s behalf was still coming off the woman in waves. It flowed through Rocky, but she didn’t feel the anger; it was Tessa’s concern for her surrounding Rocky, and she welcomed it.
Rocky smiled, and continued. When she got to where she was currently, she admitted, “I think being that close to death did something to me. I get confused. I feel off-balanced. I look at all you amazing women. You’re what a mate should be. I’m not whole. I wasn’t when Sin met me, and now, I’m even less of a woman. I can’t remember stuff. I can’t give him babies. I…” Rocky was pulled off the sofa into Abbi’s arms, and the rest of the women were right there with her.
“Stop it,” Abbi said through her tears. “If anyone knows how you feel, it’s me. But let me tell you something.” Abbi wiped Rocky’s tears she didn’t realize were falling while Abbi’s own continued down her face. “None of us are whole, sweetie. You’ve heard our stories. Yes, some are worse than others, and I’d dare say you’ve been through the worst of it, but Sin loves you. For whatever reason, you were chosen for him, and if there’s one thing we’ve all figured out in the last few months is there’s a reason for it. You might not think you’re good enough for Sin, but we’ve all felt that way about our own mates. Well, everyone except Tessa.” The women laughed, and Tessa grinned.
“If Sin is like the other males, and being a Stone, I’d bet any amount of money on it, he’s strong, and he has so much love to give you. Let him wash away your past. Let your strong male do his job and make you whole again. Give him a chance.” Abbi pulled Rocky into a tight embrace, and the others joined in a huge group hug.
“I need my girl, now,” Sin’s deep voice boomed through the house, warning them he was coming. The women didn’t back away though. If anything, they tightened the hug. Rocky had never felt such love coming from another woman, not even Vivian. And now she had several friends – sisters – to pull strength from.
Sin wasn’t alone. The other men were right behind him, and they each went to their mate. The love between each couple was tangible. Rocky knew if she looked hard enough, she’d see it floating across the room from couple to couple. Sin grabbed her hand, and when she felt a tug, she looked up into his face. His eyes were full of worry. She brushed her free hand down his arm to reassure him she was okay. Another couple entered the room – Jasper and Trevor. Why she could remember their names and no one else’s was a mystery, but Trevor stepped up in front of Sin and said, “If I may, there’s something I want Rocky to see.”
Surprisingly, Sin let her go without a fuss. Maybe it was because Trevor was gay, or he was already mated. Either way, Sin kissed her softly on the lips before telling Trevor, “Don’t take too long.”
Rocky looked at each of the women and smiled before she and the young man who looked to be about her age left the room.
“I know the other mates told you their stories, and I wanted you to hear mine.” Trevor, with his inked arms and purple streaked hair, led Rocky to Rafael’s garden. She was amazed at how the air changed as soon as they stepped onto the walkway which meandered through Rafael’s sanctuary. The only way she could describe it was magical. Much like Sin’s smaller garden, the area Trevor led Rocky through felt as though Buddhist Monks had blessed the place themselves. A sense of peace washed over her.
Trevor stopped at a bench a short distance in and asked her to sit with him. He was silent for a moment, sitting with his eyes closed. Either he was basking in the same feeling she was, or he was gathering up the words to say. She didn’t bother him in either case. When he opened his eyes, Trevor slipped his hand into hers and held it like a brother would. She liked him already.
“I’m a clone,” Trevor blurted. “I was made because my brother was sick, and my parents wanted there to be spare parts. All my life I’ve felt like a freak. Like my parents didn’t want another child, only a thing to keep their real child alive. Don’t get me wrong; I love Travis, and he loves me. But if anyone feels unworthy to be a mate, it’s me.”
“How… how did you know?”
“All the mates have felt the same way, with the exception of Tessa. That broad’s crazy, but I love her. She’s a badass in her own right, and I’d take her at my back any day.” Rocky didn’t miss the admiration in Trevor’s voice when he spoke of the redhead. “When a new mate meets the rest of us, we tell our stories so the new person doesn’t feel alone, and so they, you, know we understand how you’re feeling. When I met Jasper, I was in heaven. Not because I thought he was interested in me romantically, but because he liked the same kind of music I do. When he asked me to a concert, I accused Dante of putting him up to it. When my boss assured me that wasn’t the case, I thought to myself ‘finally, I have a friend.’ I had made friends in college. Most of them were clones, too. But after college they all drifted away, and I was alone. Travis was living in New Athens, and even though we talked on the phone, I rarely saw him.
“Jasper and I hung out, playing video games. Of course I was attracted to him, and it wasn’t just the mate bond. Have you seen him? I still can’t wrap my head around why he would want to be with someone like me, bond or not. Anyway, his ex-lover, Theron, came to town. The scary bastard followed me, but when he couldn’t get to me, Theron hurt Travis and killed his girlfriend. Then he targeted Jasper. Him and his crazy human sister, Kallisto, poisoned Jasper, leaving him to die.”
“Alistair’s daughter, Kallisto?”
“Yep. Bitch gets around. She’s had her hand in several of the mate’s troubles. Anyway, Dante was the one to tell me about the Gargoyles and what being a mate meant. That explained everything. The mate bond was the only reason Jasper wanted me. Long story short, Jasper beheaded Theron and has spent every moment since then convincing me I am worthy to be his mate and that he loves me because I’m me.”
“I appreciate you sharing, Trevor, but that doesn’t change the fact I’m not whole.”
“In what way?”
“I can’t give Sinclair babies. My cousin Tommy…” Rocky choked back a sob, and Trevor pulled her into a hug.
“Let me tell you something. I can’t give Jasper babies, either.” Rocky laughed at his silliness, but he was speaking the truth. “Don’
t laugh; you know it’s true. But that doesn’t mean we can’t adopt or find a surrogate. Just because he’s Gargoyle doesn’t mean our child has to be. Now, I know your situation is different. I don’t have the equipment for making babies. Your cousin – who I hope is rotting six feet under – took the ability away from you. Sin isn’t going to love you any less because of it. For whatever reason, you and he were thrown together by the cosmos, or the fates, or gods, or whatever. You were chosen for Sin, so there is something about you he needs. And vice versa. I’m still not convinced the fates got it right in putting me with Jasper, but I’m sure glad they did. While he tries to convince me we belong together, I bask in the love he shows me every day. I no longer identify as Trevor the clone. Now, I’m Jasper’s mate and best friend. I like that title a whole lot more. Let Sin do that for you. Let him heal you.”
Rocky leaned her head against Trevor’s shoulder as she let the words sink in. Was it that easy? Nothing else in her life had ever come easy, but maybe this would if she let it.
“We better get back. I have a feeling Sin is standing at the back door listening in to make sure I’m not trying to corrupt you.”
“He can hear us all the way out here?”
“Oh, yeah. Can’t you Sinclair?”
A shrill whistle rent the air, and Trevor laughed. “I hear you, buddy. Come on, beautiful. Let’s get you back to your man.”
Rocky didn’t like the fact Sin had listened in on their conversation, but she did appreciate his protectiveness. When she and Trevor walked out of the garden, Sin was standing on the back deck with his forearms leaning on the railing. Jasper was next to him, grinning like a fool at his mate. Jasper took Trevor’s hand and led him inside, leaving Rocky and Sin alone.
“He is right you know.” Sin placed his hands on Rocky’s face and held her. “You are worthy, and like Jasper, I am going to spend every second proving it to you. I love you, Raquel. No matter what the future brings, I will always love you.”
