Rafael

by Faith Gibson

  Thirty minutes later than scheduled, the petite spitfire came through the door, waltzing across the room in those damned stiletto heels. How any woman could walk in those needles, much less glide in them, was a mystery.

  He rose from his seat, waited until she sat across from him, then sat back down. “Miss Fox, thank you for meeting with me. Can I get you something to drink?”

  “No, thank you. I don’t have much time. I really don’t have a lot to go on. What I do have is an address where someone who matched the description of Gordon Flanagan was seen.” She slid a folded sheet of paper across to Dane.

  “Why are you giving this to me? Why not check this out yourself? If you could find Flanagan that would be a huge boost to such a young career, would it not?”

  Katherine scowled at him. “Don’t patronize me, Mr. Abbott. I’m not stupid enough to go after someone as irrational as Flanagan. That’s your job. You chase the crazies. If you happen to find him, I will consider that boost enough.” She stood but leaned over and whispered. “I don’t want to be associated with anything that has the Flanagan name on it. Are we clear?”

  “As freshly cleaned glass.” Dane watched with a smile as she strolled out the door. He opened the paper, glanced at the address, and shoved it in his pocket. He downed the rest of his coffee then dropped an extra few dollars on the table for Marley. He headed across town for an appointment that, hopefully, wouldn’t have to be rescheduled.

  Even though he arrived late, the doctor didn’t turn him away. The paper barrier on the examination table crinkled as Dane stood. Having sat there for the last half hour was causing his back to ache more than it had been when he came in the exam room. He retrieved his cell phone out of the pocket of his jeans. Shit. Several missed messages from Kaya. “She’s gonna kill me.”

  “What’s that?”

  Dane jumped at the doctor’s voice. He was so intent on his messages that he didn’t hear her come in. “Just my boss. It’s nothing.” He returned to the table, holding the cotton gown closed behind him. When he was situated, he noticed the doctor was staring at him. “That bad?”

  Dr. Isabelle Sarantos’ blue eyes were hidden behind square black glasses. “Not bad, Mr. Abbott, just inconclusive. I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but we are going to have to run more tests. The blood panels so far have either been compromised somehow, or there are anomalies in your white blood cells that we have never seen before. I’m going to have the tech pull more samples and then I will let you go. We will send these samples off to an independent lab for verification. I’ll call you when I know something, one way or another.”

  She was right; that wasn’t what he wanted to hear. Dane wanted to know what the fuck was wrong with him. Between his skin itching and his joints aching, he wasn’t getting any sleep. He was unable to focus on his job, and it was beginning to show. He could only avoid Kaya for so long. Dane never called in sick, but he had to get some rest.

  The young lab technician knocked then came in the room, setting a plastic container on the stainless steel table. She pulled several vials of blood earlier, so she didn’t bother reintroducing herself. She just got busy with the tourniquet and needle. After she was finished, she removed her gloves and disposed of them before she slipped out of the room.

  Dr. Sarantos was scribbling notes on Dane’s chart. Without looking up, she asked, “Do you want me to write you a prescription for a sleep aid or pain pill?”

  “No, I’m good.”

  She continued writing a few more lines. “Okay, I will let you get dressed then.” She held out a business card. “Here’s my number in case you change your mind.”

  Without another look back, she left him to put his clothes back on. He really should go check out the address Katherine had given him earlier, but Dane was feeling worse by the minute. He just wanted to go home and go to bed.

  Isabelle stopped the lab technician in the hallway just before she stepped into the elevator. “Paige, I am going to run these samples myself. I have another case I’m working on, and I believe they are similar. You go ahead home and tell Dustin hello for me.” The tech handed the tray of samples to her and smiled.

  “Thanks, Doc!”

  Isabelle laughed at her young friend. “Have a good night.”

  “Will do. And don’t you work too late.” The elevator doors closed on her last words.

  “Right, me work late?” Isabelle laughed at herself. There was already a cot in her office so she could get a little sleep. This latest case was bothersome to say the least. Her background in infectious disease should be coming in handy, but this was like nothing she had ever seen before. Actually there was something like it a long time ago in her father’s lab, but she was certain this could not be related.

  The notes and findings her father wrote about were obscure at least and unbelievable at most. She was going to have to call in someone to help her with the research, and she knew just the person. If this was anything close to what her father worked on, her cousin Tessa would know more about it than anyone.

  Now, if she could just find her world-traveling cousin. Tessa was a couple of years older than Isabelle. Where Isabelle was settled and responsible, Tessa was a wild child; moving from one location to the next when the fever struck, using the title of Archaeologist as a reason for such nomadism. As far as she knew, her cousin had never discovered anything.

  Once back in her office, she placed the blood samples in the private refrigerator and found her cell phone. She skimmed the list of contacts until she found the last phone number she had for her cousin and pressed “call”. After several rings, voicemail picked up. “You know the drill.”

  Isabelle would never get used to her cousin’s disregard for those she felt she didn’t have time for. “Tessa, it’s Isabelle. Listen, I have a project I’m working on, and I could really use your help. I don’t want to go into detail over the telephone, but let’s just say it is similar to the findings in my father’s journals you and I spoke of long ago. Please call me when you get this message.”

  Now all she could do was wait.

  Chapter 13

  Coffee was doing more harm than good on Kaya’s empty stomach. She needed food. Dane hadn’t called yet to update her on the lead he was checking out. She wanted to run the anonymous tip by him and have him question Rafael, but Kaya was tired of waiting on him to call her back. She packed her laptop in its case and grabbed her keys. After she had lunch she would have another talk with the prime suspect. Kaya passed the dispatcher on her way out. “I’m going to check on a lead. It’ll take a while, so if you need me call my cell.”

  Kaya wanted more information on Rafael before she approached him again. She drove to Giovani’s, a nearby Italian restaurant. The lunch crowd was thinning out. The lack of clientele along with a table in the back allowed her a modicum of privacy. After taking her seat, she pulled her laptop out of its case and began searching. Kaya didn’t want Rafael to be guilty, but that didn’t mean she shouldn’t research him anyway. First she was going to look into Elizabeth Flanagan.

  Even though there was no proof, the consensus at the office was that Gordon Flanagan had abducted his twin. When her uncle’s clinic was bombed and Elizabeth disappeared, the media spent all their time researching the Flanagan brothers and their relationship with Elizabeth, as well as each other. When Gordon and Magnus were teenagers, they both fell in love with Elizabeth Carson. Magnus went off to medical school, and Gordon joined the military. Gordon would come home on leave as often as possible to see Beth. With Magnus out of the picture, Gordon eventually convinced her he was the brother she wanted.

  Soon after they were married, Gordon began showing his true demeanor: dark. Magnus graduated and returned home to join their father’s private practice. By then, Elizabeth was already married to the wrong man. She confided in her brother-in-law that she was pregnant, and soon after, she disappeared. Somehow, Gordon found out Elizabeth was hiding out in Atlanta with her uncle.

  Kaya w
ondered if Elizabeth was still alive. Whoever helped her disappear had succeeded in erasing all trace of the woman and her daughter. If Gordon had managed to track down his brother after thirty-three years, it was possible he could find his wife as well. Not likely, but possible. Kaya had encountered quite a few rich and powerful men over the years, but none as hell bent on revenge. If Flanagan was indeed behind these murders, she was going to need an army of her own.

  The waitress cleared away the dishes and asked Kaya if she was ready for her check. She noticed the time in the corner of her computer. Shit. She had been sitting there for over three hours with no more information on Rafael than she already knew. She would just have to go talk to the man. She packed her laptop and left enough money on the table to cover the tab.

  Twenty minutes later Kaya was pulling into the parking lot at Stone, Inc. for the second time in two days. She shut the engine off and was opening her door when she saw a sleek black Jaguar convertible pulling through the security gate that led from the underground parking garage. Rafael Stone was behind the wheel. Kaya ducked down in her seat quickly, hoping he didn’t see her. Her vehicle, being a standard issue cop car, was pretty conspicuous. She rose up slowly to see the tail lights disappearing down the street, heading out of town. She started her engine and backed out of the spot, hoping to follow him wherever he was going.

  He surprised her by taking New Buford Highway instead of getting on the interstate. She kept several cars between them so he wouldn’t notice her tailing him. A few miles down he turned off toward the abandoned Country Club. When they were the only cars on the deserted country road, Kaya backed off. More than likely she would miss where he turned, but she didn’t want him to know she was back there.

  Tall trees lined the road on both sides. If it were summer, the road would be canopied by green branches reaching toward each other. With it being late October, the leaves were now vibrant oranges and reds. If she had been any closer to Rafael, she would have blown her tail for certain. He turned into a driveway, stopping at the gated entrance to enter his code. Kaya pulled over on the shoulder, waiting until he drove on, out of sight. Was this where the elusive Rafael Stone called home? She glanced in her rearview mirror and noticed another car coming up behind her. She couldn’t just sit there, so she pulled back onto the road and drove off. The car, a dark SUV with tinted windows, turned into the same driveway as Rafael.

  Kaya reached a dead-end. She waited, hoping she wouldn’t be joined in the turn-around. When she thought enough time had elapsed, she drove back the way she came. Shit. Kaya passed several more cars and a few motorcycles headed toward Rafael’s. Since there were no other driveways past his house, it only made sense they were all headed to the same place. What was going on? Was he having a party? She was pretty sure her cover was blown.

  She could always gate crash. Not literally, but she was within her rights to question him. He was under investigation, and she was saving him the trouble of coming downtown. Right. She just wanted to see how the other half lived. Her little two-bedroom would probably fit in his living room. Not that she could see his house from the road. What if it wasn’t a house? She needed more information. Her search earlier didn’t elude to his home address. It was almost six so calling Wilkes was out of the question. Shit, she needed Dane.

  Rafael had called Priscilla earlier to tell her that most of the men were coming for dinner. He requested the back patio and deck area be set up so they could enjoy the cool air. The brothers never passed up the opportunity to eat one of Priscilla’s home-cooked meals. While most of them employed their own housekeepers, none had a Priscilla. Rafe was climbing out of his Jag when he heard the rumble of the bikes.

  The men parked in the drive just outside the garage. Geoffrey, along with Lor and Jasper were exiting the Suburban. Rafe smiled at his cousins. He had met Lorenzo about fifty years prior but Jasper was new to him even though he was probably four hundred years old. Lorenzo approached and bowed his head, “My King.” Rafe pulled him in for a friendly hug. “My brother.”

  Jasper looked less than thrilled as he approached Rafe. Bowing his head, “My King.” Rafe didn’t pull him in for a hug, instead held his hand out to shake. “Jasper, welcome to New Atlanta.” They shook hands, and Rafe headed toward the house, his Clan in tow.

  A bar was set up off to one side of the enormous deck. Jonathan was handing out drinks as Priscilla was placing the steaming pans of food into the warmers that were situated on a couple of side tables. The men all grabbed their drink of choice then started filling their plates with food. There was no formality when they gathered like this. They were just a family sitting down to a meal together.

  Rafe grabbed his plate and sat at the head of the table. Once everyone was seated he began eating. Small talk was made while they ate. Nothing serious was spoken about in front of the newcomers, not until Rafe felt them out, got a sense for where their heads were. He stood to refill his drink and felt someone behind him.

  Frey, who was grabbing a beer, held an expression of amusement as he clapped Rafe on the shoulder. “Did you happen to notice one police issue vehicle earlier?”

  Rafe nodded, grinning. “Yeah, for her to be chief she sure can’t tail someone for shit. I clocked her as I was leaving the office.” They both enjoyed a chuckle then Rafe grew serious. “We really can’t have her seeing us all together. We’d have some serious explaining to do.”

  “Truth, Brother, truth, unless...”

  Rafe cut him off. “I need to speak to Jonathan, then on to the fun and games.” Rafe found his old friend inside the house eating with his sister. “Priscilla, dinner was excellent as always. Jonathan, when you are finished eating I need a favor. The chief of police followed me home. I’m not worried that she knows where I live, but I do not want her nosing around when all of the Clan are gathered together. If you would, please monitor the perimeter cameras to be sure she is not trying to find another way in.”

  “I will be glad to, my Lord.” Jonathan inclined his head.

  Rafe returned to the gathered men. He could tell Gregor was anxious to get the game started. He loved the full contact. Rafe and Gregor were almost always captains when they played. Today he decided to switch it up. He raised his hand, and everyone got quiet. “Now that you all have your bellies full, I think we should play a little football. We have new family among us, therefore I have decided we’ll let them be captains. Lor, Jasper, I’ll flip a coin and you two can choose your teams. Jasper, you call it.”

  Rafe flipped the coin and Jasper called tails. Tails it was. Pointing to opposite sides of the deck, he separated the captains. Jasper eyed all of the men and chose Gregor. Lorenzo chose Rafe. They went back and forth until everyone was on a team. Rafe picked up the football he’d stashed earlier and led the way down to the back field. “You chose first, so we get the ball first,” he told Jasper and his crew.

  “Any rules?” the newcomer asked a little warily.

  “Just one: no phasing.” Rafe grinned at him and trotted off to his team.

  Chapter 14

  All the men were shirtless. No reason to tear apart perfectly good clothing and as rough as they could get, that is exactly what would happen. Gregor and Rafe lined up facing each other. Gregor loved the chance at rushing his brother and knocking him on his ass. This was one time when Rafe was not King but just another player on the field. Nikolas, in the quarterback position, called the play and Rafe snapped the football between his legs. Players scrambled all over the field trying to get away from the defense. Being shifters, they were equally matched in speed and strength.

  Lorenzo zigzagged and used his muscular legs to jump a little higher than his opponent, snagging the pass out of the air. Strong arms wrapped around his waist taking him down. If he were human, the breath would have left his chest as he hit the ground with a thud. “Good catch, cousin.” Frey offered his hand to help Lor up.

  After the snap, Nik handed the ball off just before he was knocked to the ground by Jasper, th
eir bare chests pressed together. “If I didn’t really like women, I might think this was hot.” Nik laughed as the newcomer scrambled away from him. The plays continued with Jasper’s team holding Lorenzo’s to no score.

  Now on offense, Gregor snapped the ball to Julian. He handed it off to Jasper who ran up the middle for about ten yards until he was tackled by Sixx. Next play, Julian pumped the ball a couple of times, muscles rippling in his toned arms. He wasn’t as bulky as some of the others who spent a lot of time in the gym. He was more streamlined and sleek, like a panther. He passed a perfect spiral to Dante who ran the ball in for a touchdown.

  Play continued for about an hour until Rafe called the game a tie. Jasper didn’t show any signs of aggression other than tackling really well. At some point during the game, Jonathan brought water bottles down to the field. They all clapped each other on the back recalling catches and tackles while they rehydrated.

  “Great job men. Nothing like a friendly game to welcome family. Jasper, you and Lorenzo will be staying here at the manor with me until we find your permanent homes. Tonight we will let you settle in. Tomorrow night you can begin scouting rotation. Before any of you leave, I’d like to speak with Jonathan. He’s been monitoring the perimeter for any sign of Miss Kane. I want to make sure she isn’t hanging out by the road. It’s bad enough she saw all your vehicles coming in at once. Should she single any of you out and ask what you were doing here, tell her we were playing poker.”