“What happened?” Roman approached.
Ridley pushed away from EJ. Reluctantly, he let her go. He steadied her with a hand around her waist as she wobbled. “I woke up and Emeline was waiting for me. She started. I finished.” Drained, she slumped against EJ.
“Let me aid you.” Reign moved toward them. Avery blocked his path.
“Not her,” Avery said. Emeline vanished in his arms.
“How did you do—” Thane glanced around the room.
“Where did you send her?” Roman raised an eyebrow.
“Upstairs to my bedroom.” Avery’s gaze never strayed from Ridley.
“You cannot stop me from healing her,” Reign said—then vanished.
“What the—”
“Where did he—”
The rest of the men vanished, leaving Avery, EJ, and Ridley alone.
“Wow, you’re more powerful than Khuket ever was. Where did you send them?”
Still, as stone, Avery didn’t answer. He stared at her, his green eyes now totally black.
“Must be your Egyptian DNA,” Ridley mumbled.
“Don’t know. Don’t care,” Avery said.
“Makes sense.” Ridley continued as if he hadn’t spoken. “You’re a full god, while Roman and Reign are demigods. Your chaotic powers will never heal anyone.”
“Stalling won’t work.” Avery stepped closer. EJ moved directly into his path.
Ridley grabbed EJ’s arm and stepped between the men. “Don’t. Please.”
EJ refused to take his gaze off Avery.
She cupped his face and drew him to her. The softness of her palms compelled him more than her plea. Though he didn’t want to break eye contact with Avery, EJ gave her his attention.
“I don’t want you fighting your brother again, not for me.”
“Release EJ now, and I will make it quick,” Avery said to Ridley.
Ridley pivoted to Avery. “Release him? How can I do that when I don’t control him any longer? You do, oh Great God,” she sneered. “The moment you arrived, my control ended.”
“Then why did he shield you?” Avery said. The contempt on his face showed his disbelief.
“I-I guess he’s still following my order to protect me.”
Ink crawled over Avery’s skin.
“I’ll release him, but I have to ask you for one thing.” Her voice cracked at the end.
“I’m not going to spare your life.” Avery spat.
No. Command me to protect you again. Do it! Trapped in his own skin EJ clawed at the restraints binding him.
She stiffened and fisted her hands at her sides. “I didn’t ask you to. It’s not my life I want you to spare. Her name is Josie Wesson. She’s eight and goes to Granderson Elementary School in Suffolk County. Promise you’ll watch over her. Make sure she has a happy life.” Her voice hitched and lowered to a broken murmur. “You won’t have to do it forever. Only ’til she reaches twenty-five.”
Don’t do it, EJ wanted to yell, I will protect you, but he couldn’t speak.
“Who is she to you?” Avery demanded.
“An innocent child. Will you do it?”
“Yes. You have my word.” Avery didn’t hesitate.
Her hand landed on EJ’s shoulder. Bloody, dirty, and bruised… her amethyst eyes were diamond hard. Her spine stiff. Whatever Avery had planned for her, she wouldn’t beg. Shit, he’d seen bigger men, hardened criminals blubber for their lives when faced with their end game. Not Ridley. Not his Candy Cane.
“EJ. Thanks for protecting me, even though you didn’t have a choice. Now, you don’t have to protect me anymore.” She stroked his cheek. Warmth rushed through him, combined with an intense longing to defend her even as her words coasted over him, sunk into his brain. He expected to feel lighter, feel the bonds tying him to Ridley snap. Instead, he felt nothing except bereft at her words.
“EJ, leave the basement. Go to your bedroom. Wait for me there,” Avery ordered.
Compulsion framed each word. He’d traded one master for another, first hijacked by Khuket and now Avery. He had to obey. Refusal wasn’t an option. Yet, that is exactly what he did. He refused. EJ glued his feet to the ground and didn’t budge.
“EJ, you will do as I command. Leave. The. Basement.” Ink crawled over Avery’s face, transforming him into a living nightmare.
Against his will, EJ’s foot peeled off the floor and he took one step toward the exit. Then another, even though leaving was the last thought on his mind.
“Goodbye, EJ.” Ridley called to him.
“I’m going to kill you, after you answer some questions.” Avery’s voice rolled like thunder in the enclosed space.
Ridley dead. Killed by Avery.
She said she couldn’t die. Slit her own throat and came back to life. Her death was preordained, but if anyone could break the curse and kill Ridley, he’d bet money on Avery. And if he didn’t succeed in killing her, he’d make her wish he had.
EJ stopped, his body torn between continuing the journey upstairs and staying. Stuck in the doorway, he gripped the steel frame and battled his will for domination. Against his protesting muscles, he pivoted and faced both of them. Avery had his back to him. Ridley’s eyes widened in surprise.
He was tired of being a puppet. Tired of being controlled. Used by Avery. By Ridley. No one told him what to do.
NO. ONE.
The shackles on his will snapped. In the next instant, EJ tossed Avery into the nearest wall. Then hauled him up by the throat. “Nobody touches her.” His voice was gritty from lack of use for weeks. He leaned close to Avery until they were centimeters apart. “You feel me?”
Dust trickled from the ceiling. When it settled, a grin split Avery’s face as a stream of blood trickled from his temple. “Welcome back.”
Chapter Nineteen
EJ was back in the drawing room, ass parked in the same chair. On the other side of the room, the men discussed him as if he was still zombified. Damn, he felt weak, drained of every bit of energy he’d ever had. At the same time, he sensed a well of strength buried within his soul. A heavy metal band tuned up inside his skull, ready to kick into a driving beat that promised to have him raving within seconds.
Raised voices echoed in the cavernous room, adding to his pain. Roman and Reign versus Avery. The twins didn’t like Avery usurping their power and tossing their asses into the backyard. There’s a new sheriff in town. One whose name doesn’t start with an R. EJ would snicker if he wasn’t so pissed.
What would Avery do with that power? Chaos, the word meant anarchy, not a garden tea party. By the black, inky substance scrolling up his neck and over his face, anarchy might be exactly what they would get.
EJ hardened his heart and dissected Avery without the layers of sibling adoration and rivalry clouding his vision. He stared through the layers of his skin, muscles, and bone to the heart of the man he loved and understood. After so many years of boyhood admiration and emulation, it wasn’t hard to identify the well-oiled gears driving his brother’s engine. But fuck! That didn’t excuse the lies.
“Roman! Roman!” Ember’s squeal and the rapid patter of her feet echoed down the hallway. She ran into the drawing room with ruddy cheeks and bright eyes, in her arms, a squirming, black Labrador puppy. Stella and Hector were breathless right behind her. The room quieted. “I found him in my room!” She vibrated with delight. “Is he mine?”
Roman cut a glance at a beaming Hector then smiled at the child. “Of course she is.” He petted the animal. “You have to pick a name.”
“I already di—” Ember froze. Slowly, her head turned EJ’s way.
Never had he wanted to disappear more. The open fear in her soft brown eyes eviscerated him. “Ember, I’m so sor—”
The child jumped as if hearing his voice was the last thing she expected. She dropped the puppy and threw herself into Roman’s arms. He scooped up her and the puppy. “It’s okay, Ember. It’s okay.” He murmured as he carried her out of the room.
Hector started to follow, but Roman shook his head and left. He hadn’t gone far when EJ heard Stella say, “Sorry, I tried to catch her, but couldn’t. She’ll be all right.”
No, she wouldn’t. All because of me. EJ lurched to his feet and strode to the bar. He gripped the first bottle he could reach—a half-empty bottle of deep amber liquid—and tipped it to his mouth. He swallowed without tasting and welcomed the burn trailing to his gut. It dulled his aching head. Did nothing for his conscience.
“EJ, it’s not your fault,” Avery said.
“I’m the one who stuck a needle in her neck and handed her over to a monster so the deity living inside of her could be sucked out. Think she’ll ever forget that? Forgive that?” EJ answered his own question with a shake of his head. He took another swig and glanced at the label. Bourbon. Not his favorite. He didn’t care.
“You weren’t operating under your own influence.” Roman stood in the doorway.
“How is she?” EJ pointed at the door through which Ember and Roman left.
Roman’s eyes narrowed as if measuring what to say. “Not good. Stella is taking care of her.” His gaze shifted to Hector. “I thought we agreed to wait until Christmas for the puppy…but I’m glad it’s here to distract her.”
Hector had the decency not to smirk. “You’re welcome.”
EJ swallowed a third mouthful and drowned out the peanut gallery. A hand landed on his shoulder.
“It will take time, but she will get over it and understand,” Avery said.
“Get over it? Like you got over how wonderful our parents were to you? I terrorized a child!” Khuket had sent him to retrieve Ember. Powerless to stop the command, he came to RockGate with one purpose, to capture the eight-year-old girl. Ridley handed him the syringe before he left the Order.
“Slip this into her IV. It will make it easier to transport her. She won’t wake up and be afraid.” Ridley couldn’t have known Ember had already survived a suicide attempt. He understood why Hector bought the puppy, but what happiness she had achieved with her new pet evaporated the second she spotted EJ.
The bourbon bottle sailed across the room, a missile aimed at the nearest window. Hector gasped while the rest of the group tracked the trajectory as if they were at a Giants game and the window was the goal post. Reign caught it at the last second.
“Thank, God.” Hector whipped his handkerchief from his breast pocket and dabbed at the sweat dotting his brow.
Fuck! EJ needed to break something, anything. He grabbed a crystal decanter, hauled his arm back, and threw it into the shelves of bottles lining the wall behind the bar. Clarity came with the sound of breaking glass and the heady scent of spilled liquor. Ember might never forgive him, might always see him as the man who hurt her. Though he’d apologize until his dying day, he couldn’t fix what he had done. He couldn’t save her from Khuket—but he could save Josie. No. Not could. He would save Josie.
Whatever curse hunted Ridley and Josie, he would break it and maybe earn himself a little redemption.
His stomach growled. Damn, he was starved. Ridley had to be in the same condition, if not worse due to her high metabolism. He strode from the room and went to the kitchen. He grabbed a plate and utensils and shooed Hector out of the way as he entered the walk-in refrigerator.
Cold air curled around him; he barely noticed. He didn’t know what she liked, so he picked his favorites. A glazed ham hidden beneath a layer of plastic wrap had his complete attention. He sliced a piece for her and stuffed a separate hunk into his mouth. He spooned some mashed potatoes and gravy, found some fried chicken, roast beef, and couscous. Chicks liked stuff like couscous. There was some kind of truffle mac-n-cheese everyone loved hidden behind a head of lettuce. A few more items and the plate was complete.
An audience awaited him when he exited the refrigerator. Their gazes followed him to the microwave. The interrogation was about to begin, and he didn’t fucking feel like it. A sharp twist of his neck released a burst of tension and leveled out his anger as he waited for the food to finish nuking.
Avery started talking. EJ tuned him out and faced the family. His shoulders bunched ready to brawl. “Did you heal her?” he said to Reign.
“She was already healed when I returned,” Reign said.
EJ’s tension dialed down. He’d forgotten she had that ability. “Thanks, anyway.”
Reign shrugged.
“Are you listening?” Avery snapped.
EJ side-eyed his brother and grimaced. Wife or mother, he couldn’t decide which Avery sounded more like. “Wanna tell me what’s going on with the roaming ink? And is it contagious?”
Avery’s nostrils flared. Someone chuckled, probably Thane, but EJ didn’t break eye contact with Avery to discover. “New God of Chaos, huh.” He cut Avery off when he opened his mouth to speak. “Nice upgrade from an ordinary killer.”
Avery stiffened as if being even more rigid than his usual stony countenance was possible. “You got something to say?”
Yeah, forget why you did it; it’s already done. I get why you didn’t tell me when I was still a kid. Knowing you killed our parents would’ve done some damage. I can admit that. But I grew up a long time ago. So why the hell didn’t you tell me? “I got as much to say on the bombshell of the day as you do.”
The microwave beeped and cut off. EJ picked up the silverware, linen napkin, and bottled water, Hector had set out for him and retrieved the plate. He moved to the hidden staircase.
Avery blocked EJ’s path. “She’ll be easier to interrogate while hungry.” He pivoted and strode to the hidden door to the lower level and the secured room.
EJ didn’t follow. He waited for Avery to realize he wasn’t trudging dutifully behind him. It took thirty seconds for his big bro to glance over his shoulder.
“You’re not interrogating anyone.” EJ rested the plate and everything else on a nearby counter.
Eyes narrowed, Avery studied EJ. “Get some sleep. I’ll handle the rest from here.” Not waiting for a reply, he made to leave again.
“Is that an order? ’Cause you’re good at giving orders. And I used to be good at following them.” EJ rolled his shoulders. The leather jacket he still wore creaked. The weapons strapped beneath his arms settled reassuringly against his sides. EJ forced himself to relax. This discussion would not go that route.
What if it did?
Avery still blocked him, his body tensed, yet his Ink hadn’t made an appearance. Roman stepped between them. EJ respected him and the many sacrifices he’d made for the family. Hell, he’d always respected all of them. Loved them. Would lay down his life in a heartbeat for every single one.
Right now though, they needed to get out of his way or be crushed. He was done with anyone telling him what to do.
Roman faced him. “Avery’s right, EJ. You’ve been through a lot. Resting is a good idea.” A chorus of ‘yeahs’ followed Roman’s speech.
Was he this gullible? Easily led? Apparently.
EJ flexed his neck, snapping a couple of vertebrae, releasing a minute amount of tension, preparing himself to keep this to a fists only fight. “I’m not going anywhere, except to that holding cell with a plate of food and water. No one is going to stop me.” The message applied to everyone, yet his gaze landed on Avery.
“You think he’s still under the influence?” Thane whispered.
“Must be,” Quin replied.
“You’re not thinking strai—” Avery started.
“Why? ’Cause I don’t agree with you anymore? With any of you?” He spared a glance at the rest of the men. “Oh, that’s right. I can’t think without you.” He pointed at Avery. His hand curled into a fist as he dropped it to his side.
“Isn’t that what you said? You tell me where to go, what to do, what I want and don’t want. Here’s a piece of advice: Just because a person can’t talk or move doesn’t mean they can’t hear.” EJ chuckled at Avery’s startled expression—a dry sound that held no mirth, while a string of muffled curs
es circled the room.
EJ tapped his ear. “Yeah. Not quite a zombie, Bro. Heard every word you said.” He let that sink into all of their brains while he picked up the plate and bottled water.
Avery hadn’t left his position blocking the door. EJ halted a few feet away, never more grateful for his two-inch advantage over his older sibling. Avery’s surprise hadn’t ended. His blank mug deserved a meme on the internet.
“Move.” Don’t make me do it for you.
A long second stretched between them. Icy blue eyes clashed with green ones. Until Avery stepped aside. Measured relief poured into EJ only because he knew it wouldn’t last. His brother wasn’t known for his flexibility, and bending to Avery’s will was no longer an option.
EJ walked downstairs into the basement. There were two secured rooms, one complete bathroom, and a short tunnel leading to an exit behind the tennis courts. One bedroom was open and empty, needing repair. The other closed. He entered the password. The lock clicked. The door swung open and closed after he stepped inside.
The chair and cot had been removed. They’d left her a blanket, which she had wrapped around her, and a pillow, which she’d placed between her and the wall. Smeared blood joined with the dirt on her face and hair, but there were no visible cuts or bruising. Her eyes were closed, yet her chest hadn’t moved since he entered. She wasn’t asleep.
“I brought you food and water.” He shook the bottle, letting her hear it slosh.
Her eyes cracked open, and she zeroed in on the provisions. “What’s the catch? Want me to beg?”
A few days ago, yeah. Now… He placed the plate next to her, twisted the cap off the water, and held it out to her. “It’s not poisoned. Neither is the food.”
She took the water. “Wouldn’t work anyway.” And drained half of the bottle in one long pull.
He sat on the floor, opposite her, his back against the cold wall, and watched as she picked up the drumstick and bit into it with a gusto many men would envy. She devoured the fried chicken, mac n cheese, fried string beans, and buttered rolls. There was nothing dainty about it. He didn’t interrupt with his questions. He waited and took a small amount of joy at the fork clanking against the plate.
Encore (Descendants of Ra: Book 4) Page 13
