Blood Brothers (Turning Stone Chronicles Book 2)

by C. D. Hersh

  A tall, broad-shouldered man, with slicked back graying hair, came to the foyer. He stretched out his black suited arms, greeting Eli with extended hands. Intimidated by his height, Delaney stepped backward. He reminded her of a clean-cut Frankenstein, minus the neck bolts.

  “Keeper,” he intoned reverently. “I’m privileged to be of service to you.” He raised an eyebrow at Delaney.

  “Dinna fash yourself aboot the lassie. She’s as trustworthy as yerself.” Eli motioned toward her. “Delaney, this is Larch O’Connor, an auld friend and trusted Turning Stone member. Larch, Delaney Ramsey.”

  Larch took Delaney’s outstretched hand and bowed low over it. “My pleasure, Delaney. May I call you Delaney?”

  “Of course.” She withdrew her hand from his gigantic one. “Is everything ready?”

  “I’ve a special place reserved for our guest, under lock and key.”

  “Who holds the key?”

  “I have the key kept on these premises.” He dipped his hand into his jacket pocket and withdrew something. “Here is the only other key. Which one of you should get it?”

  “Eli,” Delaney said. “With Sylvia snooping around it wouldn’t be safe in my possession. Besides, Eli can come and go more freely than I can.”

  He extended his hand. Larch dropped the key into it and checked his watch. “My people should be here soon with the body. I understand a policeman is accompanying it? How much does he know?”

  “Only that we have made a switch. He knows nothing aboot the society,” Eli said.

  Larch’s eyebrows rose into two perfect arches and he tsked. “Involving non-shifters? Departing from your usual methods, aren’t you, Eli?”

  “We dinna have a choice. He’s friends with the supposed deceased and we needed a body tae keep the rogues from suspecting they dinna kill her.”

  Larch’s eyebrows dropped into place. “Well, I suppose you know best, Eli.” The sound of a vehicle in the parking lot stopped Larch’s comment. “Our body’s here,” he said, with an anticipatory smile that set Delaney on edge. The man appeared to enjoy his job too much for her comfort.

  As he moved toward the door, she leaned closer to Eli. “You’re sure we can trust this character?” He gave her the creeps.

  “Ye canna keep asking me this question, lassie. Ye must learn tae trust mair.” Eli patted her on the arm. “I trust Larch as much as I trust ye.” He smiled at her and then followed Larch out the door, leaving her standing alone in the hallway.

  The answer didn’t soothe her much, especially in light of all the things she’d hidden from him: Lila, her suspicions about Rhys, her feelings about the captain. All things Eli wouldn’t like. She sighed. At this point she didn’t have any other choice but to trust whomever he trusted, at least in this matter.

  Harry climbed out of the hearse and searched for Delaney. When he spotted her on the porch of the funeral home, he made a beeline for her. “You okay?” he asked as he slipped his arm around her waist.

  Moving away from his touch, she whispered, “Not here. Not now.”

  The words punched him in the stomach. When, he wondered. After they’d made love? When she went all prim on him, he questioned whether or not that would ever happen. What was she afraid of?

  “Did anyone see you leave?” she asked.

  “No. You?”

  “I was followed, but I gave them the slip.”

  “Did you see them?”

  She shook her head, but the expression flitting across her face made him think otherwise. “Then how did you know you were being followed?”

  “A feeling, Harry. Haven’t you ever had one?” she said crisply.

  He knew that tone. Defensive. Guilty. She’d seen something.

  “If you had, we could get a sketch, run facial recognition, and maybe get a suspect in Alexi’s murder case. You sure you didn’t see anyone?”

  “I’m sure,” she said, her turquoise eyes blazing. “Are you planning to grill me or get on with the business at hand?”

  He considered the grilling, but figured he wouldn’t get anywhere. “Business,” he said abruptly. Spinning on his heel, he walked away, footsteps pounding on the wooden porch floor.

  “Harry,” Delaney called. “I’m sorry.”

  He stopped and slowly swiveled toward her.

  She stretched her arms out to him. “I’m a little edgy. Forgive me?”

  In two giant steps, he was in front of her, grasping her hands. “I get it, hon,” he whispered. “But you need to stop taking it out on me. A guy can only stand so much.” A tingle rose along his spine, raising the hair on the back of his neck. Someone is watching. Who? “Look over my shoulder, Delaney, and tell me what you see.”

  “Eli’s watching us.” She twisted her hands out of his, tucking them out of reach behind her.

  Harry spun and glared at the old man, who met his gaze, unwavering and intense. He made Harry uncomfortable. Facing Delaney, he asked, “What’s he got to do with us?”

  “It’s complicated. Let’s leave it at that, for the time being.”

  Why do I always have to choose the complicated ones? A little mystery in a woman was fine, but this one was getting downright frustrating. “I’ll let it go for now, Delaney, but the day of reckoning and answers is coming soon.” He stepped to the side, sweeping his arm toward the stairs. “After you, Agent Ramsey.”

  He followed her down the steps and over to the hearse where the funeral director instructed the men who retrieved the body. As they carried the body through a set of double doors, Eli blocked Harry’s path.

  “Ye canna go any farther,” he said.

  “Like hell, I can’t,” Harry answered. “I’m responsible for the body, and I will follow it.” He sidestepped and Eli blocked him again.

  “I say ye canna.” The old man puffed out his chest and seemed to grow taller, pressing into Harry’s personal space.

  The unexpected intrusion put him off balance causing him to retreat. Who did this man think he was, and how the hell did he make him back off like that? “Get out of my way, old man, or I’ll have you arrested.”

  Eli crossed his arms and stood his ground. “For what? Keeping ye from following a stolen corpse?”

  Delaney laid her hand on Harry’s arm. “He’s right. You’ve done what we needed. It’s time for you to leave. We’ll handle it from here.”

  Now she chooses to touch me, when she’s defending Eli. He shrugged her hand off.

  “This is an FBI matter, Harry,” she said gently. “Remember?”

  The starch went out of his attitude. “Yes, I remember, but I don’t like it.”

  Digging into her purse, she found Lila’s car keys. “Wait for me. I’ll drive you to the precinct.”

  He took the keys and stalked off to her car. He hated being in the dark, and he hated not running the show. Both of those things would have to change if they were going to have any future.

  Tension ran high in the car as Delaney drove to the precinct, Harry’s irritation at being overruled thick enough she could have sliced it like bread. When he started to exit the parked car, she stopped him. “If I haven’t said it, thanks for everything you’re doing.”

  Harry shrugged. “You’re welcome, but I’m doing it for Alexi.”

  “Me, too.”

  His mouth quirked into a sardonic sneer. “Sure.”

  “I’m sorry I had to pull rank on you, but there are a lot of things about this case you don’t know, can’t know.”

  He harrumphed. “I get it. FBI business. But you have to realize these are my people you’re messing with, people I care about, and it’s hard as hell to keep out of this.” He ruffled his short crew cut with his fingers. “I’m not used to being the peon, Delaney. I don’t like it.”

  “You’v
e got to believe me when I say everything I’m not telling you is for your protection.” And mine. “I like you a lot, Harry, and I don’t want you to get hurt, especially if it happens on my watch.”

  “If you’d share with me, I know I could be helpful.”

  She laid her hand on his arm. “I’m sure you could. You’ve been very helpful already, but unless I ask, you need to stay out.”

  “That’s asking at lot, but I’ll try-for Alexi’s sake.” He opened the passenger door and got out, then ducked his head into the car. “See you tonight?”

  Her breath caught, excited she hadn’t scared him off. “I haven’t changed my mind, if you haven’t changed yours.”

  “I may be a bit pissed at you, lady, but that doesn’t change how I’m feeling about our plans.” He closed the car door and held up seven fingers. “Seven sharp,” he mouthed through the window glass. Then he tapped on the roof and waved at her.

  Delaney stood in the walk-in closet holding dress after dress against her body, discarding one after the other. Everything she’d packed was too business-like or too casual. She needed something slinky and sexy for tonight. Something with the right hint of come-hither, yet not overly provocative.

  She flung her last outfit choice onto the bed and took one of Lila’s dresses off the rack. Holding the skinny-strapped, low-cut dress to her body Delaney rotated side-to-side. Sexy. After shedding her bra, she slipped on the form fitting dress and smoothed her hands down the silky material. The slit in the side flashed leg whenever she moved.

  Why hadn’t she packed something sexy?

  Why would you have? You came here looking for Lila, not love.

  Love. The word stopped her. Was she feeling love, or lust? Could you even have love without the other emotion? She thought about the way she responded to Harry. The fissions of desire snaking through her, unbidden, whenever he cast sultry looks her way. The horde of bumblebees slamming into her insides at his touch. Oh, that was lust. Pure and simple. She smiled. Well, maybe not pure.

  Could she say she loved him? Was falling in love with him? How would she even know if she let lust lead the way? Better to proceed with care in this relationship. Discover who Harry really was before she let her physical desire overrule her heart.

  She started to take the dress off and put on something more demure from her own clothing. Then she remembered what Lila had written in one of her letters in response to her begging for caution about the relationship with her Promised One boyfriend.

  I can’t live my life in fear like you have, Mom, Lila had written. Worrying this man or the next is going to bruise my heart. When I die, I want to know I lived without regrets, especially in love. I’m going to go for whatever happiness I can get. Take a chance with my heart. Because I’d rather know I tried than be alone like you.

  Those words had hit her hard. Made her fighting mad. Caused the final argument that estranged her from her daughter.

  Delaney dropped onto the step stool in the closet and hid her face in her hands. Lila had been right. She was living her life in fear of getting hurt again. By the time she was willing to admit it, she couldn’t find her daughter. The understanding and admission had come too late.

  Wiping the tears from her cheeks, she stood and peered into the mirror. She’d wear Lila’s sexy dress tonight and be the woman she’d been afraid to be ever since her ex betrayed her. Her daughter, wherever she was, would approve. No matter how hard it was, if Harry wanted it, she would let her guard down and let him into her bed, and her life.

  A cute apron, with ruffles around the top bib and layered on the skirt, covered Delaney when she opened the door to Lila’s apartment. But not enough that Harry couldn’t see she had something really sexy on underneath. He held out the bouquet of red roses he brought, and she grabbed them and buried her nose in the blooms.

  “My favorite,” she said. “How’d you know?”

  “The choice was more a hint of my intentions than picking your favorite.”

  She blushed a deep pink, a perfect complement to the flowers she held. “I’d better get these in water.”

  The strings of the apron caressing her backside made Harry wonder what she’d feel like under his hand without the dress on. Careful, buddy. Don’t get ahead of yourself, or her. She said take it slow. But from the way she dressed, he wasn’t certain she really meant it. The little blue dress she wore showed every perfect curve. He watched her saunter toward the kitchen, mesmerized by the provocative swaying. Shaking his head, he tore his gaze from her, shut the apartment door, and clicked the deadbolt.

  “Don’t forget the second lock. We’re in for the night.”

  He liked the sound of that. He shoved the bolt through the cylindrical latch with a metallic click and slid the catch closed. Then he hurried into the kitchen behind her.

  Delaney reached for a vase on the topmost cabinet shelf, her slinky dress rising, nearly exposing the skin at the curve of her bottom. He thought about helping, but decided he enjoyed the view too much. Wow, she was sexy in that dress. She filled the vase with water, seemingly oblivious to his ogling, which was fine with him.

  “I’ve started the salad and the potatoes are in the oven. The grill’s hot if you want to start the steaks.” She spun toward him, her turquoise eyes filled with concern. “You do like to grill, don’t you? Because I’m a little overdressed.”

  Stripping off his jacket, Harry laid it across the closest kitchen chair and rolled up his sleeves. “You’re not overdressed at all, hon.” He moved to her and slid his hands around her waist. “Have I told you you’re gorgeous?”

  Blushing again, she shook her head, releasing the vanilla perfume he’d come to love. “No, but thank you.”

  When her gaze swept over him, his groin tightened. Stifling a groan, he brushed a red curl from her forehead. If they kept flirting all night it was going to kill him.

  Dipping her chin, she peeked coquettishly at him through her eyelashes. “You’re pretty handsome yourself, Harry.”

  He moved in closer, and she raised the vase in her hand until it was chest high, a fragrant barrier between them. The musky rose fragrance mingled with her scent. Harry inhaled deeply, committing the smell of the moment to memory.

  “Thank you for the roses. They’re beautiful.”

  They stood there for a moment, vanilla, roses, and pheromones swirling around their bodies, intensifying as the heat rising between them deepened with each heartbeat. Harry tipped her head toward his. She moved willingly, lips parting as her tongue darted out and swept across her lower lip. Inching closer, he gauged her response. Her head slanted to the right and the vase lowered, her hands grazing his chest, then his waist, as the flowers descended along his body.

  His breath caught in his throat, and he lowered his head to hers, brushing her lips tenderly. He heard her gasp and felt the vase move to the side as she reached behind her for the counter. Closing the space between them, he backed her against the cabinets, leaning his body against the length of hers. She pushed closer into him, still fumbling behind her. The glass vase chinked on the granite counter. Delaney twined her hands around his neck, opening her mouth to him, responding with an urgency equaling his.

  A crash broke the tension.

  Yelping, she jumped aside.

  Chuckling, he shook the water off his pant legs. “What is it about you and glass, woman?”

  “Me?” she said, laughing. “It’s you. I don’t break things unless you’re around.” She stooped and gathered the flowers. “Are you very wet?”

  As he reached for the paper towels, he inspected his pants. “They’ll dry,” he said, dropping a handful of towels on the floor. “I’ll take care of this mess.”

  She shooed him off. “The steaks are in the fridge. You grill, I’ll clean.”

  “I’d rather kiss you.” He advanced t
oward her, but she sidestepped him.

  “Spell’s broken, for now. Go fix dinner like you promised. Aren’t you hungry?”

  “Oh, yeah,” he said with a lascivious grin.

  Delaney smiled provocatively. “Dessert comes later.”

  He was counting on it.

  Two steaks, two baked potatoes, and two salads later, Delaney and Harry stretched out on the couch finishing their desserts, feet on the coffee table. She’d ditched the apron after cooking dinner, and Harry hadn’t been able to take his eyes off her. Every bite of food he’d taken had been accompanied by a hungry, raking look directed at her. She’d given him plenty of opportunity, leaning over him as she poured his drinks, sashaying into the kitchen for this or that. Relishing the heat his attention spiraled in her, she’d egged on every attention, enjoying the intense stares he gave her.