Broken Butterfly_A Fortis Security Novel

by Maddie Wade

  For the thousandth time, she wished he was here.

  “So, we focus on finding them. Have we had any word from Zin, Lucy, and Kanan?” Daniel asked.

  Zack shook his head and looked at the others in some kind of warning.

  “Lucy checked in last night. She will contact us as soon as she has news,” Jace answered.

  As if talking about her had made her materialise, Lucy walked through the door with Kanan behind her. Celeste watched as the door closed, and Zin did not appear. Disappointment was like lead in her stomach. She looked to Kanan as he came toward her and put his arm around her, giving her a short squeeze.

  “You okay, kiddo?” he asked. He looked tired but physically fine.

  “Yes, I’m fine. What about you? You look tired.”

  “I’m fine, just a lot of waiting around.”

  “Did we get anything?” Zack asked.

  Lucy nodded and went to Jace, his arms enfolded her instantly, and she sighed. “We have a possible location in Bulgaria a town called Somakov.”

  Celeste saw Jace rub Lucy’s back in soothing motions and yearned for Zin as if it was a physical pain in her body.

  “We need to let Eidolon know,” Daniel said.

  Zack nodded, “Yes we do. Okay, people, you all have your assignments, so crack on and report in frequently. This is fast moving, so constant communication is key.”

  “I’m going to get a shower, I stink,” said Kanan as he smiled her, his eyes wandering over her clinically trying to assess if she was alright.

  “Yes, you do,” she said with a laugh and waved her hand in front of her nose.

  “Hey,” he laughed but seemed satisfied and walked to the door. Everyone was filtering out, but she couldn’t find the energy to move.

  Daniel stopped beside her as he walked to the exit. “Celeste, I hope you don’t mind me saying, but I have had the unfortunate experience of losing someone I loved.” His face clouded with pain so tangible she felt it. “It is the most painful thing I have ever experienced, and I still experience it every day when I wake up and for a few seconds have to re-live it. That is what Zin will feel if he loses you. I have never seen anyone look at someone as he does you, so please do not think for one second that your death would be the easiest to bear. For him, it would be like a slow painful death every day.

  “My wife didn’t fight for what we had, and now Paige and I pay that price. Fight for him. Fight to live, don’t condemn him to a life without the woman who owns his soul. He won’t survive it.” With that emotional declaration, he touched his hand to her shoulder and left, but that touch lingered as she saw the pain, anger, and something else that Daniel lived with day in day out.

  She wouldn’t do that to Zin, she would fight. “Lucy,” she called.

  Lucy looked up from her place on Jace’s’ lap. “Yes?”

  “Where is he?” Celeste watched as Lucy’s face clouded over.

  “He left before we did, but he wasn’t in a good place Celeste.”

  “Tell me,” she demanded.

  “You should probably leave him to himself for a while,” Lucy said kindly.

  Celeste knew she meant well. “You don’t get to decide that. If it was Jace would you stay away if he was in pain?” she asked, her eyes never losing contact with Lucy.

  “You should tell her babe. He probably needs her more than he realises,” Jace stated. Celeste felt a smile tip the corner of her lips.

  “Okay, okay. He said he was going home to shower and change and then he was heading out for a bit. My guess is he will take the bike out. If you go now, you should catch him at home.”

  Without listening for more Celeste was moving towards the door and then realised she had no transport. Damn it!

  Rushing back into Fortis she ran to the Tech room looking for Drew. Pushing open the door she nearly ploughed into Will who was coming out.

  “Wow, where’s the fire?” he stated as he steadied her with his hands as she wobbled.

  “I need to go to Zin’s flat, and I don’t have a car. I’m looking for Drew,” she answered.

  “No need, pretty lady,” he smiled, and it was a killer smile. “I’m on my way out for food, I can take you.”

  “Thanks, I just really need to see him.”

  ~~~

  Sitting on the edge of the bed they had shared, Zin inhaled. Her scent was everywhere, it was comforting, but at the same time, he felt like he was contaminating it with his evil. He brought his hands to his face slowly, and he could still see the specks of blood that he just couldn’t get off clinging to his fingernails.

  Maybe he would always be able to see the blood of the people he had murdered, maybe that was his lot in life. It had never had any effect on him before, before her, before her sweetness had shown him what he really was. He should end it, set her free from the black stain that he carried on his soul.

  He just didn’t know if he could. Celeste was like a drug, and he was the starving addict that couldn’t stay away. Killing the Surgeon should have given him a high, he had wanted that bastard dead for years and no doubt he had deserved it. The world was certainly a better place without him in it.

  It was the out of control way that he had snuffed out that life, like an animal. His baser instincts to kill and maim had taken over. Hearing those vile, degrading things said about his sister and then the threats to his Pixie, he had lost it.

  His humanity buried under rage and anger, what if it happened again? What would happen if next time it happened, Celeste saw and realised what he was? What if she touched him and saw?

  Panic raced through him at the thought. He wouldn’t be able to bear it if she looked at him with fear or hate because of what she saw in his mind. Standing, he started to shed his clothes. Zin needed a shower and sleep, then maybe he could come up with something. He was just so tired of feeling this way.

  Walking to the bathroom, he dumped his dirty clothes in the basket and turned the water to scalding. Stepping in, he felt the water hit his skin like needles as he leaned his forehead against the cold tiles and watched as it circled the plug hole before disappearing. Was that what would happen to him and Celeste, were they currently circling the drain?

  He felt silent tears fall, and the weakness made him feel pathetic, he hadn’t cried since he was a boy and he’d gotten his sisters arm broken for his weakness.

  He jumped as the door opened and twisted to see his Pixie naked and utterly beautiful enter. She didn’t speak, but stepped up to his back, her arms encircling him, and she pressed her body flush against his. She was giving him just what he needed without him having to ask. She was taking care of him when he didn’t deserve it. The well of emotion broke. He felt a shudder rack his body as the dam cascaded over and his tears fell freely.

  Her hands moved over him, and her kisses rained down on his back. Celeste pressed her gorgeous tits to him, he felt the tears dry as his cock started to lengthen and harden. She went to grab his shower gel, and he stopped her. Instead, taking hers and handing it to her. He wanted to be surrounded by her scent, he didn’t want to feel like him; he just needed to be immersed in her.

  She washed him all over, taking her time and lovingly cleaning his body, having no idea that her touch was cleansing his soul too. Her hand finally went towards his now straining cock, and she circled it with her small hand and stroked the length. He hissed at the sheer pleasure she gave him and tipped his head back.

  Water flowed all around them and washed the soap away, he pulled her around to face him and touched her face with his fingertips, tracing the soft lines of her face. There were dark circles under her eyes. It pained him that she wasn’t sleeping.

  Dropping his head, Zin kissed her eyelids and then touching light kisses to her face before finding her mouth with his. He meant to keep it light, but as soon as their lips touched, it became incendiary. Her mouth opened under his and her tongue duelled with his as they kissed, bit, and sucked, feasting on each other as if this was the only thing in the w
orld they needed to live and for him right now it was.

  Her mouth pulled away, and she dropped to her knees in front him, he felt weak and yet powerful at the sight of her on her knees for him. Winding his hand around her wet hair, he gripped it gently and tugged her head back, so she was looking at him, it made his cock harden even more.

  Her eyes had darkened, and her lips were full and swollen from their kiss, she was every fantasy he had ever had. Using his hand in her hair, he guided her to his cockhead and fed himself to her.

  The soft, wet heat of her mouth engulfed him, and he knew this was what heaven felt like. She suckled his dick like it was the best thing she had ever tasted, stroking the sensitive underside with her tongue. He felt his abs tighten when she began to fondle his balls and knew if she kept this up he would come in her pretty mouth and as much as he wanted that, he wanted to fuck her more.

  Tugging her off his cock, he pulled her till she was standing and lifted her by the hips, so she was pressed back against the wall, her legs around his waist. He ran a hand down her front between her breasts and pushed her back so that he could see her. Fucking magnificent.

  Her hands rested on his forearms as he looked at her. Leaning in, he pulled a nipple into his mouth and suckled hard, making her thread her hands in his hair and arch into him, the movement causing his dick to rub along the folds of her pussy. He moved again, and the feeling was exquisite.

  He watched as his sexy Pixie pinched her nipples as if looking for relief and thought he could come just from watching her. But he needed her so much right now he thought he would die from it.

  Bending slightly, he lifted her higher, so his dick was at her entrance and without pre-amble drove in. It felt so hot and tight, it was like coming home. Her body was like redemption, laid bare for his enjoyment. He pumped his hips, driving them both, as she moaned and clutched at his shoulders.

  He needed to kiss her and leaned in plundering her mouth with his, wanting to taste the very essence of her on his tongue. He could feel her starting to tighten around him.

  She wrenched her mouth away. “Harder Zin, fuck me harder,” she gasped on a breath. Her face was a mask of pleasure as he drove into her tight heat harder and harder until he worried he would hurt her. The noises coming from his Pixie though weren’t noises of pain but pleasure as she screamed and tightened around him so hard he nearly blacked out from pleasure.

  “Eyes, Pixie. I need your eyes on me as you come for me,” he hissed. Instantly Celeste opened her eyes. That was all it took to tip her over the edge. Her body milked his, drawing every last ounce of his seed for him as he came harder than he ever had before.

  More than that was the connection he felt to this woman. She owned him—body and soul. It was more than a climax, it was life-changing. The way she had known what he needed and when even though he hadn’t.

  Somehow, she eased the stain on his soul, and like she had washed his body with her hands, her body and mind cleansed his darkness.

  Leaning down he kissed her long and slow, trying to convey everything he felt in that one kiss. When he stopped, he looked at her, and she touched his cheek with her palm.

  “I missed you,” she said as he set her down on the tile floor.

  She would never know how her words affected him because words would never be enough. “I missed you too Pixie.”

  Taking the shampoo, he started to wash her hair. They spent long minutes washing each other before the water turned cold and they stepped out of the shower. He should be satiated, but he wanted her again. Laying her on the bed he proceeded to make love to her slow, and sensual, worshipping her like she deserved, every touch reverent.

  This time was no less than the last, just different, and he felt a shift in their relationship. Celeste had become his reason for living, and although he didn’t deserve her, he couldn’t let her go. He just hoped he could persuade her to stay.

  Chapter Eighteen

  “What do you mean he isn’t answering his phone?” Rhea hissed at the nameless soldier in front of her.

  “Nobody can reach him, ma’am,” he addressed her, his eyes remaining forward.

  “Leave me,” she shrieked, and the man scurried away. Useless little follower. She paced the hotel room, kicking off her shoes, and feeling the soft, plush carpet under her feet.

  The hotel room was nice, luxurious even but a little cluttered for her tastes. She preferred the cold, clean lines of white walls and carpet. The dark, rich tones of red and gold were overwhelming to her senses. She didn’t like the muddled feeling.

  It reminded her of her parents old living room. Pain clutched her as she thought of them. They had been kind, simple people and she had loved them, but they hadn’t protected her from the evils in their home. Being an empath had ruined her life, not least because of how it had caused him to react to her.

  She shook off the feelings as they tried to swamp her, and rushed to the dresser to take a pill. Margo had upped her dosage and told her that taking anything higher was dangerous, but she didn’t care, throwing two tablets down her throat and chasing it with cold water.

  Instantly, the feelings of pain started to subside. Stripping her clothes, she ran the bath, filling it with her favourite bubbles. One thing she refused to compromise on was her little luxuries. Stepping in, she sank into the warm, soothing water and leaned back. She always thought best in the bath, and she had some serious decisions to make.

  Celeste, that little man stealing whore, was behaving. The chip was still in-situ and transmitting a signal. The people watching her were doing a fine job watching her and had not been spotted. She scrunched up her nose in delight at that. They all thought they were so clever, but they hadn’t spotted that.

  Lizzie was healed well, and she could still use her for the fated child if she could get Jace back, but if not, she was leverage over those Fortis Fuckers. God how she hated them. Every one of them thought they were better than her, all superior and good.

  Well, they would see. When this bomb exploded, and the world apocalypse started, they would either be dead or too busy to stop her plans, and by then it would be too late.

  Thinking of Lizzie reminded her of Smithy. He was a good soldier, probably her best, but his attachment to Lizzie was too disconcerting, and she would need to put him down. It was interesting keeping them locked up together. Rhea wondered if perhaps she could test the new fertility and sexual desire drug on them.

  Maybe she would see if the drug would make them tear at each other like animals in heat. If he got her pregnant, it would prove she was fertile and could carry the fated one to term. She could always drown the baby at birth.

  Yes, that was it, she would use this attraction against them. Not that Fortis needed to know that she wouldn’t kill them both.

  Jumping up, she grabbed the warm towel off the rail and wrapped it around her body. The only fly in her ointment now was the Surgeon and his untimely disappearance. She suspected he was off on a drinking and fucking binge. Her nose wrinkled at the thought, the man had such disgusting needs, not that she judged as long as he did his job. The problem was his brother who had been on the phone again this morning wanting an update.

  Usov Denisovich was going to be a problem, the last thing she needed was his interference. The man was a control freak. The only thing he cared about more than money and power was his little brother.

  Rhea needed him found, and fast. Grabbing her phone off the nightstand, she hit speed dial. The call rang and rang unanswered, it eventually switched to voice mail.

  “Surgeon, call me back immediately,” she hissed. Hanging up she called Margo instead. The call was answered on the first ring.

  “What do you need, Jo?” she asked sleepily, and Rhea’s back snapped straight at the sound of her long, unused name.

  “Don’t call me that,” she yelled angrily. Margo was the only one who knew that name now, and she knew Rhea hated it.

  “What do you want Rhea?” Margo asked, and Rhea heard her shuffl
ing around as if she had been in bed.

  “When will you be arriving?”

  “Next Friday as planned,” she said and hesitated. “Is the new dosage working?”

  “Not like it should be,” Rhea answered as she sat on the edge of the bed.

  “I have something else we can try, I’ll bring it with me.”

  “Okay, can you bring the fertility and sexual enhancement drug with you as well?”

  “Yes, what for?” the doctor asked, her clinical excitement evident in her voice.

  “I’m going to use it on Lizzie and Smithy to see if it works. He has feelings for her, so if I can get him to mate with her and produce a child, it will prove that she is still viable for the fated one.”

  “That’s a good idea. It’s good to see you finding your way back to the Divine way. I was worried for a while that you had stopped believing and were just after power.”

  Rhea sighed, the truth was she was losing her way, the need for eternal youth and to feel desired again had pushed her off the path but she was working her way back. “I won’t let his memory down,” she whispered.

  “He loved you so much, Rhea.”

  “He loved you more Margo.”

  “No, he didn’t. He loved us both, and I have always loved you. I miss those times,” Margo said wistfully, and Rhea felt tears prick her eyes.

  “Me too,” she whispered. “But we will have it all soon. The weak will die, and the strong will be ruled by me, with you at my side.”

  “What about them?” Margo asked, and Rhea heard the bitterness creep in.

  “They are mine, and I will reclaim them into my family soon. I just need to bide my time.”

  “And if they don’t want too?”

  “Then they die like everyone else,” she said coldly. Nothing would get in the way of their vision or the prophecy. She had wavered, but now she felt strong again. Zin had tempted her off the path, and she had held strong. He would need to die though just for that.