Kaden’s rebellious side wanted to protest, but he knew his mother needed his compliance. At least he could behave for a couple of days, he hoped. “Yes, mommie dearest.”
Olivia laughed at the reference to their favorite movie. “Good. I wouldn’t want to have to whip you with a wire hanger.”
Olivia was about to walk away, but there was one lingering question Kaden needed to ask. “Mom, do you still love him?”
“Always,” Olivia replied as she walked away.
Chapter 6
Lucian’s team arrived and transported Kaden to a more secure location. Olivia tearfully watched her son taken away. Part of him wanted to reach for her and comfort her the way he used to when they were children, but those days were over. He had a job to do and despite his confusing feelings for Olivia, he would do it. Somehow he would have to suppress his desire for her. He could not allow a repeat of that moment on the couch. Yet that taste of her left him starving for more.
Olivia needed some time alone, and he did as well. Julian brought him some blood to drink, but nothing quenched his real thirst. Only the taste of Olivia could truly satiate him. Frustrated by his own weakness, he threw the bottle into the wall, shattering it into tiny pieces.
“You’re the king of composed, but a few hours here have already frayed your nerves,” Lorenzo acknowledged as he strode into the room with such grace, atypical for a man of his size. Considering his stature it was remarkable how he could sneak up on anyone, especially a vamp, without triggering their sensitive hearing. That was part of what made Lycans so dangerous. They were born predators and everyone was their prey. “You should probably send someone else to handle this matter. It’s too close, too personal for you to be objective.”
“Are you insinuating that I cannot handle my responsibilities?” Lucian asked, barely holding back the anger threatening to burst.
“In this case, yes.” Before Lucian could react, Lorenzo added, “You’re the best and the most honorable enforcer I know, but this is asking too much of yourself. You’re investigating the son of the woman you still love. The woman who hurt you so deeply that after 175 years, you still desire her despite all the pain. How can you be objective? How can you face her and work with her while you battle your desire for her? I don’t know much about vampire matings, but I know how intense Lycae matings can be and if this is anything close to that, you will drown in your need for her and neither one of you will survive this investigation intact. You need to deal with this thing between you and her -- otherwise, you will not survive this.”
“I think you’re being a bit melodramatic, my friend.”
“You can fool others, Lucian, but not me. I know you too well and I can see what this is doing to you. I can see what it’s doing to her. All I know is what you told me about her betrayal, but after seeing her reaction, her love for you, there has to be more to it.”
“Her love for me? You saw her for ten minutes and you think you can see that she loves me?”
“I saw it the moment she looked at you.”
Lucian did not want to have this conversation with Lorenzo. It was hard enough reconciling his feelings for Olivia without having to answer to Lorenzo as well. “I don’t know what you think you saw, but it doesn’t matter. Even if she loves me, I can’t be with her again. My life is completely different now and there’s no room in it for her. I could never trust her again and I can’t forgive her. There’s no moving on for us when I can’t forgive her for the past.”
“I think you owe it to her and yourself to at least talk about what happened and to get the whole truth. The uncaring deceitful woman you described to me is not the woman I met. There has to be more to the story, and maybe the part that’s missing is the part you need to help you move on either with her or without her. You need closure, my friend -- otherwise, you will be stuck in this web forever, unable to free yourself from your hurt.”
Lucian hated this weakness in him that Olivia stirred. He also hated that Lorenzo was right. He was stuck in this quicksand slowly drowning in the past, unable to free himself to enjoy the present or the future. He needed resolution. He needed to make peace with his past so that there could be a future. He needed to free himself from Olivia once and for all. There was no hope for them, but he maybe he could find happiness without her if he could finally break the last tethers of this stifling bond. He could not do it without her help.
II
Olivia needed a moment to gather her emotions. She went to her room, showered, and changed her clothing. This brief reprieve allowed her to refocus on the importance of proving her son’s innocence, but she still could not escape the nagging desire for the man downstairs.
“Livy, are you ok?” Olivia was startled to look up and see Corinne standing in front of her.
“I wish you would knock rather than dematerializing like that,” Olivia responded with a hint of anger.
“I did knock over and over again, but you never responded. You’ve been up here for over an hour, when you said you only needed fifteen minutes. It won’t be night forever and time’s not on our side when it comes to this investigation.”
Olivia was surprised that so much time had passed and that she never heard Corinne knock even though she was sitting only a few feet from the door. “I’m sorry, Cori. I shouldn’t have snapped at you. So much has happened today and my mind is all over the place.”
“No need for apologies among BFFs.”
“We really are best friends forever,” Olivia acknowledged.
“Well, since we don’t need to apologize to each other, I don’t have to say I’m sorry for getting into it with Lucian.”
“You probably owe him an apology.”
“I’d rather screw a ghoul.”
Olivia cringed at that thought. “Never mind then, but please try to get along with him at least for this investigation. We need him to cooperate with us and if he loses his temper, he might take it out on Kaden. We have to put our personal feelings aside for the benefit of Kaden. Can you do this?”
“For Kaden I will, but Lucian better keep his stuffy ass away from me. He’s so smug and arrogant.”
“Why does he think you feel guilty?” Olivia asked, surprising Corinne with the unexpected question. “There was nothing you could do to help me with Daughton. I know that and I hope you do as well.”
Corinne did not want to go down this road. She avoided dealing with these feelings that had haunted her for years. “Look, Liv, we need to go before your boy gets impatient and investigates without us. I don’t trust him or his lackey Lycae.”
Olivia proceeded to follow Corinne out the door. “I thought you liked Lorenzo. I noticed how you looked at him and how he followed your every movement.”
“I said I didn’t trust him, not that I didn’t want to do him. Two different issues.”
“You can sleep with a guy you don’t trust?” Olivia questioned.
“Sure. Screw him senseless, but keep a blade handy just in case.”
“Why did I ask?”
Olivia and Corinne laughed as they went downstairs to meet up with Lucian and Lorenzo. The laughter instantly died when they entered the tension-filled room. The tension between Corinne and Lorenzo was pure heat. Olivia could not help but envy the obvious desire surrounding Corinne and Lorenzo and lament the murderous tension consuming her and Lucian.
“We should get moving. It’s getting late.” Lucian finally broke the awkward silence.
“Where’s Julian?” Olivia asked.
Lorenzo responded with his calming, sexy voice. “He went out on his own about thirty minutes ago. He said he would meet up with us later.”
Olivia was not too happy about Julian going out on his own. Part of her still was not sure if Julian would look for evidence to help Kaden or would focus more on convicting his brother.
Lorenzo retrieved his car and pulled up to the front of the house. Olivia wanted to hide in the backseat with Corinne, but Corinne was determined to sit next to the Lycae.
As soon as the car stopped, Corinne raced to the passenger seat. “My Lycae, my Lycae!”
Olivia tried to convince Corinne to sit in the back with her, but Corinne would not budge. Olivia did not want to make a scene in front of the guys, so she whispered to her pain in the neck friend, “Are you three? My Lycae? Cori, you’re being a brat. Help a friend out, here. This is incredibly awkward.”
“Sorry, amiga -- I want the hot Lycan, you get the brooding vamp.”
“Cori, please,” Olivia pleaded. “Just sit with me in the back.”
“I sat with you for six hours on the flight to this Godforsaken place. Now I want to sit with a hot dude. Get over it. Life’s a bitch.”
“And her name is Cori,” Olivia snipped.
“Thanks for the compliment, but I’m still not moving. Now stop wasting time and go sit in the back with your mate.”
Olivia hesitantly took her seat in the back. The men soon followed. “I’ll try not to take it personally that you didn’t want to sit next to me,” Lucian responded.
Although slightly embarrassed, she maintained her composure. “I was doing you a favor. I’m sure you don’t want to sit next to me. You seem repulsed by my presence. I was trying to spare you more discomfort.”
“Cara, I can handle it if you can.” Lucian smiled flirtatiously.
“You couldn’t handle it earlier, Lucian.” Olivia surprised herself the way she teased Lucian, but to hear him call her “cara” again melted away all her discomfort.
Lucian moved closer to Olivia and enjoyed watching her skin flush at the closeness between them. “I’m not the one who lost my clothing on the couch earlier, cara, nor am I the one who nearly fainted from pleasure.”
“Considering it was your skillful mouth that caused my reaction, I think you’re the one who has the control issues.”
“Very true. You still bring out the beast in me.”
“You do the same for me.”
“You still owe me. I gave you pleasure, but I’m still feeling quite…unsatisfied. Quid pro quo, cara.”
Olivia blushed like a young girl. Lucian knew how to get that reaction out of her. He used to love the challenge of making her as uncomfortable as possible just to see her squirm. All these years later, he evoked the same response.
Olivia enjoyed thus unexpected playfulness, considering all the rage he felt earlier. He no longer seemed to regret the passion they shared. This lightness between them felt natural. She felt right, as a ton of tension had finally lifted from her battered body. This was the way it used to be for her and Lucian. She couldn’t help but hope that it could be that way again. If he could soften toward her even just a little, she could make up for all the pain she caused them both.
“We’re in the car with you guys. We can hear everything you’re saying. I don’t want to know this much about you,” Corinne yelled from the front seat.
Lucian and Olivia could not hide their amusement as Corinne growled her displeasure. Olivia stared at the gorgeous man next to her. His smile added a gentle softness to his usual stern demeanor. This was the boy she fell in love with years ago. This was the man she wanted to spend the rest of her days loving. Maybe -- dare she hope? -- they could have a second chance at the happiness stolen from them.
III
Lorenzo parked his car in front of what looked like an abandoned warehouse. Most of the windows were boarded up and the front door was partly dislodged from its hinges.
This place looked deserted, but emanating from this dreary place were the scents of many different creatures. Olivia could not discern all the scents, but she knew there were at least several vampires in the vicinity.
“What is this place, Lucian?” she asked.
“In the basement of that building is a nightclub. It’s also the place where the body of that fairy was discovered.”
“I guess we should take a closer look.”
“What is with this town and the creepy buildings?” Corinne pondered. “First Julian lives in the Bates Motel and now we’re going into a decrepit factory which is supposed to be a club? Clubs have lights and music and booze and men. This place has rats and roaches. I can smell them from here.”
“Do not worry, bella,” Lorenzo drawled in that voice that was pure sex. “I will not allow any of those creepy things to touch you.”
“My own personal protector Lycan.” Corinne batted her lengthy lashes in a flirtatious response to Lorenzo. His eyes instantly glowed with intoxicating amber.
Olivia and Lucian simultaneously rolled their eyes and headed toward the building. Corinne and Lorenzo soon followed behind them. As they approached, the intensity of the music increased. Standing in front of the door was a rather burly man who had to be at least seven feet tall. Lucian and Lorenzo were nearly six and a half feet and this man towered over them like they were little munchkins.
Olivia could tell the man was definitely not human nor vampire, but she could not sense his breed. Lorenzo seemed to know and eyed the man warily. The man looked at Lorenzo as if he was itching for a battle.
Lucian stepped in to ease some of this tension. “May we enter the club?”
“You don’t look like the club type preppie.”
“Do not insult him, grizzly!” Lorenzo snarled. His nails grew longer as if he was going to shift at any moment.
The grizzly snarled back, but Corinne stepped in and stood in front of this massive bear. Her head barely reached his chest but the height difference gave him a good view of hers. “I’ve never seen a shifter bear before. Wow. You’re so tall and strong. I bet you’re the fiercest thing in this town.”
Just like that, the snarling bear was a grinning fool falling under Corinne’s spell. “Well, I’m the bodyguard to this place because I can handle any creature that comes here. Bears are scared of nothing and no one, especially dogs. Don’t let the rough exterior concern you. Bears know how to be gentle as well.”
Lorenzo was heated, partly because of the bear’s insult, and partly due to Corinne’s flirting with this inferior beast. Corinne could feel Lorenzo’s heat radiating from behind her. She needed to fix this situation fast.
“So you can be a cuddly teddy bear as well?” Corinne grinned that smile that had the bear drooling.
“I can show you how cuddly I can be, baby.”
Lorenzo was about to strike, but Corinne calmed him with a look that warned him to back off or else. He begrudgingly obliged, although he was tempted to strangle her and the bear. He did not usually act with such jealousy, but the thought of any man touching Corinne was driving him to madness.
Corinne forced her attention back to the bear and away from the dangerous wolf standing close behind her. “Well, maybe later, but first I want to party. My friend Livy and I are new in town and these men told us that this club was a great place to let loose. I really want to let loose. Do you think we can enter?”
“I would prefer that you and your gorgeous friend come in alone and leave the stray dog and the preppie behind.”
Corinne inched up closer to the bear, but Lorenzo followed. She was sandwiched in between the two. She used her hips to give Lorenzo a shove back, but he barely moved an inch. She motioned for the bear to bend down and she whispered in his ear, “If things go well for me in there, I may end up leaving both these boys behind at the club. To dump them now after they brought me here would be rude. Dumping them later for someone better would just be me exercising all of my options. My conscience could live with that and my body certainly wouldn’t object.”
The bear smiled, showing off his sharp teeth. “You all may enter.” As Corinne walked by he whispered in her ear, “I hope to see you later. I have a jar of honey that I would love to share with you. A bit of you and my sweet honey would make the perfect dessert.”
“Well then, big boy, let’s hope that I work up an appetite in there.” Corinne waved one last time and entered the club.
Inside, the building looked as filthy as the outside. Over to the right was a door with th
e words “The Devil’s Den” carved into the wood. They walked toward the door and proceeded down the long winding stairwell that led to the source of the blaring music. Unlike the rest of this dump, the club was magnificent. It was like a gothic dream. Gargoyles were mounted on top of the stage and the walls were made of marble. Red curtains were hung throughout the club.
Olivia looked up at the ceiling in shock as she saw exquisite paintings demonstrating sexual positions, some of which she had never seen or imagined. “The Kama Sutra, cara.” Lucian smiled that devilish grin. “I had hoped to show you all that I had learned, during our marriage. Unfortunately, that was not meant to be. Yet I’m glad to see Daughton never taught you these things. Maybe there is still something I can offer you after all.”
Olivia could not hide her excitement at the thought. Lucian’s sudden playfulness with her left her confused and thrilled. She wanted to embrace it, but the cynical side of her warned her that Lucian would never really take her back. He still hated her. She could not understand why he would be so kind to her now if he truly hated her. There was nothing she could offer him but her heart. She wondered if it was possible that their mating bond was making him feel close to her again. She was definitely drawn to him, but her feelings for him had never waned. Maybe his old feelings for her were starting to resurface. Maybe he was rediscovering his love for her.
Olivia tried to maintain her composure. He heart was beginning to awaken after years of solitude. She reminded herself that her main priority was proving Kaden’s innocence. If this mission could help her get a second chance at happiness, then that would just be an added bonus.
“Where do we begin?” Olivia asked. “Do we start questioning people?”
“That’s a good place to start,” Lucian answered. “I have pictures of the murdered fey. We can ask around to see if anyone recognizes her and could identify who they saw her with the night she died. Let’s meet back here in half an hour.”
Olivia asked numerous people about the fey, and although a few people admitted that they recognized her, no one offered any useful information. She had just started going to the club a few weeks before her death. She attracted attention with her looks, but beautiful women were everywhere in this place.
Lover's Betrayal: Misfits of the Lore Series Page 11
