by Amy Sparling
She shakes her head. “No…not about what happened, but about the after.”
I narrow my eyebrows and Riley continues, staring at her bracelet. “We keep them alive,” she whispers. “It’s one bracelet per person…someone has a stone themselves and we have the matching bracelet.”
“Right,” I say.
Her eyes flit up to meet mine, her voice the barest whisper under the loud music. “So, who was Jayla keeping alive?”
My heart skips a beat. I hadn’t even thought of this, but Riley’s right. When Theo’s lifeblood died, he passed out and nearly died himself until he got a replacement. When Jayla was killed, Kyle and Russell were there, and they seemed fine. Alexo warned that they needed a replacement soon, but no one seemed like they were about to die without her bracelet.
“Henry?” I guess.
Riley shakes her head. “He was downstairs playing pool. I played a game with him while you were gone. He seemed fine.”
“That’s weird,” I say with a shrug. I look at my own bracelet. “I wonder who we’re keeping alive?”
Riley shudders. All around us, the music plays on. Some long ballad sung by a woman with pipes like Celine Dion. “I don’t even want to know,” she says.
Chapter 25
We’re halfway through another movie, this one a comedy about college sororities, when Riley’s wall tablet makes an awkward sound. It’s like a wailing alarm, and it’s unlike the normal phone call sound. We both walk over to it and see a message flashing on the screen.
EMERGENCY MEETING
ALL RESIDENTS MEET IN THE DEN IMMEDIATELY
The image flashes over and over until Riley presses the button at the bottom of the screen that says Accept. “I wonder what this is about?” she says, looking at me with an expression that tells me she knows exactly what it’s about.
Bethany gives us a tentative smile when we meet her in the hallway on our walk downstairs to the den. Nia and Olivia are about thirty feet ahead of us, talking to each other in quiet voices. Jayla’s door remains closed.
At the bottom of the stairs, two housekeepers stand there, their expressions blank. We turn into a hallway that leads to the den and Theo is there, standing alone, his hands in his pockets.
He wears jeans and a black long-sleeved Henley shirt even though it’s hot outside. His dark hair has been combed back so it’s not as messy as usual. He’s standing there, straight backed and rigid, but he melts when he sees me.
“Theo,” I say, falling into his arms for a hug. I’ve been dying to talk to him all morning, but now that we’re around everyone else, I have to keep my mouth shut.
Theo’s arms squeeze around me in a quick hug and then he takes a step backward. “Let’s get in the den,” he says, his voice heavy. He doesn’t even look at me when he says it, but his hand rests on the lower part of my back as we walk into the sitting area where everyone else has gathered. Alexo, Henry, Russell and Kyle are all here, standing together on one end of the room. Bethany and the other girls look slightly confused, but no one seems worried.
Theo’s arm stays wrapped around my back as we stand next to an armchair. Riley leaves Bethany’s side to join mine.
Alexo steps forward. He’s wearing the same suit from earlier this morning. He looks impeccably put together. You’d never even know he murdered someone just a few hours ago.
“I have gathered everyone here today to reveal some tragic news.”
My eyes flit to Nia, who’s expression morphs into fear the moment Alexo speaks. His voice is cold, unwavering, and straight to the point.
“I regret to inform everyone that Jayla has passed away. She was found this morning and taken to the hospital, where it was discovered that she had a rare heart condition.”
I guess Kyle made this one up. It definitely sounds better than suicide or accidentally falling off a balcony.
“What?” Nia says, her voice breaking.
“I’m so sorry, my dear,” Alexo says. The fake compassion in his voice makes bile rise up my throat. “I know you were close to her.”
Nia bursts into sobs, her knees giving out and sending her to the floor. Olivia kneels down beside her, throwing her arms around her shoulders to comfort her.
Bethany looks stricken, her face pale. Tears fill her eyes. I look over and find Alexo staring straight at me.
“This is horrible!” Riley says, her voice cracking as if she’s truly hearing the news for the first time.
“I’m sorry, love,” Theo says in my ear, his hand warm on my back.
Then it hits me.
I better act sad real fast.
I bite my lower lip and will the tears to come like they had earlier this morning. But now that I’m standing in the same room as Jayla’s killers, I can’t cry. I can only feel anger, hatred, resentment.
I turn around and throw myself into Theo’s chest, burying my face against the soft fabric of his shirt. It’s a great cover because Theo wraps me in his arms, his head resting on top of mine, and he comforts me as if I’m really crying. I throw in a few shoulder sobs for good measure, but the tears just won’t come.
From the other side of the room, Alexo continues on a pretend diatribe to the girl we lost. “Jayla wasn’t with us very long, but she was a kind soul and was always very fun to be around. She will be missed terribly. Nia, I know you two were close, so I’ve arranged to have some grief counselors visit should you or anyone else need someone to talk to. I think we should all come together during this time and help each other mourn the loss of our clan member.”
He continues like that, rambling on and on. Bethany joins in, and suggests that we all get together tomorrow to share stories of Jayla and have a little memorial for her. I keep my head pressed against Theo’s chest, because I have nothing to add to this conversation. We are in a room filled with lies, and grieving girls who don’t know the truth.
Theo runs his fingers down my back. “You okay, Cara?” he says softly, peering back to look at me.
I look up at him and he flinches. His eyes narrow and he studies my tearless face. “Cara?”
“Yes?” I say softly, not even trying to fake tears anymore since I know they won’t come.
“What’s going on?” he whispers. From the other side of the room, Nia’s sobbing continues. Alexo is talking to her now, trying to comfort her and it makes me sick. He has no right.
“Cara,” Theo says again, his hand reaching up to my cheek. His eyes dart upward, scanning the room before he looks at me. “I know you two weren’t friends but I thought you’d be sad.”
“I was,” I whisper. “Earlier today.”
His expression darkens. I fake a sniffle and say just loud enough for people to hear, “I think I need some fresh air.”
“Of course,” Theo says. He guides me out of the room, all the while I’m holding onto his arm, pretending to cry.
When we’re outside, he turns to face me. “You know something,” he says. “Alexo told us no one knew about her death yet.”
A sardonic laugh escapes me. So that’s where Theo was when I called him—having a secret meeting of immortals while they discussed Jayla’s death, and the real reason she was killed, no doubt.
“Alexo doesn’t know everything,” I say. “I knew about Jayla and I also know something else.”
Theo’s eyes flash but he doesn’t say anything. A sly grin slides across my lips. “I know who Alexo reports to.”
Chapter 26
In the evening, Theo and I go for a drive so I can finally tell him everything that’s happened since he was gone. He takes one of the trucks from the garage, and it’s a huge Texan-sized monstrosity of a vehicle. There’s four doors and the front passenger seat is so huge I feel like I’m in a motorhome instead of a truck. We try going out for dinner, but when we get to the Italian restaurant’s parking lot, neither one of us are hungry. My stomach hasn’t felt right since I saw Jayla killed earlier this morning. It was only a few hours ago, but it feels like it’s been much longer that
I’ve had the weight of this situation on my shoulders.
Theo leaves the restaurant and pulls into an empty parking lot of what looks like it used to be a grocery store before it closed down. The doors are boarded up and a real estate sign says it’s for sale, but it looks like it should be condemned.
Theo runs his hands down his face and then puts them back on the steering wheel. “Tell me everything,” he says.
I unbuckle my seatbelt so I can turn to look at him. “First, I want to know why Alexo took you away for a few days.”
“He took me to Vegas.” Theo’s eyes focus on the empty store in front of us. “He said he wanted to get to know me better since I’m new to the clan, so we went from bar to bar, casino to casino, doing what Alexo calls bonding.” He makes air quotes when he says the last word. “Basically, he was feeling me out. He doesn’t like that we’re dating, doesn’t like that I refuse to take a lifeblood in the same manner that the rest of them do. I reiterated my loyalty to the Rosewater clan and did a lot of lying my ass off to keep him happy.”
I feel a twinge of jealousy at the idea of Theo being in Vegas, most likely surrounded by attractive girls that Alexo would prefer he use as a lifeblood. “I guess that’s better than what I thought,” I say, shoving aside the jealousy.
“What did you think it was?” Theo asks.
I shrug. “I thought he would be torturing you for information or something. I don’t know. It felt ominous.”
“Well, it felt like torture,” Theo says with a chuckle. “Being away from you—keeping myself in check so I don’t say the wrong thing. It was hell.”
“I’m glad you’re back,” I say, reaching for his hand.
“Me too.” He gazes at me a long moment. “Time to spill what you know.”
I sigh. “I don’t even know how to explain everything that happened.”
Theo squeezes my hand. “Start with the beginning.”
I tell him about how I ran into Jayla at the library when I was putting back the book. Then, although it gets me a disapproving look from Theo, I tell him how I went snooping around Alexo’s room to get information. His face falls when I describe Jayla’s murder and he holds my hand so tightly, his jaw clenching in empathy.
“I can’t believe you had to see that,” he says.
“It was my own fault,” I say. “But I’m glad I did. Now I know the truth, and I know that Alexo’s lie about Jayla dying accidentally isn’t really what happened. And because of that, I was able to find out who Alexo’s taking orders from.”
Theo sits up straighter. “If I hadn’t seen Jayla’s death then Riley and I wouldn’t have gone snooping in her room. We wouldn’t have this information, and we’d be no closer to solving this problem, so in a way, I don’t regret what I did.” Tears sting the back of my eyes as once again, Jayla’s lifeless form appears in my mind. “I’m sorry she’s dead, but I’m trying to make some good come from this.”
I tell him about the video Jayla left after her death. I’ve never seen Theo look so serious. I thought he’d break out into a smile or something after I told him about the woman Alexo meets on the balcony.
“What’s wrong?” I say. “This is our lead. This is a good thing.”
In the back of my mind, I know it’s not the good thing. It’s a good thing. Finding a way to remove these bracelets should still be my top priority, but if I can help Theo solve his mission from the Embrook clan, then we’re one step closer to dedicating all our time to saving me and Riley.
“This is good news,” Theo says. There’s a crease in his forehead as he thinks. “I’m just trying to figure out where to go from here. We need to destroy that video immediately—if Alexo finds out you watched it—”
“Don’t worry. It’s taken care of,” I say. Theo flashes me a smile.
“So what do we do now?” I ask.
“I have to find a way to see this woman he talks to on the balcony. Maybe set up some cameras or, well no that won’t work.” He frowns and reaches up to turn the car’s air conditioning vent toward his face. “Alexo no doubt has his room blocked from bugs or video devices. I can’t slip anything in there without him discovering it. And his cell phone is untappable. I’ll have to get the information in person…” His tongue flicks across his bottom lip while he thinks. “There are plenty of places to hide on the balcony. I’ll stake it out, wait for him to go out there and make a phone call.”
“Where is the balcony?” I ask. “I’ve never seen it.”
“There’s a hidden door just like the one in Alexo’s room. It’s near the fireplace and it’ll take you up a flight of stairs to the balcony. It’s long and warps around most of the back of the house. There are trees and hedges up there, plenty of spaces to hide.”
Theo looks at me, smiles and then says, “They leave it off the house tour for the lifebloods. I figured it just wasn’t important, but now I realize Alexo uses it as his private meeting space, so I guess he doesn’t want anyone to know it’s there. Guess I’ll start spending my evenings hanging out up there until I can catch him in the act.”
“Cool,” I say. “I’ll wear all black so I’ll be hidden.”
“No you won’t.”
I feign innocence. “Should I wear green or something, to blend in with the plants?”
“You’re not coming, Cara. It’s not safe.”
I cross my hands over my chest. “You promised me you’d take me on your next mission.”
“Cara—”
I reach over and press my finger to his lips. “You don’t get to object. You promised me, and I’m going.”
“It’s not safe,” he says with my finger still over his lips.
“I don’t care. You know what’s not safe, Theo?” I hold up my wrist. “This damned bracelet. I’m already dying, and I’m coming with you.”
He sighs, his breath warm on my finger that’s still covering his lips. “Fine.”
I smile. “Good.”
I go to take my finger away but he grabs it, then pulls my hand forward so he can kiss my knuckles. “I missed you terribly,” he says with his lips on the top of my hand. “So, so much.”
“I missed you more,” I say, leaning over to rest my head on his shoulder.
“Come here.” Theo shoves the center console up until it forms a middle seat in the front of the truck. I slide over closer to him and he takes my knees in one hand, and wraps his other arm around my shoulders. In a quick movement, I’m pulled into his lap.
“That was fun,” I say, unable to hide my smile, even in the middle of all these things that are wrong in the world.
“This will be more fun,” he says, kissing me.
I close my eyes and lose myself in the embrace. Theo’s lips taste like heaven. They’re soft and warm and they know exactly how to kiss me in the way that makes my toes tingle.
I wrap my arms around his neck and hold him close, shivering when Theo’s hand slides down my thigh, then back up again. We make out for several minutes, and the world fades away. We’re no longer in a dirty old parking lot. We are just us, together, in love, and steaming up the windows.
Theo moves his seat back and I twist until I’m on top of him, my legs straddling his. He kisses my neck down to my collar bone, and my hands get all tangled up in his hair. I love the feeling of him. I love how he holds me, how he makes me feel like I’m the only girl in the world.
Theo’s hands slide up my shirt, sending a trail of heat up my skin. I’m reminded of that first night we had together, back when he was a handsome stranger and I had no idea what horrors existed in the world. I lean in and kiss him, taking myself back to that day when we were just strangers, but I knew he was the one for me.
“Theo,” I whisper against his lips. “I want you.”
“Then let’s go home,” he breathes.
I sit up, frowning. “I said I want you, and you want to go home?”
A soft smile plays on his lips. “I’m not making love to you for the first time in the front seat of this
truck that doesn’t even belong to me.”
I bite my lip. “But I want you now.”
He runs a hand down my cheek, then kisses me softly. “Baby, I want you every second of every day. Let’s make it special.”
I grab his shoulders. “It can be special here,” I say. “Not at that house where lies are told and people are murdered and the very bed I sleep on was given to me as a bribe for my mortality. I want you, and I want you now. Here, in the middle of this stupid town, where it’s just me and you.”
His hands grip my hips, and he leans his head back against the headrest. “You make a compelling argument.”
I grin. “The backseat is huge,” I say, winking at him in what I hope is a sexy way. I crawl off him and into the backseat, which really is massive, and then I curl my finger at him, motioning for him to join me.
Theo gets out of the truck and walks to the back door. When he opens it, the way the overhead parking lot lights shine on him makes him look like a statue in a museum. The card under him would read: Perfect Specimen of a Man
He climbs in, closes the door and presses the lock. “Are you sure about this?”
I nod and pull off my shirt to prove my point. I reach behind my back and unhook my bra, then let it fall to the floorboard.
Theo stares at me with kind eyes, and the hint of a smile on his lips. He takes off his shirt, too. I lie back on the seat, my heart pounding as he lowers himself on top of me. He tugs at my leggings and they come off easily. I am nervous, but I want this, and I pull him to me, kissing him with everything I have. I want him to know how I feel, deep down, under all of the drama and complications of life, I love him.
Theo’s skin is warm against mine. He’s careful not to hurt me, and he moves slow, his eyes watching mine to make sure I’m okay. I run my fingers down his back, feel the ripples of his muscles. Theo presses against me and he sighs with pleasure, his breath tickling my neck.
“You are,” he breathes as he rocks back and forth.
“I’m what?” I whisper.
