by Sedona Venez
“What we do is none of your business.”
“Oh, I beg to differ. The Credence bloodline is my business until the day I die.”
I pushed the sheets away, scrambling off the bed and really listening to him. There was something in his voice that was very concerning. “What the hell are you talking about?”
He went on some crazy tirade, actually talking to himself. “They insist on denying what's before them. Men born to love only them.” He switched back to talking to me. “Do you know how much I love you?”
“Do you know how crazy you sound right now?”
He cut me off. “Do you?” he screamed. “Do you even understand the things I've done for you?”
For the first time in my life, I felt myself hyperventilating just thinking about Knox lying in a pool of blood, dead. My stomach clenched as I tried to slow down my breathing and think—rationally. He wasn't dead. He couldn't be. I would have felt it through our bond. At least I think I would. But what about Celina and the reporter? Someone killed them and I hoped it wasn’t Luke. I reached down deep, pulling the last of my sanity to use the firm, confident voice reserved for hysterical escorts bitching about needing a pay raise. “What type of things, Luke?”
He laughed in a maniacal way that set my nerves on edge. “He was too close to the truth. Snooping, always snooping. I saw him, you know, outside your house waiting. Taking pictures. I did it for you, don't you see?” His voice was high-pitched and whiny.
I closed my eyes, pushing down the building rage. “So you killed the reporter? For me?”
His voice hardened. “I did what was necessary. We always do.”
My eyes narrowed. “And exactly who is we?”
He totally ignored my question, continuing his insane tirade. “It was done to protect you. That's how much I love you, Storm.” My stomach heaved at the adoration in his voice.
“What about Celina? Did you kill her to protect me too?” I held my breath, waiting for his response.
There was dead silence before he responded. “I didn't kill her. But believe me, she more than deserved to die for betraying you.”
“Betraying me? What the hell does that mean?” I paced back and forth. “Do you know who killed her?”
“Trust me. We know more than you think, Storm.”
“Did you break into my office?” My fingers tightened around my cell tensely. “Better yet, did you leave my business documents all over the scene of the crime, incriminating me?”
His laughter was like fingernails on a chalkboard. “Are you even listening to me? I said I love you. Why would I want to hurt you? You have no clue, do you? There are Others trying to destroy you and your family. They’re very close to destroying the world that you know. I can't let them do it. I need to protect you.”
I had enough and walked into the bathroom; I turned on the water, wetting a soft washcloth. “I don't need your protection. I need you to get fucking help—lots of it. Now, the best thing you can do for me is turn yourself into the police. Like now!” I needed the lunatic off the streets and in a padded cell pronto.
My fingers gripped the cell when he barked. “No! I'm never leaving your side. I can't. Don't you realize that I was born to love and serve you? I'll do what the Brassons are charged to do.”
“Knox is the man I want to do that. Get help.”
I was about to hang up the cell when he stopped me cold by saying, “Don't you dare fuck with me, Storm. I'll kill him. I swear… I'll do it. Kill him dead. Carve him into pieces until there is nothing left for you to love.”
My hands trembled at the passion in his words. “To hell with you, Luke.”
“No, to hell with him and that's exactly where I'll send him. Straight to the underworld.” He cackled like a lunatic. “He's the only man in the way of having you. And failure is not an option. Not this time. This game is over. It's time to show you how serious I am.” He hung up with a sharp click.
Instantly, all of the pieces came together. Solista's diary. Morpheus Brasson. Solista's stepfather. Luke Brasson, his descendant. Damn! Not good. Running out of the bathroom, I scrambled, grabbing my clothes and putting them on quickly. With shoes in hand, I ran out of the room, careening around the corner only to run smack into a solid wall of muscles.
“Are you going somewhere?” Bones asked, looking at me coolly.
I hopped from one foot to the other, putting on my shoes. “Look, I don't have time for this, Bones.” I stepped to the left. He followed. I stepped to the right. He smoothly blocked my path. “Out of my way. Now!”
He crossed his beefy arms, looking down at me like I was a wayward child. “Nope. Knox left specific instructions to protect you. And that's what I intend to do. Now if you want to go somewhere, I'm more than happy to be your chauffeur for the day.”
I jammed my hands on my hips, looking him up and down. “Excuse me? Who the hell made the wolf-shifter brigade my jail warden?” I shoved at him, which was like pushing against a brick wall. I got nowhere.
“Are you done?” he asked calmly.
I tried to skirt past him, but he smoothly stepped in my path. This wasn't working and I was wasting precious time. “Okay, look, I'm a big girl and more than capable of taking care of myself. At twenty-four, I think I have it covered.” I patted his arm. “Now if you would just step aside, we can stop all this craziness and you can go back to doing whatever you wolf-shifters do. Okay?”
“As precious as that plea was…” He smirked. “You do understand what no means, right?”
My fists clenched. “Damn it! What gives Knox the right to assign a protector?”
He leaned in, sniffing the air loudly. “His scent’s all over you… and inside you.”
I cringed with embarrassment. “Don't be so fucking crude.” I should’ve showered. Knox's scent told the Others I was claimed and that he was my protector. I continued with more bravado than I felt. “He's human. Not a wolf-shifter. So what happens between us is personal. Now get a clue and step out of my way.”
“No! You’re the one that needs to get a fucking clue.” His eyes narrowed. “He's family and therefore pack.” He tilted his head sharply. “So that automatically makes you pack. So, like it or not, Fae-witch, you are now under our protection.” His eyes glowed with a fierceness that not even I wanted to mess with. Wolf-shifters were notoriously pack-driven and I understood his loyalty and respected his role within the pack as an enforcer. But I had to protect my mate from a raving lunatic, and absolutely no one was going to stop me from doing just that.
I arched a brow. “I need coffee. Believe me, you don't want to stop me from getting a cup. I can get darn right evil without it.”
“More evil than you are right now?” he asked before stepping aside. “Go ahead.” He gestured for me to go but was practically glued to my side as I strolled into the kitchen with forced nonchalance. I pressed the button on the espresso machine, placing a cup beneath to capture the wonderful stream of black liquid gold. My face was neutral, but my mind was racing and frantically plotting a way out of this mess when my cell buzzed.
“Hey, Light. What's up, girl?” I lifted the cup of coffee to my lips, taking a small sip and savoring a much-needed awakening.
“Uh… everything. Detective Prick called. He wants to meet with us.”
My back straightened. “Why?”
“Information linking Credence O. to Celina’s death was found on the dead reporter’s laptop.”
I banged my hand on the countertop. “Damn it to hell,” I responded. “Did you call Reason?”
“No, I'm standing here with my thumb up my ass.” She snorted. “Of course I called her. We're meeting Detective Burrows over at her office. I need you back now! You know me. I'll crack under pressure if you're not there,” Light wailed hysterically.
Shit! She was already cracking. Unfortunately, she was going to have to step up to the plate and take one for the Credence team. “Uh-huh.” I pursed my lips, shooting a discreet glance at Bones. “I can
't right now. Take the meeting without me.”
Light sputtered with outrage. “Okay, did you just hear what I said? He wants to talk to both of us? I'm not playing, Storm. Get your ass over here. The last time I was around Detective Prick, I picked up some weird vibes. His emotional compass is not stable.”
Damn, that’s the last thing Light needed, to be intoxicated by an emotionally unstable human. But this was a life and death situation. “Yep. Got it. It's still a no-go.”
“What the hell is wrong with you, Storm? No-go?”
Tapping my fingers on the counter, I gave her a minute to get my silent message.
“Oh, wait, someone's standing there?” Light asked.
Finally, she got it. “Uh-huh.”
“Text. Pronto.” Light hung up.
Bones looked at me suspiciously as I took another sip of coffee, shrugging with a smile.
“Business problems?” he asked.
Damn that sharp wolf-shifter hearing. “Yep. Let me text my lawyer,” I tapped out a text message to Light. Call Bones ASAP. I need a distraction. Will explain later. I took another sip of coffee, leaning my hip on the edge of the granite counter.
His cell buzzed a few seconds later. He looked at it, then at me before answering. “Hey, Light. Funny that you called…”—his eyebrows furrowed—“at this precise moment.”
I turned my back on him. Shit, he was on to me. I needed another plan. I heard the elevator ding. I swung around expecting to see Knox. The door slid open, revealing an impeccably dressed Rosa looking like she just stepped out of a board meeting, teetering on the hottest stilettos I've ever seen.
I smiled widely. “Hi, Rosa.” Putting my cup on the counter, I casually strolled toward her with a smile that a beauty contestant would envy.
Rosa's eyes widened as she sniffed the air. “Mated. Wonderful.” She reached out to hug me. I swerved out of her way, slipping smoothly into the elevator. Then everything collided into one chaotic mess. Bones threw his cell and sprinted toward the elevator. His big body slammed into Rosa. Rosa stumbled forward on her high heels, screeching at Bones in Italian. But the more he tried to maneuver around her, the louder she swore. The last thing I saw before the doors slid closed was Bones’s angry, red face as he tried to move Rosa out of the way and Rosa jabbing him fearlessly in the chest.
“Sorry, Rosa and Bones,” I whispered, feeling like crap for ditching them. But Bones left me no choice. I couldn't just sit on my hands, waiting for fate to take what I waited forever for—love. They would forgive me later when I explained. The elevator rode down to the lobby. Wasting no time when the doors slid open, I ran through the hallway. Pushing open the front door, I hurried onto the sidewalk, blending in with the harried pedestrians. There would be no way Bones could catch my scent mixed among all of the Manhattan smells.
I sighed heavily when my cell buzzed. “Hello, Knox.” My voice was breathy.
“What the hell are you doing, Storm?” he growled. “I swear, if you're running away from me…”
I skirted past a hot dog cart. “I'm not running away from you. I'm done running,” I whispered with vehemence. “I love you. I'm staying with you. And I damn well plan on giving you those damn babies you want.” I weaved in and out of a group of tourists taking photos while standing in the middle of the sidewalk, adding to the damn pedestrian congestion.
“Then why would you leave the protection of Bones?” The tension in his voice eased—a little.
“Because I have business to take care of,” I snapped, annoyed with all of his questions.
“What kind of business is that, Storm?”
I looked around wildly before sprinting across the street. “I can't say right now. But I promise I'll tell you everything when I'm done.” I ducked into a busy café, sitting down on one of the stools facing the street, waiting to see if Bones was following me. Hoping that if he was, his highly trained senses would go into hyper-drive from the mixture of varied city scents. In essence, a wolf-shifter's worst nightmare.
He growled. “Damn it, Storm! Get your ass back to the penthouse. It's not safe for you to be alone. There's a war brewing between Ryker and his business rivals.”
I pursed my lips. “Which has absolutely nothing to do with me. I'm fine. Believe me.”
“No, you're not fine. They know Ryker and I are close. And by now, they know you're my girlfriend. What if they kidnap you?”
“Relax, Knox. That's not going to happen.” I waved the waiter over, pointing silently to the chai soy latte menu item.
“I need to protect you, baby.” His voice was husky with emotions. The fierce strain pulled at my heartstrings. I was stressing him out.
“What about if I need to protect you?” My voice cracked.
“What?” he asked sharply.
“Would you let me?” I was fighting all of the emotions tightening my chest. “I just need to make sure I do everything in my power to ensure I take care of an issue.” I didn't realize that I was even crying until I tasted the salty teardrops on my upper lip. Dammit, this mating thing was turning me into an emotional wreck. “Please, Knox. Just give me a chance to do this,” I croaked.
“Shit! Storm? Are you crying, baby?” His voice broke, alarming the hell out of me. He paused. “Come back home, okay? We'll talk this out. Then you can do whatever you think you have to.” His forced casual tone set off warning bells.
If I came back right now, I wouldn't be able to scratch my ass without an entourage of enforcers watching me do it. “Lies. You won't. See you later, Knox.” I hung up. He called back twice. I refused to answer. I slumped against the stool, exhausted from the emotional toll. Taking a deep breath, I smiled shakily when the waiter smoothly placed the chai latte within my fingertips. I sipped it nervously while scrolling through my recent calls list, dialing Luke's number.
“What a pleasant surprise. Change of heart, sweetheart?” Luke asked with a sharp tone.
This is where I had to stay strong and draw the line. I refused to let him play mind games with me. “We need to talk,” I responded sharply.
“We are talking.”
“In person, Luke.”
He laughed loudly. “Finally, we're getting somewhere. Come to my place and we'll talk.”
There was no way in hell. “No! I'm in a café. Meet me here.”
“My place or nothing,” he said.
I paused, trying to work out the scenarios, and all roads led to imminent danger.
“Bye, Storm.” His voice was hard.
“Okay, wait.” I sighed heavily. This was a really bad move, but I was desperate. And there was no way I could live my life looking over my shoulder, waiting for him to come out of the shadows to kill Knox. I refused to let him hurt Knox or anyone else. This crazy legacy of killing had to end. Solista failed to stop it. And where she failed, I would succeed—I had to. The Credence bloodline depended on it.
“Where do you live?” My eyes darted around nervously as I listened, committing his address to memory. “I'll be there in thirty minutes.” I finished my latte, leaving money before slipping out of the café and down the block to hail a yellow taxi. Looking around with paranoid eyes, I slipped in, numb, as I gave the driver my address. As we drove through the busy city streets, I concocted my plan. It was simple. Meet Luke. Try to reason with the certified mad man. If that didn't work—I would kill him. Not my preferred choice, but if I had to… I wasn't afraid to do it.
The taxi pulled up to my house. I jumped out quickly and raced in. It was quiet. Good, Light had already gone to Reason's office. Kicking off my shoes, I pulled on my sneakers before running into the office, opening the safe, taking the gun out, and slipping it in the pocket of my leather jacket.
I slipped out to the garage and into my car. Common sense told me there was so much that was wrong with my plan. It was dangerous and reckless. No one would know where I went, which was a positive and a negative. Positive if I had to kill him. Negative if he went ballistic and killed me. Pulling out of the
garage smoothly, I zipped into the Manhattan traffic. All the while kicking myself for this reckless decision—I’ve seen enough news stories where people went missing without a trace, and yet I was making this rookie mistake. Desperation can make you do the stupidest things.
I rolled back the convertible top, letting the cool breeze soothe my frayed nerves. I was tempted to keep on driving when I pulled up to the front of Luke's luxurious brownstone. But I parked and sat there, hesitating to leave the safety of my vehicle. Leaning my head back, I gathered all my strength. This was fucking stupid. I knew better than this. I was about to turn on the car and leave when Luke’s voice jolted me straight up in my seat.
He was standing there, well-groomed like he just stepped out of a meeting. “Are you coming in?”
My hands gripped the steering wheel, giving him a sharp stare. “You’re in my space, Luke. Can you step back?”
He smirked knowingly as I pushed open the door. He stepped back, allowing me to walk around him. I leaned my hip against the door with arms crossed defensively. “Let's talk,” I said.
His eyebrows shot up with mock surprise. “Outside? I think not.” He gestured toward his house. “Shall we?”
Damn it to hell. I gave him a scowl before walking up the stairs, feeling his heated stare on my ass. “Enjoying the view back there?” I snapped.
He laughed. “Of course. It's a lovely view. It always has been.”
I snorted. “You’re an ass,” I responded as I stood waiting for him to open the door to his lair of doom. He pushed open the door grandly, allowing me to walk into the house. My sneakers squeaked loudly on the black marble floors with Luke following close behind me. So close that his cloying cologne made me want to throw up. He pressed a hand onto my back, his icky fingers trailing seductively along it.
I spun around quickly, shoving him back. “Don't touch me. Ever!”
Amusement flitted across his face. “Apologies,” he said quickly.
“Can we get this over with?” He was creepy and I wanted to get out of here as quickly as possible.
