by Lora Ann
He smiled and nodded. Perfect. She was too tired to watch him closely. Plus, this gave him time to locate his sweet obsession, counting the minutes until he captured her. Fantasizing how it would feel to steal her screams as he slowly took her body, her life. “Lead the way,” he responded politely with a gentlemanly gesture.
“Nice to see courtesy is not completely dead.” She smiled.
But his thoughts turned dark, wondering how she’d look with his cock suffocating her pretty little mouth. “My mother taught me well.”
There was something in his statement that had warning bells going off in her head. She sensed evil and put an extra step between them. “Good for her,” she covered, but made a mental note to watch this guy. The creep factor was just too much to ignore.
*****
The chapel was a place adults wouldn’t think to look for him. Cole knew this from past experience. He wanted to see his uncle but knew his mom would look there. Tiny flames glimmered from the candles along the sides. “Prayers,” said the voice beside him.
“Wow. Look at all of them,” Cole sat mesmerized by how they flickered and danced.
“Many religions believe in lighting candles.”
“Do they light them in heaven, too?”
He chuckled. “No. But maybe I should suggest it.”
“Kian?”
“Yes, Cole.”
“Why did God send you to protect me?”
He turned toward this extremely intelligent child. “Not time for you to know that.”
“But you will tell me someday?”
“You are mine to protect,” Kian declared.
“And my family,” Cole didn’t ask, he already knew that.
“You are wise beyond your years.”
“Kian, will I see my dad again?”
“Absolutely.” Though Kian knew he’d just crossed a line answering that.
“Will my mommy get help?”
Whoa, that was a loaded question. And he’d already gotten himself into some trouble with the last one. “How do you mean?”
“You can help her!” Cole grabbed his hands fascinated by the feel of them. Stronger than a human’s and softer than his favorite silk blouse his mom wore.
Dear Lord, he couldn’t tell the child the truth, but he also couldn’t lie. He did his best with, “If she would allow me, then yes, I could.”
He jumped toward the angel and hugged him hard. “I’ll talk to her, Kian. You’ll see!”
The precious little boy stole a piece of his heart. He wanted to grant him everything he desired but knew that wasn’t right or loving to do. Sometimes, the most beautiful of things came from smoldering ashes. Something this young soul would learn soon enough.
A dark chuckle came from the hallway. Lars lurked about, waiting for his chance to show the child that pain and heartbreak was the perfect formula for revenge. He just needed a moment to whisper the lies and win him, like he’d done with his mother years ago. Lisa had been such easy prey after witnessing her mother’s death. Now, her son would follow in those footsteps, for he too would see a death of a loved one this night.
Kian shook his head. “That has not been decided.”
“I’ll make it so. She’s mine after all.”
“Doesn’t mean the truth can’t set her free, Lars.”
“She’ll never listen to you. But, by all means, give it your best shot,” he taunted.
“Fallen One,” he warned.
“What’s the matter? Master won’t let you play,” Lars mocked.
Kian smirked. “Game. On.”
Cole didn’t know what happened to the angel that was just there, but he felt safe, lying on the pew and closing his eyes. His dreams filled with happiness: Uncle Tar and Auntie Keeley getting married. His Mom and Dad kissing underneath a big tree. Him leaning in to feel a baby kick inside someone’s belly. He didn’t care that he couldn’t see her face, the love coming through was enough to hold him tight.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Her plan was to waltz straight into Tar’s room, but once the security guard saw the bloody wraps on her hands, she found herself in the emergency room. Frustration mounted as she sat there for what felt like forever. An accident had everyone hopping. Helicopters overhead and a lot of yelling. Keeley wasn’t one for sitting and waiting. She grabbed fresh supplies and searched for a good place to rewrap her hands. They didn’t even hurt. The blade was sharp and the cuts were clean. God, the realization of what went down at that compound hit her hard. So much death. It nearly masked the gift Viv gave her. And she needed to find Cole, fast. She knew he had the key somewhere safe. He was a smart little boy.
The emergency crew, bolting through the halls, almost collided with her. She eased around the corner and through a set of double doors, ending up in front of the chapel. Heaven knew she needed wisdom. A little divine guidance led her there. She was sure of it. The door was askew, inviting her in. Cushions of red made a semi-circle around the altar. Incense mixed with burning candles brought her to her knees. Worship and reverence wafted through the air, drawing her head down. “I’m not a religious woman. But You used Tar to guide me. Help me, help him. Lisa is dangerous and she’s already tried to kill him. Please. You just gave him back to me. Don’t take him away. I want love, happiness, forever. Sure, it’s hard work. Just give me a chance to show You, to show him, I’m not afraid to take the chance. I want us to live to see our fiftieth wedding anniversary. To know what it’s like to weather each storm, travel every valley, knowing we’ll do it together. Maybe there will be days we won’t really like each other, but love is commitment—not a feeling. Give us the opportunity to show You we’re all in for life. Thank you,” she whispered with a sense of peace.
She lit a candle and turned. A small thump called her to a pew cast in shadows. There, on the floor, lay a small boy. His wavy black hair identifying him. She rubbed his back, drawing a sleepy grunt from him. “Cole.”
“Hm-mmm.”
“Wake up for me,” she coaxed.
“Auntie, I’m tired,” he yawned.
She kissed his downy cheek. “Let’s move you to a bed.” Careful of her hands, she slid them underneath him and lifted. Now that she had him in her arms, where should she go?
A door opened and a priest entered. “Hello,” he greeted warmly.
“Hi, um, father?”
“Yes,” his brow quirked in humor, knowing she wasn’t exactly comfortable with that.
She blew out a breath. “Okay, look, this little guy is my soon to be nephew, and well, his uncle is a patient here.”
“Stop, child. He needs a place to sleep, correct?”
“Yes, sir,” she answered a bit sheepish.
“Follow me,” he commanded in a hushed tone.
They entered through another door into a sleeping area. Keeley glanced around at all the recliners. “A sleep room?”
“We are at a hospital,” he replied with a slight grin. “This room is for parents whose children are in intensive care.”
“He’ll be safe?’
“Of course.” He held something in his hand. “I’m the one with the key card.”
Cole nuzzled into her chest and mumbled, “Like mine.”
Keeley glanced down at him. “What did you say, Cole?”
“Card. In my pocket.”
Her gaze now searching him. “Oh, honey, you’re confused. You don’t have pockets.”
He yawned wide while his hooded lids lifted. “In my other pants.”
“Where are those?” Her heart drumming so loud she could barely hear.
“Bag,” he sighed as his eyes began to close.
“Cole,” she urged, “where’s the bag?”
“Un-un-cle…”
His little snore told her he was out. Her gaze rose to the priest. “Did he say uncle?”
“I believe so. Here, let me help you.” He grabbed a pillow and blanket before holding the chair in a reclined position. She laid Cole down and leveled a look at t
he priest. “Father, you swear he’ll be safe here?”
“Child, I don’t swear.” He chuckled. “But I assure you no one will enter here without my permission.” His face sober, matching his voice.
“Okay,” she conceded. “But…” Spying a black marker on a nearby table, she grabbed it and ordered, “Give me your hand.”
Another chuckle escaped him as he complied and watched her. “Your phone number?”
She held up her cell phone. “Yes,” placing it in his hand, “Put your number in, please.”
“Done.”
“Thank you.” She leaned over to kiss Cole’s forehead, noticing when she raised up the priest was gone. “Now, where did he disappear to?” Unsure about so many things, but knowing she needed to get upstairs to Tar, she closed the door firmly behind her.
“Godspeed, Keeley.”
She jumped but only saw his black pant leg going around the corner. How did he know her name? Doors flew open as more people were brought in on stretchers. The staff would have their hands full from what she could see. There must have been twenty people lining the halls. She made her way to the elevators, offering up another quick prayer for Cole’s safety and for all those injured people.
*****
He felt her presence, knowing she couldn’t resist being next door to him. She didn’t know that the antibiotic was working, so his strength was returning. Though he wasn’t a hundred percent, yet. And there was still a couple of nasty wounds healing. The feeling of betrayal seeped through his veins as he let her touch him. But he saw no other way to catch her in the web of lies she’d spun, or to get her full confession of attempting to kill him. He only hoped it would end soon and not go too far. His boundary firmly set, he opened his eyes. “Lisa,” he whispered.
“Hey, baby. How’re you feeling?”
“Better now that you’re here,” he lied.
She sidled closer, caressing up the inside of his arm. “I remember when you got this one,” tracing along the anchor tattoo, “I wasn’t very happy with you.”
Ah, she was testing his memory. “I know. But I seem to recall you got over it pretty quickly.” His wry gaze met hers. Her sudden intake of breath told him she did remember that night he was on leave from base.
He recalled one of the best nights that they’d ever shared. Perfect! “We could replay that.” Her voice husky with lust as she squeezed along his bicep.
“Here?” His brow arched.
“Oh, of course not.” She released him.
Damn. He’d have to work a little harder than he thought. “We shared some really wild times,” he rasped low and enticing.
Her fingers began to fiddle with the tie on her robe. “Hmmm…” Her eyes were on the floor. “Do you only remember me?”
“You mean,” he sighed, “do I have memories of Keeley, too?”
“Yes.” She bit her bottom lip.
God, forgive me. “No. She means nothing to me.”
*****
Keeley stood outside the cracked door eavesdropping. She swiped at her tear-streaked cheek and hurried away. Either his memory of her was gone again or he lied. But the fact was, it hurt to hear and she needed a moment to regroup. The wall inside a waiting area held her up as she tried to breathe through her heart breaking. She wasn’t strong enough for this. Anything else she could face head-on. But not that. Loss of Tar’s love was not something she would survive. “I think you need the whole story, don’t you?”
Her head lifted to see the priest standing there. “I’m sorry. What did you just say?”
“Keeley, you heard me.”
She shook her head. “I don’t remember ever telling you my name.”
“Is that relevant?”
“You sure are sassy, Father,” she retorted.
A sly grin appeared. “Interesting coming from you.”
That got her attention and she stood up taller, studying the man in black with a white collar. “Who are you?”
“Your help,” he answered firmly.
She paused with a tilt to her head. “You heard my prayer in the chapel?”
“No.”
“But then…Wait! Where’s Cole?”
“Sleeping soundly. And you changed the subject,” he pointed out.
“Well, honestly, Father, I don’t really understand what’s going on around here,” she admitted. “And my mind is playing all kinds of tricks on me right now.”
“Your heart knows the truth,” he assured.
Her gaze angled. “That no matter what I just overheard in that room, Tar still loves me.”
“Yes, that. As well as the other.”
Her eyes widened and she stepped to the side. “You can’t possibly know that.”
“Calm down. I did not read your mind like you’re thinking.”
“Then how?”
“I only know what I am told or permitted to see for myself,” he explained.
She watched as the clothes he was wearing went transparent and his wings spread wide. In a flash, he was back to the priest. “Oh God!” she panted and fell to her knees.
“Child, no. Stand up,” he commanded. “I’m here to help you. Not harm you.”
“But you’re an…”
“Yes. Please, keep your voice down. The demons are here too.”
She went a ghostly white and Kian’s hand shot out to keep her from falling. “They’re not just in my head.” Not a question, the revelation stared at her full-on.
“You already know the answer to that, Keeley.”
“So, what am I supposed to do?” Her voice weak.
“You know that, too.” His hand clasped her shoulder before he vanished.
She slid to the floor as she tried to catch her breath. Her head buried between her knees. Angels and demons were real. Her brain wrapped around that piece of information. She shook her head in bewilderment, too stunned to move.
*****
Of all the nights he chose to follow her, he ends up in the middle of a full-blown catastrophe. A multi-car crash. More victims were being sent over from a neighboring hospital that was at capacity. He needed to locate Keeley. But how would he find her in this mayhem? A tiny head bobbed along the wall and darted around the corner. Braxton recognized the kid from the news. Chase McNeil’s son. Why was he here? Ah, because he’d put Lisa McNeil on the patient list. His smile wide, wondering if he could find her first and repeat it. No time for that. He slipped behind a door and exited on the other side, stalking the child.
*****
Christy was perturbed to find her protégé missing. She would report his ass as soon as possible. But, at the moment, she was too busy. She did a quick glance into Tar’s room and saw Mrs. McNeil in there. Unable to really process that, she moved on. Her steps coming to an abrupt halt when she saw Keeley on the floor. “Oh, honey, are you hurt?”
Her gaze met the kind nurse’s. “Not the way you think.”
“Um…I think you need stitches.” She pulled Keeley’s hands out to inspect them closer.
Keeley looked on a bit befuddled. Where did the bandages go? And when did she start bleeding? “I don’t…”
“Come on,” Christy got under her arm and lifted. “You’re too pale. Let’s have you checked out.”
Keeley meant to protest but couldn’t recall why she should. “Okay,” she mumbled as they walked.
*****
Cole zipped into his mom’s room to find it empty. Someone was following him. There was a tiny crawl space just under the counter. He managed to slip into it just in time. The door flew open. “Come out, come out wherever you are,” Braxton sang.
But Cole knew a bad man when he saw one, holding his breath.
He searched everywhere but couldn’t find the child. “Either you are a super great hider or I misjudged which room you went into.” He pulled up a chair. “I think I’ll just sit here and wait a few minutes.”
Cole pushed further into the small space. A vent cover gave way with his body weight. His gaze darted
toward the bad man whose back was turned. He made quick work of easing the cover to the side.
Braxton’s head cocked at an odd sound. “Is that you?” He stood and, once more, searched the room.
*****
“I should feel sorry for her,” Lisa leaned closer to Tar.
“Don’t. I mean, it sucks, but she’s a pretty girl, she’ll find another.” His fingers stroking hers.
Lisa hedged, “You know I’m married to your brother?”
“No. I mean, yes, I know that’s what I’ve been told. And, he’s missing?” Tar needed her to trust him in order to pull this off.
Her eyes filled with tears. “Yes.”
“I’m sorry.” The pads of his fingers now on her cheeks. “You miss him?”
“I don’t want anything bad to happen to him. But he’s not the man I’m in love with.”
His stomach did a somersault. Chase did not deserve such disloyalty. “But you have a child together. Cole.”
“Oh, so you remember that?” Her gaze angled at his.
Shit! Recover quickly. “Again, only information I’ve been given. I truly thought he was mine.” Her sigh of relief told him he succeeded in saving that one.
“He loves you so much.” She smiled and patted his face.
“I know. I love him too. I feel it,” he whispered while gazing deep into her eyes. Emotions flashed: desire, love, anger, hate. Which ones were directed at him? Cole? Chase? And by the furrow of brow, herself?
Her eyes closed to break contact. He saw too much. A strange scratching drew both of their gazes toward the wall, but nothing was there except medical supplies sitting on the counter. “Did you hear that?”
“Shhhh,” he cautioned with a cock of his head to listen closer.
Chapter Thirty
An out of body experience. No, it couldn’t be, because she was still in it. But nothing felt real. She watched in a strange detachment as Christy cleaned her palms and fingers. Stitches were not needed, so new bandages were wrapped around her hands. “Honey, you still don’t look so good.”
