by Casey Wyatt
“She’s not here.” Luca sat in one the suite’s overstuffed armchairs, legs casually crossed. A sheaf of thick papers rested in his lap, the blue glasses absent. “I told her that you had family duties to tend to and you’d call her later. You should rest.”
“Are you here to finish the job?” Panic surged through me. I rolled toward the far side of the bed, wrestling with the tangled bed sheets. Kinda of a futile gesture since he could catch me at any time.
“Stop, Radiance. Do not fear me.” He approached the bed, grim-faced. “I will never harm you again.”
Muscles protesting, I shifted to face him. “Yeah, right. You shot me with a flintlock. Why?” I remembered that gun. An old family heirloom, it was on display in the library. Sebastian was quite proud of it and often boasted that it played a role in earning the family fortune. Suddenly that anecdote took on new meaning.
Luca exhaled heavily, regret lining his face. Good. I hoped he felt like shit.
He moved away and returned with a glass filled with water. A curved straw poked out. “Drink,” he urged. “More fluids will ease your aches and clear your head.”
As he grew closer, short, panicked breaths escaped between my lips. My heartbeat jack-rabbited fast enough that I worried it might pop out of my chest. He froze, dismay plain on his face. He placed the glass on the bedside table and kneeled before me, palms outward and empty. “I swear to you, on pain of death, that you have no reason to be afraid of me.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. I had a choice to make. Trust him or tell him to get the hell away from me. After all, I was the heir and I could fire him. On the other hand, I didn’t want to lose an opportunity to learn more. I suspected that he was the only one who could answer my questions.
“I want to know why this is happening,” I said in a hoarse whisper.
He nodded slowly and closed his eyes. The hard worry lines eased away and his face took on an angelic cast. When he re-opened his eyes, I saw relief there. “Please, drink, cariad.”
The “r” rolled softly from his tongue. I didn’t know the word but it was said so tenderly and heartfelt that it had to be an endearment.
“Okay.” I sipped the water through the straw, the cool liquid easing the soreness in my throat. The entire time he held the glass, he maintained a respectful distance as if not to crowd me. The longer I sipped, the more I wanted to reach over and touch his skin. Unlike anything I’d ever seen, pale, almost ethereal, it beckoned me.
Urgent desire crawled all over me. I fixated on his neckline where a crisp white shirt met his throat and waves of silky black hair brushed against his fair skin.
He swallowed once, then twice more. His nostrils flared as if scenting the air. His eyes widened, then he averted his gaze as if he didn’t want to see me.
Disgusted, I closed my eyes. I was the sick freak. Lusting over the man who’d tried to kill me. And he was an employee now. Unless I wanted him to charge me with sexual harassment, I needed to cool it.
“Radiance?” His concern focused my attention. “Something hurts you?”
Yes, I wanted to shout. I’m fucked in the head. “I’m fine,” I said between sips, casting my gaze to other spots in the room. Anywhere but on him.
Once he was satisfied that I was well hydrated, he set the glass down and sat at the foot of the bed. “There is much I have to explain to you.”
I pulled the sheet over my breasts and grumbled, “This ought to be good.”
“From your perspective, I imagine not.”
Okay. Not what I wanted to hear, but I put the kibosh on the hundred other questions I wanted to ask. Instead, I glared at him. “Are you really a lawyer?”
“I am fully licensed to practice human law.”
I opened my mouth—human law?
He held up his hand. “Please. Let me explain. As the heir to the Ashworth Legacy, you are entitled to full and complete knowledge of what you have inherited. And the duties it entails.”
Duties? “I already have a job I like, thank you very much. I walked away from Sebastian and his millions for a reason.” Crap. Did this guy know about my past? The sex tape? Maybe a hole would appear in the mattress and swallow me.
“Once every generation or so an heir is chosen to defend the innocent. To serve the Higher Power.”
I suppressed a smile. No way was this true. Sebastian and this guy were total nutcases. Higher Power? The old man didn’t have a spiritual bone in his body. The only gods he worshipped were the ones on Wall Street.
His gaze settled on my face as if sensing my skeptical thoughts. When I didn’t interrupt, he continued. “In exchange for the heir’s service, the entire family benefits. Wealth, longevity, good fortune. Your sister’s recent six-figure job opportunity is an example of the legacy at work.”
I snorted. “And what if I refuse?”
Luca’s expression darkened. “You would force your responsibility onto another member of the family. If you walk away, someone else will take your place. They will experience the same pain, the same suffering as you did.”
His somber tone gave me pause. I didn’t hate everyone in my family. I may have thought ninety-percent of my cousins were a waste of space, but I liked some of them. Wait. Earlier he’d said one heir in a generation. That ruled out my contemporaries.
A stone landed in my stomach. Oh God! What if the next heir was—
No. I wouldn’t even entertain the thought for fear of making it real. “You do realize what you’re saying sounds insane?”
“Attend to your wound. It’s healed completely now.”
I checked again. Sure enough, fresh pink skin replaced the divot. Faint lines glowed under the surface—a kind of circular symbol that I couldn’t quite make out. “What is this? A tattoo?”
“Not exactly. It’s a brand.” He unbuttoned the middle buttons on his shirt, exposing a similar mark. “We are bound together.”
“What? That is the biggest load of crap I’ve ever heard.” I pressed my palm on my chest to calm my heart’s rapid pounding. “I suppose you’re going to tell me next that I’m yours. That we are destined to be together. Hey, I read romance novels, buddy. That line won’t work on me.” I didn’t believe in happily-ever-after anymore.
Luca remained silent for a moment. In typical lawyerly fashion, he changed the subject. “Haven’t you ever noticed that members of your family have unusually long lives?”
Come to think of it, Sebastian looked remarkable for someone his age. I shook my head. Nope. The man had access to the best surgery money could buy. “You’re forgetting one very important thing.”
“No. I don’t think so.” Luca crossed his arms, a confident smile tugging his lips.
“My parents didn’t have good luck or long lives. They were drug addicts.” Pampered addicts, but junkies nonetheless. “And they died in a freak accident. So how do you explain that, Mr. Hot Shot, sort of a lawyer?”
He frowned. “Some people’s lifestyles are so destructive that even luck can’t save them.”
Whatever. “So what’s the catch? There has to be one.”
“In return for the family’s continued good health, you will serve as a Soul Redeemer. And don’t tell me you don’t believe in ghosts. Right, Julian? You can stop eavesdropping.”
“Fine.” Julian materialized at the foot of the bed.
If I could’ve shot daggers out of my eyes, and he weren’t already a ghost, he’d be dead. “You knew, didn’t you?”
“I’d prayed it wasn’t you. But I knew it had to be.” Regret filled his voice. “I’m sorry.”
The apology cooled my anger a bit. “How come you’re inside the mansion now?” It would’ve been nice earlier, if he could have given me a more proper warning. Then again, in all fairness, he did tell me to leave. More than once.
<
br /> “When you officially became heir, the ward Sebastian had against me dissipated.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you two had argued?” A bad feeling came over me. “You disagreed over me, didn’t you?”
Julian stepped back and remained silent, hands behind his back.
“Come on, Julian,” I pleaded. “You know I hate it when you give me the silent treatment.”
Luca interrupted. “You can converse with him later. I need you to understand your new duties. First off—”
“Wait. I didn’t agree to any of this.”
“Yes. You did.” He stared at me in disbelief. “Forgotten your ordeal so soon?”
The pain, the fire. The consent. Crap. Now it all made sense. “That’s not fair! You tortured me into agreement!”
“No. That was the cleansing ceremony. You consented long ago, when Julian appeared to you.”
“I was a child!” I spluttered. “I can’t help that I can see him. What kind of messed up logic is that?”
“I did not create the terms of the bargain,” Luca said.
Julian studied his fingernails and sing-songed, “Luca, you’re not helping.”
“Quiet, Julian.” Luca glared at the ghost.
“Enough!” I clambered out of bed, trailing bed sheets in my wake. “I don’t believe any of this.” I yanked clean clothes out of my luggage and locked myself in the bathroom. Two minutes later, fully dressed, I located my car keys and grabbed my travel bag.
“I haven’t finished explaining yet. Radiance. Please don’t leave.” Luca blocked access to the door.
“Bad idea, gent,” Julian said. He knew me well enough to know that trying to stop me was a really bad idea.
I circumvented Luca and flung open the door. “Piss off.”
“Radiance! Wait!” Luca called after me, but I didn’t care.
Damn Sebastian! This is what I got for granting the dying bastard’s wish.
Fucked over.
Chapter 3
A fun trip is traveling toward you.
Driving home did nothing to calm the fire burning in my gut. I’d heard and experienced too much for one person to handle. I mean, come on, a soul catcher? Or Redeemer? Whatever the hell it was, no thanks.
And the Ashworth fortune, the one thing I tried to steer clear of most of my adult life, was now mine. What would I do with a sprawling mansion with its own diner, movie theater, and indoor tropical swimming pool? It was too much for one person. Hell, it was too much for a hundred people.
The estate, located on the outskirts of Jericho, California, had been in the family for more than a century. In fact, the Ashworth family had founded the Jericho settlement back before the gold rush and never really left. Lucky for me, my cozy house in the hills was only about two hours away. With some speed, I’d be home in no time.
Funny, if I hadn’t inherited my place from Sebastian’s first wife, my favorite grandmother, Isabel, I might have moved clear across the country. After she passed away, I couldn’t bear the thought of selling it. The house held too many good memories for me. Isabel had divorced Sebastian after one too many affairs and it had been her bastion of happiness and freedom. Growing up, I’d never refused a chance to visit her.
Speaking of visits, I regretted my sudden departure since I’d planned to stay the weekend to spend time with Selene and Grace. Crap. I’d have to call her. She’d be worried. Come to think of it, I wondered how long I’d been out of commission. I know she would’ve noticed if I was missing for days on end. I was too pissed at Luca to ask him. The rat bastard.
My phone rang. I answered automatically. “Hey, sis! Sorry I left early—”
“We need to talk,” Julian said. His ghostly essence spilled from the phone and reformed in the passenger seat.
“No, we don’t. Because you aren’t going to tell me anything, are you?”
Julian shifted in his seat.
“I’ll take your silence as a no.” The twisty mountain roads demanded I pay attention. If I crashed the car, Julian would be fine and I’d probably be dead. A low pain built in my jaw and my hands throbbed, probably from clenching them so tightly.
“Radiance. Stop the car.”
“No. I’m going home and you can’t stop me.” Heat built in my palms and I flexed my fingers, trying to relieve the strain.
“It’s dangerous for you to be driving right now.”
“I’ve driven angry plenty of times and I’ve never crashed.” He was getting on my last, frayed nerve.
“No. That’s not the reason,” he insisted.
The road blurred in front of me. Pins and needles numbed my hands. Heat scorched the center of each palm. Spots danced in my vision.
The car swerved.
I had barely maneuvered the vehicle to the side of the road when images poured into my mind.
Ashworth Mansion. A man’s hands on the steering wheel of my car. The view of the driveway was through his eyes. His thoughts became mine.
What a piece of junk. She’s the new heir. Maybe she’ll drive one of the old man’s sweet rides. Man. What I wouldn’t give to live here. She’s single. I’d bang her. Nice tits.
I gripped my head and screamed.
The thoughts cut off. Anxiety twitched my fingers. Sweat slicked my forehead. White light bathed my right hand; dark light entombed my left. I sat in stunned silence. It didn’t hurt, yet I felt . . . compelled . . . to do something.
“You know what this is, don’t you?” I flipped my hands palms up. Two symbols stood out on the center of each. The glow faded. The strange urge passed.
Julian nodded, sadness creasing his flawless face. For the first time, he appeared more solid to me. I reached over to touch him. He jerked away. “Talk to Luca.” He vanished.
“Damn it! Why are you so unhelpful?” I slapped my hand against the steering wheel. The valet’s thoughts filtered into my head again. Sweet tits. I’d love to—
Repulsed, I snatched my hand away. What a pervert. Then it clicked. He was the last person in my car. No. I squashed the idea. It was too crazy. I tried again. When I got the same result after several more tries, I couldn’t deny the logical conclusion.
I could sense other people’s thoughts through objects.
Crap. I couldn’t sit at the roadside forever. And I wouldn’t risk causing an accident.
I could call Luca. Fuck no.
I needed to get home and I could do it without running to him for help. I removed my sneakers, tossed them in the back seat, then slipped my socks over my hands, covering the marks. When I placed my palms on the wheel—nothing but my own thoughts.
Who needed Luca? I could solve my own problems.
Relieved, I put the car in drive and headed home.
Brody meowed happily when I stepped into the foyer. He weaved in and out of my path, tail held high, as I trudged up the stairs. Feeling safe to touch things in my own home, I stuffed the socks into my pocket. At the top, I reached down and scratched his ears. “I missed you too, buddy. Let me go unpack and—”
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
I shrieked and swung my bag. A loud oomph signaled I’d connected with the intruder. I put up my fists ready to fight. Not that I was a brawler. But I could do some damage. I was on a roller derby team and I knew how to knock someone on their ass.
The assailant stepped closer.
Brody ran forward and rubbed against the last person I wanted to see. Traitorous cat.
I lowered my fists and angrily snatched the bag off the floor.
“I am not here to fight you.” Luca held up his hands, then pocketed them as if to show me I had nothing to worry about. Sunlight streamed behind him, giving him an otherworldly silhouette.
“Get out of my house,” I
said through gritted teeth. “How did you get here so fast?”
“Please. We must talk. You are not safe here.”
I chuckled and headed into my bedroom. “I’ve seen that movie, too. Heroine runs off with hero and chaos ensues. No thanks.” The bag bounced when it hit the mattress. I dumped the contents on the bed. Dirty clothes were tossed into the hamper. Clean ones would be put away.
Luca stepped in behind me while I threw clothes back into their drawers. “Do not jest about this. You do not understand—”
“That’s right!” I slammed the bureau drawer shut, rattling the contents on top. “I don’t understand why you think I’ll run off with you. I don’t know you. Do you think I’m completely off my nut?”
Luca stared down at my feet. “Why are you barefoot?”
I stomped toward him and brandished my hands. “Because whenever I touch things, I hear other people’s thoughts in my head! I could have lived a long time without knowing the valet thinks I have a nice rack!” I held up my breasts for emphasis.
Nope. That didn’t sound crazy at all.
Luca’s expression froze, then darkened to a murderous glare. The air temperature in the room chilled. “I will take care of him.” His tone suggested cement galoshes and a deep body of water.
“No! This is a free country, right? It’s not his fault I’m a freak of nature.” I left off, thanks to you. “I mean it. I do not want anything to happen to him.”
“Fine. For now.” Luca crossed his arms over his broad chest.
I hated to admit it, but his possessive display turned me on. If anyone else had tried that macho crap, I would’ve had a very different reaction. I continued unpacking, sneaking glances at him. Not for the first time, I undressed him in my imagination. Catching me, he smiled, eyes twinkling with a hint of promise.
Heat suffused my cheeks. Blushing like a damned schoolgirl, I tossed more dirty clothes in the hamper. “Why are you still here?”