“We definitely are,” Braden agreed as he took a chair, stretching his long legs out in front of him as he leaned back and linked his fingers on his stomach. “I have to say, I didn’t see this coming. You didn’t mention we were coming to visit your aunt, Izzy.”
“I didn’t know where we were heading,” I reminded him, barely managing to keep my temper in check. I didn’t understand the anger he directed toward my aunt. It seemed unnecessary given the woman I knew. Of course, I wasn’t up to date on her life. Perhaps I was missing something. “I didn’t realize who you were visiting until I saw the name of the store. I haven’t seen this place since I was a kid.”
“Right.” He furrowed his brow. “I didn’t even know you had a niece, Madame Maxine. I don’t think my father has ever mentioned it. Does he know?”
“I don’t know.” Maxine refused to react to Braden’s bitter tone, instead shoving a cup of tea in front of him before delivering the same to me and herself. “I didn’t get to see Izzy much when she was growing up. She lived with her grandfather in New Orleans. We did talk regularly.”
“Her grandfather? Isn’t that your father?”
I sipped and shook my head. “No. My paternal grandfather. Aunt Max was my mother’s sister.”
“Well ... okay.” Braden’s attitude reflected profound unease. I wasn’t sure how to fix the situation. In truth, I wasn’t certain I wanted to ease his burden. He was something of a jerk, though I was convinced he didn’t see that. “We need information on a wraith attack on Belle Isle, Madame Maxine. I wouldn’t have come if it wasn’t necessary. You know that.”
The conversational shift was jarring, but I was thankful for it. “It was definitely weird,” I agreed. “I wasn’t expecting it.”
Maxine gripped my hand tightly. “You were attacked by a wraith?”
“Not exactly,” I hedged. I told her the story, opening my mind enough that she could pick up the surface images I offered and get a picture of what had happened. We shared a magical link — one I’d been sure to keep from my employers because I didn’t want to draw unnecessary attention — but it came in handy now.
“That’s quite the story,” Maxine said when I’d finished.
I waited for her to continue, but she didn’t. “That’s all you have to say?”
Braden snorted. “Get used to that. I told you she was secretive.”
Maxine, always hard to read, was an open book as she pinned Braden with a serious gaze. “Is there something you want to say, Braden?”
Most people would’ve withered under the look, but Braden Grimlock refused to back down. “Why would I possibly have something to say to you?”
I was at a loss. “What am I missing here?”
“Nothing,” Maxine and Braden barked at the same time.
“Well, great.” I sipped my tea and regrouped. “I’m glad I’m current on the status of your relationship.”
Braden narrowed his eyes to dangerous slits before purposely relaxing his facial muscles. I could see the effort he exerted thanks to the change in his aura, but he managed to rein in his temper and focus on the here and now. “Do you have any idea why a wraith would cross over and then come back? We can’t figure it out. You seem to know things that no one else does, so I thought maybe there was a chance you could help us.”
Instead of replying in kind, with an edge to her voice, Maxine let loose a weary sigh. “There’s only one reason I can think of that a wraith would want to visit the other side. They wouldn’t be welcome there. The sentries would hunt them down and eradicate them, so that’s why the trip was probably so short. The wraith knew what it wanted, where it was going, and had to race back to avoid being destroyed.”
“What sentries?” I asked.
“Even Heaven and Hell have security,” Maxine replied. “They would’ve been alerted the minute the wraith crossed the gate threshold.”
“How do you know all this?” Braden challenged. “We’re not taught any of this when we go through training.”
“That’s because your training deals with this side. What happens on the other side is none of your concern.”
“I still feel we should know that.”
“Take it up with your bosses. It’s not my fault you don’t have all the information you’d like.”
“There’s plenty else that’s your fault,” Braden grumbled under his breath.
Maxine opened her mouth, I’m sure a sharp retort on the tip of her tongue. She didn’t lash out, though, instead focusing on me. “My best guess is that the wraith got an influx of vitality on the other side. That’s what it wanted. Once it succeeded, it raced for the gate to flee the sentries.”
“Vitality.” I rubbed my forehead, racking my brain. “How does that work?”
“Wraiths feed off the souls of others to survive.”
“I know that.”
“Vitality is different,” Maxine explained. “Vitality is what survives on the other side. If a wraith got enough vitality, it would grow in strength to the point it would become something else entirely.”
“What?” Braden asked, instantly alert. “What would it become?”
Maxine held out her hands and shrugged. “I don’t know. Until now, it’s only been a hunch. It’s the soul walkers who first hypothesized it would be a solution to their problem. As you well remember, they made a lot of mistakes.”
“I remember,” Braden growled, straightening in his chair. “If what you’re saying is true, you’re insinuating that wraith supercharged itself. Does that mean it will be harder to kill?”
“I’ve never seen or heard of a wraith actually accomplishing this,” Maxine cautioned. “We’ve talked about it in different circles, worried about it even a few months ago given what was going on. But it didn’t happen, so we chose to forget it.”
“Well, it’s happened now.” Braden didn’t look happy. I couldn’t blame him. “We need to figure out how to fix this. Any ideas on how to track down the wraith in question?”
“No. I’m not sure what to tell you.”
“Then I guess this was a wasted trip.”
I felt otherwise but didn’t give voice to my feelings. “We need to think outside the box,” I suggested. “Where do the wraiths in this area go? They’re creatures of habit. We need to figure out this particular wraith’s habits.”
“That’s easier said than done,” Braden argued. “It’s not as if the wraiths confide in us.”
“So, what do you suggest?”
“I don’t know. I need time to think.”
“Great. You think.” Maxine lobbed an indulgent smile in his direction. “While you do that, I’m going to catch up with my niece. Is that okay with you?”
“Would it matter if I wasn’t okay with it?”
“No.”
“Then I’m fine with it.”
Maxine’s smugness came out to play. “I thought you would be.”
Six
“He’s intense.”
We left Braden to stew at the table, Maxine leading me to a set of comfortable overstuffed chairs on the other side of the store. I couldn’t stop myself from watching him despite the pall he cast. He was clearly struggling.
“He’s the most intense of that clan,” Maxine agreed, pouring me a fresh cup of tea. “The girl was intense for a long time, too. Actually, I thought there was a chance the girl would grow up to be unbearable due to her intensity. Her father spoiled her to the point I often wanted to slap her around. But she outgrew it.”
“Aisling?”
Maxine’s eyebrow lifted. “You’ve met her?”
“A few hours ago.”
“That was quick.”
“She didn’t want to be left behind.”
My aunt’s chuckle was warm. “That sounds like her. She’ll be giving birth soon. That will change the Grimlock dynamic. I’m hoping in a good way.”
“You seem to know them well.”
“I know some of them well,” she clarified. “Redmond and Cormack I
know best. Cillian stops by for research material occasionally, but he’s more focused on books than people. Aidan stops by when he’s looking for something specific. I haven’t seen Aisling in several months, not since the last big battle they faced.”
“I thought they faced constant battles. That’s what Renee and Oliver said. They’re the people I’m working with, by the way. They seem nice enough.”
“I know Oliver.” Maxine’s smile was mischievous. “Once you get to know him you’ll like him a great deal. I’m not familiar with Renee. I’m sure you’ll fit in ... eventually.”
“But I’m the boss. I’m supposed to be in charge.”
“And you don’t feel in charge because the Grimlocks swooped in and took over your first day,” she surmised. “I get that. The Grimlocks know what they’re doing when it comes to wraiths. Let Cormack do his thing ... at least for now.”
She sounded practical. That didn’t mean the idea sat well with me. “What’s going on with you and Braden? He seems to hate you. You’ve been careful not to say too much, but I know something happened between the two of you. He was in a much better mood before he saw you, despite everything that happened.”
Maxine’s gaze was thoughtful as it landed on Braden. “That’s not my story to tell,” she said finally. “Suffice it to say, life has been difficult for the Grimlocks at various points. They’re a gregarious bunch, loyal to a fault, but Braden has always been the most serious of the lot.”
“That wasn’t really an answer.”
“It’s the only answer I can give you. I mean ... think about it. Do you want me spreading our family business all over town, telling the Grimlocks the secrets we hold dear?”
“Of course not.”
“Then I can’t tell you the Grimlock secrets,” Maxine said. “They’re entitled to their privacy. The good thing for you is that they’re bad at keeping secrets, even their own, so you’ll probably find someone who will open his or her mouth if you’re really that interested. I would aim for Aisling.”
“Because she has a big mouth?”
“They all have big mouths. She definitely does. She’s also bored and feels left out.”
“How do you know that?” I was officially intrigued. “I felt the same thing when I was with her earlier. Her emotions are right on the surface, but she didn’t actually come out and say that. I thought you said you hadn’t seen her in a bit.”
“I’ve been keeping an eye on her … from afar. I’ve developed an interest of sorts. She’s an intriguing little thing, full of sarcastic comments and a need to speak before she thinks. She’s matured a lot in the last two years, but she can’t change her nature.”
“Well, I don’t want to gossip out of turn,” I hedged. “I kind of liked her. I didn’t get to spend much time with her, but she’s interesting. The whole family is interesting. I appear to be working for them, but that’s not the job I signed up for. It makes me nervous.”
“Don’t kid yourself. You signed up to watch the gate because of what happened to your parents. You might be able to fool others, but you can’t fool me.”
“I can’t remember all of it,” I admitted. “I see bits and pieces. I can’t make out the whole picture.”
“Is that why you came back?”
I shrugged, noncommittal. “I came back because this is home and something inside was urging me to come home. I can’t explain it.”
“You’ll figure it out.” Her hand rested lightly on mine. “You always figure things out, Izzy. That’s one of your strengths.”
“I don’t feel particularly strong right now. I’m out of my element and I’ve already lost control.”
“You’ll find your balance.” Maxine sounded sure of herself as Braden finally stood and shifted his eyes to me. “He will eventually, too. His anger with me isn’t directed at you, so don’t take it personally.”
“That’s easier said than done.”
“He doesn’t mean it. He’s a Grimlock. Thinking before speaking is an alien concept.”
I chuckled dryly. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“I believe he wants you to go with him now. He must have an idea.”
“Why do I think it’s a bad idea?”
“Because you’re a good judge of character.”
“WHAT IS THIS PLACE?”
I cringed as Braden parked in front of an abandoned warehouse thirty minutes later. When he pointed us toward what could only be described as a rough neighborhood, I had my doubts. Now that we were parked and stood out like pickles in a carrot patch, I was downright against whatever idea he planned to force upon me.
I still didn’t know what his genius idea entailed.
“This is a former wraith nest,” Braden replied as he strode to the back of his vehicle and opened the hatchback. “We cleaned it out about three weeks ago.”
“If you cleaned it out, why are we here?” I watched as he rummaged in a black duffel bag and came back with a bejeweled dagger, which he wordlessly handed to me.
“This was an absolutely huge nest and it was a lot of work to wipe it out. It took hours. We even had to get my brother-in-law involved because we needed extra hands, which didn’t sit well with my sister.”
“She mentioned her husband was a police officer.” I slid the dagger inside my coat as I fell into step with him. “There must be an interesting story associated with their relationship. I thought we were supposed to keep the true nature of our jobs hidden from outsiders.”
“Yeah, well, Aisling never met a rule she didn’t want to break. As for Griffin, he walked in on her killing a wraith before they even hooked up. It was an accident ... and he managed to accept everything in our world without putting up too much of a fuss. Surprisingly, he fit right in.”
“And now he helps you?”
“Not usually. He has a job to do. We needed help with this nest, though. Usually we would’ve taken Aisling, but she’s far too big and my father has somehow turned into a mother hen where she’s concerned. He’s always been careful to keep her protected, but now that she’s pregnant he’s stopped just short of following her around with pillows to make sure she doesn’t get jostled.”
“That’s kind of cute.”
“Not really.” Braden nudged the warehouse’s front door with his toe and cautiously peered inside. “It looks the same as when we left it. I don’t know that we’ll find anything here. I don’t know where else to look. My father and brother are conducting research. That’s not exactly my forte.”
“What is your ‘forte’?”
This time the smile that ghosted Braden’s lips was genuine. “I’m an excellent pool player and no one can beat me at basketball.”
“That wasn’t really what I meant.”
“It’s what I’ve got to offer.”
“Fair enough.” My nerves were beginning to fray thanks to the dim lighting and acrid scent. “It smells like someone died in here.”
“A lot of wraiths died in here.”
“Yeah, but ... it smells like a person died in here.”
The look Braden shot me dripped with curiosity. “Tell me about yourself,” he said after a beat. “Were you born into a reaper family?”
“Not exactly.”
Braden slipped into the room in front of us and stared at every corner before arching an eyebrow. “Would you care to expound on that?”
This was the part of the conversation I’d been dreading. I’d pushed Maxine to reveal Braden’s secrets, but wasn’t interested in sharing mine. I recognized that was unfair, but I barely knew him ... and I was a total busybody. Sometimes life simply doesn’t balance out.
“My father was a reaper,” I said finally. “My mother wasn’t. She worked for the home office, but we didn’t go out in the field.”
“Okay.” Braden lifted his phone to use as a flashlight as we hit another room. “What did you do?”
“We ran the gate.”
“Really?” Intrigue flitted across Braden’s face. “Did you grow
up on Belle Isle?”
“Only until I was seven.”
“Were you transferred after that?”
“In a way.” I sucked in a calming breath. I would eventually have to answer questions. Delaying the inevitable would help nobody. “My parents were killed on the island. I was spared, but I obviously couldn’t stay there. Maxine wanted me, but my grandfather pulled rank. He took me to New Orleans.”
“Wow!” Braden’s dumbfounded expression said it all. “I’m sorry that happened. I ... that’s awful. If you don’t mind me asking, how did your parents die?”
“I don’t really remember.”
The answer clearly wasn’t what Braden was expecting. “Were you there?”
“They say I was.” The flashes I saw in my dreams told me I was there, but I didn’t feel comfortable enough with him to admit that. “I’m not sure what happened. The police came. There was a lot of blood. I remember some screaming ... although I don’t know if it was my mother or me. I simply can’t remember.”
Braden’s face was ghost white as he turned to face me. “I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t have asked you about it.”
“It’s okay. Someone eventually would’ve asked. I need to get comfortable talking about it now that I’m back.”
“I guess.” He slowly swiveled so we could pick our way through the building. It was devoid of furniture, but it was clear local teens had thrown a party or two, given all the discarded beer cans and trash. “My mother died, too.”
His voice was so quiet when he made the admission I almost missed it. “Your sister mentioned something about that, but she didn’t go into detail. I can’t remember exactly how it came up, but she seemed reticent to mention it.”
“Yeah, well, we’re all reticent where my mother is concerned.”
“I understand. Trust me. If anyone understands, I do. Of course, I can’t remember my parents all that well. I mean ... I have memories, but they’re kind of cloudy. How old were you when your mother died?”
“Twenty.”
“So, you were older.”
“Older than you, that’s for sure,” Braden agreed. “It was still a shock.”
Only The Lonely (A Death Gate Grim Reapers Thriller Book 1) Page 6