by Diana Bocco
“What the hell?” Emily hissed, annoyed.
“Can you smell that?” Laurie whispered.
“Smell what?”
Every cell in Laurie’s body screamed at her to get out. She was close enough to the door that she could still turn around and leave. Without her gun.
That second of uncertainty changed everything. As she reached for the light switch, she heard something stir to their left.
A scream caught in her throat. “Emily, don’t—”
And then Emily went flying through the air and into the wall to their right with a loud thump. She slid down the wall and lay motionless on the floor.
“Nice to see you again, Laurie.” Corneliu stepped out of the darkness and into the path between her and Emily. Between her and the gun. “I’m not really happy with Alex right now.”
Laurie’s eyes darted around the room, looking for a sign that Emily was still breathing and searching for a way out at the same time. Emily’s chest was rising, slightly but steadily.
There was a loud rumbling in the room, almost like a soft earthquake shaking the foundations of the place, except that nothing was moving. Corneliu’s magic. She could feel him too, and she didn’t like it. His magic sounded dark, chilling. Like an approaching thunderstorm, bringing destruction and gloom with it.
“I would’ve loved to be the one inside you.”
Her stomach contracted, and she felt nauseated. She took a step backwards and realized her legs were numb. Her heartbeat was somewhere between erratic and frozen. She wanted to scream, but she doubted it would do anything except make Corneliu happy — and angrier.
“Hurting me now won’t change anything.”
“It will make me feel so much better,” Corneliu took a step towards her. “And it will make Alex very, very unhappy.”
Laurie made an effort to keep her voice steady. “He doesn’t care. It was just about the ritual.”
Another step closer to her.
“Oh, but he does. I could feel the electricity between you two.”
Laurie’s back touched the door behind her. The kitchen was just steps away. If she could at least grab a knife….
Corneliu’s magic vibrated louder now, almost like a ringing in her ears. It was distracting and very unnerving. Just as much as Alex’s magic felt warm and comforting, Corneliu’s felt frightening. It felt … wrong and out of tune with her.
Her hand reached for the doorknob behind her. One more move and she’d be in the kitchen.
Except that the knob wasn’t moving.
The kitchen door didn’t have a lock, so it should have opened. Her eyes locked onto Corneliu’s.
“You didn’t think I was going to let you go in there, did you?”
Another step closer.
“Please, don’t.” Laurie’s throat was feeling tighter, drier.
Corneliu smiled. For a second, she saw the family resemblance. The same half smile, the same deep eyes with a world of secrets buried within them. But none of the emotion that made her heart sing.
And before something hit her and everything went black, all she could think about was Alex.
** **
Pain. Pulsing, blinding pain. Almost like throbbing, rhythmic flashes in her head. Laurie opened her eyes slowly, and the light coming through the window hit her hard. She blinked a few times, trying to adjust to the room and the movements around her.
Corneliu.
The memory of what was going on hit her at once. Her eyes darted around the room until she found him sitting in the armchair at the foot of the bed.
“Sorry about that,” he said. “I guess the vase hit you harder than I expected.”
She tried to move, but her whole body was pinned against the bed. She panicked for a second, thinking her wrists and ankles were tied, but there was no rope holding her down. Then anger took over and she thrashed against the invisible enemy, trying to get loose.
Corneliu winked at her. “Not bad, considering Alex ruined my chances to complete the ritual.”
When she tried to talk, it felt like his hands were around her throat. “Where’s Emily?” she croaked.
“Still alive, last time I checked.”
She tried to steady the beating of her heart, but it was hard to concentrate on anything when she couldn’t get enough air into her lungs. “I can’t … breathe,” she told him as calmly as possible.
Corneliu held her gaze for a second and then released the pressure. Not too much, but enough that she could breathe a bit more easily.
“Is this the only way you can deal with me? Let me go, and let’s try this without tricks.”
Corneliu relaxed against the back of the chair. “I love feisty women who think they can take on the world.” Although he was smiling, his voice sent chills down her spine. “But first I want to know what Alex got out of the ritual.”
Laurie.
The voice was so unexpected, it actually made her jump. Her eyes froze on Corneliu’s, but his expression hadn’t changed. If he had heard anything, he wasn’t showing it.
Laurie, hold on. I’m coming.
How long had she been unconscious? Even driving at high speeds, it would take Alex at least two hours to get to her.
Laurie, tell me you’re okay.
She felt her chest tighten and had to keep the tears from spilling out.
I’m okay. She paused. Please, please hurry.
Her eyes went back to Corneliu. She wasn’t sure how, but she needed to keep him engaged enough that he wouldn’t kill her. Or worse.
Chapter 10
Alex had been in the study when Laurie’s words first flashed into his mind. They were laced with a feverish panic, and his whole body had responded. It wasn’t just a reflex — it was almost as if her panic had come through her words and turned into anger inside him. Anger that she was about to be hurt, anger that somebody else was touching her.
Then everything went silent, and Alex feared the worst. He panicked for a minute and then forced himself to calm down and listen. The electricity was still there, although softer and quieter than usual. He told himself that meant Laurie was still alive, even if she wasn’t able to talk to him.
He got into his car and tuned in to the energy connecting them. He focused his eyes on the road and on making his way to the city as fast as possible. His mind was somewhere else, reaching for her, looking for a link.
Then all of a sudden the connection seemed to awaken and he was able to reach her again. An overwhelming sense of relief washed over him when she responded. He couldn’t explain what was going on or what he was feeling, but he knew every cell in his body was desperate to get to Laurie.
When he got to the city, he parked a block away from her apartment, just in case Corneliu had a way to look out over the street.
Every part of him was ready for a fight.
** **
Even before he reached the door of her apartment, he could hear the voices coming from inside. Nobody was shouting, but he could hear them anyway. The ritual hadn’t made his hearing superhuman, but it had given him selective hearing. He wasn’t sure what triggered the sensitivity. Maybe it was caused by strong emotions: anger, passion, alarm. Whatever it was, it had kicked in now. All his senses were in overdrive.
He knew his cousin had enough power to at least partially immobilize Laurie so he could control her. There was no way to sneak in and surprise Corneliu, because he couldn’t guess where he was.
Alex put his hand up, and the deadbolt twisted.
This was it. All or nothing.
He pushed the door open without touching it and stepped inside.
And Corneliu slammed it shut right behind him.
Alex scanned the room until he found his cousin standing in the doorway of what looked like the bedroom. He couldn’t see past him, but he could feel Laurie’s vibration coming from the room. She was alive. In pain and exhausted, but alive.
“Get out of my way.”
Corneliu moved slightly, and the li
ght coming through the window illuminated Laurie’s gun, dancing in his fingers. “You’re not fast enough, Alex. I’ll turn around and put a bullet in her head if you move your hands.”
“If you’ve hurt her….”
Corneliu shook his head. “What’s the big attachment, anyway? Last week, you didn’t even know her.”
That was something Alex couldn’t answer. Not logically, anyway. What started as simply an attraction had become something else once they completed the ritual. It was as if there was an invisible thread connecting them now. One that he didn’t want to sever.
Alex.
Relief washed over him when his mind heard her. The sound was weak but warm.
“I want whatever you got from her,” Corneliu said, and Alex realized his cousin couldn’t hear Laurie at all.
“You know it doesn’t work that way. Why are you even here?”
“I just want to make sure you don’t get the last laugh, that’s all.” He took a step backward, towards Laurie.
Alex knew he had to act now, before it was too late. There was nothing he could do from where he was standing, but he had a major advantage in this game.
Laurie, can you move?
No.
He concentrated all his energy into the bedroom and was able to see Corneliu’s magic holding her down. It was some kind of shield, similar to the one he’d created the other night to halt Corneliu’s attack. And he also knew he could break in and release her without difficulty. Doing so would alert Corneliu, though, and he was volatile enough already. But if he could release just one hand.
Laurie, try moving your right hand. Can you?
Silence, then Yes.
“You’re awfully quiet for a guy who’s so concerned about his little woman.”
“What do you want? Name it and then get the fuck out of here. Or let’s go somewhere else, just you and me.”
Corneliu chuckled, and there was a thick darkness to the sound. “Do you think I’m stupid?”
Laurie, when I tell you, use your right hand to push something to the floor. Anything.
Okay.
“Last chance,” he said and his eyes burned when they locked onto Corneliu’s.
“Fuck you!”
Now, Laurie!
The sudden crash startled Corneliu, and he jerked his head around. That was all Alex needed. His hand went up, and Laurie’s gun went flying across the room.
And then Corneliu was in the air, his feet off the ground, his throat being crushed. He gasped for air, his hands frantically trying to fight the invisible attack.
Behind him, Laurie moved and immediately yelped in pain.
Alex took a step forward, closing the distance between him and his prey.
“I’m going to give you one chance, Corneliu. I’ll put you down, and you get out of here and never come back,” he paused for a second, squeezing Corneliu’s throat harder with his mind. “Or I’ll break your neck right now.”
Corneliu’s feet thrashed in the air. “Put me down!”
Alex released him, and Corneliu hit the floor hard. Immediately, his hand went up, and objects from different corners of the room started flying. Alex could feel them rush towards him without even moving his head. He could also shatter them into a million little pieces before they even got close to touching him.
Corneliu’s eyes were big with a mix of surprise and rage.
“I can crush your throat in a blink,” Alex whispered.
Corneliu stood up, stumbling, and moved towards the door. “This isn’t over, frate,” he said before staggering out of the apartment.
Alex didn’t expect it to be.
In fact, he was sure this little encounter was going to bring much larger repercussions for all of them. Part of him wished he could put an end to everything right then and there, but there were family rules he didn’t want to break. And there was Laurie, who was even more important right now.
As soon as Alex walked into the bedroom, she rushed into his arms.
“Are you okay?”
She melted into him. Her heart was beating wildly, but she seemed more relieved than scared at that point. As big of a part he’d played in saving her, she was still holding her ground. “I’m fine. Sore. Emily?”
“Unconscious but breathing.”
Alex held her tight, feeling the blood rushing in her body. She felt warm under his hands. She felt right. He kissed her and then smiled against her lips. “Handy little thing we have going.”
Laurie smiled, and Alex realized he didn’t want to let her go.
“I need to call an ambulance.”
He frowned. “I’m staying here. I don’t think Corneliu is done with you.”
She moved away from him and into the living room. Emily was breathing steadily, almost as if she was in a deep sleep. She wasn’t bleeding, and there was no apparent injury.
Laurie picked up the phone and dialed 911, then turned to face him. “I don’t want you to be here when the ambulance comes.”
“There’s no way I’m leaving you alone, so forget it.”
“Follow us to the hospital, then, but keep your distance. If the cops see you around, you’ll become a suspect. Right now, all Emily will remember is Corneliu. Let’s keep it that way.”
She picked up her gun.
“Laurie, you and I need to talk.”
Her eyes locked onto his. She looked powerful, in control. Just a few minutes ago, he’d felt like the rescuer saving the damsel in distress. But Laurie exuded power right now. He couldn’t see the golden glow she’d had on her skin the night before, but he could almost feel it. She had the soul of a warrior.
“We will,” she said. “Let me take care of her first.”
Alex nodded.
** **
The next couple of hours sort of melted into each other. The ambulance, sirens, a few lies here and there to explain Alex’s presence and to hide who Corneliu really was. Alex could tell Laurie was conflicted about the whole thing, but leading the police to Corneliu would have only resulted in more people getting hurt. His cousin was still more powerful than any human around, and he wouldn’t be afraid to use those powers to protect himself, even if it meant exposing the family secret. No, Alex couldn’t risk it. When the time was right, he would be the one to take Corneliu out.
After Emily was admitted to the hospital, Laurie seemed to relax. The adrenaline rush wore off, and she looked exhausted. Despite her protests, he eventually managed to get her into his car so he could drive back to the Hamptons. No other place was truly safe as long as Corneliu was out there. He was expecting her to fight him on that, but she fell asleep almost as soon as she got in the car.
Resting against the seat, with her hair messy from the shaky events of the day, she looked almost angelic. And he knew, right then and there, that they were destined to be together. No matter how crazy it sounded, even if it defied all logic, he wanted her in his life. Whatever the ritual had awakened between them, it was powerful, and there was no way he wanted to let go of it. Ever. He knew it sounded irrational, and his only hope was that Laurie would share in the madness.
By the time they got to the house, it was already dark. Laurie woke up as they were pulling into the driveway.
“Where are we?” she looked out the window for a few seconds. “Did I really sleep all the way here?”
He nodded. “Are you hungry? I can ask Sonya to cook something for you.”
“No, I’m okay.”
He stopped the car and took her hand.
“Then let’s figure this out.”
Chapter 11
Part of her was still shaken up from that afternoon. From the most intense, strangest week of her life. The rest of her was vibrating because of Alex’s proximity. With him around, her whole body felt musical. Even now, with her heart still thumping loudly in her ears, all she could think about was how glorious it felt to be around him.
They walked into the study, and Alex immediately swept her into his arms. His lips found
hers, first warm, then passionate. He grunted against her mouth, holding her tighter. One of his hands slid under her blouse to touch her back.