by R E Gauthier
Nikki explained how she tried to get Nanna to allow her to exhume the bodies, and when that didn’t work, she contacted a man who orchestrated an elaborate plan to dig up the graves.
Kelsey sat in wonder as between bites, Nikki explained how, with the help of a detective, Nikki uncovered Nanna’s feigned shock, and horror learning her family’s graves were desecrated. Kelsey mentally shook her brain to loosen the lingering feelings of betrayal. “I bet you, Nanna clung to that lie, to the bitter end.”
Nikki frowned. “She kicked me out of her house and told me never to go back.”
Kelsey gasped. “I can’t believe she went that far.”
“She has since apologized. That’s how I wound up here. I was in some serious trouble and needed some help getting out of it. Nanna gave me a number and told me to say Mo Chridhe; I’d get the help I needed. I thought I’d be going home, not come here.”
Kelsey decided she waited long enough for Nikki to tell her about what she mentioned earlier. “About that ‘serious trouble’ what did that entail? You said something about seeing a woman shot next to you, and that the bullet was meant for you.”
Nikki nodded, set down her fork, and leaned back in her chair. “It’s a long story, but the short version is: I got too close to something, and someone wanted me out of the picture. I got my warning, and I was leaving for home after Mouse went missing. Someone hit Torres and Deb over the heads, and there was a bit about Torres thinking Mouse was behind it. I met a Scottish cop, who I had supper with the other night. We were walking out of my hotel when someone shot her in the head. She died even before she hit the ground.”
Kelsey sat back in her chair. She began to speak and then stopped. Not knowing where to start, she whistled and clasped her hands together. “Wow! I don’t know what to say. You certainly know how to get into trouble. But before we go any further who is Mouse, and what does he or she have to do with all of this.”
Nikki explained how Mouse was a woman Nikki knew from high school, and she had only recently come back into Nikki’s life. Nikki then detailed how Mouse found the information that helped Nikki narrow her search for Kelsey. Kelsey listened and felt the affection, Nikki had for the woman she described. Mouse wasn’t just an acquaintance or a fellow computer nerd. Kelsey understood Nikki’s feelings as being close to love. Kelsey smiled and then recalled Nikki saying, Mouse went missing. “How do you know Mouse went missing, and what is this bit about Torres, and Deb being hit over the head?”
Nikki described how, when Mouse didn’t return her calls, texts, or email. She sent Torres and Deb to her bunker. Bunker? Kelsey’s head spun with all of this new, and convoluted information overload. Trying to keep up, Kelsey stopped Nikki a few times to explain or clarify something. Once she was sure she understood what Nikki had been through, she exclaimed, “and you’re still alive to tell the story. My ordeal pales in comparison to what you’ve been through.”
Nikki argued that whatever she endured, it couldn’t come close to learning three members of her family were alive after thinking they were dead for over twenty-one years. Being forced off the road, knocked out, and shipped in a metal container in a ship for two weeks had to trump being watched, warned, and shot at.
They agreed to disagree on the matter of who experienced the worse. They talked well into the night, forgetting all about their need for sleep.
Chapter Forty-One
MacKenzie Estate, May 10, 2012
Kelsey grimaced and closed her eyes. When Nikki and Aisling weren’t yelling, they were thinking of all the nasty things they wanted to do to one another. Try as she might, Kelsey couldn’t block out their thoughts and feelings. After staying up all night, catching up with Nikki, she didn’t have the strength. Usually, she could push out thoughts from others, and could when only one of the women were nearby. Having them both close, they sent their minds’ contents directly into her own. The frustration built until Kelsey couldn’t take it any longer. “Please, STOP IT!”
Both women looked surprised by her outburst.
Nikki pointed to her chest. “Are you talking to me?”
“Of course, she’s talking to you. Your presence is finally too annoying for even Kelsey’s patience.” Aisling smirked.
“Yeah, well, I’m surprised she hasn’t gone off the deep end earlier, having to look at you every day,” Nikki remarked as she puffed out her chest.
Kelsey took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Yelling as she had, made her headache worse. “I’m talking to both of you. You’re acting like children. From the moment you two have been breathing the same air, I’ve had the worse headache.” Pointing at Aisling, she said, “and it’s not because Nikki kept me up all night. I’d gladly miss sleep to be able to spend time with her finally. I recall we did much of the same when we reconnected.” Then pointing at Nikki, she said, “and you have to get used to me having another best friend. I can have two.”
Aisling looked contrite and lowered her eyes. “I’m sorry; I didn’t know you were suffering so badly. But it didn’t start until—”
“Aisling!” Kelsey warned her cousin.
Nikki snickered, jutting out her chin, and rocked back on her heels.
Kelsey frowned. “Nikki, you’re not much better, so don’t look so smug.”
Aisling giggled.
“I give up! I’m going to get as far away from the two of you as I can. Don’t come looking for me. I’ve missed a couple of nights of sleep with Miranda. I’m going to take a nap and see if I can reconnect with my fiancée” Kelsey stood and sent a warning look at both women. “Do whatever you need to do to get over this resentment, jealousy, or whatever else you’re experiencing for one another. When I’m in both of your presence again, I better not get a headache, or one whiff of your irritation for one another. Have I made myself clear?”
Nikki nodded and looked down. “Yes, I’ll do my best.”
Aisling nodded and smiled. “I promise to tolerate her better.”
Kelsey shook her head. The two women had much work to do even to be civil. As she walked away, she heard their whispered bickering and thoughts of vengeance on one another. Looking heavenward, Kelsey whispered, “spirits give me the strength to keep from killing those two.”
***
Nikki whirled around on Aisling. “You’ve ruined everything. Mack was just beginning to get her life together and dealing with losing you. She’s getting married to a wonderful woman, and then you come back into her life.”
Aisling’s nostrils flared as she advanced on Nikki. “I know Kelsey better than anyone, and she wasn’t dealing with losing me. Kelsey focused her entire life on seeking revenge and justice for my murder. I didn’t come back into her life. You may recall, your meddling helped almost get Kelsey killed.”
Nikki’s nerves grated every time Aisling said Kelsey; she said the name in a way that made Nikki’s nickname sound false. She leaned into Aisling and pointed the finger at the woman’s chest. “It wasn’t me or MACK who put that in motion. Your ex-girlfriend targeted MACK, and if you and your family had not lied for over twenty-one years, we all wouldn’t be here right now.”
Aisling shoved Nikki away. “Don’t talk to me about her. You have no right to sound condescending to me when you don’t know the whole story. You don’t know what we went through.”
Nikki grabbed Aisling by the arm to turn her around when the woman attempted to turn away. “No, because you didn’t ask for help all these years. You let your cousin suffer needlessly for almost her whole life.”
Aisling hissed, “don’t touch me.”
Nikki poked Aisling’s chest and looked defiantly into the flashing, hazel eyes.
Aisling shoved Nikki back.
Nikki grabbed Aisling and kissed her lips fiercely.
Aisling kissed Nikki back.
Nikki pulled away and looked into a pair of eyes filled with surprise and confusion. Putting a hand to her lips, she closed her eyes to calm her racing heart.
Aisling shoved
her back against the arbor, grabbing Nikki’s hair and kissing her hard on the mouth. “I wasn’t done,” Aisling whispered.
Nikki’s tongue went into the opened mouth, and said, “neither was I”
***
Nikki’s mind whirled with confusion. What the hell just happened? One minute she and Aisling were at each other’s throats, figuratively, and the next they were on one another. Her body throbbed with unspent passion. She never felt this sort of attraction for a woman in her entire life. There had been plenty of women to compare to. She theorized that the anger she felt meeting Mack’s cousin masked deeper feelings for the woman. Her passion never felt so palatable, so raw and primal. Closing her eyes, she attempted to withdraw her hand from down Aisling’s pants.
Aisling moaned and grabbed her hand. “Don’t, not yet,” she whispered against Nikki’s neck.
Nikki shivered from the sensations those words, against her fevered skin, provoked.
Aisling’s tongue flicked Nikki’s ear lobe, and then she bit down on the soft skin.
Nikki’s knees went weak, her head spun, and she bit down on her lower lip. “Jesus, what’s happening here?”
Aisling shook her head. “I don’t know. One minute I wanted to kill you, the next, I wanted to…”
Make love to me, Nikki finished inside her head.
“Exactly,” Aisling said before she began kissing a trail down Nikki’s throat and further still to the hardened nipples through Nikki’s t-shirt.
Nikki stepped back. “You heard my thoughts?”
Aisling looked just as surprised. “I did, but that’s never happened with anyone before…I mean it has with Kelsey.”
Nikki knew that Kelsey could hear Nikki’s too, but that was after she imbued the spirits of her ancestors inside her amulet. “Do you have some sort of amulet like Mack?”
Shaking her head, Aisling said, “no, and Nanna told me that Kelsey and I were joined in spirits by being born close to one another. I’m Kelsey’s soul-friend. I’m not sure why I can hear your thoughts.”
“Maybe it’s because of…what just happened between the two of us.” Nikki tried to make sense of what had just happened. Yes, Nikki had been overcome with passion before with women. Many women, even, but what happened between her and Aisling were more powerful, more momentous. Nikki had never felt this much raw hunger for another person in her entire life. “Mack could hear Miranda’s thought from the moment that they met. Are you sure you didn’t sense my thoughts before?”
Shaking her head, Aisling said, “no, I didn’t hear anything over my anger. I’m sorry I couldn’t see past it before.”
Nikki smiled. “Then it has to be because of what just happened. I must admit, it was something I have never experienced before.”
Aisling chuckled. “Contrary to what you may believe, I have had sex before you. I’ve had some really great sex. So, this theory of yours that we connected through a profound sexual connection won’t hold water.”
Nikki smiled. “It was profound. You felt it too, didn’t you?”
Aisling grimaced and then smiled. “As much as I hate to admit it, I’ve never felt this for anyone in my life.”
Nikki puffed out her chest. “I’ve been told that I have that effect on women. I have left a trail of broken hearts in my wake.”
Aisling wrinkled her nose and scoffed. “Now, don’t go getting a big head. I didn’t tell you that so you could gloat. Besides, it’s never a good thing to admit to your newest conquest that she’s one of many.”
Nikki dipped her head for a quick kiss. “That won’t happen with you. I can see that you’re going to make me work for any accolades. Furthermore, as my latest conquest, you’ll benefit from all of that experience.”
Giggling, Aisling returned Nikki’s kisses and deepened them. Opening her mouth, she invited Nikki inside.
Nikki accepted the invitation willingly, kissing Aisling deeply and thrusting her tongue inside. Her head spun with all sorts of erotic thoughts.
“Oh, yes, please, let’s do them all,” Aisling whispered inside Nikki’s mouth. “I want to see just how much experience you can offer.”
Nikki smiled against the hungry mouth devouring hers.
Chapter Forty-Two
Inside a Dream with Miranda, May 10, 2102
Miranda’s soft, supple skin, enveloped Kelsey in a cocoon of love. Being lost in this woman’s arms was something she’d craved for days. “I’ve missed you so much. I wish you could be here with me.”
Miranda pouted. “I wish I were too, but you have Nikki there to help you now. I’m glad she got away from that, Willow.”
Kelsey stopped her musings, and enjoyment of the skin under her finger, to ask, “Who is Willow? Why is it a good thing? Nikki got away from her?”
“Hmmm, I don’t really want to talk about her. A nasty woman, but Nikki is quite smitten with her; even Nanna seems to like her. Funny thing is Nanna is usually a better judge of character.”
Kelsey nibbled on Miranda’s neck. “Speaking of characters, how was your visit with Jess?”
Miranda frowned. “Why are we talking about Nikki, Jess, and everyone else, besides each other? How are you doing?”
“I’d be doing better if it were not for Nikki and Aisling fighting. Do you the two of them can’t even be in the same room without sniping at one another. Just this morning, they were…” Kelsey’s mind wandered as Miranda’s tongue flicked her nipple.
“You were saying, Nikki and Aisling were fighting, maybe it’s because they really like one another. Nikki can definitely do better than Willow.”
There was that name again. “Miranda, since we seem not to be able to keep from talking about Nikki, Aisling, and this woman called Willow. Why don’t you tell me who she is?” Kelsey raised up on one elbow. Once we get all of this small talk out of the way, maybe we can get back to us.”
Miranda smiled. “I’m not the one who brought up Nikki and Aisling when I asked how you were doing.”
Kelsey ducked her head. Miranda was right. Her mind was preoccupied with the two women and how they were getting along. “It’s disconcerting to have two of the most important women in my life, besides you, that is, fighting.”
“I’m glad you made that concession.” Miranda pouted again, her chin jutting out and her mouth forming a deep frown. “I’ve started to feel like everything, and everyone has become more important to you than me.”
Kelsey shook her head. “That will not happen, but for us all to get home, we need to work together. I’m afraid Nikki and Aisling will kill each other before anyone else has the chance to do so.”
“How did Nikki wind up there? The last I heard, Willow said you and Nikki were in grave danger, and may never make it home.”
Kelsey was taken aback by that comment. “Who is this woman? Nikki never said anything about her to me. Is she one of Nikki’s newest flings? What would Willow know about Nikki and me?”
“I don’t know why Nikki wouldn’t have told you about her. According to Nikki’s description, Willow was instrumental in finding you.”
“She told me about a friend from high school, named…Mouse or something like that. Nikki mentioned her computer nerd friend helping her find out some of the more involved information. While she talked, I got the distinct feeling that Nikki has deep feelings for her. Could we be talking about the same person?”
Miranda shrugged. “We met her as Willow. I’m not surprised the woman has an alias. I don’t trust her.”
Kelsey was confused; Nanna would usually pick up on a person lying or play-acting. Miranda said her grandmother was quite taken with the woman. “You got a bad feeling from her immediately, or was it something she said or did?”
Miranda frowned. “Maybe it’s because I’ve been unlucky in love, and have had a lot of fakes and liars in my life. I can usually see them a mile away. Willow said all the right things and charmed Nanna, but I saw through her painted-on smile.”
Again, Kelsey felt an odd feeling in
her heart. “How has Nanna been since the lies have all come to the surface?”
Miranda shook her head. “She hasn’t talked about it, but I can tell it’s taken a toll on her emotionally. It’s hard not telling her about your aunt’s condition. Do you think maybe she’s read my mind?”
Kelsey had thought about it, but knew if Miranda was still drinking the herbal teas, Kelsey concocted, Nanna wouldn’t be able to see into her fiancée’s mind. “You’re still drinking the teas?”
Miranda nodded. “I just thought about it; do you think maybe Nanna’s emotional stress worrying about you, your aunt, and your cousin, is what is making her gift weak?”
“It is possible. When I had stress, I couldn’t focus my mind. Nanna did say our gift takes focus and energy to control.” Kelsey grew impatient, she wanted to talk about anything, but her family or Nikki. “Enough about everyone; let’s talk about our wedding. Will we be ready to keep our date?”
Smiling, Miranda reached out and played with a lock of Kelsey’s hair that fell over her shoulder. “Will you be home by then?”
“Wild horses couldn’t keep me from you.” Kelsey leaned in and kissed Miranda’s inviting lips.
Miranda deepened the kiss before pulling away. “No, not wild horses, but crazy men, dangerous people hunting you, and secrets will.”
Kelsey shook her head. “No more talk. We don’t have much time, and if I can get those two women, whose names I won’t mention, to work together, I may be home the next time we see one another.”
Sighing, Miranda lay back on the bed. “Then come here and kiss me properly. I want nice memories to hold me over until you’re here in our bed in the flesh.”
“Gladly, my dear author, I won’t leave you until you’ve nothing but pleasant memories.” Kelsey waggled her eyebrows mischievously.
Miranda giggled and grabbed Kelsey close. “Promises, promises, Agent MacGregor.”
“I always keep my promises, my dear. Here, let me show you.”
***
Aisling’s Office Later in the day. May 10, 2012