I flipped through the channels, hoping for the perfect rerun. The remote flopped on the bed when the grin spread over my face. “Mrs. Brady knows how to stop the drama dead in its tracks. This is a great episode. Oh, you are so lucky.”
Von groaned. “I should’ve been more specific. Something from this century.”
“Shh. You don’t want to wake Ana, do you?” I giggled when he blew a raspberry onto my cheek in lieu of a kiss.
Mason tapped his leg to mine under the covers. “Boring sounds nice. I think Ollie could use a little boring when he gets home from sitting with Allie.”
A niggling thought that had been tugging in my mind could not be ignored any longer. “Hey guys? I think boring might have to wait just one more day. I have an idea.”
Von and Mason both started snoring in unison, feigning sleep to escape being caught up in another one of my plans.
Forty-Two.
I Love You, Judge
“I still maintain that we should not get our hopes up,” Graham repeated as we rose in the elevator our group was packed into. It had taken a whole day to convince the Vandershot boys and the rest that my plan was worth a shot. Each hour passing felt like a hundred years.
Well, in my opinion, it was worth more than a shot. It was worth a friggin’ parade. Von, Mason, Graham, Boston and I stepped out into the wing my sister was being kept in, while Ollie wheeled our prisoner who’d been blissed out for the occasion. We’d put a baseball cap on his lolling head so he didn’t look quite so out of it. King Geon had been rotting away, biding his time in Kabayo’s prison for over a year, tried for his long list of crimes one by one. Apparently Kabayo had also kept him alive for sport – a topic he and I went back and forth on heatedly when I found out the previous night. I thought I’d been asking for a death row prisoner, not uncovering a whole mess of corrupt political crap that needed straightening out.
One problem at a time. Today, Allie was top priority.
Kabayo had made it clear that there would surely be an “accident” if the dethroned King Geon was let back into society, so dude was doomed either way. Kabayo didn’t even ask any questions when I’d requested a prisoner in need of executing. He had Geon bound, beaten and blissed out, and then delivered to my doorstep with a bow on his chest. An actual red bow.
Mason shook his head. “I don’t like that we kept this a secret from Ezra. And it took forever to shake Levi. Are you sure you don’t want him here for his? Seems like the kind of thing you might want both your dads here for.”
“It’s called plausible deniability. When I was awakened, it was done on the fly. This is planned out. If Ezra’s in on it, he’ll have to call on the top graduate from the Academy. I won’t gamble my sister’s safety on a stranger. This way when the Academy’s pissed, or the council questions Ezra, he’ll be able to answer honestly that he had no idea what we were up to.” I glanced to my brother. “And Ollie doesn’t trust Levi just yet.”
Ollie harrumphed like the old man he was at heart. “I trust him fine. I’m not ready to call him ‘Dad’ or anything yet, but I’ve got no problem with him.”
It was a total lie. Ollie had already started two arguments this morning alone. Levi had played the role of the adult and refused to participate in the childishness. We both knew it was Ollie’s way of defending his own parental territory, while also trying to push Levi away to see if dude would actually stick around when there was opposition.
“Well, I don’t want Levi here for this either because I don’t want him mentioned in this if it goes south. People are already freaking out that another immortal exists. Can’t have him too near a scandal, or Terraway will go on a witch hunt.”
“Are we sure about this?” Graham asked again. “I mean absolutely sure there’s no other way?”
Boston rolled his eyes, though I knew by his excessive throat-clearing that he was just as nervous. “It’ll be fine, Graham. You’re not expecting me to propose to your sister though, are you, Cherry?” he asked me with a grim expression. “I’m sure she’s great and all, but I don’t want anything to do with what you and Von went through to get where you are – wherever that is. I’ve seen how falling for his charge destroyed Danny, and I don’t want that. I want to be able to have a life that doesn’t revolve around opening doors for her.”
I shot Boston a simpering look. “How she’s not going to fall in love with you is beyond me. And it’s not a given that she’ll end up with either of you. We just know that Omens last longer if we have two Reapers. That’s all we’re asking you to do. So be cool and do what you went to school for. Polish off that nice, shiny degree and make yourself useful.” When Boston looked like he wanted argue, I held up my hand. “It’s either reaping or babysitting. Which do you think you’ll be better at?”
Von snorted. “Boston’s never changed a nappy in his life.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Boston shoved his hands in his pockets and bumped his hip to mine, letting me know that I’d won. He caught my eye and nodded to let me know that eventually he’d wrap his mind around being a team player – instead of just, you know, being a player.
I reached out and held Graham’s sweaty hand, offering him a small smile that still felt unnatural after all I’d been through. “You’ll do fine.”
“Or I’ll screw it up, and your sister will die. You understand that it’s pretty much fifty/fifty, yeah?”
“It is not. This is the closest chance we have to a sure thing. When you all had me reap someone when I was in my coma, it woke me up. Same thing here.”
“Yeah, except that Allie’s not actually been awakened yet. She doesn’t know how to let go of the life force as you’ve been trained to do. She could freeze from the inside out, and I’d be responsible for killing a potential Omen.”
Von was on Graham’s other side, his hand on his younger brother’s shoulder. “I have faith in you, mate. No one’s better suited for the job than you.”
I nodded as we plodded down the sterile hallway. “We can’t trust anyone else until word gets out that Philip died.”
“Sama,” Von and Mason corrected me.
“Oh, right. Sorry.”
“It’s alright, love.” Von inclined his head to me behind Graham with a polite smile. We were very polite now, and it was killing us softly.
“Would you rather we call Alton? I’m sure he could handle it.”
“No, no. I can do it.”
I smirked at Graham’s unwillingness to let anyone take up Allie’s post.
When we reached the room that was guarded by one of Judge’s goons, Graham hesitated, fists clenching nervously. Graham had been drafted, and he was nervous to start this new chapter which would surely define his life. He’d asked nonstop about my preferences when it came to Omen duties, our childhood and Allie specifically every second we were together. Then he wrote down more questions when I confessed that I couldn’t talk about our jagged beginnings anymore that night. Now that the day was here for me to try out my experiment, Graham was scared, and the others were nervous. I took this as a good sign. I’m not sure why.
I signed us in and asked for us not to be disturbed by the hospital staff. The redheaded nurse behind the desk gave me a polite smile. “If you could wait just a few minutes, Allison’s linens are being changed, and she’s getting her sponge bath.”
“Sure. We’ll just wait over here, then.” I didn’t like the idea of waiting in the hallway with a beaten and blissed out former king of Terraway for just anyone to see. The brim of the baseball cap could only hide so much. “Guys, why don’t you take Geon into the bathroom while we wait.” I motioned down the hall to the handicap bathroom that would be a more concealed place. Mason, Ollie and Boston took Geon, but Von remained at my side with Graham, who was visibly sweating.
Von pointed to the hire hand Judge had posted outside Allie’s door. “Is he going to be a problem?”
“Oh, right. Give me a second. I’ll take care of it.” I pulled out my phone and dialed Judge, knowing his
posted goon wouldn’t take orders from me to stand down. “Judge?”
“If it isn’t the girl who beat the odds. In a coma, and then walking around in the daylight again. How’d we get so lucky?”
“I chased down a leprechaun and found where he keeps his Lucky Charms.”
“How are you feeling, baby girl?”
“Grateful. Thank you for the flowers. They were so pretty; I didn’t even consider sending them back to you this time.”
Judge chuckled while Graham gulped next to me. He stared at the door, as if he expected a horror movie clown to pop out of it any second. Judge’s voice was warm, so either he’d had a successful day, or he was happy to hear from me. I pretended it was the latter. “I’m glad you’re upright. Waste of a pretty face to have you not be able to talk back to me all the time. Coma doesn’t suit you. Did you get the necklace?”
“I did. Expect it to be sent back tomorrow. I was too busy to put it in the mail to you today.”
“Wear the necklace. It’s not every day the girl who gets under my skin wakes up from her coma. Did you get the offer to take your lucky fiancé to La Luna to eat at my table? Reservations are six months out usually. Thought you two could use an evening to celebrate.”
“The flowers are plenty, and they’re all I’ll accept. But thank you. Really, Judge. You’re a drug dealer with a heart of gold.”
Von snorted at my joke, and listened in closer to hear our conversation. It was a little intrusive, but I’d made him worry too much to escape a little hovering.
My little quip made Judge laugh in that deep, abdominal way that echoed up through his whole body. He didn’t often indulge in such levity, so I made it a point to draw the sweet sound out of him as often as I could. “‘Drug dealer with a heart of gold.’ Priceless. I’ll have to remember that one.”
“I know I usually want to punch you in your smug face, but you’re starting to grow on me. Lately life’s been... rough. The flowers helped with that.”
“So would the necklace. Wear it when you go to La Luna.” He paused, and then added. “I bought it with money pulled in from one of my restaurants. I knew you wouldn’t accept it unless everything was above board. Wear the necklace, October.”
“Maybe I will,” I conceded.
“That’s my girl.”
I smirked, cradling the phone on my shoulder so I could squeeze Graham’s sweaty hand. “I’m calling because we’re trying a new treatment today for Allie. The same one they used that woke me up. It’s pretty aggressive, so Allie might wake up in a couple hours.”
Graham whimpered, “Or she might die!”
I brought Graham closer to my side and wrapped an arm around his waist. “So thank you for the protection detail on Allie, but it’s not necessary anymore.” Before he could protest, I added, “I know I still owe you for all the help you’ve given, having someone watch Allie when I couldn’t. I’ll still be the unofficial nurse for you and your brothers, but I can’t go down to the prison anymore. My new job won’t allow it.”
Von gave me a grateful nod. He was no doubt over the moon that I was turning away from danger this time, instead of running headfirst into the pile of broken glass, while pretending it didn’t exist.
Judge’s tone turned sharp, but his words didn’t come out hurried. “This ends when I say it ends, not you. You’ll keep the tracker on your car, young lady.” His voice dropped to barely above a whisper. He sounded younger, and a touch unsure of himself. “I’ve heard things in your phone calls. Things I want explained. Who’s Kabayo, and why’s he bringing you prisoners? What are you mixed up in this time?”
My spine stiffened at having Judge anywhere near the world that had imploded my carefully constructed life. I closed my eyes. “Nothing. And you shouldn’t be listening in on my phone calls. You’ll spoil the surprise of the elephant I bought you. I was going to giftwrap it and everything. Now I have to send it back.”
Judge wasn’t derailed by my shtick. He was too smart for that. “What’s an Omen, and why does Ollie think you should stay away from windows? It’s not my guys being a problem, just so you know. I’ve got the tracker on your car and your cell, so I’m not sending people out to stalk you.”
Ollie had gone a little nuts, triple-checking the locks on all the doors and windows in the mansion, hiding my car keys, taking my shoes – all things to ensure I didn’t go running off again. It was sweet, if not a tad overbearing. I guess I’d driven him over the edge, so I tried to be patient while he sorted out his fear.
I sighed, not sure how much of Terraway Judge had heard that I could brush off. “I know you’ve got your people under control. Thank you, though. The tracker you put in my cell phone actually did help Von find me when... Just thanks. It’s been a long one. You... I...” Von squeezed my hand for moral support when I tripped over my words. “Judge?”
“Yeah, baby girl?”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Maybe I was...” I chewed on my lower lip. “This is probably neither here nor there at this point, but just so you know, I really do love you.”
Judge was quiet a few beats. “Does someone have a gun to your head?”
I let out a nervous laugh in time with Von’s snort. “No. I’ve been thinking about everything lately. You and I’ve put each other through too much.” I inhaled a long breath before stealing myself to push into my personal life – giving Judge a little bit of myself, instead of constantly pushing him away. “My dad recently came back into the picture.” I couldn’t hide the hopefulness that crept into my voice. “He came back for me, Judge.”
“No kidding. I’d like to meet the lowlife who abandoned you.” I could practically feel him wincing at his own words. “If you tell me to go look in a mirror, I’m hanging up on you.”
“I wasn’t going to say a thing.” I sniggered. “‘Look in a mirror.’ I’m funny.”
“So tell me about why you went missing. Why your fiancé called me to help track you down. That takes some balls, I’ll hand it to him.”
“Oh, that?” I started to wish Von and Graham weren’t right next to me. “I sort of had a little breakdown. My new stepsister? She passed away. I think it was one too many things, so I sort of lost it for a bit.” I leaned into Graham, who reached past his own anxiety to kiss my temple.
“I’ll schedule you some time at the spa I send Sherita to every year for her Christmas gift. Would that help?”
“You love me,” I marveled, softening at the generosity that finally started not to feel so tainted.
Judge scoffed. “Are you really just now getting that? After all this time?”
“I love you, too.”
Judge paused, and for a few weighted seconds, we said nothing. We allowed a moment of silence while our ancient fight started to crumble. The destruction of all the hurt wasn’t something I’d put much hope in as an adult, but now that it was here, I desperately wished I could see his face. I wanted to watch the hardness in his dark eyes melt away. It had been clouding his kindness for too long. When he finally spoke, it was with the air of taking charge. “I don’t like that the only time we see each other is when you stop by the restaurant to ruin my meetings. I want to come over for a real family dinner, with Ollie, Allie, and Darius, and T, when he gets out.” His next words came out a grumble. “And your fiancé, I guess. It’s about time I met him.”
I chewed on my lower lip. “But you already know him. The Eastside Strangler? I thought everyone had heard of him by now.”
“Hilarious. I’m meeting your fiancé, your stupid new dad, and all of us are going to be one big, happy family. Understood?”
“Yes, Judge.” I sniggered at the back and forth. I loved provoking him, because when he got all riled up, I could see that he actually did care about me. Some days I needed someone to give a crap.
Judge cleared his throat. “Now, what about Allie? You’re that sure this new medicine will work? I can wait to call off my man until she’s actually awake.”
“Thank you, but
our family needs privacy now. Time together to figure it all out.”
Judge waited before responding with a careful, “If that’s what you want, I’ll call Fisher right now.” I could tell by his distracted pause that he was texting his man, no doubt on one of his many spare burner phones. “I’ve been trying to call you, you know.”
“Oh yeah? Sorry, it’s been crazy over here. What’s up?”
“Darius has been different since he started seeing Ollie’s stupid friends again.”
I rolled my eyes, wishing I could just go into the hospital room with Allie already. The nurse was still in there with her, though. “It’s called smiling. You should try it sometime.”
“You can pay me back for all you owe me by making sure Darius gets back into step with your social life, back in tight with Ollie’s friends. I’m starting to realize that my brothers need more than my life – otherwise they get restless. Then they’re no good to anyone.”
My take charge demeanor melted, a gentle smile sweeping across my face as Von pulled me closer so I was completely engulfed in his hug. “I can make sure that happens. Terence can come by when he gets out, if he’d like.” I cleared my throat and then took a deep breath. “If you promise to make Big Mike wear a pink party hat, you can stop by too, Judge. No guns, though.”
Judge chuckled. “Always trying to rehabilitate me.”
“Now I want you to stay out of trouble, understand? Mama McCray wanted better for Darius and Terence. She wanted better for you, too.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Judge chuckled. I could picture him smiling with his head tilted back, the way he often did when I scolded him. “I’ll have a bracelet to match the necklace sent over for you tonight.”
“Expect it to be sent back unopened in the morning.”
At this, Judge laughed, and I could tell it shook his whole body. “I’m sure I’ll be seeing you around. Call if you need anything. I’ll be listening in to hear more about this Terraway that seems to be causing you so much trouble.”
Before I could toss him a tart response, he’d already hung up, besting me by getting in the last word. “Doggone! I hate when he wins.”
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