Depth (Apalala Clan Book 2)

by Dzintra Sullivan

  After the fight had ended, Attor made a quick beeline for the showers. He wanted out of the Nest as fast as possible. Grabbing the first set of clothes he saw, he threw them on and made his way up to the city. Attor’s head was spilling over with thoughts of contradiction. Should he sit back, accept the result, and trust V to keep the clan safe.

  “Trust,” Attor scoffed to himself. The sounds of his heavy boots on the pavement hung hauntingly on the night’s air. “How can I trust someone who clearly isn’t worthy?” Attor answered his own question with a shrug and a definitive ‘no.’

  “So, if I can’t, then where does that leave me?” Attor’s conversation with himself may have looked odd. However, not a single soul was out to witness his verbalized inner chatter. He stopped walking, tilted his head as the thought skated around the perimeter of his mind.

  “Rogue?” The word tumbled off his tongue with a caution of the ripples that it would cause.

  “But what choice do I have?” A crease in his brow formed as he struggled to come up with a different scenario.

  With a sudden release of his held breath, Attor started walking again. A decision having been made—he would go to ground. He would find Q, kill him and his merry bunch of feather fuckers, save the clan and be the hero. Of course, his brothers could never find out until he was holding the proof that he was indeed the true leader of the clan.

  Attor nodded to himself, silently agreeing with his own terms and conditions.

  “Attor?”

  He spun around at the sound of his name and saw Payton standing outside her apartment with a group of women and his brother.

  “Ahh… fuck me,” Attor groaned quietly to himself, he hadn’t been concentrating on where he was wandering. Rolling his eyes, he slowly wandered back toward them. “Evening Payton,” he said with a flat tone. Looking to his brother he gritted out, “V.” Attor hid a grin at the dark, red swollen chin his brother was sporting, then he looked to the ladies and nodded a silent greeting.

  “Brother,” V said calmly. He held no animosity toward Attor, he just hoped it was over now, and together they could go back to keeping the clan safe and secure.

  “What are you doing wandering the streets?” Payton asked.

  “If you’re taking up a new occupation as manwhore…” Kylee chimed in, “… I have a new credit card that needs breaking in.” She winked with a wiggle of her eyebrows.

  Attor looked at Kylee. “Nice to see you again, Kylee. But alas, manwhoring isn’t within my skillset.” Attor’s voice was light and friendly, he even surprised himself how carefree he sounded. Maybe this silent rogue business would be easier then he anticipated.

  “You’re kidding, right?” Kylee laughed. “You have the skills, and if you need the confidence boost? I offer myself as tribute.”

  “Slut,” Payton coughed the word hidden within a laugh.

  Kylee looked at her best friend, eyes wide with mock shock. “Don’t be saying that like it’s a bad thing.” She laughed. “You got yourself a huge chunk of wood.” Pointing to V, who just rolled his eyes at yet again being referred to as a tree. “Can’t blame me for wanting to get me some of that, too.”

  Attor looked at the other woman standing just behind Kylee. “Nice to meet you…” he paused, not knowing her name.

  “How rude of me. Sorry,” Payton said. “Attor this is Taryn. She’s taken our duo act and made it a trio.” Payton smiled at her friend.

  Attor extended his hand to hers, giving it a soft but firm shake. “Nice to meet you, Taryn,” he said. “Be careful with these two.” Looking to both Payton and Kylee. “They’re troublemakers.”

  “Hey big fella, I resemble that remark.” Kylee winked and blew him a kiss.

  “Well, this has been nice, but I’m on my way home.” Attor looked at his brother. “I just needed some fresh air to clear my mind.”

  V asked, “Did you find the clarity you sought?”

  Attor took a few beats to think before he nodded and replied, “Indeed I did, brother.”

  “I’m so pleased for you, Attor.” Payton’s voice was filled with love for her mate’s brother.

  “I will see you at home, V,” Attor said. “Nice to meet you, Taryn.” Nodding to the new face then looked at the other two. “Ladies, just stay out of trouble, huh?”

  “Says the man who’s going viral on the tube?” Kylee laughed. “See you, next time, Attor.”

  “Be safe,” Payton said, as she watched Attor walk briskly down the street into the awaiting darkness far away from street lights.

  “I might go home too, Payton.” V took her in his arms and held her tight. Placing his lips next to her ear he whispered, “I need to make sure he gets home. He was…” he shrugged slightly against her body, “… too calm.”

  “I’ll see you tomorrow.” Payton tightened her arms around him “You do what you need to, I’m here when you’re free.”

  V growled deep into her ear, “Gawd, I love you.”

  “I love you more,” she replied, kissing his soft lips. She released her mate to check on his brother.

  “Watching them leave is almost as good as seeing them coming,” Kylee commented as she watched the men walk away.

  “Maybe for you,” Payton said. “I prefer to see him coming.” She smirked with a wink at her innuendo.

  “Dirty bitch.” Kylee laughed, then turned to Taryn. “Well, now you have met two of the brothers.” She smiled. “They’re gentle giants.”

  “Huh?” Taryn flicked her head back, she was distracted.

  “Something wrong?” Payton asked.

  Taryn took a deep breath, in through her nose and out through her mouth, as she looked over to her friends “Can’t you smell that?”

  “Smell what?” Payton asked.

  Taryn took another deep breath. “The most intense lemon meringue pie.” With another deep sniff, she added, “And fresh cream.” Opening her eyes, she said. “Who’s making that this late at night, and where can I get some. That smells a-maz-ing.”

  “Pie?” Payton swallowed hard. “Lemon pie?”

  Taryn nodded. “Not just pie, but the most amazing pie I’ve ever smelled.”

  “Great,” Kylee exclaimed. “Now I want fucking pie.”

  Payton felt the blood drain from her face. If this meant what she thought it meant, life as they all knew it was about to take a massive curveball.

  “You okay, Payton?” Taryn asked. “You look pale?”

  Payton shook her head and forced a smile. “Yeah, I’m fine.” She nodded and wrapped her arms around herself. “Just a bit cold.”

  “Right, yes,” Taryn nodded. “I’m going, I’ll see you all later.” Taryn waved as she spun and made a quick step for her apartment a few blocks away.

  “I’ll ring you tomorrow,” Kylee shouted as she followed Payton back into the warmth of the apartments.

  Wyvern was busy at the computer when Jo walked into the main room. He looked up and laughed. “When they get hold of you, you’re a dead dragon.”

  Jo laughed. “But at least I die with a smile on my handsome mug. Right?” He winked with a smirk.

  “It’s hitting one and a half mill already. People have started making memes. Spank me, Daddy is taking on a life of its own.” Wyvern turned the screen for his brother to see the latest meme to pop up.

  Jo burst out laughing as he saw a picture of a sitting bulldog with a cat across its lap, his brothers’ faces had been cut and pasted on them, and the catchphrase, Spank me, Daddy plastered high and bold above it. “That’s fucking hilarious.”

  “Yeah?”

  Jo’s face whipped around at the sound of Attor’s voice. He strode inside with a powerful energy emanating from him. “Hilarious?”

  “Hey, Attor… man… it’s just…” Jo stumbled across his words, trying hard not to laugh and make his brother angrier.

  “Just a joke. Right?” Attor answered for his brother.

  “Yeah, exactly,” Jo relaxed. “Joke.”

  “Re
mind me to return the favor one day.” Attor walked past him without any further words needed. It couldn’t be stopped, it couldn’t be taken down. He had bigger things on his mind than beating the living shit out of his brother. He’d already tried once today and didn’t feel like a double humiliation in a twenty-four hour period. He would bide his time. Revenge is a dish best served cold. Wasn’t that what they said? He just added Jo’s name to the growing list on his delivery docket, along-side Volos, and Q.

  Both brothers looked up as V walked in. “Attor here?” he asked.

  Jo nodded. “He stopped briefly and then stomped off to his room.”

  “Honestly, Jo, you’re lucky he didn’t rip you apart,” Wyvern said as he closed his laptop and stood up. “We’re supposed to be going unseen, or so I thought.”

  V nodded. “Agreed. The video stunt put us all at risk,” Volos said with an air of authority about him. “Jo, you should have considered—”

  “Fuck off, V. There’s nothing on that video that incriminates us personally,” Jo interrupted him. “I’m not about to challenge you like Attor. I personally couldn’t think of anything worse than being made the leader of this bunch of crazy.” He shook his head. “But if you think I’m some little dragon who will lick your ass when you ask for it…” Jo shrugged. “Not going to happen.”

  “Your vulgarity is not needed, Jo,” V scoffed. “I think we have to rethink the social media, though.” Turning to Wyvern, he asked, “What do you think?”

  Wyvern’s eyes went wide, his hands up in an immediate pose of surrender. “Ohhh, no, no, no, don’t bring me into this.” Wyvern’s voice raised an octave. He always made a direct effort to never get in between his brothers. “Jo has gone above and beyond with the security measures on his media sites. I have triple checked them at his request, V.” Flicking a look at his brother who was looking far too smug. “Nothing is foolproof, and Jo is the king of fools.” He laughed at the look he garnered from Jo as he continued, “But, the channels he’s using are safe. They have the standard protection. Plus, my added veils.”

  “Hmmm…” V thought loudly. “I guess, you are the tech man.”

  Jo grinned. “And I am the newest YouTube star.”

  “Just don’t get us killed, okay?” V scoffed at his brother as Jo left the room. Turning to Wyvern he lowered his voice, “Can you look something up for me?”

  Wyvern’s eyebrows went up with curiosity. “Now?”

  “If you have time.” V nodded.

  Wyvern sat back down and flicked up the laptop cover. Hearing the machine whir quietly as it came back online. “What do you need?” He looked to his brother, the leader of the clan, as he took a seat close to him. An energy in the room indeed had taken a dramatic twist.

  “This is to go no further…” Wyvern nodded. “I need a name check,” V said.

  Wyvern’s fingers were poised above the keyboard. “Name?”

  V did a quick glance over his shoulder to confirm there were no ears close by. Satisfied they were alone, Volos said, “Taryn, spelled with one ‘r.’”

  “Last name?”

  “Not positive,” V replied. “Mills? Giles? She works at Tokyo Disney, only new to this country.”

  Wyvern typed, clicking page after page. Volos watched his brother entirely in awe of the way he worked on the web. V wasn’t completely useless on the laptop, he just preferred dealing with the physical side and letting his brother shine with the online stuff.

  “Hmmm… interesting,” Wyvern said. “Where do you know this chick from?”

  “Friend of Payton’s,” V said. “What’s interesting?”

  “A friend?” Wyvern repeated with a look of impending trouble. “Well, her name is listed as Taryn Miles on the Disney employees list. However, that’s not what’s on her passport.”

  Volos groaned, leaning back in his chair, he rubbed his eyes. He had a feeling that this woman was off, but was hopeful he was wrong. “Are you sure they’re the same person?”

  “Oh shit,” Wyvern exclaimed as his fingers went into overdrive. Screen after screen popping up. Newspaper headings, video feeds, links to federal police files. The screens were flying up faster than V could fully read them, but this girl had something going on, and it wasn’t good.

  “Wyvern!” V raised his voice, he wanted answers, not profanity.

  “What?” He looked up to see his brother staring at him “Oh… sorry, V, this chick has some serious shit going on. She’s a friend of Payton’s you said?”

  “Apparently,” V said.

  “Okay, well… in the state of Nevada, she’s wanted for first-degree murder,” Wyvern stated with a factual tone.

  “You’re shitting me?” V sighed, his hands trying unsuccessfully to rub the frustration from his hair.

  “Unfortunately not. Miss Taryn Spigoletti… the name on her passport,” Wyvern said to the confused look on V’s face. He nodded and Wyvern continued, “Was seen with her boyfriend’s dead body in a hotel room on the Vegas strip. She disappeared shortly after, and hasn’t been able to be located.”

  “Disappeared?” V asked.

  “Easy enough to do, if you know how,” Wyvern shrugged. “It says the deceased male suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head, and that the weapon found at the scene had Miss Spigoletti’s fingerprints on it. They have an eyewitness from the hotel who stated he saw Miss Spigoletti run from the room somewhere between midnight and 2:00 a.m.”

  “Was he credible?” V asked.

  Wyvern snorted as he looked to V. “2:00 a.m. in Vegas? No one is credible.”

  “Point taken,” V nodded.

  Wyvern continued as he read the pages, “They have CCTV footage. You can clearly see her enter the room with the deceased, and only her leave.” Clicking the keyboard a few times. “Authorities have a warrant issued for her arrest. She’s considered dangerous and shouldn’t be approached by civilians.”

  “Let me guess?” V asked. “Phone the police if you see her?”

  Wyvern nodded. “Bingo!” He clicked again. “Huh… that’s weird, though.”

  “What?”

  “Well, there’s no efforts to hunt her down.” Wyvern frowned as he tapped feverously away, page after page flicking up and down on the screen. “The murder and impending manhunt was the top story for forty-eight hours, then nothing.”

  V craned his head over. “What do you mean nothing?”

  “Exactly what I said… nothing.” Wyvern sat back on his chair, the face of Taryn looking at his from the laptop screen. “The file is open and active, but with a strict ‘phone one particular name’ if she’s sighted. Under no circumstances is she to be apprehended or detained without express permission from this one person.” He shook his head. “I haven’t come across such explicit warnings for an arrest of a murderer before.”

  “Who’s the man listed to report to?” V asked.

  “She… is listed as Ms. Pettigrove.” Wyvern clicked the return key. “Here is where it even gets weirder,” he said. “She isn’t part of the law enforcement.”

  V scrunched his face. “Then who the fuck is she?”

  Wyvern shrugged. “No idea. But as strange as the Taryn slash murder thing is, this is ringing something truly weird with me. I can’t pinpoint it, but I need to dig further.”

  “Okay, you dig there, and I’ll see what I can find out from Payton.” V nodded and patted Wyvern on the shoulder. “Goes without saying this stays only between us. Correct?”

  Wyvern nodded. “Correct. I have a feeling this is only the tip of the iceberg,” he said. “I want to meet Taryn, too. Something casual. It’s amazing what people say with a few drinks under the belt.”

  “I will see what I can arrange.” V laughed. “Keep me updated.” He stood up from his seat and walked off toward his room. It had been a long day. He needed a shower and a few hours of sleep.

  Taryn struggled to open her eyes, registering her cell was ringing, but having only found her bed three hours earlier, her inner debate of
bothering to answer it was in full flight. Rolling over, she gave in and picked up her cell phone, clicked the green button and said, “Are you seriously phoning me this early?” She exhaled into her cell.

  “Ms. Miles?” the unexpected female voice said. Taryn sat bolt upright, her brain sparking to life as she realized it was not Kylee’s voice, but the voice of her boss.

  Fuck, fuck, fuck, she said to herself and shook her head hard. “Ms. Cinders?” she asked with a light tone.

  “Yes. And for the record… it’s not that early. It is after 10:00 a.m.,” Ms. Cinders tone was one of a condescending mother type. Even though the woman had no children that Taryn was aware of, she still had little to no tolerance for anything that even resembled fun. Taryn wasn’t sure if she’d ever seen the woman even smile.

  “Really?” Taryn’s eyes went wide as she looked at the clock “Wow! So it is. I’m sorry, Ms. Cinders,” she said, begging for her brain to catch up with her mouth before she said something she couldn’t take back. “I was up late with… with…” Taryn paused.

  Oy! Brain… anytime now, give me something. Anything? she yelled at herself.

  “A headache.” Taryn sighed with gratitude. “Yes. It was a terrible headache. Kept me awake most of the night.” Confirming it again for the stability of her alibi within her own brain.

  “Is that what the kids are calling it these days?” the reply came on a chilled breeze of disbelief.

  “It can be quite disabling,” Taryn said.

  “No doubt,” she dismissed Taryn’s poor excuse for sleeping in. “I have some discrepancies I need you to explain.”

  “Discrepancies?” Taryn tilted her head as she suddenly felt a wave of nervous nausea crashing against her beach.

  “Correct. So please come into work thirty minutes early on Monday, and meet me in my office,” Ms. Cinder’s voice was so even toned, it was hard for Taryn to get a reading of how deep was the shit she was in.

  “Sure, I can do that,” Taryn replied.

  “I wasn’t asking,” the reply came. “Monday. My office.” And the phone went dead with a click that caused Taryn to flinch.