by Jessie Lynn
Great now they were royally fucked Ava thought. Rafe was still looking at her and regret burned in his emerald eyes. That's when it hit her. She looked back up at the woman, then back down at Rafe. They had the same eyes! Their hair was the same blue black as well. She kept looking between the two noticing all the similarities they shared.
Rachel started laughing at Rafe's mate. "It seems your mate has made a connection Rafael." Rachel said as she walked around behind the girl. The moment she got in Rafe's line of sight, she saw the recognition in his eyes as well. "Hello big brother. Have you missed me?" Rachel ask.
"It can't be." Rafe said shaking his head not believing what he saw. "You died in the plane crash. You left with our parents. I watched you board the plane with them."
Rafe was trying to process what he was seeing. His little sister Rachel was the vampire following him? It made perfect sense now though. That was why he and Sloan recognized part of the scent, but couldn't figure out why. Rachel was his sister; she was of Rafe's blood line. Their familial scent was close because they came from the same genes. The part of the scent that they recognized was the same part of his scent that came from their parents. It was just slightly different than his own and that's the part they were able to pick up. But because Rachel and Rafe were so close genetically, neither one of them were able to dissect it enough to identify it.
"You did watch me board that plane. The plane crashed on landing and killed the last of my family all because of you Rafe." Rachel told him.
"Because of me? How? Rachel I was devastated when mom and dad left for Italy."
"They left because of you Rafe!" She yelled at him. "Because you chose your precious League over your own blood. You never gave Roman a fair trial."
Rafe couldn’t believe what Rachel was accusing him of. Rafe shook his head at the sister he once doted on, that he once sang to sleep every morning and chased away the monsters when they woke her in the middle of the day. She would always wake him up by tip toeing into his room and crawl into his bed. She would curl up against him and pet his cheek to fall back to sleep. She was the apple of his eye and he lived to make her happy. She had Rafe and Roman wrapped around her little finger. They had always given her everything she ever wanted and would do absolutely anything for her.
"I did what I had to do Rachel!" He yelled back at her. "Roman was a killer. I watched him kill a woman. Do you get that? What I found wasn't our brother anymore. What would you have me do? Let him continue killing until another League who didn't love him as I did caught him? Do you think he would have gotten a fair trial then? Do you think they would have tried to ease the loss to our parents as I did?"
"You could have brought him to daddy." Rachel yelled back. "Daddy would have taken him home to the villa to cure him. Momma and daddy would have taken care of him, they would have made him better again and you didn't even let them try. You killed him without even caring! All because you cared what your League thought instead of what your family needed. What we deserved!"
"Rachel listen to yourself. Roman killed a woman and that's the one we know about. He had to have been killing for a while from what I saw of him. He was a monster Rachel. When Roman first saw me, he didn't even know who I was. There's no way we could have saved him no mat..."
Rachel cut Rafe off. "You didn't even try!" She shouted at him waving the gun at him then swinging it back to Ava.
Rafe kept his eyes trained on the gun. "Rachel." he breathed when she swung it back to Ava. Ave closed her eyes and tried to curl up into a tiny little ball when she felt it back to her head. She squeaked that little squeak he now loved when Rachel actually pressed it back into her head. Dear Fates she was killing him. He needed to hold his mate and take away her fear.
"It's okay baby. I'm right here just look at me beautiful." He whispered to his mate. When she opened her eyes again, he smiled at her. "That's my good girl. Don't take your eyes off me Ava, just focus on me okay."
Ava nodded her head at him as another tear slipped down her cheek. Fuck, his head was going to explode before he ever got her out of here, and once he did, he wasn't going to let her out of his sight ever again. Seeing her so scared was breaking his heart and he didn't know how much more he could take.
"He was our brother and you turned your back on him." Rachel continued yelling at him not even noticing.
"Like you and mom and dad turned your backs on me?" Rafe yelled back at her. "Tell me Rachel did I make Roman turn into a monster? I was training him to be a member of my team. I was proud to call him little brother, and I find a monster in my brother's body instead. Do you think it was easy for me to take him to trial? Do you think I don't regret every damned day what I did? Do you think I don't question myself every fucking day the decision I made? Do you think he doesn't haunt me every fucking day in my dreams?"
"You ruined our family Rafe. They loved you and you destroyed our family!"
"If they loved me so much they should have stood beside me when I needed them the most Rachel. I have suffered every waking night knowing I've lost the only people that have mattered to me! Every damn night I have grieved for you! All of you!"
Ava was listening to Rafe and apparently, his sister go back and forth, and her heart broke for both of them. So much pain caused to so many people because of one man who was apparently very ill. She couldn't even imagine the loss they all must feel. Especially the pain and guilt Rafe felt. She wanted to hold Rafe and take his pain away. He'd lost his entire family all because of his brother and he blamed himself for their deaths.
Rafe was practically begging his sister for forgiveness for a crime he didn't even commit and still she blamed him. Ava needed to do something to make him better, but she didn't know what. She promised herself that if they ever got out of this, she was never going to run from him again. She would tell him exactly how she felt about him no matter what his reaction might be. She would tell him that she loved him and that she always would. She prayed that he wouldn't reject her then and that her love would be enough to ease some of his turmoil.
Rafe looked at Ava and saw tears pouring down her face and his heart broke. She shouldn't be here. He didn't want her knowing of his failure. He needed to get her out of here and then he would deal with his sister. A sister he thought died long ago with the rest of his family. He looked back up at his sister and pleaded with her.
"Rachel listen to me. Don't do this. Don't hurt her. Let Ava go she doesn't know anything about this. Rachel don't let another innocent life be ruined because you want revenge against me. I promise you I won't fight you. You want to kill me, I'll let you, but you let her go first."
Rafe looked back down at his mate and saw her frantically shaking her head. She was trying to yell at him and he fell in love with her even more. His brave little mate didn't want to let him go either. He smiled at her when she stomped her feet to get his attention and make him listen to her. He mouthed that he loved her one more time and that made her growl at him louder. Damn he didn't know how he had ever lived without her.
"That's where your wrong brother. She knows that you’re not human."
Ava watched Rafe's eyes go wide while he sucked in a breath like he'd been hit. She growled at him to get his attention so he could assure her that his sister really was crazy. He wouldn't look at her and the psycho laughed and continued talking.
"Oh yes dear Rafael she knows exactly what you are, and you just confirmed it for her. She knows that she's your mate because the Fates have cursed you for killing our brother and destroying our family. And that's the only reason you want her."
Ava growled at Rafe again to get his attention, and he still ignored her.
No. No his sister couldn't be doing this. Ava can't find out what he is like this. Rafe thought. There was no doubt he would lose his beautiful now. He couldn't look at her even though he knew she was trying to get his attention. Shame, fear, and anger burned inside him, but most of all regret. He hadn't had enough time with her yet.
He h
adn't gotten to learn all the cute little things about her that he knew he would fall in love with. He hadn't been able to show her who he was and that he would always love her. He would always cherish her. Forever wouldn't have been enough time, but now he didn't think he had a chance in hell for that. It really did seem he was cursed to suffer for his failure to those he loved.
"No please don't do this Rachel! Rach, my little sis do whatever you want to me, but please I'm begging you, let her go."
"It's too late. She'll go to her grave knowing you’re the one who killed her."
Rafe felt his heart stop. He couldn't breathe, his chest was so tight. For the first time in his life, Rafe felt true fear and it took his mate's life being threatened to do it. He started praying with everything he had to everything he knew. He wouldn't lose his Ava like this no matter what he had to do. Marcus was right there was no way he could survive the death of his mate. Not now, not ever. He would not let it happen! Rafe looked back at his Ava and silently begged her to forgive him while Rachel talked to him. He wouldn't lose her, he couldn't lose her.
"Rachel I'll go willingly. You can punish me all you want, but you leave her out of this. She's not the one you hate, it's me Rachel, I'm the one who betrayed you. I'm the one that ruined our family. Ava is innocent; don't have her blood on your hands because of me."
"You betrayed all of us Rafe, even her." Rachel said pushing her gun harder into Rafe's mate's head for emphasis.
Ava felt the gun dig into her head harder pushing it forward. When Ava moved it back up a little, Rachel pushed her again with the barrel. Ava squeaked she tried not to. But she couldn't help it; she was so freaking scared now. This crazy midget kept digging her gun into Ava's head and she knew the psycho hadn't taken her finger off the trigger. One little slip and there would be a bullet tearing through her brain and out her head. That so didn't sound like it would feel very good.
Not to mention psycho kept telling Rafe she was going to kill her to frame him for somehow having their brother executed for murdering a woman. Somehow, this League that supposedly Rafe chose to allow to try their brother was a part of this whole thing. Ava had expected Rafe to correct the delusion of the whole vampire thing too, but he didn't. This whole thing was so crazy she was having a hard time believing it was actually happening.
"You ruined our family and now you'll pay for what you did to us. You'll watch your precious mate die and you'll know what it's like to have what matters most to you taken away from you. Then you will know the horror of being tried for a crime you didn't commit just like Roman did."
Rafe lost it then and everything happened at once.
CHAPTER 36
"NO!" Rafe roared and pulled on his chains with all he had. Rachel and Ava saw him change and pure terror lit their faces. Rachel raised her gun and fired at what once was her brother.
Rafe knew what Ava was seeing and he hated it, but there was nothing he could do about it now. He had to save her at all costs. He knew she was seeing the side of him he never wanted her to see. She saw the monster that he truly was. The killer that was always just under the surface, but there was nothing he could do about it now. He just had to pray she would be able to accept what he was when this was all over. He had to make sure Rachel didn't take her away from him and he would deal with the fallout afterwards.
The chains shattered as he heard multiple reports of gun shots going off. He couldn't feel anything hitting him he was so focused on saving his mate. No matter what, he wouldn't let anything kill him before he knew Ava was safe. He ripped both sets of chains from him and went for his mate where Rachel had been. He saw Ava was okay and he scanned the warehouse for Rachel. He saw her running out a door behind where she had been keeping Ava and took off after her.
He got to the door just after Rachel passed through it and he threw it open. He never made it through that door though. The explosion that went off as soon as he opened the door rocked the entire building. Rafe was thrown back by the blast and slammed into the wall with enough force to knock him out momentarily. He was covered by debris and more was raining down on him. The only thing he could think of was that he had to get to his Ava.
Ed had just reached Ava when the blast went off and sent them flying through the air. Michael had called him as soon as he hit the roof and realized he couldn't see Rafe and his mate through the sky light. He'd phased straight to the warehouse and was stunned by what he found. Rafe's sister had Ava tied to a chair and Rafe was on his knees his arms and legs chained. He didn't have time to process what he was seeing before all hell broke loose.
Rafe yelled and started breaking out of his chains. The rational side of him finally lost control of the vampire and he became all predator. Ed saw Rachel raise her gun at Rafe and he jumped in front of Rafe. Staying in between the worlds, he was able to take the bullets without anyone knowing he was there. He'd deal with the damage they did later, as long as Rafe lived to hold Ava that's all that mattered. Rafe had broken through the chains and instead of going straight to Ava; he took off after his sister. Ed fully phased into the mortal realm.
"I'm gonna kill that sorry son of a bitch myself!" He yelled going for Ava.
Ava was in total shock. She'd just watched Rafe turn into something she thought was only a myth. She couldn't say he was a monster though. She could still see the Rafe she'd fallen for; he was just a lot scarier for the chick that'd pissed him off. There was no doubt that his eyes really were glowing bright emerald green and he had fangs that were scary long. Longer than they were in her dreams. Ava didn't think she could be any more shocked until she saw the devil appear right in front of her cussing as he stormed over to her.
Ava couldn't form a coherent thought or word as this thing that looked like it was fire and had horns and a tail and claws came stalking to her. He reached out and at first she thought he was gonna finish the job of killing her the psycho midget didn't get to. Then right before he ripped the tape off her mouth he spoke to her.
"Sorry sweetness this isn't gonna feel too good." Ed said to a very shell shocked Ava right before he ripped the tape off her mouth. She started to scream at him and then they were thrown back by a blast that shook the building.
Michael was about to jump through the damn sky light when he saw Marcus and the others flying into the parking lot in various vehicles. Just as he went to jump, he saw a figure running out the back so he took off across the roof after it. He reached the edge of the building as it felt like it exploded and it ungracefully launched him off the roof. He hit the ground on his back and had the wind completely knocked out of him from the impact.
Marcus, Ethan, and Nate were at the entrance to the warehouse when they felt the explosion. They wasted no time after that, they charged in praying they weren't too late. Dom and Sloan arrived just as they were running inside. Drawing their guns, they followed suit.
Smoke was pouring out everywhere so Ava couldn't see a damn thing. She wasn't even sure what had just happened. All she knew was she was still tied to the damn chair and she was now laying on her side. She was trying to figure out a way to get unstuck from the friggin chair when she felt someone grab a hold of her. She immediately started screaming and struggling.
"Ava stop it's me Marcus you’re okay honey. Stop fighting me I'm not going to hurt you."
"Hurry the devil was just here and we have to find Rafe before the psycho midget kills him. The thing must have blown up the building trying to kill us." Ava was ranting while Marcus was untying her.
"Ava stop. Calm down sweetheart I can't understand what you’re saying." Marcus was trying to calm her down as he cut through the ropes still tying her to the chair.
Ed pushed the debris off him trying to un-bury himself as he answered for her.
"She's talking about me genius." He looked over at Ethan. "Hey asshole how bout a little help here."
Ava started screaming and grabbed hold of Marcus to try to pull him away from the devil.
"Ethan no don't go near him he's o
n fire." Ava was desperate now. She didn't know what the hell was going on. "This has to be some sort of fucked up nightmare." She said as she started shaking from shock.
Ethan looked at Ed. "Dude you lost control of your form and showed Ava how freakin ugly you really are?" He asked. "Isn't that like a total pussy move in the demon world?"
Ed grabbed Ethan's shirt and brought him down to Ed's level, which was currently on the ground unfortunately.
"Listen here fang face. Let me see you get shot like six times and not lose a little of your control too. I swear I hear you talk anymore shit about this and I'll personally rip your tongue out and feed it to you. Now help me up asshole, I've been wounded in the line of duty."
Ethan started laughing. "Okay, okay keep your panties on pumpkin." He said helping Ed up.
Ava looked at Ed and swore she was going crazy. He wasn't the devil, he was a man. She looked at his torso and it was full of bullets. She thought she was going to pass out.
"Oh God he's been shot! You have to get him to a hospital." She cried. "Why are all of you acting so calmly? What is wrong with you people?"
"Calm down sweetness, every thing’s going to be okay." Ed told Ava and she started freaking out even more and shrieking over him so loud they had to cover their ears.
"I will not fucking calm down! I swear if someone tells me to calm down one more freaking time I'm going to lose it!"
Ethan stage whispered to Ed. "Dude I think she already has lost it. It was probably cause she got a good look see at your horns and tail."
Ed elbowed him in the ribs. "Shut the hell up, you’re not helping ass wipe."
Marcus looked at Ed. "You've been shot? How?"
"Taking the bullets meant for Rafe that's how."
"RAFE!" Ava screamed and jumped up and started running in the direction she thought he had gone. She ran straight into Dom and he held her back.
"No Ava listen to me you can't go over there just yet, it isn't safe." Dom said holding on to Rafe's very frantic mate.