Deadly Design

by Brandy L Rivers

  Monique nodded, mentally preparing herself. Druciela took her right hand, Tyra her left. The chanting started and wind whipped around them, and cycloned in the middle of the magical circle of protection.

  Her mother took form before her. A dark beast clung to her shoulders, glaring at her with hellfire in its beady eyes.

  Mother pleaded, “Don’t do this, Monique. You don’t understand. Erik will tear you apart. Let me protect you.”

  She shook her head. “That’s not you talking. It’s that thing,” she whispered.

  Tyra shook her head. “Don’t interact with either. We want them gone. You’ll only feed both their power.”

  Monique closed her eyes and channeled her energy at Tyra.

  Tyra wove the spell. A great whooshing noise swept through the room and down through the floor before her.

  She opened her eyes to find her mother being pulled through the floor, the demon with her.

  Mother screamed as if being burned alive.

  “Don’t fight,” Druciela murmured. “Go peacefully.”

  The demon went up in transparent flames. Her mother was whisked up through the ceiling before silence fell.

  Monique collapsed to her knees, tears filling her eyes.

  Druciela spoke, “Take her somewhere quiet. I’ll clean up.”

  “Thank you.” She helped Monique to stand and pulled her outside. “You had someone call her, didn’t you?”

  “A few people. It started with Consuela Bordeaux. The doubt flooded from that point on, only getting worse each time.”

  “The demon. Darkness followed your mother for many years. I believe it attached itself to her before her death. Erik wanted to protect you from the evil without banishing your mother.”

  “I should have listened to him.”

  Tyra wrapped her arms around her. “Erik did nothing wrong. He threw up a shield to protect you all. Your mother stepped beyond the shield. Ofelia would have attacked you first, if given the opportunity.”

  She nodded. “I wish I knew why my mother put herself in front of Ofelia.”

  “Honestly, I don’t know. She was tired of the injustice. Her childhood was hard. Mages nearly tore her family apart. She saw a pattern where there was none.”

  “Mages aren’t the problem.”

  “Remember that. And remember Erik isn’t one.”

  “I don’t know how to make this right.”

  “Go to him. He loves you. Always has.”

  “I shouldn’t have sent him away today.”

  “He came to you?” Tyra asked.

  She nodded. “And I told him I needed time. Mostly, I didn’t want my mother making things worse before I talked to him. And then there’s Gwen, and this case he’s working on.”

  “He would drop all of that if you gave him a chance.”

  “He shouldn’t have to. Thank you for sending my mother off.”

  “Don’t thank me, Monique. You’re like family, and your mother was a good person, if a little jaded. She was still a friend. I only want her to find her happiness again, and she can now.”

  Monique hugged Tyra before taking the car to the funeral home.

  Chapter 15

  A week later, Erik and Gwen sat in a bar in New York, drinking to their first closed case. They were both hurting, though she was angry at all men in general after Coltrain ripped her heart out.

  Erik was crushed. He hadn’t heard from Monique, and he was starting to think he never would. Maybe his mother was right. Maybe Vivian had influenced her opinion.

  He avoided talking to his parents and Armand. Every time anyone brought up Monique he shut them down.

  As much as it hurt, he didn’t want to focus on the pain. Either she’d come back, or she wouldn’t. Right now, he was too busy with the Silver Council and the case that was finally over.

  Except for Monique, everything else in Erik’s life was moving in the right direction. He completed his first official case. He had his choice of where he wanted to relocate.

  He considered Europe. He’d have an easier time finding Monique. Maybe in time he could convince her to give him a chance.

  Gwen slid into the seat beside him and ordered a Manhattan. He lifted his glass and clanked it against hers. “To a bright future as enforcers.”

  “And to a brighter future full of love.” She smiled and tossed back her drink.

  He joined her.

  Her favorite song came on, so Gwen grabbed Erik’s arm and pulled him to the dance floor.

  “I don’t know about dancing, Gwen,” he muttered. “You’re like a sister.”

  “And you’re like a brother, but we can still celebrate a job well done.”

  He nodded, and she smiled, pulling him closer. “I would never try to replace Monique. Sooner or later, she’s going to come to her senses. Right now, she’s grieving.”

  “We aren’t talking about her. Let’s talk about how good it feels to have taken Coltrain in. Now we need to find Josephine.”

  “That’s our next task. I can hardly wait to silence her magic.”

  * * * *

  She couldn’t take it anymore.

  Monique flew from London to New York. She went straight to their apartment. He wasn’t there.

  She took the mirror her father enchanted for her and found Erik in a bar down the road. He was alone.

  She ran the whole way and froze at the window. Erik and Gwen were dancing and laughing. Her heart sank to the pit of her stomach as he smiled down at Gwen.

  She was already too late. Closing her eyes, she turned and walked away.

  * * * *

  Two days later…

  Robert pulled Erik into his office. “Need you to sit down,” he said gruffly.

  Erik’s stomach bottomed out as he sank onto a chair. “Tell me this isn’t about Monique.”

  Robert shook his head. “I respect your wishes on that account. This is something else entirely.”

  “What?” Erik asked.

  He took a slow breath. “Draecyn’s project is being shut down. With Coltrain’s escape, thanks to Josephine’s interference, we have no choice at this time. I promise you the project will come back and you will be the first person I call.”

  Erik slumped back in the seat. “Should have known this was going to happen.”

  Robert nodded. “Unfortunately, too many mages aren’t ready to let go of their misconceptions.”

  “It’s okay.”

  “Someone else would like you to do what you do here for them.”

  “Who?” Erik asked quietly.

  “Hayden Hunter, in Edenton. Not as much travel, your hometown. He says the job is yours if you want it.”

  “As a cop?”

  Robert nodded. “If it were up to me, you’d stay here. I don’t make that call. Draecyn is livid. I wish there were something I could do.”

  “Hey, don’t worry about it.” Erik pulled in a breath.

  “I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news. We argued to keep you at the very least. You showed the most promise and are certainly worthy of the enforcer title. But what Coltrain did made everyone above Draecyn question where your loyalties lie.”

  He nodded. There was no point arguing. It was out of anyone’s hands who cared. “Termination effective immediately?”

  Robert nodded gravely. “You will be an enforcer again. I don’t know when, don’t know how, but you will be, Erik.”

  “Thank you, for everything.” He dipped his head, stood, and walked out the door.

  He didn’t have a clue where to start his life now.

  Present

  The death that melds two hearts into one.

  Chapter 16

  Present time…

  Erik stood in his classroom, smiling as the last of his students left. The Silver Council was finally moving in the right direction. He sat down at the desk and pulled his phone out of the drawer.

  Several missed texts fro
m Monique. Hope flared briefly before drowning itself in misery. Her texts consisted of—

  Erik, if you have time tonight, would you spend some time with me? Dustin’s been coming around, creeping me out.

  Please, I’ll buy you dinner, drinks, anything you want. I just don’t want to be cooped up at home.

  I know you’re working, and I’m proud of how well you’re doing, but please, I’m begging.

  Erik let out a heavy sigh as he stared at his phone. Before he could answer, another came through.

  I’ll owe you big, Erik. At least answer me. I’ll drop it if you tell me no.

  He still regretted the one time he ever told her no. He hadn’t been able to since. Groaning, he messaged her back.

  Give me a couple hours. I need to get home, take a shower, then I’ll be by.

  His phone buzzed a few seconds later.

  Thank you. I’ll see you soon.

  Erik slumped back in the chair and rubbed his head. In the last five years he’d finally come to realize she’d moved on while he was still stuck in the past.

  He had tried to let her go. He had a few relationships that lasted a few months. They all ended because no one made him feel the way Monique had.

  Then she moved back to Edenton, and he gave up trying to find someone else. He focused his energy on winning her back. She kept him at arm’s length while holding his heart in both hands.

  And even though nothing would ever change, he was going to make sure that slimeball left her alone. At least he had the sense to steer clear when she had a man around. And now that Clint was otherwise occupied with his woman, Monique had turned to him.

  At first, he thought maybe things would get back to the way they were. He’d since learned that wasn’t the case. She may trust him, but she didn’t want him.

  Gwen popped her head in. “Have plans tonight?”

  He wanted to say no. Hanging out with Gwen and her man would have been better than torturing himself. “Sorry. Monique wants a friend to keep Dustin at bay.”

  “You have far more patience than I ever did. But honestly, I think she’s coming around.”

  “Yeah, but I can’t do this much longer. I put in for a transfer this morning. After this session is over, I want to go anywhere that will get me the hell away from Edenton.”

  Gwen shook her head. “You’re the one who said your home was here.”

  “Can’t move on with her down the street from me. Every time I turn around she’s there, twisting my heart in knots all over again. All I do is think about her, dream about her, imagine her. She’s everywhere, and it’s too much.”

  “And if she finally admits she needs you?”

  A bitter laugh escaped. “That’s why she went out with some new guy last week.”

  “She didn’t ask him to hang out tonight. Maybe he’s a friend?”

  “Doesn’t matter. I’m never going to get on with my life if I don’t leave. If she wants me, she can come for me. I’m done waiting.”

  * * * *

  Monique stood at her mirror, staring at herself. She knew Dustin was DJing at In 2 Deep, and she needed an excuse to drag Erik out. If he hadn’t turned her down the last four times she tried to get him to go out with her, she wouldn’t be resorting to such desperate measures.

  She unwrapped the towel and turned to stare at the raven tattooed into her side. Ever since they were little, ravens seemed to follow Erik. She used to think it had everything to do with death until Tyra explained that ravens were a symbol of messengers.

  Erik was a messenger. Perhaps the dead followed ravens to Erik. She’d witnessed him take what the spirits said and end crime sprees, helped the mourning find peace, and even hush the malignant spirits who were bent on sharing hate—like her own mother.

  “Got to make this right. I’ve strung him along for too long. You need to find the courage to fix this, Monique.” Tears burned her eyes, but she walked to the closet and forced herself to get ready.

  The bell rang and she hurried down the stairs. Steeling her courage, she opened the door. “Come in.”

  He looked away. “Don’t know about you, but I’m hungry. Faster we go, the faster I can get something to eat.”

  “I could fix you something.”

  He shook his head. “No. Rather go out.”

  She sucked in a breath and grabbed her purse. “All right. I wanted to go to In 2 Deep.”

  His brow pinched as he looked back at her. “You want to go to In 2 Deep when he’s DJing?”

  “Want to go somewhere else?” she asked, hopeful he’d take her somewhere they could talk.

  Shaking his head, he motioned to the car. “Let’s go.”

  Sighing, she locked up and followed him to the car. Always the gentleman, he opened the passenger door and let her in before going around to start the car. She turned in the seat and met his gaze.

  “Hey, what’s going on? Is tonight a bad night?”

  He shook his head but didn’t say anything.

  “Talk to me, Erik.”

  “It’s nothing,” he muttered, starting the car and driving to the bar.

  He was slipping away, and it was her own damned fault. “I confide in you. You can confide in me.”

  “Not about this. Look, it’s work related. Don’t worry about it. Let’s have a good time, and I’ll take you home.”

  She smiled sadly. “Okay.”

  * * * *

  Erik parked the car and looked over at Monique. He had to wonder if things were changing between them. But it was probably too late to mend what was broken decades ago. Hence, his desire to relocate far away. Hell, Antarctica if they’d let him.

  He felt like a dick for shutting her down, but he didn’t want her pity, and he didn’t want to hold her back from life. He was tired of chasing. He’d been doing that since she came back. There was no more groveling to be done.

  Emptiness filled the void she left in his heart. His hope had finally run out.

  Chewing her lip, she climbed out, and he joined her. Her fingers threaded through his and her warmth danced up his chilled skin as she leaned closer.

  “I miss this,” she murmured. “Going out, being close to you. You always made me feel comfortable.”

  “Not enough to forgive me,” he muttered.

  “What was that?” she asked.

  “Nothing.” He offered a smile but knew it was lame. “Been a long day.”

  They walked in, and Erik didn’t miss the way Dustin watched Monique. He never understood why she dated the jackass. Werelynx, rare and cunning. Shithead seemed to want to trap her in a relationship. Monique hadn’t been interested in his shackles. She left. He didn’t take the hint.

  Sounded a lot like him. Erik gave her space when she left New York. He managed to go decades without being in her presence. Then she showed up in Edenton, and he couldn’t resist any longer.

  Anytime the opportunity presented itself, he showed up and groveled, or tried to sweep her off her feet. Nothing changed between them in five long years.

  If he weren’t so protective of her, he would have left her at the bar. She chose to go where she knew the prick was. Maybe she got off on torturing him. Whatever it was, he was done.

  Monique pushed him into a booth and sat down beside him. Confused, he looked over. Normally she sat across the table. He could shut his heart down better when she wasn’t so close.

  She looked into his eyes and took a breath. “Erik, you’ve been there for me since I can remember. I want to be there for you the same way.”

  And his heart threatened to implode. “Monique, you can’t be. You’ve made it clear I’m not the one you want. I screwed up forever ago, and nothing is going to change that.” His phone buzzed and he pulled it out.

  Gwen sent a text of where they were in case he changed his mind.

  Gina took their order and hurried across the floor with a strange look on her face.

  Erik cocked his head.
“What was that about?”

  Monique shrugged. “She sees connections between two people.”

  “Probably the seesaw of ups and downs between us,” he muttered. He wanted off the damned ride.

  Monique took his hand and tingles traveled along his nerves. “We’re finally steady again. There’s something I need to tell you.”

  Dustin dropped into the seat across from them. Erik’s jaw set as he wondered if Monique would play the same game with him once he finally stopped thinking anything he said or did would get them back together again.

  Monique’s eyes narrowed at Dustin. “I’m here with the only man I want in my life. Now go back to work.” She turned to Erik and planted her lips on his.

  He froze for a moment, before desire kicked in and he opened his mouth, sucking her tongue, relishing her taste. She leaned into him, her hand trailing up his chest, around his neck, and into his hair as she kissed him thoroughly.

  Somewhere in the back of his head, he couldn’t help thinking this was a ploy, nothing more. And yet, her eager sounds called to him, urging him to pull her tighter.

  Monique leaned back, looking into his eyes. No fear, no distrust, only love stared back.

  Breathing deep, he looked across the booth to find Dustin gone. Gina brought their drinks back with a wide smile. “Good to see you two finally figuring out what’s between you.” She walked away with a bounce in her step.

  He had no clue what Gina meant. The woman was bizarre, always hinting at things but never confirming anything.

  Monique drank her Cosmo down and caressed his thigh. “Dance with me.”

  * * * *

  The words she’d meant to say were on the tip of her tongue, but every time she was ready to open her mouth, someone interrupted. So she dragged Erik to the dance floor and leaned up to whisper against his ear, but Preston tapped Erik on the shoulder, and she settled down with a pout.