Submerge (Apalala Clan Book 3)

by Dzintra Sullivan

  “As a bird,” he replied. “I just needed you to stay for a while, so we could fill you in and ask about this supposed cousin.”

  Vern shuffled his papers and put them back in his folder “Won’t be needing these then.” He laughed lightly as he looked up at Elyse. “Hey, I’m happy you’re free. I just, so you know, came up with the perfect spring-Elyse-from-the-clink plan.”

  “I appreciate the effort, Vern. More than you know.”

  “I know. I’ll save it for the next time you’re arrested.” He winked and slid the papers back into his briefcase. Elyse went to smack him, but he dodged. “Hey,” he said. “You’re the one who’s been in here twice since I met you. Odds are there will be a third,” he teased her.

  Darlington coughed to gain their attention. “Sure, murder charge dropped. Great news. Bad news? You, my dear, are obviously our guy’s next victim. If my gut is anything to go by, I think this is a long-standing feud.”

  “How can it be long-standing if I didn’t even know about him?”

  “That I don’t know the answer to, but the other female with him might be a connection.”

  “Female?” Ladon asked.

  Darlington nodded. “Kylee mentioned the name Jemima? Jenny? Something like that.”

  “Jenna?” Elyse and Ladon’s word came out in perfect sync.

  “Yes, that’s it. You obviously know the name.”

  “She shot me,” Ladon said.

  “And me,” Elyse said.

  “Sorry?” Darlington squinted, not sure he heard them right. “You were both shot? By the same woman? When was this? Why wasn’t it reported?”

  “Um, well… she missed,” Elyse said quickly as she glanced at Ladon. “So, there was nothing to report. We just thought it was some random with a gun.”

  “Random with a gun?” Darlington ran his hand through his hair in frustration. “I’m dumbfounded by that statement. Seriously guys… some ‘random with a gun’ still needs to be reported so we can investigate and stop this stuff from happening.”

  “Sorry,” Ladon said with a shared look to Elyse and Vern.

  Darlington watched the three of them. His skin prickled with a shared secret he wasn’t being privy to. The three of them all looked at him with a look that begged him not to dig any further. He was a cop, digging was what he did. “Get out of here. Don’t leave town. I’m sure Officer Stoney here will want to ask you more questions.” Darlington had his fill for one day. It wasn’t even his case, and yet, he knew he wouldn’t be able to walk away. It just meant anything he did was on his own shoulders.

  Elyse and the guys stood with a loud scraping of their chairs. “You know where I am,” Elyse said quietly to Darlington, then she looked at Stoney. “Sorry for the kid jokes. I’m happy to help you, too.”

  “I’d be mighty appreciative of that, ma’am.” Stoney tipped his head.

  Standing outside a few minutes later, Ladon looked at Elyse. “He’s coming after you.”

  “I know.”

  “Want to know something odd?” They both looked to Vern as he spoke, “I have a feeling this isn’t the first time he’s attempted to get you.”

  Elyse turned to look at him. “Explain.”

  “Think about it. If he’s your cousin, that makes him a…” Vern looked around to make sure they were out of earshot of anyone. When he was satisfied no one was listening, he continued, “A hunter, right?”

  Elyse nodded. “Yes. Assuming my mother’s sister was also a hunter.”

  “What if he’s been trying to get you ever since—”

  “Since?” Elyse asked impatiently while trying to piece the puzzle together.

  “Since he killed your parents?” Vern’s words were quiet as it was still a theory in the works, but it felt right to say the words out loud.

  “No, can’t be. I saw phoenix that night,” she replied firmly.

  “And your family’s ability to make people ‘see’ things wouldn’t factor in?”

  “Oh shit,” Ladon said. “You’re thinking he tried to kill them all way back then but didn’t manage to get Elyse and has been actively hunting her down ever since.”

  “I’m saying it’s a possibility that needs to be considered.” Vern nodded.

  “I can’t see it. It’s not like I’ve been hiding,” Elyse said with a firm shake of her head.

  “Okay, Doug,” Vern used her nickname. “If he weren’t looking for it, you could have been sitting under his nose for this entire time and him not see it. You said it was Jenna who approached you first? How?”

  “Note under my door.”

  “Your apartment?” Ladon gasped. “You never said that?”

  Elyse turned to look at him. “It wasn’t really relevant until now, was it?” She thought for a minute. “This certainly does give more clarity to the conversation when I first met Jenna. She asked so many questions about my name, my parents, and even made relevance about my abilities should I follow my mother’s footsteps.” She looked at Vern. “She knew a lot about me… like a lot.”

  “If she were working with him all this time…” Vern’s words drifted off.

  “Then the hunters possibly aren’t even involved?” Ladon asked.

  Vern nodded with a deep intake of air. “It’s entirely possible that we’ve been led down one path only to be getting ready to sideswipe us when we hit the intersection.”

  “If I’m a hunter, so is he, and Jenna,” Elyse said with confusion.

  “But that doesn’t mean he isn’t rogue.”

  “Shit! We’ve been looking at this all wrong,” Ladon exclaimed.

  “We need to get back to V. This is bad, really bad.”

  “I need to see Kylee,” Elyse said.

  “No can do. I am not taking my eyes off you.” Ladon stood his ground firmly. He knew he was going to lose as soon as Elyse’s hands met the swing of her hips. “Should I just call Jo and see if he’s there, and—” He barely stopped himself from using the word ‘protect’ in time as her eyebrow raised. “Come on, you can’t blame me?”

  Elyse softened slightly. “I understand, but I won’t be wrapped up and treated like some fragile, delicate ornament. I’m a fighter, don’t forget that.”

  Ladon nodded. “Are you willing to compromise?”

  “No, but you can try anyway.” She grinned.

  Ladon nodded and held up his finger as he pulled out his cell phone and made a call. Elyse watched with interest as she listened to the one-sided conversation.

  “Jo?”

  “You still at the hospital?

  “Excellent. Doug’s coming over…

  “Yes, by herself.” Ladon winked at Elyse who just rolled her eyes dramatically.

  “Ten minutes.

  “Yes, thanks. I owe you.”

  Ladon hung up the phone and grinned at Elyse. “Jo will be waiting out the front.”

  “How about you just keep your own ass safe. I’m the bulletproof one in case you have forgotten.” Elyse grinned. “I’ll call you later.” She turned and took off.

  Ladon watched her walk confidently away and wondered for the umpteenth time that day, how on earth he was ever going to tame her.

  If that were even possible.

  Darlington paced outside the hospital. He wanted to go in but knew he needed to update his clan leader on the developments.

  “What’s happening? I have the front line ready to assemble at your call.”

  “Keep them on hold. We don’t want exposure if we can avoid it.”

  “We also don’t want to be caught by surprise. You know how I feel about attacking first.”

  Darlington did indeed know his clan leader was one of the most ferocious bear leaders in history. He was known for killing first and not even asking questions. His clan’s safety came first and foremost above everything else. “I will let you know. Be ready for a quick movement.”

  “I don’t like it. I’m sending you help.”

  “Wait? What? I don’t—” Darlington pulled t
he phone from his ear and looked at the screen. His leader had hung up on him.

  He was sending help? Who? To help with what?

  Darlington pinched the bridge of his nose as he tried to calm the frustration building inside his belly. After a few deep breaths, he went into the hospital to see Kylee.

  As Darlington pushed open the door to Kylee’s room, he could see it was dark and she was asleep. Walking in silently, he listened to her breathing as it rhythmically beat along with the machines surrounding her. There was a chair under the window on the other side of her bed, so he checked his watch for the time. He wanted to wait and talk to her. Luckily, he had a little time up his sleeve.

  Walking around, he took a seat adjusting his ample size on the small plastic chair. He popped his ankle up on his knee and leaned back, quickly realizing that this chair was not made for anyone bigger than a ten-year-old child. Placing his foot back to the floor, he sat straight and just hoped it didn’t break.

  A soft moan came from Kylee’s mouth, and he was on instant alert. His eyes frantically covered all he could see of her. Her brow was creased which meant she was hurting, but he couldn’t see where. He reached out and grabbed the nurse’s button and pushed it. He hated feeling helpless, and this woman had enough pain inflicted on her for a lifetime.

  The door pushed open and in walked a short, plump nurse. Her eyebrows raised as she looked around at what was going on. Seeing the button in Darlington’s hand, she dropped one brow leaving one very arched in his direction. “Sir?”

  “She moaned in pain.”

  The nurse walked over to Kylee, looked at the machines, and adjusted some buttons. Placing her hand lightly on Kylee’s wrist, the nurse paused to take her pulse. She looked back at Darlington and smiled. “She will sleep for a while yet. They gave her some heavy-duty pain medication. She was quite distressed earlier. You’re welcome to stay, but she needs to sleep.”

  “I’ll just sit for a little while longer if that’s okay,” Darlington said.

  The nurse nodded and left.

  Darlington must have drifted off to the melodic beeping of the machines because he jumped in his chair as the door opened, letting a fresh bolt of light hit him straight in the face. He looked at his watch and saw an hour had passed.

  “You’re the cop who found her, right?”

  Darlington looked up to the deep male voice who was speaking as he walked into the room.

  “Shhh,” he whispered back, pointing to Kylee who was sleeping. “The nurse said she needed to sleep.”

  “You didn’t answer me.” Jo’s voice lowered as he flicked his eyes to Kylee then back to the cop he had seen in the corridor the night before. He knew who he was and what he’d done. He had been there for Kylee when it should have been him.

  “Yes. I came across… the situation.” Darlington didn’t know what word to use. Horrific scene? Tortured event? Nightmare come to life right in front of me?

  Jo extended his hand across the bed, a strong and dominant gesture of respect for being where he wasn’t. “Thank you.”

  Darlington looked at the hand, rose from his chair, and shook the man’s hand. It was firm almost a battle of dominance as he stood a couple of inches taller than the tattooed man. “Just doing my job.”

  Jo gave his hand one last shake as he said, “Yes. Well, thank you nonetheless.” Releasing Darlington’s hand, he looked down at Kylee. “I will kill the monster who did this. I will reach down his throat and rip his heart out with my bare hands.” Jo’s anger was palpable like ripples across the water, and Darlington could feel it clearly.

  “Leave it up to the professionals. They’re working round the clock to catch him.”

  Jo laughed. “No offense, but you guys couldn’t catch this guy if he handed himself in.”

  Darlington’s neck cracked as his head tilted in frustration. “Funny thing about the phrase ‘no offense,’ it’s normally offensive.”

  “Just speaking the truth.” Jo shrugged.

  This cop was a big guy, but so was he, and if he thought Jo could be intimidated, he was sadly mistaken. “You guys have no idea who or what you’re dealing with. The monster who did this?” He looked at his pseudo twin then back to the cop. “This isn’t an ordinary nickel and dime criminal.”

  “That’s obvious.” Darlington wasn’t interested in being ‘schooled’ by this tattoo-addicted guy. “We have highly trained officers on the case.”

  “And still you wouldn’t be able to catch a fish in a barrel.” Jo looked straight into his eyes. “But I can. That’s my sister, and he will pay with his life for hurting her.”

  “Sister?” Darlington stopped his train of thought sharply to take in this new information.

  “Yes… no… yes…” Jo stumbled across his answer, adding as he saw the accusatory eyebrow rise on the cop, “She’s like my sister.”

  “But not your actual sister,” Darlington clarified.

  “No. However, I love her as if she were, and that makes this monster mine.”

  “Leave it be,” Darlington said, his tone darkening as this man was stepping over the line as far as the law goes. Besides, if someone wanted to kill the monster, it was him.

  Jo’s back straightened at the tone being spoken in hushed voices. Just because it was whispered didn’t make it any less threatening. “Are you seriously telling me what to do?” he scoffed at the thought.

  “Yes.” Darkening his tone further. “I’m telling you to back off and let the professionals who know what they’re doing deal with it.” He leaned forward on the bed, his hands resting on the raised cage running down both sides of Kylee’s bed. His intensity clearly on display for Jo to see.

  Jo matched his stance on the opposite side of Kylee’s bed, her even breathing of slumber, oblivious to the standoff happening either side of her.

  “And I’m telling you, you won’t have a chance because I’ll be done with him before you even find out his last name.” Jo’s beast was begging to be let off the leash. He wanted to teach this male a lesson in respect.

  “Back off,” Darlington growled low and deep enough for the floor to reverberate, his jaw elongating slightly into the shape of a bear’s muzzle.

  “Fuck off,” Jo snarled with an intensity that caused a small shading of his black scales to feather up his cheeks as the dragon slid close enough to the surface to be seen.

  Elyse had slipped in while the two men had been in a standoff over Kylee’s bed. She stood at the end where she could see both men locked in a battle of dominance, her eyes taking in Jo’s black dragon scales as they floated across his jaw and down his neck. Turning to look at Darlington, her eyes widening further as she saw a partial bear muzzle protrude from his face.

  “I don’t believe it!” Her words brought both men back to the room, their eyes seeing each other’s beasts for the first time. Then as if part of a unified dance, they both looked at Elyse who was standing there, mouth open, shocked by what she’d just witnessed.

  “You’re both…” her head flicked between them both, “… beasts.”

  “I’m not a beast. I am a dragon,” Jo stated proudly. “Although, in the bedroom, I’ve been called a beast many times.” With a waggle of his eyebrows, he turned to the cop who was obviously still in shock. “And it seems as if we’ve just met Yogi.”

  “You’re a dragon,” Darlington murmured under his breath.

  “Oh fuck! Is the bear deaf, too?” Darlington flipped him the bird. “Apparently not.” Jo chuckled. “This is a surprise. Wait till Kylee finds out she was rescued by a bear.” Jo sniggered as loud as a whisper would allow.

  “She knows.” His voice dropped along with his eyes.

  “What?” Elyse said, unable to hide her shock at this point. “She knows you’re a… a… bear?”

  Darlington’s eyes still lowered, his voice nothing but a whisper. “I couldn’t help it. He was hurting her, and I was changed before I could stop myself.”

  Jo burst out laughing, the sudden sound
causing Kylee to stir and open her eyes.

  “Jo, you’re so fucking loud.” Her brow creased as she moved in the bed.

  “Sorry, baby girl,” Jo said as he leaned in and placed a kiss to the top of her head. “I’m going to get the son of a bitch. You have my word.”

  “Doug?” Kylee said with a questioned tone.

  Elyse didn’t hear as she was still processing the fact that not only were their dragons roaming around but now also bears? Her mind immediately went to her markings. She lifted her hand to rub the spot behind her ear she knew were marked with this creature as well. Jo pushed her shoulder and pointed to Kylee who was watching her.

  “Doug, he’s your… he wants you. He’s after… you.” With each word she spoke, her voice rose with panic. Her eyes widened and filled with unshed tears as the pain radiated around her broken body.

  “Fuuuck,” Jo growled at seeing his best friend in so much pain. “How can I stop it, Kyls. I’m going to fucking kill that bastard.”

  “Shhh…” Elyse said as she rubbed Kylee’s arm. “I’m so sorry he hurt you. I didn’t know he even existed.” She leaned forward to whisper into Kylee’s ear, “I will make sure he pays for what he did to you.” She stood, then using her thumb, she wiped the tears escaping down Kylee’s cheek. “Shhh… I got this.”

  “I got this,” Jo said.

  Darlington coughed from the back wall, causing Kylee’s eyes to flick to him. Jo saw her eyes light up at the sight of the bear. His beast growled with a territorial boundary warning.

  One thing at a time, Jo thought to himself. Catch and kill this bastard then dispose of the bear.

  His eyes crossed between Kylee and her furry friend. “I have to go,” Jo said suddenly. “Times a ticking, and V wants me back as soon as I finished checking on you.” He turned and spoke to Kylee, “I’ll be back later, okay?” She nodded. “I’m so in awe of you, baby girl. You’re so strong. Need anything when I come back? Anything?” He glanced at the bear before back to Kylee. “Nothing is too much trouble.”