Burned Once, Twice

by Trinity Blacio

  Faith laughed. “Maria, you could never intimidate anyone.”

  “No, she can’t, but I can,” Gordon growled in her ear and squeezed her ass cheek.

  “Really.” Faith looked over her shoulder and swallowed. “Well, damn, you can.” She shivered and reached up to run her finger down his cheek, but he nipped the tip instead.

  “Don’t ever sacrifice yourself again. All you need to is call to us, in here.” Gordon placed his hand over her heart. “And we’ll be at your side in seconds.”

  “Really?” Maria asked.

  Alexander came out to join them. “I told you they were different from us, but, yes. If Faith needs anything, they will sense it and be there to help her. Your friend couldn’t have two better men to keep her out of trouble or help guard her little one.” Alexander shifted Maria toward him. “What were you told about running outside without a guard?”

  Maria flinched and Gordon shook his head. “I have a feeling both of them are going to see more spankings….” A small smile played across his face. “Awww, well, I guess that won’t be much of a punishment, will it, Little Star?” he purred, rubbing her ass cheeks.

  “Okay, you two, stop that and come inside. The other girls are all worried, and we want to know what happened with her ex. Could he still show up and take her away?” Maria pulled her into the house.

  The thought stopped Faith, and a shiver went down to her toes. Her chin trembled as she reached back needing them. At once, Jake took her hand and squeezed it. “There is nothing to worry about. He’s been taken care of. He will never come near you again, Little Star.”

  His reassurance was nice, but… “Is he dead?”

  Jake tilted his head to the side and studied her. “The Guild took care of him. He won’t ever come near you again.”

  Took care of him how? He was avoiding the question. “That does not mean anything, Jake.” Faith turned her attention to Maria. “I really could use a stiff drink since I didn’t get to finish mine.”

  “You’re going to eat something first. You didn’t touch your dinner.” Maria towed her into the kitchen where she was surrounded by her friends. Hugs all around almost made her forget, but Faith would never relax until he was dead. She knew all too well how slick her ex-husband was. He would find a way to hurt her no matter what some Guild told them or did. “Sit.” Maria pointed to the chair.

  Faith took a seat. “I was thinking, maybe it would be better if I go home. You might be safer, and I don’t want to ruin your wedding. With guests all over the place, you don’t need to worry about me.” Faith heard a growl from behind her.

  “Ignore that comment while I have a few words with Faith,” Gordon snarled, lifting her and throwing her over his shoulder. “Didn’t my brother inform you that you were safe? Don’t you trust us?” Gordon opened a door and stepped into an empty bedroom.

  Jake closed the door and settled against it as Gordon let her drop onto the bed. “What the hell is wrong with you?” She glared at them both….

  “Let me go, Alexander.” Maria pounded on the door. “She needs to be held, not treated like a damn sack of potatoes. Who the hell do they think they are? How dare you!” Her voice faded away.

  Gordon leaned down in Faith’s face. “Why don’t you trust us?”

  “What?” She studied the furious man. “Calm down, Scale Boy. This isn’t about trusting you, it’s knowing him. Do I believe you could protect me if he showed up in this room with us? Yes. But he does not work that way. He’ll find a time and place when we’re not expecting it. We thought I was safe in your club.We underestimated him. I won’t do it again.” She tried to push Gordon out of the way and get up, but he wouldn’t move.

  “You really believe he’ll come after you?” Gordon asked, crawling onto the bed next to her.

  “If he can’t, he’ll send his best friend. Hell, he might be the one who put out the so-called contract. The thing never did like me, and he’d take great pleasure in hurting me. Now, move. Let me up. You got my friend in trouble.” She tried to stand again, but, this time, Jake joined them on the bed.

  “Who’s this other man? We need to speak with Vepar.” Jake turned as the door opened to reveal Holbrook. “Don’t you ever knock?”

  “Vepar contacted me. She’s not wrong. His stepson, even hurt, is bound and determined to get to her. Being put below won’t stop him from hiring someone to bring her to him. He’s obsessed with her.”

  “I should have killed him when I had a chance,” she mumbled, but the three of them shook their heads.

  “You can’t kill him. The only ones who might be able to areVepar or the Guild. I’m surprised they didn’t for breaking the treaty.”

  Gordon snarled. “Vepar petitioned them for his life, didn’t he?” Gordon asked.

  “He’s already regretting it,” Holbrook confirmed. “If anything happens to your woman, now, Vepar has to deal with the Guild himself, and his son will be no more.”

  *****

  “That does not help me now,” the little spitfire grumbled, squirming off the bed and heading toward the door. “Even if he is killed now, his friend Xack is not going to stop.”

  “There is no hit on Faith, just an order to capture her alive,” Holbrook stated. “I don’t know who placed the order, and I haven’t heard of this Xack or recognize the picture in your head.”

  “You need to say out of my head,” she mumbled and opened the door.

  “Little Star,” Gordon called to her, and she paused. “He won’t get you.”

  “I know you two will do everything you can to protect me, but no one is perfect and the one time we let our guard down, they’ll hit.” Faith closed the door behind her.

  “I want them gone. This threat needs to be taken care of now.” Gordon turned his anger toward Holbrook. “She’s not going to give herself to us fully until she feels safe and, right now, I don’t blame her.” He jumped off the bed and glared at his brother. “The man should have been destroyed. It’s obvious he’s not sane.”

  “Change her. It would add to her protection, and the Guild would be more willing to listen to you if she is claimed by you.” Holbrook stepped up to him. “We aren’t close, the three of us. I’ll do what I can, but keep her close.” Holbrook turned to the door. “She’s a brave one and worthy of you two. Mom always did want a daughter. Now she’ll have one.” Holbrook slapped Gordon on the shoulder. “Congratulations to you both. I will see if I can find this other man, for now. I will use the image from your woman’s mind to identify him.”

  Holbrook stepped away from them to leave. “Did you find the woman who is yours?” HIs brother would worry about the woman who was meant to be his.

  “Yes, but right now isn’t the time to claim what is mine.” He reached for the door.

  “She’s here, isn’t she?” Gordon continued.

  “Yes, but there is too much going on in her world.” Holbrook glanced over his shoulder. “Plus, I have to make sure my soon-to-be sister is safe before I bring my own woman into our family.”

  Jake walked over to Holbrook. “Who? We will watch out for her since you do us this favor?” Not only did Jake surprise Gordon, but Holbrook, also, from his expression.

  “You and I have never seen eye to eye on things. Maybe we’re too much alike, but know this, little brother. I will always be there to help you in any way I can. Adele is mine,” Holbrook stated. “She, too, has had a past I’ll have to deal with soon, but maybe that is why the human women were given to us at the late stage in their lives. They need the added protection we can give them, the love no other humans can compare to.” He snorted. “Look at me, getting all logical. Thank you, Jake. There might be hope for you yet.” Holbrook laughed, moving out of the room. “Have to see Adele before I go, one more glance at what is mine.”

  “Don’t touch her,” Jake yelled at him and Gordon grinned.

  “Not only has our woman brought us hope, she is also closing the gap between brothers. We have much to thank her for, but, r
ight now, we must deal with her human family. Come, our woman’s children have arrived.”

  They moved down the hallway and into the family room, where they watched as the son hugged his mom, lifting her off of the ground. The daughter shook her head. Faith’s gaze met his when her son released her.

  “Come over here and meet my children.” She held out her hand to Gordon and Jake.

  A taller version of Faith, the daughter moved to her mother’s side, hugging her, peering at them. Gordon realized both children were part Demon, her first husband’s children, which complicated things horribly.

  Chapter Six

  Faith stared at the men who would stand beside her for the rest of her life. “Chance, Denver, be good. These guys are here to stay.” She gave her son more attention than her daughter and her son laughed, but Faith could see the worry there.

  “Father attacked you again, didn’t he?” Denver leaned in and kissed her cheek.

  “Yes, but I’m fine, and you can thank these men. Denver, Chance, this is Jake and Gordon. Gentlemen, I’d like you two to meet my world, at least part of it.” Faith tilted her head to the side and stared out the window for a second.

  Maria came over and threw her arms around Denver.

  “Hey, brat, how are you doing?” She ruffled the boy’s hair before she shifted her attention to them, and her expression was not happy.

  “I’m good.” Denver stepped forward, offering his hand to Gordon. “Thank you for helping my mom. I can’t always see what my father is up to, but I try and warn her when I can.”

  “I’m afraid your father is past gone. There is no way you can see into his madness. He knows your mother is not his chosen one but still tried to bring her over twice, which would have killed her eventually since she was not meant to be with him, but with us,” Gordon stated.

  “Let’s cut to the chase, shall we?” Faith reached out to Denver.

  “What Gordon means is that it seems these two are my fated mates. So, you see, I won’t die like you two were afraid I would.” She nudged her daughter who hadn’t uttered a word.

  “Two? You get two? Wow.” Chance gave Jake and Gordon another glance. “And they’re hot, Mom!”

  Faith hadn’t blushed in years, but her daughter’s comments had her skin heating like a frying pan of hot grease. “Chance!”

  Maria was giggling like crazy. “She’s your kid and just like her momma.” Maria frowned. “I thought you two weren’t coming until tomorrow.You shouldn’t be driving this late.”

  Denver kissed her on the cheek. “I knew something was wrong and couldn’t wait. We did fine, and I have been driving for a while.” Denver addressed Gordon and Jake. “So Mom is your woman. How are you going to protect her from Dad and his friends? And what are you? You’re not what Alexander is.”

  “It’s late, and your mother needs to eat. Just know these two are more powerful than your father and I put together. If threatened, they will destroy anything in their path to save your mother or to save you two.”

  Alexander had started to move everyone into the dining room, when Gordon stepped up to her son. “We know of this Xack who is a threat to your mom, but are there others we are not aware of?”

  “My father has four friends who would do about anything for him. Let’s say my father was not a pushover, more like a bully. But, threat wise, Xack would be mother’s biggest problem right now since Father has been confined, for now.” Denver took a seat at the table as others filled in around them.

  “Can we hold off on this please? I want to eat without the threat of my food coming up again,” Faith asked, trying to change the subject, but he’d seen the terror on her face before she hid her expression from them.

  Gordon lifted Faith up, taking her seat and placing her in his lap. “Of course. I will speak with your son after you are done eating. I forgot you need sustenance, and it won’t happen again. Sorry, Little Star.” Gordon placed a kiss on her neck. “Eat.”

  Gordon locked his arms around her while Jake took the chair to her left, her daughter on the right, and her son across from her. From the expression on Denver’s face, he was having a very good time.

  “What’s the smirk about?” she mumbled around a bite of steak. “Damn, this is good,” she moaned. “Want a bite?” She offered it to Gordon, but Jake bent close and took it from her fingers.

  “I do.” He winked at her.

  “I should warn you, my brother is a food hog,” Gordon growled and punched his arm.

  Maria laughed and set a plate in front of Jake. “There, now he has his own. You want a plate, Gordon?”

  He shook his head. “No, thank you. I’ve eaten already.”

  “Denver? I’m waiting,” Faith said. “The smirk?”

  “I’m surprised you haven’t castrated them yet.” Denver told her. Forks dropped and all heads swiveled between her and her men.

  Jake inched forward. “Yep, your son has your blood thirst, and she has met her match. Now, don’t get me wrong. It’s going to take both my brother and me to control this spitfire, but who better than us?” Jake placed a kiss on her lips, and she tried to bite him.

  “Control? There will be no control. So get that out of your damn mind or you’ll see the fire come out, Mr. Scales. You’re not the only one who can spit fire.” She glared at Jake before her attention shifted to Denver. “And, you, don’t even egg them on. I’m not too old to take your ass down.”

  “Dragons? The Nella?” Her son’s words shocked her.

  “Very good. You learned of us from your father?” Gordon asked.

  “No, my grandmother. She loves Mom and is bound to make sure she’s protected even if it’s from my father.” Denver smiled up at Maria as she put a plate in front of him. “Eat.” Maria slid another plate towards Chance.

  “I take it your friends knew about your ex, Faith.” Gordon made it more of a statement than question.

  “Maria did. From the start. As for the rest…. I kind of had to tell them when the little ones started doing things not normal for humans. Maria and I tried to teach them to hide their gifts around others. Terrance’s mother showed up one day.” Faith sighed. “Amazing lady. She had raised Terrance by herself and knew if the kids weren’t shown what to do from the start, they’d end up like her son. That is one lady I do miss talking to.”

  “She came to me before we came up here.” Denver stared at his mom. “She wanted me to warn you having my father down below won’t stop him. Seems he’s even further gone than they thought. What did she call it, Chance?” Denver asked his sister.

  “Yoffa, I think is how she pronounced it.”

  *****

  “Holbrook, did you hear?” Gordon didn’t need to turn to see his brother.

  “Yes, Vepar is well aware of what must be done and is taking the precautions now. Even his own mother is not safe. But we still have a problem with Xack.” Holbrook growled. “It’s like he does not exist. I get close to someone who’s seen, him, but then, their memories are erased. This one is smart and powerful. For some reason, I don’t believe her ex was the one calling the shots, at least not in the end.”

  “Faith, did Terrance know Xack before you married him?” Gordon reached over and took a drink of the water Maria had placed beside him, but the question brought a different reaction from each of them. Faith shivered in his arms as did Chance next to them, while Denver growled and would have broken a glass if Maria hadn’t taken it out of his hand.

  “Obviously, this is someone we should know about.” Alexander stepped up to Maria, rubbing his woman’s arms. Even she had seemed affected by the name.

  “I met that man once,” Maria said. I swear I couldn’t scrub my skin long enough to get the stench off and I was scared so bad I had to leave. I’ve seen a lot, but the man is the highest form of scary I’ve ever witnessed.”

  Faith grunted, “That’s putting it mildly. Maria was letting us stay with her after the first time we met him. Maria was lucky to leave so fast that one time.We ha
d to endure meeting the man. When their father told me he would be staying the week, I didn’t say a word, just packed the kids and left.”

  “So you were with your husband way before this Xack came around,” Gordon stated.

  “Yes, my husband didn’t know him the first part of our marriage. Where did he meet him?” Faith asked out loud. “I should know this, but….” She rubbed the side of her temple. “Something isn’t right, is it?” She shifted in his lap to stare at him and Gordon shook his head.

  “My brother will be here in a few minutes. He might be able to help us with this. As far as this Xack, I believe we all should be careful, since it’s obvious he has influenced these women.” Gordon’s gaze went to the end of the table where Adele sat. She, too, was rubbing her arms.

  “Faith, did all your friends meet him?”

  Once more Faith’s pained expression brought out the protectiveness in him as she curled up close to him. “Yeah, and it wasn’t pleasant. It was one of the last times I saw my ex, before he attacked me.”

  Chance whimpered and, at once, Faith was over next to her, hugging her. “He’s not here, Chance. Breathe.” Faith trembled, but kept her hold on Chance. “Xack tried to, he wanted…seemed he was high on something, kept touching everyone. I finally got everyone out of the house when Terrance and he went into the den. That was also when my mother-in-law came. She, too, helped us escape, because I really don’t think we would have made it out of there without someone getting hurt.” Faith tilted her head. She had tears in her eyes. “I knew I had to leave. Our marriage was over. I sent the kids away to their grandmother’s where they’d be safe while I ended our marriage.”

  Denver jumped up and started to pace. “But you didn’t get away. He and Dad found you a week later!”

  “If the price of keeping you both safe is having them touch me, then I’d do it again. Sit down.There is nothing to do about it now. Plus, you know better than to get angry.” Her gaze flew to the doorway where Holbrook stood, watching everything play out.