Blood Brothers (Turning Stone Chronicles Book 2)

by C. D. Hersh

  “You misunderstand me, detective. I had a job of a more magical sort in mind. On the level of a Promised One.”

  He glanced at Roc whose eyes sparked with anticipation. Sylvia’s also. They think Falhman is playing into their fantasy that I’m going to rule with them. Or has it been Falhman’s fantasy all along and they’ve been playing me?

  Insides shaking, Rhys crossed his booted ankles as casually as he could. “Let’s quit pussy-footing around, Falhman. Tell me, straight out, what you want from me.”

  “The same thing your side wants. Peace. Except I want it with my two sons ruling next to me.” He leaned forward in his seat, excitement written all over him. “Think how powerful the three of us could be, and all the good we could do when we control the world.”

  “Control? Seems to me whenever someone controls a country it ends with a bunch of despots running amok.”

  “It wouldn’t be like that with us. The blood of two of the most powerful shifter lines runs in you and Roc, Falhman and McCraigen. That’s an equal amount bad and good.”

  Rhys was pleased to know. It meant he had a better chance than he’d thought of swaying Roc to his side. “I guess you’re the bad, right?”

  Falhman shrugged. “So some have said.”

  “Are you saying our mother, Kayla McCraigen, was not a rogue shifter?” Roc asked.

  “She was the kindest, sweetest woman I ever knew,” Falhman said. “I know she would want this for her family.”

  “Then tell me why she gave us away and left no father’s name on our birth certificates?” Rhys said. “Doesn’t sound like the actions of a woman who would want us knowing our father.”

  Roc gave Rhys a questioning look, as if the idea had never occurred to him.

  “Our relationship was frowned on by our families. I suppose she did it to keep peace.”

  He smothered a derisive snort. No kidding. Eli would go ballistic when he found out.

  “It’s because of your mother I’m asking you to join us. Her goodness, which I’m certain is in you, would give us balance that would ensure a kind, benevolent rule.”

  What a crock of bull! He pressed his lips together to keep from laughing out loud.

  “You would need me to bring my rogues in line. Which I will do, of course, if you decide to join us.”

  “If I don’t, will you bring down hell fire and brimstone on me?”

  “Hell fire and brimstone is such a harsh picture, don’t you think? I prefer to say you’ll bear the responsibility for destroying our happy little family.”

  Rhys pushed up from his slouch against the wall and patted his pocket containing the DNA vial. “I’ll consider your offer. We’ll be in touch.” Motioning to Roc, he said, “We’ve got a lot to talk about. You coming?”

  Roc’s gaze swung between Falhman and Sylvia then he stepped toward Rhys. “Right behind you, bro.”

  Falhman’s chuckle followed them out the door, sending a chill over Rhys. He increased his pace. The sooner he got away from Evil Incarnate, the better.

  Sylvia closed Falhman’s office door and leaned against it, her hands tucked behind her to hide their shakiness. “How do you think it went?”

  “He’s cocky,” he said. “Maybe too cocky.”

  “But we can work with that, right?”

  “Maybe. It seems Roc has developed an affinity for Rhys. Did you see the way he kept deferring to him? As if Rhys was the leader.”

  “Roc is the leader,” she said emphatically, hoping Falhman wouldn’t catch her lie. From the minute she’d bedded Roc she knew he was not equal to his brother. “Roc’s had a big hand in convincing Rhys of their bond as twins. He’s as strong as Rhys. He mind shifted with me. They are equal, Falhman. Trust me.”

  A lascivious grin spread across his mouth. “You have had them both, my dear. I will bow to your assessment, for the moment. After all, a woman knows certain things about a man other men can’t possibly know.”

  The heat of a blush spread over her at his reference to her sexual escapades with the brothers.

  “Still, I need a plan in case Roc can’t sway Rhys to us. Something that will force Roc to do our bidding no matter how close he becomes to his brother.”

  “What bidding would that be?”

  “Eliminating the competition, my dear.”

  “Are you saying if Roc can’t bring Rhys to our side, you want your son, Roc, to kill your son, Rhys?”

  “Sending one son to kill another is such a harsh thing, don’t you think? I prefer to say I’m protecting my kingdom. What do you have on Roc we can use to our advantage?”

  Sylvia’s blood ran cold in her veins. Falhman was more evil than she ever imagined. Self-preservation instincts kicked in for herself and Owen.

  “I’m sure I can discover something about Roc to use for blackmail.”

  “We need to talk,” Rhys told Roc. “Somewhere private.”

  “How about my place? It’s only a few blocks from here.”

  “Lead the way.”

  They fell into a matched stride, heads of passersby swiveling to watch them as their long legs gobbled up the sidewalk. Neither one spoke for three blocks, intent on reaching Roc’s apartment.

  A pretty brunette, in a very short mini skirt, gave them the once-over and angled in front of them, stopping their progress. “Hey, fellas,” she crooned. “Wanta party?”

  “No!” they both said emphatically.

  She retreated, pouting. “You don’t have to yell at a girl, you know.”

  Rhys tipped his Stetson at her. “Sorry, miss. Didn’t mean to offend you.” Then they sidestepped her and continued down the sidewalk.

  “Guess one of us should have shifted,” Roc said with a grin. He stopped and preened in front of a store window. “We do make a striking set, don’t we?”

  Rhys hauled him forward. “Everyone loves twins.”

  “Think that’s why Dad wants us?”

  “Are you really that dumb? He doesn’t give a rat’s ass about us. We’re only two knights on a chess board to use to his advantage.”

  Roc stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. Another pawn for a power mad father? He’d already been down that road with Cecil Decker and wanted no part of it again. Still the lure of family was strong, especially since he’d cut ties with Cecil and Caroline. But now he had Rhys.

  He hurried forward until he was in step with his brother. “Are you really going to test his DNA and consider his offer?”

  This time Rhys stopped. “What do you think?”

  “Nah.” He patted the jacket pocket where he’d stowed his vial. “But I might.” Pointing to a building on their right, he said, “We’re here.” He opened the lobby door and waved Rhys in. “I’m on the top floor penthouse.”

  Rhys strode to the open elevator and waited while Roc put his penthouse key in the panel then punched the top number. At the top floor, the elevator door opened onto a short hallway. Roc unlocked the door and ushered Rhys in.

  Taking in the surroundings, Rhys said, “Nice place. Is this the way all rogue Promised Ones live?”

  “Probably not. My adopted dad pays for the place, although I suspect I’m going to have to move soon.”

  “Why?”

  “We had a falling out, but I think I owe him an apology.”

  Lila’s recovered body proved his father hadn’t lied to him, and Dad needed to know his cover-up had failed. He made a mental note to phone his father as soon as Rhys left. He could probably talk about her now without breaking down.

  Rhys stopped in front of a painting. “If I were you, I think I’d hurry before he comes and takes away your treasures.” He pointed at the painting. “Is this a real Picasso?”

  “Yeah.” Roc went to the kitchen on the other side of the open r
oom and jerked on the refrigerator door. “You want something to eat? I’ve got leftover pizza.”

  “Sounds good. I missed my lunch because of the meeting.” Rhys perched on a barstool at the kitchen counter. “Why are you considering testing your vial?”

  Roc placed a cardboard pizza box on the counter and took some plates from the cabinet. “You aren’t the least bit curious?”

  “Nope. I had a wonderful set of parents. Don’t need a father from hell.”

  “Hey,” Roc protested. “You don’t know Falhman’s from hell.”

  “He’s the kingpin of the rogues, isn’t he? He admitted he was the bad blood running through our veins. I’m not crazy about bad blood. Guess it’s the cop in me.” He scooped a piece of pizza from the box. “Besides, I trust him even less than I trust Sylvia.”

  “Or me?” Roc asked.

  Rhys eyed him for several seconds before answering. “It’s different now I’m sure you’re family. You know, I always wanted a sibling.”

  He scanned Rhys. He was telling the truth. Roc lowered his own guard. “Me, too.” He touched Rhys’ shoulder and his blood sang, calling out to his twin who sat across from him. “We are family, aren’t we?” He smiled and took a bite of pizza.

  “I hate to break up this brother-fest, but there’s something I need to ask you, Roc. It’s about Lila.”

  The pizza he’d swallowed became a boulder in his stomach. “I don’t want to talk about her.”

  “Well, you’re going to have to some time. Better with me than at the precinct.”

  He had a point. “What do you want to know?”

  “When was the last time you saw her?”

  “The night I asked her to marry me. It didn’t go well.” That was putting it mildly. He remembered the feel of Lila’s limp body in his hands and stifled a shudder. “I hadn’t seen her since then until she appeared at the graveyard.” He paused, seeing a way out of Rhys’ questions. “Of course, we both know she wasn’t Lila. Hmm. How are we going to explain that, bro? Seems we both have a bit of a dilemma when it comes to Lila.”

  Rhys’ eyes widened and then shuttered. Roc pushed the cardboard box toward him, struggling to keep a smile away. Interesting. His brother had a secret. “More pizza?”

  Brushing the crumbs off his hand, Rhys stood. “No. Gotta go.”

  Roc let his brother out, watching until the elevator door shut and the lights showed he had reached the lobby.

  He returned to the apartment, his mind spinning. You’re not lily white, are you, bro? Who are you hiding behind a dead woman? Why? And how can I use it to my advantage?

  Chapter 38

  A throat clearing diverted Harry’s attention from his paperwork. Katrina Romanovski stood in his doorway, a file folder tucked under her arm.

  “What can I help you with?” he asked.

  She stepped into the office and closed the door, causing him to raise his eyebrows. She was Delaney’s spy. What was her agenda?

  “We got the results of the baby’s DNA,” Katrina said.

  “You’re delivering it to me instead of the coroner, because?”

  Laying the file on his desk, she said, “Because I think I’ve got a bit more information about this case than the coroner.”

  “Why are you telling me instead of Delaney?”

  “She’s too close to this. We both know that, Captain Williams. And, because she’s my friend, I want to protect her.”

  “We can agree on those points.” He leaned forward and opened the file folder, skimming the contents. Fanning the papers out in front of him, he said, “I’m a bit confused. There are four DNA reports here. What do the other three have to do with the baby?”

  “They are the father’s DNA.”

  “All three?”

  “Yes.”

  Shoving the reports together, he stared at her. “Do we know who the father is?”

  “Unfortunately, for the father, we do.”

  “Well, spit it out, Ms. Romanovski. I don’t have all day.”

  “It’s Rhys Temple, Sir.”

  Stunned, Harry jerked backward in his chair. “Are you sure?”

  “As sure as I can be with a conventional DNA paternity test. It shows with 99.9 percent certainty if a man is the father of a child and will rule him out if he’s not.”

  Sitting forward, he searched the reports again. He sorted the father’s DNA reports out and pushed them toward Katrina. “How did we get these?”

  “Delaney gave me this one,” she said, pointing to a page, “and a gentleman named Landow gave me the other two. Delaney took hers from a beer bottle Rhys was drinking from in her apartment. I know they are Rhys’ because after we discovered Lila’s body, I realized the three sets matched. I ran them through the database on the off chance they were related to her death.”

  “What made you suspicious?”

  “Rhys was in a photo Delaney gave to me. I think you’ve seen the picture. Your prints were on it.”

  The photo of Rhys and Lila he’d found in the book at the apartment. The one Delaney promised to ask Rhys about and didn’t.

  “Delaney wanted fingerprints from the photo and beer bottle run.”

  “Did they match?”

  “Not to Rhys. But the prints on the photo and the beer bottle did match. That’s the piece I can’t put together. There’s no match in the database, but Delaney insists Rhys was in the apartment and he was the one drinking from the bottle. I told her she needed to let you know about what I’d found, but I guess she didn’t. I thought I’d better cover the bases and follow up on my own. The fingerprint report is the last page in the folder. I thought you might need that, also.”

  Harry closed his eyes and tried to piece together what Katina was telling him. His gut told him there was no way Rhys could be the father of Lila’s child. He’d seen the way his two favorite detectives looked at each other. Had watched Rhys pursue Alexi for months. They were missing something here. Suddenly, he remembered Rhys’ confession about having a brother.

  “Would siblings’ DNA be the same?”

  “Only twins, but to tell them completely apart you’d need to do an ultra-deep next generation sequencing DNA test, not just the conventional forensic DNA testing we normally do. This test has recently been made available for forensics, but takes a while. Are you thinking we need one?”

  Probably. But he didn’t want to let too much out of the bag at one time. And he certainly didn’t want to tell Delaney’s spy.

  Avoiding her gaze, he shook his head. “Not at this point. I’m just trying to think of all possibilities.”

  Who is the guy who gave Katrina Rhys’ DNA?

  “Have you ever met this Landow fellow before?”

  “No. He phoned me. I took the job because he said he knew Alexi.”

  “Alexi? When did he contact you?”

  Katina closed her eyes, thinking. “Shortly before I arrived here.”

  “Does Delaney know about the baby’s DNA?”

  “No. I came straight to you. She’s going to be upset when she discovers I’ve told you.”

  “Leave it to me, Ms. Romanovski.” He stood and offered her his hand across the desk. “Thank you for coming to me first.”

  She shook his hand. “I didn’t think I really had any other choice. She might be trying to deny it, but Delaney is out for revenge. I don’t want her to get in trouble. She’s already been through enough pain and sorrow.”

  A pang of guilt shot through him. He’d been the cause of some of her pain. Time to remedy that.

  Rhys decided to take a detour by the house and check on Alexi before heading to the office. He found her in the backyard raking leaves. The crisp, yet moldy, scent reminded him of her funeral, and he practically ran to her, enveloping her in his
arms.

  “Do you know how much I love you?” he asked. He tipped his Stetson off his forehead and gave her a long kiss.

  She broke the kiss and gazed at him through her eyelashes. “Yes, I do, because you tell me every day.” She eased away. “Shouldn’t you be at work?”

  “Where’s Eli?”