Pieces (Patchwork #1)

by T. Aleo

  “But maybe soon. He’s working hard on the formula—”

  “I don’t care,” I say, frustrated. “Even if he gets the formula to work, he won’t let me leave. I’m a prisoner in my own home,” I complain dramatically as we finish climbing the stairs. Finally, I see my door. “I’m going to nap.”

  JJ nods, knowing I’m done on the matter since it’s worthless to even speak about. He knows I’m trapped, he’s my guard, and there is nothing I can do about it. He lets me get away with a lot more than my father would allow, and I guess I should be thankful. But at the same time, why do I even need a damn guard?

  “I’ll be outside the room.”

  Letting my shoulders fall, I sigh. “You don’t have to.”

  “I do,” he says, leaning against the wall. “Have a nice nap, Rebekah.”

  Which means he’s done talking. Throwing my door open, I shut it with a little more force than I intended and then lean against it. I don’t know why I don’t want him sitting outside the door. I’m only sleeping, but I just want to be free. I want to do what I want without a constant shadow.

  Ugh.

  Walking to my bed, I fall face first into it. Without looking, I reach over, hitting my alarm for my workday setting. Closing my eyes, I think a little more of Oceanus and Taegan but not for long before the blackness takes me.

  “Uncle Samuel, what are you doing here?”

  My uncle, who also looks like the Crypt-Keeper—actually, almost worse since my father worked a lot on him to figure things out —smiles as I fill the cup halfway with Jack before adding some Coke to it and sliding it across the bar to him.

  “My darling Rebekah, you know I need alcohol after a long day,” he says in his thick French accent. My father’s isn’t as bad as Samuel’s for the simple reason my uncle didn’t want to stop speaking French. He sometimes talks to me in French, and I have no clue what he’s saying, so I just smile. He’s a weird dude, but he’s cool, I guess. I try not to cringe at the long day of work he must have had, as his work is the reason I heard the moans earlier.

  Gives me the chills.

  “Duh, how silly of me,” I say, flashing him a grin as I move down the bar to the next patron. Jazzy music is playing in the background, the Clandestine is packed with monsters, and my feet are already hurting. Since I refuse to wear skirts now with my new man legs, I figure I need to wear hot shoes to attract the attention of the other monsters for tips.

  It’s pathetic, I know, but it’s my life.

  It’s well into my shift and we’re busy, and I like that. I don’t notice that JJ and Jonas are watching my every move. That they are on alert and that I’m a target for the shifters. It’s all so annoying, but then, what can I do? I’ve never spoken to any of them, well, except to see what they want to drink, but they steer clear of me, especially since Ryland died. It’s like they can’t look me in the eye, see the pain I feel over their fallen brother. It’s all insane to me. Why would they choose me to abduct? Ryland would throw a fit if he knew.

  So stupid.

  “God, we are packed like mad tonight,” Alena, my barmate, says and I nod, glancing over at her as she opens six beers lightning fast. Her long dark hair is to her butt in a wicked awesome braid. Her pale skin is flawless, and those red lips are a showstopper. She’s gorgeous. Timeless. A vampire.

  “We are,” I agree, pouring more alcohol and passing it to its new owner. I’m nowhere near as fast as she is, but then, I don’t think anyone cares. Everyone is pretty laid-back, except when the wolves get drunk, and then things can get a little crazy. “Good, though. I need the distraction.”

  Alena laughs. “Yeah, I bet. Have you figured out how to break out? We need to go tear up the town.” She grins and I laugh. She has maybe a hundred years on me, but she was changed when she was my age, so she looks only nineteen and acts like it. She’s so funny and fun, but I know my father wouldn’t let me tear up anything with her. He would have a heart attack if I even asked.

  “I wish. One day,” I say with a wink, but I think even she knows that isn’t true. No one knows I’m not immortal like the rest of my family, a secret my father won’t allow any of us to speak of, which is why people don’t understand my lockdown. Hell, I don’t even understand my stupid lockdown.

  So dumb.

  Turning to take an order, I get back to work as Alena moves around me quickly to fill her orders. As I lean across the bar, filling a tray for my waitress, I am stunned when I hear a familiar voice.

  “I swear you’ve gotten prettier since the last time I saw ya.”

  No way.

  I turn quickly, my gaze meets the sinful blue eyes, and I squeal.

  Colin Conner.

  “No way!” I shriek as I go around the bar, jumping into his arms. His warmth envelops me, and he holds me close as I hug him back. I haven’t seen him in two years, and I hadn’t even realized I missed him as much as I did until now. “I thought you weren’t coming back for another year.”

  “Ah, I missed yer pretty face, had to come home,” he says in his thick Scottish brogue before kissing me hard on the lips. It’s a quick kiss, nothing to get excited about, yet I do. I love the feel of his warm lips and his strong arms, and I wish like hell something could come of this. But when he pulls back, one look in his eyes has me knowing our kiss didn’t affect him the way it did me. He has moved on.

  And that saddens me.

  We were hot and heavy for a while there. My first year working in Clandestine, Colin would come in just to see me. We had gone to school together, we knew each other, but I didn’t know he had a crush on me. It was refreshing, my first real crush after Ryland. He’d sit talking to me for hours through my shift, and when I was done, we’d sneak to the back, telling JJ we were cleaning.

  But nothing was ever clean.

  JJ turned his cheek to it, though, let me have my fun, but when my father found out about it, Colin all of a sudden had to leave. I always believed Father was behind it, but he’d never admit it. All Colin knew was that his father needed him to go back to their homeland to help his grandma. But I think we both knew the truth. We tried to stay in touch, but it just never worked.

  Though, I knew it wouldn’t from the beginning.

  I’d still wanted it to.

  “Liar,” I accuse, and he laughs.

  “No, it’s the truth,” he promises, and I smile as he shrugs. “Plus, my sis is getting hitched.”

  As we part, I nod. “I heard. So it will be soon?”

  He shrugs. “I don’t know, ask her. She’s here.”

  Shit.

  He holds my gaze as he asks, “Oceanus hear about it?”

  I swallow hard. “Heard today, my father told him.”

  “Shit, might need to warn her, then. I think she wanted to tell him.”

  “Yeah, might have been a tad bit better.”

  “Probably not,” he says simply, his fingers lacing with mine. “I miss you a lot, Rebekah.”

  I smile. “I’ve missed you too.”

  He nods, bringing my hand to his lips, and he kisses it softly as I drink him in. He really is a beautiful creature. Light blond hair, dark blue eyes, and hard lines to his face and body. He’s wearing loose jeans and an even looser tank, his muscles on full display. He’s gorgeous, but one look, and I know he’s in love.

  And not with me.

  “Who is she?” I ask, and his eyes widen as he looks away bashfully.

  “Ya hear?”

  “I can tell,” I say and he smiles, shaking his head.

  “Always so good at reading me, kinda scary,” he notes and I smile as he shrugs. “You won’t kick my arse, will ya?”

  I laugh, smacking his arm. “I will if you don’t tell me about her.”

  He nods, smiling up at me. Then for the next hour, I listen to him talk about his love, Madeline. All I can do is try not to be jealous, but it’s so fucking hard.

  Because I know I’ll never have what he does. I’ll die before I ever get that chance, and
it sucks so damn bad.

  Holding my hands in his, he gives me his best boyish grin and I roll my eyes. “I’ll always love ya, Rebekah, always.”

  I smile. I never loved him like he did me, but I did care for him a lot. “You’re making me blush,” I tease and he laughs, his whole body shaking with the motion. His face is so bright, his grin boyish and unstoppable.

  “Don’t hate me?”

  “Never.”

  Kissing the back of my hand once more, he nods. “I had to make sure I told ya. I didn’t want you hearing it from anyone else.”

  “Colin, you weren’t promised to me,” I remind him and he smiles.

  “Maybe not, but I didn’t want it to hurt you. I know when I left, it sucked.”

  I nod. “It did, but I’m so happy for you,” I say, squeezing his hands. He sends me a grin.

  “Thanks, my love.”

  I suck in a breath just as I spot Taegan, looking around before she sees me.

  Like her brother, she is drop-dead gorgeous. Long, flowy, strawberry-blond hair, big blue eyes, and a slender body with legs for days. Her face is covered in the sweetest freckles, and I know that’s what Oceanus loved most about her. I’ve always thought she was amazing, but I kind of don’t like that she is marrying someone else. Even if I know she can’t marry Oceanus.

  She leans on the bar, and her eyes hold mine as she asks, “Is Oceanus here?”

  I shake my head. “Nope, not tonight.”

  “He isn’t returning my calls.”

  I don’t know what to say, so I just stare at her as she searches my gaze. It’s as if hours pass, when I know it’s only a second. Finally, her eyes widen before they start to fill with tears. “He knows.”

  I nod, and Colin wraps his arm around her shoulders. “Father told us.”

  She looks away, shaking her head, the pain visible on her face. “I wanted to tell him.”

  “I’m sorry,” I say, but she ignores me, walking away, and Colin looks back at me.

  “She’s killing my heart,” he says softly as he lets out a breath. “She doesn’t want to marry Marcello.”

  “Then why is she?”

  “To bring the packs together. My dad, ya see, wants numbers,” he says, his gaze holding mine. “You know how it is.”

  “For?” I ask and he smiles.

  “What else? Protection.”

  I nod. It’s no secret that the vampires and the wolves hate each other. Father has tried to bring peace between the two, but their hatred runs deep. Nothing he can do. I don’t miss the way Colin has looked at Alena, like she is filth. While I don’t know why we can’t all just get along, it isn’t my business. I squeeze his hands.

  “I think Osh should take over the Patchwork and change that dumb rule,” I say and Colin smiles big. “Then they could get married.”

  “Oh, don’t give me false hope. I’d make ya mine,” he says.

  My knees actually go weak, yet I wave him off, wanting to lighten the moment. “Please, you have Madeline.”

  “Ah, she’s no Rebekah von Stein, though,” he says then, and I laugh, shaking my head. As much as I think it’s shitty of him, I can’t help but feel kind of special. He always did that. Made me feel good, and it was refreshing. I missed it.

  But Colin Conner is not my man.

  “Oh my, hush, I have to go to work,” I say, going up on the bar lift to plant a kiss on his cheek. “It’s great to see you. I hope I see more of you.”

  “You will,” he says with a wink. “I’m gonna go.”

  “All right, see ya.”

  “You too,” he calls before walking away from the bar and getting lost in the crowd. I watch until I can’t see him any longer, and then I let out a long breath.

  Well, that sucked.

  “Don’t worry, I took care of the bar,” Alena calls to me, and I smile over at her, my heart throbbing. I hadn’t realized how much I had missed him. Or how much he had meant to me.

  Had I loved him?

  I think that over for a moment, and I just don’t know.

  But then, an image of Ryland grinning at me appears in my memory and I smile.

  No, I didn’t love Colin.

  Swallowing hard, I turn to Alena and notice that she is wanting some recognition. “Thanks,” I say as she comes up next to me, reaching for a beer. “Sorry about that.”

  “Oh no, please, the fireworks were going mad around you two. I wasn’t going to interrupt that. An ex?”

  I sigh. “Something like that.”

  “He was hot for a wolf,” she decides as she wipes her hands. “Not that I would ever do him.”

  I smile. “He is.”

  “But I’m guessing that won’t work,” she adds as she leans on the bar, looking up at me. Her eyes are intent on mine, her loose strands of hair falling around her face.

  “Nope, didn’t before, won’t now,” I say simply, and I hate how much that hurts. It hurt when he left, and it’s like I just reopened the wound. One I thought I had healed. Stitched together like the rest of my life is. But obviously, those stitches didn’t hold, and now I’m left with a gaping hole once more. Or maybe it’s the jealousy. He gave me a little taste of what it would have been like with Ryland, and then he was gone. Now, he’s moved on, and I’m still alone.

  The only good thing about that is that I’m alive.

  But even that doesn’t seem like a win.

  The rest of my shift, I was a little down.

  Not full-out, lying on the floor, singing Adele down, but I was bummed. I think Alena felt it, though, and she picked up a lot of the slack. I did my job, but I was slow, and I was thinking way too much.

  I don’t even know why, though. It isn’t like anything can change. Even if I were immortal and my father didn’t treat me like a little lab rat, it isn’t like Colin and I could even be together. It’s all so fucking pointless, and I hate that. I hate that I have no control over my destiny.

  When I gather the trash from behind the bar, I see Alena is tidying up with her normal speedy efficiency. She usually does the cleaning since she can get it all done in the time it takes me to take the trash out and restock the cooler.

  It’s kind of great working with a vampire.

  Grabbing the nine bags of trash, I head for the back, and I don’t miss that JJ is right there. He likes to hide, make me think he isn’t up my ass twenty-four seven, but I know he’s there. Tonight, he feels hiding between the cooler and door to the outside will conceal him, but I saw him the moment I came back here into the stock room. But whatever, I’ll let him play hide-and-seek because I sure as hell am not seeking him out. Not only do I not want to argue with him, but I want to enjoy my time taking the trash out.

  I know it’s pitiful, but this is the only moment I’m allowed outside the walls of my home. The only time I can feel the wind against my face, the chill of the nighttime air. I haven’t felt the warmth of the sun on my skin in years, and I yearn for that moment. But for now, I’ll take the night wind. Looking up at the sky, I smile at how gorgeous the stars are tonight before I throw the bags in the huge trash bin.

  Since JJ is right behind the door, I don’t feel the urge to hurry back in, and he doesn’t come looking for me. I know he’s watching, and that’s fine. He’s going to have to wait, because I need a moment. Sitting down on the back step, I lean my head back and pull in a long breath. It’s cool, almost spring, and I would love to go to the park. Lie in the grass and soak up the sun. Colin loved the park and had once begged me to come with him. I wish I would have. Could have.

  I need to stop with that.

  He deserves more than some secret relationship that would never work. And shit, if my father found out again, no telling what he’d do since sending Colin away didn’t work before. Looking down the length of the alley, I wonder if I could run. Maybe JJ wouldn’t notice until I’m halfway gone. It’s a long shot, but I could at least try… Wait, no. These thoughts have to end.

  Now. Done. Because I wouldn’t get far. I
know I wouldn’t.

  When tears begin to sting my eyes, I close them tightly, shaking my head. No way in hell am I crying over this. No, I am too strong for that. One day, I’ll be free. One day, I’ll have the life I want. I have to be patient.

  But man, it’s difficult.

  Swallowing hard, I fold my arms over my chest and lean on my legs just as I hear JJ let out a long breath. Pressing my lips together, I choke back the tears as I shake my head.

  “Give me another ten, please.” I’m more annoyed than I should be, but dammit, can’t I get some privacy?

  “Ten minutes, Rebekah. It’s getting late, the sun is coming up.”

  Squeezing my eyes shut, I lean my forehead on my legs and wish I could watch it rise. Thoughts of running come back to me, but I know JJ would catch me now. Not that I would have gone anyway. I’m stuck.

  As I sit there, the wind blows on my face, my hair fanning out and whipping back against my cheeks, but I welcome it. I crave it. I want to feel something other than entrapment.

  But JJ clears his throat once more.

  Crap.

  Shaking my head, I go to stand, but then I hear voices.

  “I don’t want to speak of this anymore!”

  It’s Oceanus.

  “We have to speak about this, Oceanus, it can’t end like this!”

  Oh, shit. Taegan.

  Standing, I start toward the voices, and within seconds, JJ is on my heels. “Rebekah.”

  “Shh!” I throw back at him as I tiptoe to the side of the building. Pressing my body to the hard stone, it’s so cool against my bare arms that it sends a chill through my body. I jump when Oceanus’s voice roars toward me.

  “End it? Tae, this was over the moment you agreed to marry someone other than me. How dare you! And not tell me anything? I thought I meant more to you than that.”

  Taegan’s voice is full of panic and pain as she yells back, “Oceanus, I didn’t do this. My father, he did it. He wants to bring the packs together, and I’m so sorry. I wanted to tell you, but he got to your father before I could get to you.”

  “A phone—”

  “No, I wanted to do it in person!” she cries, and my heart breaks for her. “I don’t want this, you know that. Surely, you know that.”