Pieces (Patchwork #1)

by T. Aleo

  “Then why are we discussing this?” Oceanus says, and Cyrus nods.

  “Exactly. Wasted time, right here,” Cyrus adds as he crosses his arms. “I don’t even know why we care about their affairs.”

  “Because they are part of the Works,” Oceanus adds, looking back at our brother. Reaching out, he smacks him upside the back of his head. “Sit up, you slob. Show some respect.”

  I smile as Cyrus makes a peeved face, slowly inching back up in the chair. “Let’s talk about something that matters. Those shifters, for example.”

  I perk up at that. “Yes, I agree.”

  Father looks to me and shakes his head. “In due time. Tell me, Rebekah, you’ve been spending a lot of time in the bastille. Any news from down there?”

  I look down at the table, biting into my lip. I didn’t think anyone would notice, but apparently, I was wrong. As dark and musty as the bastille is, I feel safe down there. No one can get to me without going through JJ, and the guys down there keep me calm. When I’m in the house, I’m watching my back, always on the defense, and it’s exhausting. I just want to relax, and being down there, I do.

  “What news could be down there, Father? They’re in a cell,” Jonas laughs, and I cut him a look.

  “A lot, actually,” I say before turning to my father. “I already told JJ this, but they all need new bedding. Also, some new clothes. It’s too cold not to wear a shirt, but it’s also too warm to wear a sweater. JJ said he’d take care of that, but I’d like for it to be done right away. They shouldn’t have to ask.”

  Father’s face turns to surprise. “My love, they are prisoners.”

  “One is. The other two, come on,” I say, leaning on the table. “Micha and Mr. Grun shouldn’t be down there.”

  JJ shakes his head as everyone else laughs.

  “Fine, new clothes and bedding,” Father says dismissively before looking to Oceanus, and I glare.

  Before my father can speak, I add, “Also, Micha’s arms are acting up. He can’t even move the left one.”

  His brow rises. “And I care?”

  “Because he shouldn’t be down there. I understand your reasoning for why he is. Keep people on their toes in the Patchwork, in the Works, whatever. But, honestly. No one needs to know, just fix him. Please.”

  Samuel leans back in his chair as Father shakes his head. “No—”

  “I’ll do it,” Samuel says before Father can shoot me down. “Only for you, Rebekah. And tell him he’ll work for me as soon as he gets out.”

  Father turns to Samuel and shakes his head. “You do it for him, you’ll have to do it for all of them.”

  He shrugs as my heart kicks up in speed. “Let me worry about that, brother. You worry about the many issues you have.”

  When he glances to me, he winks, and I smile as Father clears his throat. Micha will be so happy!

  “Fine, now for what everyone has been waiting for, a recap of my meeting with Frank Kelley.”

  My earlier excitement is gone as my breath starts to come out in spurts, concern eating me alive. Scooting to the edge of my seat, I take in a deep breath as I lean on my elbow, matching Oceanus’s and Jonas’s positions. Cyrus is slouching again, obviously bored.

  Clearing his throat, Samuel says, “You’ve kept us waiting almost a week. Please, out with it.”

  Father nods, moving a piece of hair out of his eye. “That reason is because we had a second meeting last night.”

  My brows come together, confused, and when I look around the table, I see I’m not the only one. “A second meeting?” JJ asks, crossing his arms over his chest. “I wasn’t aware.”

  “No one was,” Father says bluntly, leaning back in his chair. “Last week when I went, we discussed the rumor of his family coming for Rebekah. He denied it, brought his children in. They denied it too, as I thought they would. It’s fine,” he says, but I don’t think it’s fine at all. They are liars, obviously. “He asked for the formula, I said no. He then asked for me to heal him, and I agreed.”

  He says it so simply. Almost as if it wasn’t the biggest fucking deal of the century! With wide eyes, I look to my brother to find that Oceanus’s mouth has dropped open. “You agreed? Why?”

  Father holds up his hand, and my heart jumps into my throat. A dead Frank Kelley would be way better than a breathing one. Even I know this, so I don’t understand his game. “For reassurance. He promised he would not send anyone after Rebekah or anyone else if I did—”

  “He’s lying!” JJ yells, standing up. “William, this is naïve of you. A dead Frank Kelley is a helluva lot better than a live one! He’s the one who hates you, not his family. They only follow him. But doing this—”

  “Will bring the families together, which is what I want. I want unity. I can heal him, give him a second chance at life, but I refuse to make him or his family immortal. I’ve thought this out. This is why there was a second meeting. It’s done.”

  JJ lowers into his seat, and I look from him to Father, confused and worried. What does this mean? “So they won’t come after me any longer?”

  Father’s eyes soften as he looks to me. “No, my love. He wants the same as I do. Peace throughout the Works.”

  “Can we trust him?” Oceanus asks.

  “I don’t think so,” Cyrus says. “Because if so, then why threaten us? What if he’s healed but gets sick again, or Christiana or Thomas do? Then what? Threaten us again for another dose? I feel you’ve set us up for failure.”

  “Exactly,” Jonas agrees. “This should have been discussed with all of us.”

  Our father shakes his head, a reassuring smile pulling at his lips. “My children, I promise you, it will be fine. Frank wants what we want. I know it.”

  “He’s a liar, and I don’t trust the lot of them,” JJ mutters, and even Oceanus nods his head.

  “Neither do I, Father. I don’t know if this was the right choice.”

  “Well, when you run the Works, you can make that decision, my boy. I feel good about this,” Father says, looking to Samuel, who nods slowly.

  “It’s four treatments. He messes up within the next year, we’ll just kill him,” Samuel announces, and I want to laugh. Samuel doesn’t hold back at all.

  “Simple enough,” Father says, but the boys and JJ don’t agree. “I promise, this will work, everyone. Don’t look so worried. Our love Rebekah will be fine.”

  I eye him. “So I’m allowed to leave? I don’t need my constant pain in the ass, JJ?”

  He laughs along with everyone else. I wanted that. While I’m scared and sure as hell don’t trust Frank Kelley, the room was thick with tension. We don’t need that.

  “Oh, no. Not until I figure out the formula.”

  Deflated, I look to JJ, and he shakes his head. “I’m not going anywhere, and neither are you. As much as this sounds done, it’s not. I know those people. They want immortality, and they won’t stop until they get it.”

  “And everyone calls me the neurotic one,” Father teases, but JJ doesn’t find it funny. Neither do I. He looks worried, and that freaks me out because JJ isn’t scared of anyone.

  “I’m telling you, something isn’t right here. You’ll see.”

  Holding JJ’s gaze, Father nods. “Fine, we will see,” he says. “Until then, do your job.”

  “Oh, I will. Yours too,” he adds, and my eyes widen as Father glares.

  “All right, boys, enough.” Samuel shakes his head. “JJ, I understand that you don’t trust that family, and neither do I. But this is what is best for the Works as a whole. But the first time anything goes sideways, he’s dead. If William hasn’t conveyed that to them, I will. Don’t worry—”

  “My job is to worry for her, and I will.”

  I swallow hard as JJ shakes his head before looking to the boys. “We will continue the shifts as we have.”

  No one says anything, they just agree as Father says, “If she’d just quit, there wouldn’t be a problem.”

  Before I can say an
ything, JJ snaps. “But she won’t, so I’ll watch over her. Like I have been doing for the last three years.”

  He is taking another dig at my father. I’m sure everyone knows this, but Father seems unfazed as he waves him off. “Fine. Next order of business, the wedding of Taegan and her wolf husband, Marcello, is to take place in a month. Samuel and I will be in Louisiana to meet with the clan leader there. Kurt Conner is curious as to which of our family will represent our clan. Since Rebekah will be unable to attend, for obvious reasons, that leaves one of you three.” He looks at the boys and me. I glance over to Oceanus; his eyes are in slits as his mouth drifts open. “I’d like you to go, Oceanus.”

  “Me?” Oceanus bites out, and I notice he’s shaking.

  Oh, no.

  “Yes. It seems only right, yes?”

  No!

  My brother doesn’t answer, but JJ slaps the table, making me jump as he holds out his hand toward my brother. “That is cruel, and you know it, William. Don’t ask him to do that—”

  But Oceanus holds his hands up, bringing the attention back to him. “No, it’s fine.”

  “But, Osh,” I murmur, laying my hand on his arm, but he brushes me off.

  “I’m next in line for the clan, it’s my duty,” he gets out somehow as Father smiles proudly. I hate that look of pride. Oceanus shouldn’t have to do this!

  “That’s right, my boy. I’m proud.”

  Oceanus looks away and swallows hard before he stands. “Excuse me.”

  As I watch his retreating back, my blood starts to boil before I notice Jonas and Cyrus both look as displeased as I do. Glancing back to my father, I glare. “That’s unfair.”

  He actually looks taken aback. “Rebekah, what are you talking about?”

  I stand quickly, my chair hitting the ground. “Asking him to go when you know, everyone knows, that he loves Taegan. That’s not right.”

  He only shakes his head. “He doesn’t love that dog, he only thinks he does. But going, watching her marry someone else, will get his head in the game, and our family will be stronger.”

  I can only shake my head, my heart in my throat. “So that’s all that matters? This family being stronger? What about what we want as individuals?”

  He waves me off. “Love, go take a nap. Obviously, this meeting was a lot on you.”

  “No!” I roar, but he stands, his shoulders back, his eyes trained on mine. “This isn’t right. He does everything you want. He broke up with her for this family. Don’t make him watch his love marry someone else.”

  “I won’t repeat myself. This conversation is over,” he says in a low, menacing way that makes my heart gallop in my chest.

  “No, it is not.” I fight back, much to my surprise. Standing, matching his stance, I swallow hard. “What if that was me—”

  “You?” He laughs, and my blood turns cold. “My love, no. That wouldn’t happen. You would fall for someone of your kind.”

  Why does Killian come to mind?

  Crap.

  Shaking my head, I hold my hands up. “How do you know? I could—”

  “No.” He slams his fist to the table, making me jump. “Now, excuse yourself.”

  For the first time, I’m scared of my father.

  Swallowing hard, I look to my brothers, but they avert their gazes, and my heart falls to my stomach. JJ stands, and I turn to him. His eyes meet mine before nodding toward the door. But I’m not done. “You make him go to the wedding, and he’ll hate you.”

  “Not everyone is as emotional as you are. He won’t care. He’ll do what is right for this family.”

  “We have two different views on what is right for this family, Father. I can guarantee you, asking that of him is wrong,” I say before turning on my heel and stomping out of the room. JJ is right behind me, but before he can stop me or even say anything to me, I notice Oceanus entering the sparring room.

  “Osh.”

  “Rebekah, I heard you. Don’t do that,” he scolds and I glare.

  “It isn’t fair.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” he shoots back, opening the door wider. “Let it go.”

  I stop him, shaking my head. I want to say more, but when his eyes meet mine, I know there is nothing to say. Swallowing hard, I ask, “Wanna throw down some?”

  He laughs, trying to hide the pain, but I see it clear as day. “You sure? I’ve got some steam to blow off.”

  “As do I.”

  I hadn’t even realized I did until that moment. I’m mad. Shaking with anger at my father for all the choices he is making. Caring about making this family stronger, about the Works being at peace, and only then about the well-being of his family. As I throw off my shirt and sweat pants, my black sports bra and tight booty shorts underneath, I get into position in front of my very big brother.

  His gaze is full of pain, and it hurts to look into those eyes. I should just swing and keep my mouth shut, but instead, I whisper, “When you’re the leader of this family, change the rules.”

  His brows come in as he shakes out his arms. He is more pieced together than me, scars all over him. I wonder if he hates them like I do. Does he wish for a new life? One where there is no pain and no scars?

  Holding my gaze, he asks, “What? What rules?”

  “That we can’t mix these families. Change it, Osh.”

  He laughs with no humor, his eyes darkening with the pain that is eating him alive. “By then it would be too late.” He swings, but I duck, my gaze locked with his. “My love would be gone,” he adds before kicking me in the gut.

  Wheezing for breath, I recover well. “Then run.”

  Rushing him, I slam my fist into his chest, then my forearm into his jaw before turning quickly, swinging my leg into his abdomen.

  Undeterred, he shakes his head. “As much as you think that’s a good idea, I wouldn’t be able to give her the life she deserves.”

  “But you’ll be in love.”

  He scoffs. “Love isn’t everything, my dear Rebekah.”

  He swings at me, but I dodge it, my gaze searching his. “Do you really believe that?”

  He swings another time, and his fist connects with the side of my head, knocking me to the mat. When I look up at him, he nods. “I have to,” he says, averting his gaze to the side. But then he shakes his head quickly, almost shaking away the emotion before swallowing in a deep breath. “Now get up and come on.”

  As I slowly rise, I know I don’t want to agree with him. I don’t want to have the same outlook on our lives as he does. I want to believe that all you need is love. That it will give you everything. Maybe that makes me just a stupid, naïve girl.

  But if it does, then I don’t want to be anything else.

  Stop looking at him.

  No, he is not looking at you.

  He is working.

  God, he has a great ass.

  Shaking my head, I look away and roll my eyes.

  The flirting and the attraction to Killian need to stop.

  They do.

  But it’s just so much fun.

  I lean against the bar as he pours a drink for some of his clansmen. He’s awkward around them, or them around him. I’m not sure which. But when his gaze turns to me, he flashes me a little smile and my stomach flutters. I can’t look away. He is so easy to stare at. And those smiles? They are like a hit of the finest drug out there, honestly.

  Not that I would know, but I’ve heard stories.

  Anyway, his grins just come so easy, so quick, and those brown depths of his…the way he drinks me in? No wonder I thought of him when I was arguing with my father about Oceanus. Or that I think of him a lot more than I should. Not that I want to marry Killian or anything—that is crazy talk—but I sure do want to get to know him. Like, really get to know him.

  As stupid and pointless as that is.

  We don’t get to talk much during our shift, though. Nothing deep, just friendly conversation, and while I know I’m not supposed to speak to him or anything, h
e makes me need to break the rules. To get lost in his eyes, his smiles, and just live. God, I just want to live.

  Swallowing hard, I look up just as his eyes lock with mine, and I’m pretty sure he is undressing me. He always does that, and I freaking love it. Now, I know that’s not a reason to find a man alluring, but when you’re basically sewn together and some guy finds you hot, it’s hard to ignore. Plus, he’s all mysterious and brooding. I know nothing about him, only how he makes me feel. As much as I want to explore what those feelings mean, or who he is, I know I can’t. Not only is my father who he is, but JJ would have a heart attack, not die from it, and then kill me dead.

  Or Killian.

  Or both.

  Sigh.

  Tearing my gaze from his, I find that we aren’t busy at all. Actually, we’re dead. Only a few vampires have come out, and I’m cool with that. Not much I have to do. Just pour some blood in a cup, and boom, they’re done. That’s good too, because Killian is slow. Unlike his vampire cousin whose movements are fast and efficient, Killian’s are slow and meticulous. I think he’s a neat freak, and I have no clue why that turns me on.

  But it does.

  Because I’m a freak.

  Literally.

  Once more, sigh.

  Since Alena has gone to Vegas, it’s only us tonight, and JJ of course, and I like it. I don’t know why, but I’m comfortable with Killian. Which is totally insane, and I really should look into that more, but he just feels right. Which is pathetic and pointless, but what am I to do? He makes being locked away fun, and I don’t think about my situation as much.

  “So have you even met a human?”

  Well, except when he isn’t questioning my life.

  I roll my eyes as I laugh. “Yes, I went to school with the rest of the clan. I walked to school, or took a cab when it rained, so I was around them.”

  His face twists in confusion as he looks over at me. “So when did your lockdown happen?”

  Holding his gaze, I shrug. “About three years ago.”

  He doesn’t understand, and I know that, but I just keep eye contact with him as his eyes search mine. “And I’m sure you won’t tell me why.”