Pieces (Patchwork #1)

by T. Aleo

  “But, brother, JJ is supposed to watch out for her,” Oceanus says. I look to him and notice his silver money clip as he tucks it into his pocket. Reaching out, I take it, throwing it at JJ, who catches it midair. “Rebekah!”

  JJ glares as I shrug. “I thought he was a shifter,” I explain, the tension in the air so thick, I’m almost choking on it. “He’s acting weird.”

  “I’m not acting weird,” he says, handing Oceanus’s money clip back to him. “You’ve pissed me off. I know you’re lying to me.”

  “About what?” Cyrus says, shaking his head. “She’s done nothing but be honest with me. And really, she doesn’t need you,” he says matter-of-factly, looking to me. “Go to your room.”

  “I wanted to go to Father’s office,” I reply, but Cyrus shakes his head.

  “He’s in a meeting. You’ll have to go later, but you need your rest,” he says, turning his back to JJ and Oceanus. “Show them that you don’t need them. Go to your room and go to sleep,” he whispers and I nod.

  “Okay.”

  “Okay, goodnight,” he says, and then he turns, looking back to them as I head to my room, unsure what just happened.

  I think I just threw a silver money clip at my bodyguard to make sure he wasn’t a shifter trying to kill me. And then my brother stood up to said bodyguard, demanding my freedom, and ultimately got what he wanted.

  Huh. Maybe I am the high one…

  Turning to my left side, I sigh.

  I do the same when I toss to my right.

  I’m not in pain or anything. I’m just…restless, maybe?

  Nervous? Yes, I’m nervous.

  I need to get Ryland out. Now. And the anxiety of not knowing how to do that is driving me insane. With my father and JJ home, I don’t feel comfortable with Ryland down there. The only problem is, even though Cyrus told JJ to leave me be, I don’t know if he is outside my door. I don’t want to open the door to him being there, and then I’ll be left making up excuses and ultimately lying to him more. He apparently doesn’t take the lying well, and that’s fine. I’ll be gone as soon as the new formula works. But until then, I have to deal with him.

  And an unhappy JJ means an even unhappier Rebekah.

  Sighing some more, I figure I have to try. If I have to lie again, oh well. At least I’ll know one way or another if I can get out. If I can, I’ll beeline to my father’s office. If I can’t, more lies and back to bed until tomorrow. Sitting up, I push the blankets off me and walk toward the door. Opening it, I hold my breath as I step out to find that JJ isn’t there.

  Holy crap.

  Completely and utterly floored, I am almost too shocked to move—key word being almost. There is a guard at the end of the hall who meets my gaze as his brow lifts. But I’m already moving as he says, “Ms. von Stein.”

  “Hey-o,” I say quickly, moving past him and down the hall. As I half run, half walk, I can’t help but wonder if they have guards at the door of my father’s office like there were before. My next question is, will they let me in? I have no clue, but I have to try. I have to see for myself. I could do this tomorrow, during the meeting, but there will be too many eyes. I’d rather do it now. But what if I find the code? Do I go down now and free Ryland? Or do I wait?

  Crap. I haven’t thought this through.

  And damn, I hope Ryland is okay.

  Worry is eating me alive as I’m almost running through the quiet house. I don’t know where my family is, and frankly, I don’t give two shits as long as they don’t find me. I’m gasping for breath, I’m sweating as if I’ve run nine miles, and everything is tingling. I don’t want to be caught, but I also have to help Ryland. As I round the corner and my father’s office comes into view, I almost cry out when no one is there.

  “Thank you, God,” I mutter, now running toward the door and pushing it open. Before I can stop myself, try to calm down, because my father could very well be behind his desk, I’m already inside. To my surprise, it’s empty. Crap, this is beginning to seem too easy. Glancing around, I look for cameras or anything that seems out of place. There is nothing. Everything is the same. Maybe I’m being paranoid.

  Shit.

  Pausing, I take in a calming breath, letting it out in a whoosh and then repeating the motion.

  I have a mission.

  I have to achieve this mission.

  I can’t mess up because I’m a damn spaz.

  Clearing my throat, I rush to the filing cabinet, unsure how much time I have. Opening the drawer, Ryland’s file is still first, so I grab it, looking through it to find nothing once again, but then I remember that letter I found the last time. It’s still in my pocket. I need to read that. How did I forget about that? Crap. Stuffing the file back inside, I search through the remaining files, but then I realize I’m in the “shifter” category. “Killian” was a vampire. Moving past the witches, the Patchworks, and then the wolves, I’m on drawer three when I finally get to the vampires.

  “Killian leFevre,” I whisper over and over again, searching each file, but I come up with nothing.

  There is no file.

  “Crap,” I almost cry, biting into my lip. “Where is it?”

  Shutting the drawer, I stand up, looking around the room for anything. Something that stands out and says, “Hey, I have the code to the cell your hybrid boyfriend is locked up in.” When nothing jumps out at me, I feel my eyes start to well up. What the hell am I going to do? Falling into the chair nearest me, I lay my head on the desk and pull in a deep breath, letting it out and then taking it back in, racking my brain for another idea. I need to do this in my room, but maybe, just maybe, I can come up with something as I lie here.

  There has to be another way.

  I guess I could go down there and just punch in codes until I figure it out, or…wait!

  Hopping up, I go back to the drawer that held the Patchworks and search for Mr. Grun, Reggia, and Micha. They are at the front since they are prisoners, and as I search their files, finding their codes, my heart sinks. I hoped maybe the codes would be the same so he could remember easier. That father had used the same code on Ryland’s cell, but each one is different.

  Another dead end.

  Shutting the drawer, I drop back down into my seat and sigh, letting my head fall back. Damn it. What the hell could the code be? I have no leads, no idea what it could be, and I don’t want to go down there unless I have it. I can’t get caught down there, nor can they know that I know about Ryland, or Killian, whatever. This is all such a damn mess.

  Dropping my head down, my chin presses into the middle of my chest as I breathe shakily, my eyes falling shut to hold back the tears that are threatening to fall. I have nothing. Not one damn idea, and I feel like a damn failure. I should be able to get him out. I’m a smart, resourceful girl. I can do this, and I refuse to give up; there has to be some way to get him out. I really don’t want to resort to his idea of tearing apart anyone who stands in his way. I want to do this nonviolently. I want him to get away, free and clear.

  But I don’t know if that will happen.

  Running my fingers through my hair, I know that I need to get back to my room, that my time is running out. Opening my eyes, I go to get up, but something on the table catches my attention.

  My name.

  Rebekah von Stein.

  Reaching for the piece of paper that not only has my name but my father’s and that of his cousin from New Orleans, along with his son’s name, I’m disgusted by what I am reading. It’s about the formula my father just acquired. As I read the document quickly, the words taunting me and making my lip curl in disgust, I’m in shock. My heart is pounding so hard my eyeballs shake, but that doesn’t keep me from finishing it.

  And when I do, I remember what my father said:

  Thankfully, after some negotiations, he mixed me up a batch, and we’re going to try it on you.

  Negotiations.

  Negotiations to fucking marry me off to his cousin’s son in exchange for th
e formula!

  “What in the ever-loving hell?” I cry out, throwing the contract down and standing quickly. I almost rip the damn thing up, but I know that won’t solve anything. Knowing my father, he probably has copy after copy. For the love of God, is he insane? I am not Oceanus or Cyrus, or even Jonas; I don’t live to please the family. Hell, I don’t even live for me. So what the hell is he thinking? There is no way in the fiery depths of hell I am marrying some guy for a formula.

  Especially not my cousin!

  Especially not when I love someone else.

  No. Fucking. Way.

  Shaking my head, I’m flabbergasted, but when I hear movement, I pause, watching the door. Loud footsteps are in the hall, and within seconds, I grab a stack of books on healing and sit at the far end of the table, opening the first one and acting as if I’m reading. Holding my breath and begging my anger to subside, I don’t look up as the door opens and someone walks in.

  When I do lift my head, I find it’s JJ.

  Crap. “Oh, hey.”

  His face twists in confusion as he looks around the room, then back to me. “Rebekah, what are you doing?”

  “Reading,” I say, holding up the book and then laying it back down, ignoring the jackhammering of my heart and the fact I think I might puke. The damn contract is sitting there, taunting me, and I hate it. Most of all, I really despise my father at this moment. “I can’t sleep. My father injected me with something that has me tossing and turning. Figured I can study up on healing since I may go back to school.”

  Lies, all lies. I’m not going back to school.

  JJ’s brow arches. “I thought you weren’t going back to school?”

  I shrug. “Eh, never know.”

  He makes a noncommittal noise before coming to the table and leaning his hip against it. “You shouldn’t be in here.”

  I look around. “Why? I’m always in here.”

  “But it’s late.”

  “And you’re up?”

  “I went to check on you. Somehow your brother convinced your father to loosen his reins on you, despite my argument that right now is not a good time.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because there are people wanting to kill you, kidnap you. You name it, they want to do it. You need to be protected.”

  “I’m fine. I made it a whole week without you guys,” I remind him and he nods.

  “Which is why I’m backing off a bit. Just a bit, though.”

  “Yippee,” I say dryly, looking back down at my book. I wonder if he knows about the contract. Oh! I bet that’s why my father didn’t want to talk about letting me have my freedom when the formula worked. Because he has plans to marry me off. That bastard! “But hopefully the formula works, and I can do what I want again.”

  When he doesn’t say anything, I look up. “Won’t that be awesome?”

  He shrugs. “We’ll see.”

  “You bet your ass, we will,” I say, my eyes narrowing to slits.

  “You’re angry,” he declares, and I shake my head, looking away.

  “I’m tired,” I grumble, my body shaking with fury.

  “Well, let me say something before you head back to bed.”

  I look up. “I’m fine, but please go on.”

  He gives me a deadpan look before letting out a long, irritated sigh. He doesn’t like that I got an ounce of freedom. I bet he loves holding me under his thumb. But to be honest, I’m surprised this is happening. JJ isn’t one to be pushed around, especially by Cyrus. He is low on the totem pole like me, or at least, he used to be. “Yes, I wanted to explain my earlier actions.”

  My brow rises. “What, when you were a complete jackass?”

  He tries not to smile as he looks away, but I’m not being funny. I’m pissed. “Yes, I guess. You have to understand, Rebekah. I thought we were close. I thought you trusted me and we had a bond.”

  I hold my palms up against the table. “I mean, I care for you. I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

  “You lied to me about the bastille, I know you did. I saw where you came from,” he says, and I groan in exasperation.

  “This again? Really?” I ask, looking back at him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, and maybe I did take the long way back, I don’t know, but I was down there reading to the guys. If that’s a crime, I’m guilty.”

  He shakes his head, though. “See, I don’t believe you. I think you were down there doing something else.”

  I hold his gaze. “What? What could I have been doing?”

  His gaze burns into mine, challenging me, and I wait. I wonder if he’ll tell me that Killian is alive, that he assumes I was with him, but I know he won’t before he even looks away, a look of disgust on his face. “I know you’re lying.”

  I roll my eyes. “Okay,” I say petulantly. “Whatever.”

  Silence stretches between us. I can feel him looking at me, but I don’t look up. I act as if this is the most interesting book known to man, and I do that until he lets out a frustrated sigh. He clears his throat. “Are you ready for bed?”

  I look up. His face is wrinkled with annoyance, dissatisfaction, and I think, a little bit of betrayal. I feel bad. I don’t want to lie to JJ, I do care for him, love him, but Ryland means way too much to me. I feel like, in a way, it’s my fault he had to leave, fake his death and all that jazz. It’s my family that would kill him if they found out, and that doesn’t sit right with me. It’s completely insane to think like that, but I just want Ryland to be safe.

  Because he’s my one day.

  One day, I’ll be happy.

  One day, I’ll be free.

  And that one day begins and ends with Ryland.

  I’ve just got to bust him out first.

  As I glance up to my bodyguard slash second father, I realize I don’t want to fight with him. I don’t want to upset him or be the reason for the stress lines around his eyes. Closing the book that rests in front of me, I nod. “Yeah. I’m ready.”

  When I wake the following morning, I roll over and cover my head with my blanket when I realize last night wasn’t a dream. If it had been, I would have gotten the code, and I would be looking for the right time to bust Ryland out. To my dismay, that isn’t the case, and I still have no clue what I’m going to do. Because of this drowning feeling of failure, I don’t want to wake up or get out of bed, and I definitely don’t want to go to the meeting this morning. I’m pretty sure I know what it’s about.

  That contract for the formula.

  Again, I didn’t dream that absurd thing up, and I truly feel it’s unfair. At least I could have laughed about it, if so. Since it wasn’t a dream, I’m not laughing. I’m actually trying to keep my cool. I don’t need this. I have too much stress worrying about Ryland to worry about my father marrying me off.

  Such crap and, really, why? Doesn’t Father know me? Doesn’t he know I’m not going to do this? That I will fight tooth and nail? I’m not the submissive type, so I just don’t get it. Plus, who marries off his daughter to her cousin?

  That’s disgusting, damn it!

  Letting out an aggravated sigh, I know I have to be downstairs in a little less than an hour, so I kick my blankets off and sit up, stretching out by touching my toes. As my fingers graze up my legs, I shake my head at the hard stubble and groan. I don’t want to shave again, I just did it yesterday, but this is my life.

  Getting out of bed, I head toward my bathroom, my mind going a mile a minute with the possibility that the contract will be brought up and I’ll have to ignore the need to kick my father’s head in. And then there’s my constant worry about Ryland. I hate that I can’t see him, so I don’t know if he is okay. Are they torturing him? I know JJ went to see him, but is he okay? I’m almost to the point where I want to ask my father to free him and come clean. Not about Ryland, of course, but I can say I know about Killian and we have to let him go. I have a feeling that won’t work, though, and I’d be in the same boat I’m in now.

 
; There is really no point.

  But then, I think maybe I could use the contract as leverage. Tell my father I’d marry this guy if he lets Ryland go. I know he’d agree. He’s more concerned with power than he is with Ryland, so he’d do it. But I know Ryland would be heartbroken. He would hate me for it, and I’d hate myself. I don’t want to be with anyone but him, and there has to be another way.

  I just don’t know what that is.

  Shaking my head and feeling as if I’ve already been defeated, I walk through the doorway to my bathroom, but my toe gets caught on a pair of shorts. Suddenly, I’m falling. Hard. Catching my fall, my wrists cry from my weight as I roll onto my back and look at the ceiling.

  “Really? A pair of shorts is what takes me out?” I ask no one as I exhale. Sitting up, I glare at the shorts and decide I might throw them away. That is, until I see a piece of paper sticking out of the back pocket.

  The note from Ryland’s file!

  I reach quickly for the shorts; I can’t believe I forgot to read this last night. Taking the note out, I reopen it and read the words quickly.

  Mr. von Stein,

  I thank you for receiving this letter and for giving me an ounce of your time. Rebekah and I have been friends since Pre-K, and from the moment I saw her, I thought she was the most beautiful girl I’d ever laid eyes on. My feelings have only grown since then, and now I know I love her. Fully, with my whole soul. I know that once we are older, it is against the rules, that we aren’t to mix our factions, but I want to ask that you banish your rule. Why can’t we love who we want? If I’m good for Rebekah and she is good for me, then what is the problem? I know you may think we are young and I’ll grow out of my feelings, but I won’t. I’ll love Rebekah for the rest of my life, and I’d really like you to consider her feelings too. She hasn’t admitted to loving me, but I know she does. It’s years away before I’d even ask for her hand since I know we both have plans after school, but I don’t want to date her and not have a future with her. That isn’t fair to her or me, so please consider my request.