“My father raped you, terrorized you and my brother -- and yet you willingly brought another child into a dangerous environment like that just so Kaden wouldn’t be lonely.” Julian towered over her, demanding she answer him.
“I didn’t see it that way at the time. Julian, my head wasn’t ok then. I was a mess mentally, emotionally. I felt so alone and I didn’t have anyone. I wasn’t as close to Cori at the time and I didn’t think I could trust her. I tried to figure things out on my own and my head was in no condition to make good decisions. I was afraid all the time and I didn’t know what to do most days. I just wanted to protect my son.”
“At my expense.”
“No. As soon as you were born, I knew I had to protect you as well. I just didn’t know how.”
“You left us.” Olivia looked up with shocked eyes. Julian sat in the chair next to her. “I remember. You must have thought I was too young to understand, but I did. I remember you saying goodbye when you put me to bed that night. I was only four, but I understood you were leaving me. I pretended to be asleep, but I followed you to the stables. I saw you ride your favorite horse Apollo and gallop away. I called out to you, but you kept going. I knew I would never see you again unless I did something. I ran and woke Dad. I told him you left us. I waited all night, but I heard Dad’s men say they found you. I wanted to go see you, but Dad would not allow it. He said you needed your rest.”
“He locked me in the crypt for a week without food.”
“I bet you’re sorry you had me now. If it hadn’t been for me, you would have safely ridden to freedom.”
“No, Julian. I would have come back. It was wrong for me to go and leave you boys behind. I gave in to a weak moment and I tried to run away, not thinking about the consequences to my children. I was selfish -- and I’m sorry for that, and for every other way I failed you as a mother. I can’t change the past.”
“And I’m not sure I can forgive it. I do love you, but …” Julian walked out before finishing his sentence.
“He loves you, but he also hates you, Olivia.” The nagging voice returned. “Just like Lucian, and just like Kaden. They can’t fully love you, they can’t forgive you. I can take the pain away. Stop fighting it, Olivia.”
“No!” Olivia leapt from her seat, knocking her chair to the floor. She angrily wiped her tears away. “Get out of my head!”
The voice laughed. “There’s no escaping me, Olivia. I’m the only one who’s there for you. As soon as this investigation is over, they will all leave, starting with Lucian. You’ll be alone again. Always alone. Poor Livy. The pathetic girl that no one loves.”
“Shut up!” she cried as she clutched her head, trying to silence the voice.
“Olivia!” Lucian yelled as he shook her, trying to get her to focus on him. “Look at me, Livy!”
Finally Olivia focused her eyes on him. She clutched his arms tightly and collapsed in his arms as she sobbed. Suddenly, she realized they were not alone. She looked around to see Corinne, Lorenzo, Reysa, and Alejandro all watching her fall apart.
“Livy, what’s wrong?” Lucian asked.
“I’m sorry. I’m fine now. Let’s get back to work.”
Olivia tried to push away from Lucian, but he would not allow her to leave. “No,” Lucian stated firmly, leaving no doubt that this conversation was not over. He looked to the others and asked them to leave the room. Corinne wanted to stay, but Lorenzo grabbed her hand and she reluctantly followed.
Lucian refocused his attention on Olivia. “What just happened here?”
“Don’t make a big issue out of this, Lucian. I just had a moment. I’m entitled to get a little upset once in a while. With everything going on, I would think it would be understandable.”
Lucian reached for her chin and lifted her face so that her eyes met his. “Yes, cara, it’s understandable to be upset, but you were frightened. I could feel your anguish as if it were my own. Do not pretend with me.”
Olivia pulled away, and this time Lucian allowed her to take a few steps away from him. “I am frightened. If this plan doesn’t work, we may never find the true killer and my son may perish for crimes he did not commit. I am scared and frustrated that I can’t fix this for him. I’m worried about Reysa’s safety. I can see Kaden cares for her. If something happened to her I’m not sure he would recover. He won’t admit his feelings, but a mother knows. So much is riding on this plan and if it fails, everything falls apart.”
Lucian suspected Olivia was hiding something, but he would not push, at least not now. She was fragile. Too much pushing might be disastrous for her.
“Well, I think the plan will work if your son cooperates. Reysa is going to try to convince him to play along, but I doubt he will agree. I can’t blame him. If this were us, I would not allow you to take such a risk.”
“I thought you supported this plan.”
“I do, but not if it involved a risk of harm to you. It may be the right thing to do, but not if it jeopardizes the one you…your safety.”
“He can’t say ‘the one you love’ because he doesn’t love you. I told you, Olivia. I’m all you’ve got.”
Olivia closed her eyes tightly, willing the voice to fade. She clutched Lucian’s hand. “How much time before the fun begins?” Olivia asked as she slowly unbuttoned Lucian’s shirt.
“Depends on how fast Reysa can work her magic on Kaden.”
“That means we have some time. Let’s go upstairs and strategize.” Olivia kissed Lucian along his jaw until she reached his ear. She nipped at his lobe, causing him to groan. “I’ll play the criminal and you can be the sheriff.” Lucian laughed as he lifted her into his arms and raced to her room.
Chapter 11
“They have been shouting at each other throughout the morning and into the early evening. Do you think we should referee?” Reysa was still trying to convince Kaden to go along with her plan to trap the killer, but a stubborn Kaden would not agree. Reysa was equally stubborn, which led to the all-night war of words.
Lucian pulled Olivia closer and kissed her deeply. He guided her left hand to his throbbing hardness. “I would much prefer that we handle this problem first.”
Olivia chuckled as she stroked him tenderly. “We have been dealing with this problem for the last six hours.”
“Yes, but we’re close to a resolution,” Lucian groaned as Olivia continued to stroke more firmly. “I can feel it coming.”
“Well, if we’re that close to a solution, then I guess we shouldn’t quit yet.”
“I love the way you think, woman.”
“But he doesn’t love you, Olivia.”
Olivia’s hand stilled. “Livy?” Her eyes focused on Lucian’s again. “Where did you go?”
“It doesn’t matter. I’m back now and ready for that resolution.” Before Lucian could question further she straddled him and brought them both to an intense climax.
She collapsed in his arms as he gently rubbed her back. She wanted to stay this way forever, but there was still so much that needed to be done. As much as they would like avoid it, someone had to deal with World War III happening in Julian’s front yard. Lucian agreed and left to take a quick shower. He asked Olivia to join him, but she knew that would lead to another few hours in each other’s arms. As tempting as that was, they could not afford the time.
Olivia also needed a moment to take more of the drug. The craving was getting stronger and stronger, as it had been several hours since she last satiated the urge. She grabbed a leaf and mixed it with the cup of blood she had left on the table. Before she finished the drink, Lucian walked out of the bathroom with a short white towel resting low on his hips.
Olivia could not help but respond to this perfectly sculpted man standing so close to her that her body ached with wanting. “If you continue looking at me like that, cara, I will have to take another cold shower.” Lucian walked over to her, taking the goblet from her hand. “I’m hungry.”
Olivia snatched the cup away, knocking it to the grou
nd before Lucian could take a sip. “What the hell, Livy? You can’t share?”
“S-Sorry. That cup is no good. I left it out too long and it tastes odd. Let me fix you a fresh cup -- but first, I think we need to shower again.” Distracting him with sex was the only option. Olivia guided him to the bathroom and a skeptical Lucian followed.
Two hours later, they finally left the room and joined the rest of the group on the porch steps. Corinne, Lorenzo, Julian, and Alejandro -- still in his jaguar form -- were sitting there watching the Reysa and Kaden shouting match.
“About time you guys joined us.” Corinne offered Lucian and Olivia some of her popcorn. “This has been more entertaining than Jerry Springer. These two haven’t stopped fighting. This is my third batch of popcorn.”
“Another right hook to Kaden’s jaw,” Lorenzo announced, and the group of them cheered Reysa.
“Every hour or so, Kaden says something profoundly offensive and Reysa slugs him or kicks him,” Corinne explained. “The chick has moves. She has one strong right hook. Kaden’s eye has seen that up close and personal at least three times now. So that things don’t get boring, every now and again she throws in a solid left.”
“Is Kaden fighting back?” Olivia asked, hoping that her son would not strike this woman he obviously cared so deeply for.
“Yes and no. Kaden has never struck her, but his words are sometimes worse than his fists. He growls at her a lot and she growls back, and then they yell and then she wallops him. This is the best fight ever.”
Olivia was not as amused. “Lucian, we should do something.”
“I agree. Cori, move over so we can get a good view.” Lucian sat down and reached for Corinne’s popcorn. He looked back at Olivia, who was shooting daggers in his direction. “Listen, cara, you can’t interfere with that kind of sexual tension. Let the two of them work it out, and if it looks like one will murder the other, then we’ll step in. Considering all the strain we’ve been under, we could use some amusement. We’ve got reality TV right in front of us. Our own version of Survivor.”
Reysa launched another right hook, sending Kaden into a tree. “More like WWE Smackdown,” Corinne quipped.
Olivia could not ignore the pure joy on all of their faces. Even Julian was having a good time and laughing. His laughter was such a rare sound. She would not ruin this moment for them. She plopped down next to Lucian and grabbed a handful of popcorn.
“You obnoxious, pigheaded, insufferable, ignorant jackass, loser…” Reysa yelled, but Kaden cut her off.
“You called me that an hour ago. Are you running out of adjectives to describe me? Come up with something original, and keep things interesting.”
“I got more. I speak six other languages.”
“Use all of them, I won’t understand it anyway.”
“I’m sure you can understand this.” Reysa tried another right hook to Kaden’s jaw, but he caught her hand before it met his face. He smiled that annoying gloating look and Reysa hurled a left uppercut to his jaw. Kaden squealed and fell to the ground. “Couldn’t block that one, could you?”
Kaden kicked his leg out, knocking Reysa’s legs out from under her. She landed hard on her backside. Kaden threw his body on top of hers and pinned her arms above her head. His satisfied expression did not last for long. Reysa kneed him in the groin and flipped him on his back.
Alejandro purred and Reysa looked over in his direction. She nodded in acknowledgment and then leaned down to press her lips against Kaden’s. Everyone gasped. Kaden was the most shocked. He wanted to push her away, but her lips were the sweetest thing he had ever tasted. He could not get enough. He dug his hands in her hair, pulling her even closer. As she relaxed her body, he used that opportunity to flip their positions so that his body was on top of hers. Their tongues dueled for control of the kiss—both of them too dominant to surrender control to the other.
“Isn’t that an interesting turn of events,” Corinne observed. “I didn’t see that coming.”
“Ah, I think we should leave now,” Olivia suggested as she grabbed Lucian’s hand and headed for the door. None of the others moved. Cori and Lorenzo were fascinated with the passionate display, Alejandro seemed rather curious, while Julian’s expression was inscrutable. That worried Olivia even more. “I said we should go inside now. This is a private moment and we shouldn’t watch.”
“This is the best part of the show,” Corinne whined.
“Cori, do you really want to watch Kaden with Reysa? Think about it.”
“Ewww. You got a point there. Let’s go.”
At that moment, Kaden and Reysa forgot their mutual disdain for each other. This was about passion and the built-up tension that was ready to explode. Kaden desperately wanted to feel more of her skin on his hands. He reached to pull her top down when a loud shriek interrupted him. He used his body to protect Reysa’s in case there was an approaching threat.
Suddenly the noise stopped. Reysa pushed him off of her. She looked at Alejandro, who nodded. “It’s gone now.”
The rest of the group met them on the lawn. “What the hell was that noise!” Corinne asked. “My ears won’t stop ringing. It sounded like a screaming banshee.”
“That was the one we were looking for.” Reysa stared at a furious Kaden, who looked ready to rip her to shreds. “Now the trap has been set, so we wait for her next move.”
“You devious bitch.” Kaden rose to his feet and stood face to face with Reysa. “This was a setup. You played me.”
“Yes. You would not cooperate willingly, so we had to get you to cooperate without your knowledge. The end result was the same. She saw us and now she’s gone. Now we can wait for her to strike.”
“We should go inside,” Lucian suggested. Everyone followed his lead back to the house.
As soon as Kaden closed the door, he stalked over to Reysa. “How did you do this?” He was seething and barely in control of his volatile temper.
Reysa showed no fear. “Alejandro helped spread the word that you and I have a thing. I needed to get you out in the open alone so that I could kiss you, hoping that your little killer ex would see us together. We knew she couldn’t stay away. She’s obviously quite obsessed and unstable. Once Alejandro sensed the presence of a stranger, he signaled me and then I knew to kiss you.”
“It won’t work.” Olivia walked over to the fighting duo. “She’ll know it’s a trap. We were all out there watching. She must know that was a setup.”
“My mother’s right,” Kaden agreed. “This girl can’t be so stupid as to believe that you and I would make out in front an audience which included my mother.”
“Did you know your mother was there? Or Corinne, Lucian, Lorenzo, Julian, or Alejandro?”
Kaden was bewildered. He had not realized they had all been watching until his mother spoke. “How long were you there?”
“Lucian and I were there only for an hour or so, but everyone else had been there for some time. You didn’t notice us or hear our laughter?”
“No.” Kaden looked incredulously at Reysa. “How’s this possible?”
“Glamour. One of my girls conjured a spell that made the porch seem empty to everyone who looked at it except for me. You could not hear or see anything on that porch and neither could the killer. She would have to be some powerful immortal to undo that spell or see beyond it. That was a chance worth taking. Considering how she bellowed after witnessing our kiss, I think it’s safe to say it worked.”
“Do you realize how dangerous and stupid this was? You could get yourself killed.”
“Or, we could catch a killer.”
Kaden stormed around the room kicking Julian’s furniture out of his path.
“Would you mind not destroying my things?” Julian lifted the couch that Kaden had just knocked over.
“You’re such a whiny brat.” Kaden knocked over the antique glasses on the fireplace mantle.
“Kaden, stop!” Olivia’s fierce expression caused him to pause. “Don
’t take your frustration out on Julian. I understand why you’re angry, but it’s not your brother’s fault.”
“The fault is your spineless boyfriend.” Kaden kicked over a nightstand table, breaking Julian’s lamp.
Olivia’s hand stilled Lucian. He reluctantly heeded. “You’re acting like a child in the midst of a tantrum. I understand you’re upset, but everyone here is doing what they can to save your butt. Reysa is risking her life, Lucian is risking his career, and all of us are devoting all our time and resources to helping you. Stop acting like an ungrateful brat.”
Kaden stilled and focused his fury on Olivia. “Your boyfriend came here with the sole purpose of destroying me -- and yet, that didn’t stop you from taking him to your bed. Thanks Mom, for all the support.”
Those words were like a slap in the face that left a painful bruise. “You bastard,” Lucian roared, and he punched Kaden hard, slamming him into the wall, splintering some of the wood. Lucian braced himself for Kaden’s attack, but none was forthcoming.
Kaden rose, but did nothing other than wipe the dripping blood from his face. “That is what I am, isn’t it?” Kaden admitted, trying not to see the pain in his mother’s face. She was the last person he wanted to hurt and he knew how badly he just shredded her heart. His father would hurt her like that. He was the one who was supposed to protect her. “Mom…”
Alejandro growled in warning as an arrow shattered the glass and headed toward Reysa. Julian knocked her to the ground just in time and the arrow landed in one of the books.
Reysa rose to her feet. “Is she still out there, Alejandro?” The cat nodded. “Let’s go find the psycho bitch.”
“Wait!” Lucian said. “Let’s all go. We can split up and corner her so she can’t escape. Cori, Lorenzo, and Julian, you head north. Reysa, Kaden, and Alejandro can head east, and Olivia and I will go west…”
“No,” Reysa objected. “I’m not going anywhere with Kaden. I don’t trust him. Alejandro and I will go alone.”
“No. Someone else should go with you.”
“I will go with them,” Olivia offered.
Lover's Betrayal: Misfits of the Lore Series Page 23