Oracle Seeing (The Phoenix Files Book 2)

by Kelley, Morgan

  It was about family.

  And it was about holding on, even when hope wasn’t on your side.

  And for now, Lucian had no choice.

  This was Bishop’s call.

  Stay or go.

  He was waiting for her to decide.

  Then, and only then, he would follow.

  * * * O R A C L E * * *

  Monday Morning

  She felt awfully crowded in her bed. Avalon could feel lots of people touching her, but she didn’t know where she was. The energy around her was strange, and there had to be about six auras in the room with her.

  It was confusing.

  The drugs had made her head hurt, and she couldn’t hear the static. She was pretty dosed up with pain medication.

  “Nathaniel?” she whispered.

  Immediately, he moved beside her, his big warm hand touching her cheek.

  “Avi! Jesus! I’ve been so scared.”

  He left kisses across her forehead and lips.

  “Who’s here? I’m still out of it.”

  “We all are,” Maura said, giving her a kiss on the crown of her head.

  “Me too, Kiddo,” Jagger said, doing the same.

  Luke went next. “You nearly killed the boss man. His hair is gray…well, what he didn’t yank out.”

  She laughed. For some reason, Avalon didn’t doubt it. She figured Nathaniel had nearly shit a brick.

  Avalon focused on two more auras. “You feel familiar.”

  Callista laughed. “I’m your favorite sister to be. I won’t be upset that I had to remind you of that. I will say it stings that you love Maura more. She’s a shrew.”

  Maura snorted, and then gave her sister-in-law a fist bump. “Yeah, you should talk.”

  Avalon smiled. “Callie. You came to see me. I missed you!” she said, as Nate’s sister gave her a big wet kiss. “Is that Quinn?”

  “It certainly is,” he said, running his big rough hand over her head.

  “I’m sorry you all came. I’m really okay.”

  It was time to give her the bad news.

  “Baby, we lost the pregnancy.”

  Nate had been dreading saying that all day. From the second Avalon got into her room, to that moment, it ate away at him.

  “I’m sorry,” he said.

  She heard it in his voice. “Nathaniel, it wasn’t meant to be. It’s okay. I’m good.”

  Her hand found his cheek, and it was wet.

  “There will be more chances.”

  “I suppose you want to put off the wedding?” he asked, knowing that there was no reason to get married so fast. He wasn’t going to be a daddy.

  “Maybe this happened for a reason,” she offered. “Let’s pick a new date and let Fate drive this one. I told you that once you move fate off her track, it’s a bitch to get her back.”

  “I love when I hear cursing from hospital rooms,” said a voice, as she walked in.

  “Elizabeth?” Avalon asked.

  “Spooks, you’re making a lot of waves. Which part of under the damn radar, don’t you five get?”

  Nate was worried. “Are we safe here?”

  Elizabeth handed Avalon a big fluffy bear. “That’s from Ethan and Callen. They couldn’t be here. I had to do this under some big time sneakery. We have to get you moving, and tonight.”

  Nate’s heart began pounding.

  He knew how dangerous Avalon being discovered could be, and that freaked him out. If POTUS got word, he’d take her back. Nate couldn’t let that happen.

  “There’s an ambulance waiting for you. Wheel her out. As far as anyone knows, this patient didn’t make it. Today, the FBI lost another agent in the field. The medical records have already been scrubbed.”

  They got it.

  Elizabeth Blackhawk was burying this identity. “Go home, lay low, and don’t come back to this hospital.”

  They all got it.

  “Major, here,” she said, tossing Maura a bag with an ambulance driver’s uniform. “You drive, they ride, and Jagger, clean up the damn mess. When I say clean...”

  He knew what that meant.

  “Yes, Director Hot Stuff. It’ll be my pleasure.”

  They all split up.

  “Next time, team, avoid the media! They got Avalon on film. The new Deputy Director has shit a royal brick. You know it’s bad when he wants me cleaning it up!”

  They got moving.

  Nate stopped in front of his boss. “Elizabeth, thank you for all you’ve done.”

  She hugged him. “You’re welcome, Nate. Keep your head low, and get back to Fire Bay. I’ll buy you some time to get to cover.”

  He took off.

  Elizabeth headed out, dialing her phone. When he answered, she gave him the news. “The birds have left the nest, Raven. It’s all clear.”

  “See you at home, Elizabeth. Fly safe.”

  She would.

  They’d adverted one hell of a mess.

  By the skin of their damn teeth.

  This time.

  * * * O R A C L E * * *

  Bishop’s Room

  He didn’t move from her bedside.

  It was ironic how it was four days. It was just like fate to have the last laugh. Finally, when they brought her to her room, he refused to leave her side.

  It was only fair.

  So, he sat, holding her hand.

  Then when he was at his darkest, she moved. He could hear the intake of breath and see the fluttering of her eyelids.

  His baby was back.

  “Bishop!”

  She opened her eyes. “What’s a girl got to do to make out with a very smelly beast?” she teased.

  He started laughing.

  Then he started crying.

  “You’re going to be the death of me.”

  It was the truth. This had nearly killed him. Lucian had been through a shitload of pain in his life, but none of it ever came close to what he was living in that moment.

  His mouth found hers, and he kissed her. That familiar rush came back, as she offered him that peace.

  The heart monitor jumped, and a nurse came in.

  “Hands off the sheriff, Mr. Monroe.”

  Lucian sat down. “She’s mean. She wouldn’t let me climb into bed with you.”

  That made her laugh.

  Then moan in pain.

  “Lucian!”

  “Sorry. I’m so glad you’re okay.”

  “Me too.”

  Then he went serious.

  And angry.

  Very, very angry.

  “IF YOU EVER PUT YOUR BODY IN FRONT OF MINE TO PROTECT ME AGAIN, I’M GOING TO SHOOT YOU MYSELF.”

  “Gee, how do you really feel? You’d think you’d buy a girl some flowers to say thank you—not yell at her.”

  He pointed at the table full of roses. There were four huge bunches of roses.

  “One for each day you didn’t wake up.”

  She touched his cheek. “I’m okay, handsome.”

  “I love you so much, Bishop. I’m so glad you’re okay. Now that you are, I have something to do.”

  He went out into the hall and whispered something. Then he came back. Lucian got down on his knees next to the bed, and took her hand in his. He slid that ring right back on, and a giant diamond engagement ring to go with it.

  “Marry me.”

  She smiled. “Absolutely.”

  There were sounds of walking, laughing, and then people came in the room.

  “Right now,” he added.

  “What?” she asked.

  “Marry me right now—as in today, here, present time, and while you’re in that bed.”

  A minister walked in.

  Then the mayor, who looked like he’d been there for days.

  “Are you shitting me?” Then she realized what she’d just done. “Sorry, Father.”

  The man smiled.

  “I'm dead serious, Bishop. Marry me.”

  She stared at the love of her life. He needed this.<
br />
  “Can I brush my teeth at least?” she asked.

  Silas handed her a toothbrush.

  “So damn predictable,” he teased.

  Bishop had only one choice. She laughed. What else could she do? “Okay, Lucian, for better or worse, you asked for this. I’m going to marry you right now. There better not be any damn photographs!”

  He grinned.

  “Would I do that?” he asked.

  She snorted.

  “Oh, one last thing.”

  That had her attention. She was almost afraid to ask. With Lucian, who the hell knew what he was going to come up with?

  “Yeah?” she asked, hesitantly.

  “You’re no longer my Bishop. Right now, you’re my queen.”

  And that was the absolute truth—for the rest of their damn lives.

  * * * O R A C L E * * *

  Jagger handled everything.

  He’d broken into the places that had footage, he’d burnt a building down, and he’d taken care of business.

  Except for one thing.

  Only one loose end was waiting to be handled, and her name was Roxanne Faust.

  She was hiding.

  So, he decided to bite the bullet and head to her place. They had to have a conversation, and it was about time.

  He was ready.

  After watching Avalon nearly die, and Nate suffering, he got it. Throw in having to watch Lucian nearly dying from heartbreak, it made him think of Roxy.

  Yeah, he loved her.

  How?

  Why?

  When?

  He didn’t know. All he did know was, that he’d never felt that way before. It was time to man up, tell the girl, and let her help him navigate this.

  As he drove to her place, he got out and looked around.

  It looked…quiet.

  Maybe she wasn’t home.

  Heading toward the porch, he knocked on the door. Only she didn’t answer. The woman, Roxy’s next-door neighbor, stuck her head outside.

  “Are you Jagger?” she asked.

  That was a little odd, but he went with it.

  “Uh, yeah, I am. Where’s the doctor?”

  “She left this for you.”

  The woman handed it to him.

  Jagger was confused, and he didn’t understand. His face must have showed it.

  The neighbor clued him in.

  “She left three days ago and wanted me to give you this if you showed up. She described you perfectly.”

  His heart skipped.

  Left?

  Jagger opened the letter. The first thing he noticed was that it smelled like her. That was like a punch to the solar plexus.

  Then he was forced to read her words.

  ‘Jagger,

  I’m sorry. I don’t do relationships well, and I certainly don’t do goodbyes. They suck. I wanted to tell you that the last few days, this has haunted me. When you and I fell into bed, I knew I couldn’t stay. I wanted to be with you way too much, and in the end, it would be a disaster.

  I fell for you.

  It’s lame, stupid, and so damn cliché, but you deserve to know the truth. If I wasn’t a broken mess, I would have been here. I hope you forgive me, and you move on.

  Thank you for the best moments of my life.

  Love,

  Roxy.’

  He folded it up, and tucked it away.

  Jagger headed back to his ride and tossed on his sunglasses. He wasn’t surprised. This was exactly why he didn’t get attached to the opposite sex.

  He’d been right.

  Even looking at that woman was a bad idea. It had been the worst mistake he’d ever made.

  He let her in.

  She walked away.

  Now he was left to fix what damaged had been done to his heart. It looked like his cleanup duty had been extended to his personal life.

  There was one thing for sure. Roxanne Faust could kiss his ass—along with every other woman.

  He was done.

  Jagger Armstrong wasn’t doing this again.

  He’d learned his lesson.

  He was a Marine, and there was one thing that Marines did. They stumbled, they rectified, and they never took that road again.

  It was time to move on.

  Forever.

  Roxanne Faust would be a distant memory, and truth be told, he didn’t think he could ever look at her again.

  She’d burned that bridge, and a Marine never forgot.

  * * * O R A C L E * * *

  Fire Bay

  Four Weeks Later

  The postcard came, and Avalon was excited to get it. When Nate told her about it, she smiled like a maniac. She’d been waiting for this.

  “Read it to me, Nathaniel.”

  He sat and took her hand in his.

  ‘Dear Avalon,

  The honeymoon is awesome, and I can’t believe I’m married. I’m sorry there wasn’t a wedding, but when you get married, I’ll be there. I promise.

  Lucian is a maniac, but nothing is new. The doctor said the cast will be off in six weeks. I told him that the coconuts in the tree were just as good as the ones in the cabana. He’s a menace to himself.

  We love you.

  Thank you for what you’ve done.

  Much love,

  Bishop and Lucian Monroe.’

  Luke handed her the file. “It looks like case file number two is officially closed.”

  Avalon tucked the card inside. She was proud of her team. Even though they’d had some moments of stress on the last case, they’d pulled through.

  She and Nate were working on picking a date, Maura and Luke were perfectly content to hang out around Fire Bay, but that left one person who wasn’t doing so well.

  “Where’s Jagger?” she asked.

  Maura sighed. “I don’t know.”

  Yeah, that’s what she thought.

  “He’s not doing well,” Maura offered. “He’s not laughing, he won’t bust anyone’s ass, and he’s hooked up with every free woman this side of the town.”

  She was aware.

  It was time to step in and handle it. The voices were calling, and she knew what needed to be done.

  “I need all of your help.”

  They listened.

  Avalon laid out her plan. There was one way to fix this, healing Jagger in the process. They’d have their case, and then they’d have their friend back.

  “Are you sure?” Nate asked. “He really hates when we meddle in his life.”

  Oh, he didn’t have a life.

  That was her point.

  “Trust Oracle,” she stated.

  Avalon was positive this would work. She’d heard it in the chatter. Roxanne Faust needed their help, and for that matter, so did Jagger Armstrong.

  Case three was going to be personal.

  It was going to be one of the most important ones they ever handled.

  Why?

  It was for family.

  Jagger needed to re-find his soul. She was out there, hiding, and time was just about up.

  TO BE CONTINUED….

  Next in the Phoenix Files…

  Oracle Saving

  Coming Next:

  Dark Justice

  Book One~ Croft Mob Justice

  August 2016

  Other books by Morgan Kelley:

  Standalone books

  The Junction

  Serial Sins

  The Blood Betrayal

  Romance/FBI Thriller Series

  Elizabeth, Ethan, and Callen

  The Killing Times (book 1)

  Sacred Burial Grounds (book 2)

  True Love Lost (book 3)

  Deep Dark Mire (book 4)

  Fire Burns Hot (book 5)

  Darkness of Truth (book 6)

  Devil Hath Come (book 7)

  Consumed by Wrath (book 8)

  Redemption is Here (book 9)

  Dead Shall Speak (book 10)

  Pledging to Die (book 11)

  Slay Bells R
ing (book 12)

  Past will Haunt (book 13)

  Choices will Destroy (book 14)

  Blood shall Run (book 15)

  Act of Blood (Book 16) Fall 2016

  Stalked by the Past (Book 17) Feb 2017

  Secrets are Buried (Book 18) Feb 2017

  Croft & Croft Romance Adventure Series

  Greyson and Emma Croft

  Celestia is Falling (book 1)

  Vegas is Dying (book 2)

  Christmas is Killing (book 3)

  Love is Bleeding (book 4)

  Heaven is Weeping (book 5)

  Hell is Burning (book 6)

  Justice is Dead (book 7) Winter 2016

  The Vegas Mob Justice Series

  Greyson and Emma Croft

  Dark Justice (Book 1) Fall 2016

  The Littlemoon Investigations Series

  Julian and Tori Littlemoon

  Blood Red Rage (book 1)

  Lost & Broken (book 2)

  Unthinkable Games (book 3)

  Lost & Found (book 4) Fall 2015

  Haven of Nightmares (book 5) Spring 2016

  The Carter Chronicles Trilogy

  Callista, Nathaniel, and Lucas

  Sinner Repent (book 1)

  Sinner Realized (book 2)

  Sinner Reborn (book 3)

  The Oracle Chronicles Series

  Nathaniel Carter and Avalon Miller

  Oracle Rising (Phoenix File 1)

  Oracle Seeing (Phoenix File 2)

  Harcourte Vampyre Society

  Jolie, Jacques and Flynn