by Opal Carew
“Who is he?” Leo asked.
Serena shook her head. “I’m not sure. We’ll need to do a little research on that.” She forced a smile for Leo, his features drawn into tight lines of fear. He was only six, after all. And so vulnerable, even though he had power she couldn’t comprehend. Powers he shouldn’t possess yet.
There were so many things she needed to know, so much she’d let slide in the past years.
And they were all about to bite her on the ass, as Davis would have said.
Because Gabriel stepped into the clearing.
* * *
“Serena.”
Gabriel tried but he couldn’t keep the bite out of his tone. So many questions crowded in his head, he wanted to roar with rage.
For a second, his gaze dropped to the teenager bound and out cold on the ground. Shea and Leo stood next to him.
“Are you okay?” He forced himself to ask that question first, before anything else spilled out. Everyone nodded. “Good, get your stuff. Now. We need to move.”
“Where are we going?”
Leo’s quiet, terrified tone forced him to take a deep breath. “We need to get you guys somewhere safe. Then I need to find Quinn.” He sliced his gaze at his mother. “Dario took him.”
He ruthlessly ignored Serena’s stricken cry and turned to Shea. “Get weapons. Whatever you want. I’ll take this one inside then I’ve got to make a phone call.”
Leo tugged on his hand and Gabriel focused on his face, forcing everything but the little boy out of his mind. Trying not to crush him against his chest, he pulled the kid into his arms as he stood so they were eye to eye. “Everything’s going to be okay, Leo. I swear.”
He waited until Leo nodded then set him down and lifted the teen in his arms. After he placed him in a small side cave off the main one, he wove a series of binding spells that should hold him for a few hours.
When he was done, he turned to find Serena watching him.
Questions rose in his throat like bile. He didn’t want to do this now.
“Gabriel—”
He slashed out with one hand. “No. Not now. Just answer one question. Is he?”
Serena knew what he was asking. Her eyes filled with tears and her mouth quivered until she firmed it.
He didn’t need to hear her say the words.
Betrayal and anger ate at his stomach, at his heart, threatened to swamp his reasoning. He couldn’t afford that now. He had to get them all away from here and figure out what to do.
“Quinn—” Serena started.
“I’ll find him,” he snapped. “Dario wants to end this. He wants to talk to you, but that’s not going to happen.” He bit down on other words that would flay her to the bone. “I’ll get Diego up here to take care of this one. Then I need to call Matt, find out where the hell he is.”
Turning his back on her, he whipped out his cell phone and pressed one key. He spoke as soon as Diego answered, not bothering to identify himself.
“I need you at the compound safe site to pick up a package. Take it to town.”
Diego didn’t miss a beat. “You want me to put it out of its misery?”
Gabriel didn’t answer right away. He stared down at the kid that could have been Nino. Could still be Leo if he fucked up.
“No, take him to Laran. Let him deal.”
“Alright, but if he gives me a hassle, all bets are off.”
One of only three living grigori who’d been born versipellis, Diego was a deadly weapon. He’d handle—
The hair on his arms rose. Shea was coming. He turned to find her staring at him. The urge to go to her, wrap his arms around her and lose himself in her warmth for a few hours nearly overwhelmed him.
But the anger, the betrayal, still bit at him. He was afraid of what he’d say if he went to her, afraid he’d want to drown himself in her, and he couldn’t afford to lose the crystal clear clarity rage gave him.
He shook his head, mutely telling her not to speak.
Then he picked up Leo, standing silent at Shea’s side, and headed back down the hill, knowing the women would follow.
* * *
Shea knew Gabriel was hanging on to his control by a thread.
Something had happened back at Serena’s, something that had turned Gabriel’s world upside down then blown it apart.
He looked shell-shocked.
So she didn’t ask where they were going. Besides, it was pretty obvious. Back into the city.
They drove into the northwest section, where every other brick row house looked run down, the cars were a mix of older-model American and late-model Japanese, and men—boys, really—stood on street corners, eyeing every car that drove by.
This wasn’t a neighborhood Shea wanted to be caught in alone, at any time of the day, despite the several churches along Schuylkill Avenue.
Leo sat in the front seat staring out the window, occasionally sneaking glances at Gabriel, while Shea and Serena avoided each other in the back seat.
The inner turmoil eating at Gabriel and Serena ate at Shea’s gut, too, their emotions more painful than physical wounds. Which, of course, made the voices buzz like angry bees.
A few blocks off Schuylkill, nearly to the city limit, Gabriel turned into an alley behind what looked like an abandoned warehouse. Another alley split the building in two and Gabriel turned into that.
The alley appeared to dead end into the building, but Gabriel pulled out his cell, pressed a button and said, “I’m at the door. Let me in.”
After a few seconds, the brick in front of them dissolved to reveal a metal door, which slid open without a sound.
Gabriel rammed the Jeep into gear and they shot into the dark.
Apparently he’d been here before because he knew when to turn and when to stop, before the lights had barely flickered.
Shea held her breath as Gabriel threw the Jeep into park, nearly snapped the key in the ignition as he turned it off and slammed the door shut behind him with enough force to rattle the frame.
“Let’s go,” he said, his voice low and dangerous, then stalked off toward a door at the far end of the huge open space they were in.
Her mouth tightening, Shea nearly bit her tongue in half. She wasn’t afraid of him. She’d get in his face soon enough because she needed to know what had happened with Dario.
The monster had gotten too close to Leo. He’d taken Quinn.
And she needed to make a decision.
The passage from her grandfather’s journal sprang into her mind, the one about her dad’s dream.
Damn, it’d been so much easier when she hadn’t known Serena or Quinn or Gabriel. When it had only been her and Leo and she’d been unaware of the curse.
Part of her wanted to take Leo and run. Another part knew she couldn’t leave Gabriel. Couldn’t leave without knowing Quinn was safe in Serena’s arms. If Serena would allow him into her arms. If the curse was broken…
She watched as Gabriel tore open the door and disappeared through it.
“Shea, why don’t you and Leo go in?” Serena said. “I…think I’ll just sit for a few minutes.”
Gabriel’s mother stared out the window, focused on something on the opposite side of the garage. More likely staring at nothing at all. Worry emanated off her in waves. Worry and despair.
“Sure. Come on, bud.” She dug up a smile for Leo, staring at them from the front seat. “Let’s see where we are.”
With Leo’s hand in hers, she headed for the door Gabriel had walked through.
Above them, the building rose three stories, open to the ceiling, and was empty except for a few cardboard boxes here and there.
Reading had been a hub of railroad activity in the 1800s and early 1900s. Men had made their fortunes in steel here and this building seemed old enough to be left over from those boom days. Today, many of the old railroad warehouses remained vacant. Although she was pretty sure this one wasn’t completely deserted.
She felt the hum of energy li
ke electricity under her skin. Someone worked a hell of a lot of magic here.
They were almost to the door Gabriel had gone through when Leo whispered, “Are they mad?”
He didn’t have to ask who he meant.
Yes, Gabriel was furious with Serena. And Serena…well, she was heartsick down to her marrow. “They just had a bad day, hon. We know how those go, don’t we?”
“Are they mad at me?”
She stopped and gave him a tight hug, tears forming at his uncertainty. “No, baby, not at all. Gabriel’s angry at the world right now. And Serena’s upset about Quinn.”
And if Gabriel doesn’t shape up soon, I’m going to give him something to be really angry about.
She didn’t know what had happened back at the compound, but she intended to find out. Something had driven a wedge between Serena and her son. Something he couldn’t allow to affect his judgment. Not with Quinn kidnapped and Leo still in danger. And Dario wanting Serena.
That situation would be stressful enough to make anyone lose it, but she knew that wasn’t all. Something else was making Gabriel almost crazy.
They reached the door just as Gabriel ripped it open. His fierce expression made Leo draw in a quick breath. Shea opened her mouth to tell him to get his shit together, but Gabriel toned it down before she could.
“Leo, there’s someone here I want you to meet.” Then he glanced at Shea. “Where’s Serena?”
By the Gods, he was in so much pain, all of it showing in his eyes. Why he wasn’t paralyzed, she didn’t know. She wanted to wrap her arms around him and hold him close but thought he might shatter if she did. “She’s still in the car. She’ll come along in a minute.”
“Fine.” He held out a hand for Leo, who didn’t hesitate to take it. “Digger, this is Leo. Leo, Digger Alfiero. He makes cool things. You want to take a look?”
A slightly familiar, handsome guy with short brown hair, pale green eyes and a lopsided smile stood in front of them in what appeared to be an apartment. There was a bed, a couch, a TV and a kitchen area but not much else. And still, she felt arus in the room, in the floor, in the air. Everywhere.
“Hey, Leo. Gabriel’s told me a lot about you.” The guy transferred his gaze to Shea and nodded. “Can I give him the tour? We won’t leave the building, and no one can get in without my knowledge.”
Obviously Gabriel had told Digger he wanted to talk to her alone. Well, tough. If Leo didn’t want to go with Digger—
“Can I go, Shea?”
Okay, Leo had already decided Digger was okay. “Sure, bud. I’ll be right here if you need me.”
Obviously, he didn’t at the moment because he walked off with the new guy.
Turning, she found Gabriel staring at the door to the warehouse. He was pissed. She saw it in the way he held his hands in fists at his sides and heard it in his voice, in the edge on his words.
“What’s going on, Gabriel?”
He didn’t answer right away, still staring at the door. Finally, he said, “I called Matt to let him know to meet us here. He’s close.”
“You’re going to leave us and go find Quinn alone, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Leo doesn’t want you to leave.”
His body tightened and a muscle jumped in his jaw. “He’ll be better off away from me right now.”
“I don’t want you to go,” she added softly. “You’re not steady right now—”
He held up one hand like a traffic cop. “Don’t. I don’t think I can stop myself from hurting you if you’re in the way when I blow.”
She shrugged. “That’s okay. I’m up for getting a little rough.”
He groaned low in his throat—in pain or anger, she wasn’t sure which.
“Gabriel, tell me. It might help.”
“This doesn’t concern you.”
Okay, that shouldn’t hurt, but it did. She wanted him to confide in her. Wanted him to need to talk to her. After everything they’d been through in the past few days, she’d thought maybe, maybe he’d open up to her.
Give it up, girl. Ain’t gonna happen.
Trying to swallow down the lump in her throat, she started to follow Leo through the door Digger had closed behind them.
She’d only gone a few steps when Gabriel spun her around, lifted her off her feet and crushed her against him, burying his face against the skin of her neck.
“I’m sorry.” His words sounded like a growl in her ear. “I’m so fucking sorry.”
He didn’t say anything else but she felt his heart trip heavily against hers, his chest rising and falling as if he couldn’t get enough air. If the guy didn’t watch it, he was going to hyperventilate.
Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, the voices quiet behind their wall, she held on. It was all she could do, because he didn’t seem in a hurry to let her go. And she couldn’t honestly say she wanted to be anywhere else.
“That man killed my brother.” Gabriel’s voice held a wealth of despair. “He killed my…my father. I should have killed him before now. But Serena forbid it. Now…I failed them and I failed you.”
The weight on her shoulders grew a little heavier. She had to find a way to end this and soon. Too many lives were at stake—Gabriel’s, her brother’s, Quinn’s, Serena’s. And nine other streghe who lived in constant fear for their lives.
“If anyone’s failed, it’s me.”
She hadn’t meant to say the words out loud, but there they were.
Gabriel drew back to look at her, shaking his head. “You can’t be blamed for any of this.”
“I’m supposed to break the curse. It’s my destiny, my purpose for being. It’s the only reason I was born. And I’ve failed.”
Fast-rising misery choked her. Goddess, she’d failed at everything so far. She’d run away from home and left her parents open to attack. Leo had almost been taken from her twice, and the women were still cursed.
“No, Shea.” His arms tightened around her. “You haven’t failed. We’ll figure it out.”
Not we. I have to find the strength to finish this.
But first, she needed…
Gabriel stared at her, dark eyes still stained with a grief she didn’t understand. Was he so worried about Quinn? Then he shook his head and pulled her tight against him again.
“You know we’re both completely fucked up. How the hell’d we get his far?”
She laughed, as she was supposed to, and swallowed a sob. “Just lucky, I guess.”
Which was a complete joke. It wasn’t luck. The only reason she was still alive and Leo wasn’t with Dario was because of Gabriel. She wanted to stay in his strong arms and never leave.
She just didn’t think it was meant to be.
Tightening her arms around his waist, she turned to rest her lips against his neck and felt a shudder move through him.
She loved the way he responded to her. Loved that he wanted her just as much as she wanted him.
Loved him.
* * *
Gabriel felt his control give way at the touch of Shea’s lips, and he sought her mouth with a savage groan.
He needed her, needed to kiss her until all the other shit in his head went away. The reality of Dario’s relationship to him was something he couldn’t think about or he might just fall off the brink.
With one arm wrapped around her waist, he used his free hand to grab her chin and angle her mouth so he could devour her. He was rough, grinding his mouth on hers until she opened to him. It didn’t take much, but he couldn’t stop.
He plunged his tongue between her lips the way he wanted to take her body, hard and strong and just a little violent. He wanted to feel something other than this rage, but the rage was bleeding over onto her and he couldn’t stop.
She didn’t seem to mind. Her fingers latched onto his hair, nails scraping across his scalp, sending shivers through him. Then she sank her nails into his shoulders and pressed her hips into his, drawing his attention lower.
&
nbsp; Sliding his hand beneath her t-shirt, he cupped one silky bare breast, rubbing his thumb against the already taut peak until she moaned into his mouth and arched into him more fully.
With a groan, he set her away from him only long enough to rip his shirt over his head. She followed his lead, dropping her shirt at her feet and standing in front of him naked from the waist up.
The lust in her expression tightened his already throbbing cock into a painful, burning ache. As her gaze trailed from his chest to his stomach and finally to the bulge of his crotch, his hand shot out to cup her nape.
He drew her back to him, eyes drifting closed as he absorbed the feel of her skin against his, hands splayed across her back. Her breasts nestled against his chest, the tips hard and pointed.
Her warm hands on his hips, she urged him even closer, until his cock pressed hard against her lower stomach, left bare by her low-riding jeans.
He ground against her and felt her hands trail from his waist to his chest, where she covered his nipples with first her palms then plucked the erect points with her fingers.
Holy Goddess, she was going to make him combust. He wanted to take her to the floor, roll her under him and spread her legs. Cupping the back of her head, he positioned her to take his mouth again and sucked on her tongue when she snaked it between his lips.
His cock rubbed against his jeans, demanding release. He had to get his jeans off so he could take her. They both needed to be naked.
She already had her hands on the button at his waistband, trying to force the little metal disk through the hole. Her knuckles dug into his stomach and she whimpered when she didn’t get them open on the first try.
He moved his hands to help her—
And someone cleared his throat behind them.
Chapter Twenty-One
Gabriel shot to his feet, pushing Shea behind him to shield her. Adrenaline tore through his veins with razor-sharp claws.
He turned to find Matt Tedaldi leaning against the door, a bland look on his face as he stared at him.