Breathe Into Me

by Nikki Drost

  Hours later the sun has set and everything is in place for tomorrow. I still haven’t told Adam I’m not going to Vermont with my uncle. I don’t want to add to his stress and I certainly don’t want him distracted with worry. Dinner was extraordinarily quiet; no doubt, each man is preoccupied with thoughts of the impeding fight. To keep my mind off the danger they are facing, I’ve made myself busy in the kitchen.

  I now understand why Grace spends so much time in here. I’m not much of a cook, but I can whip up an amazing dessert. I’ve made so many cookies and brownies these guys will be on a sugar high for weeks. The men have been in the living room discussing strategy and lord knows what else. They keep switching back and forth between English and French. Apparently, French is a language they all can speak fluently, and of course, the only other language I know is Spanish. I wish Kelsey were here, she’d know what they were talking about. The sound of a doorbell sends me into a panic.

  “Where is she?”

  I make my way into the living room just as my best friend comes strutting through the door.

  “Hello to you too, princess,” Jamie says sarcastically as he shuts the door.

  “Andy, what the hell is going on? Gary showed up at work demanding that I visit my parents in Washington.”

  Oh boy, this is going to be bad. “There’s a situation and Gary feels it would be safer if we all left town for a few days.” I hope she buys this, I knew I should’ve sent her a text message warning her that this might happen.

  “Unless aliens are planning an attack on Westhaven, I’m not spending a week with my parents.”

  “Kelsey, it won’t be that bad, besides there are lots of things to keep you occupied in D.C.” It’s not as if I’m asking her to go to a third world country or give up chocolate for heaven’s sake.

  “Not that bad she says. Have you forgotten what my parents are like? They’ll have me engaged to some preppy Ivy League chump before the week is out. Besides, you know I’m busy on weekends. I need to be here.”

  Jamie lights a cigarette and decides to join our conversation. “I think your charming personality will take care of any unwanted suitors and as torturous as it will be to lounge around in a mansion, you need to listen to your friend. It’s not safe here, princess, and I won’t be here to watch out for you.”

  I watch as my friend stares each one of us down. “Okay somebody start talking because none of this makes any sense. Why is everyone leaving town? What do you know that I don’t?”

  This would be so much easier if she knew the truth, but there is no way Adam would allow me to tell her. I feel like a hypocrite for asking her to leave when I don’t have any intention on doing so, but her job is more flexible than mine.

  “Kelsey the killer is still out there. The Feds had him, but then lost him. We know who he is and we’re going after him. Until we return Andy is going to Vermont with Gary, if you don’t want to visit your parents why don’t you go with them?”

  My sweet man, I know he’s trying to help, but Kelsey is never going to stop until she gets answers.

  “You do realize going after murderers isn’t part of your job description. That is unless they skip out on bail.”

  Oh crap, I should’ve known Kelsey would do her homework.

  “Normally yes, but this is a special circumstance,” Micah quickly adds.

  “I’m not buying it. Something strange is going on here and it started when you guys came to town.”

  “Christ woman, why can’t you just fucking do what we ask?” Jamie asks exasperated.

  Oh jeez here we go.

  “Maybe I don’t want to put my life on hold just because you tell me to,” she fires back.

  “Are you always this stubborn or is this just something special you reserve for me?”

  “I never asked you to look out for me. In case you haven’t noticed I’m a grown woman, I don’t need to be protected. I get enough of this crap from Henry and my brother.”

  “If you’re so fucking grown up then why are you acting like a child?”

  I start to interrupt, but Kelsey gives me a look of warning. Fine if she wants to fight with him be my guest.

  “You know what? I don’t have to explain myself to you. I’m staying here and there isn’t anything you can say to change my mind.”

  Jamie starts to argue, but Micah stops him.

  “James enough, Kelsey’s right, she’s an adult, and if she doesn’t want to leave we can’t force her.”

  Jamie begins to rant in Italian as he paces the floor. Kelsey doesn’t even try to stifle her laughter. I’m guessing he said something funny. I really need to learn more languages.

  “Wow, your Italian is flawless, color me impressed.”

  I watch Jamie cross his colorful tattooed arms over his wide chest. “It should be, princess, I was fucking born there. So there really isn’t anything I can say to change your mind?”

  Oh, I don’t like where this is going. He’s giving up way to easy. If she wins this round, he’ll never hear the end of it, and nether will I.

  “Sorry big guy, looks like I win again.”

  Yep, I knew it.

  “Okay guess I’ll have to try something else.” As soon as the words leave his lips, he pulls Kelsey against his body. She opens her mouth to protest, but Jamie’s mouth covers hers.

  Holy crap, their kiss is so intense and intimate I feel like I’m invading on a private moment and quickly glance away. Suddenly flashes of lighting streak across the sky lighting it up like a Christmas tree. The bolts of electricity hit so close to the cabin that the hair on my arms stands at attention.

  An audible growl fills the room and I realize it’s coming from, Jamie. He ends their kiss, but continues to hold my friend against his muscular body.

  “Go home and pack a bag, princess, because you’re going to Vermont with Andy in the morning.” Jamie places a soft kiss on the top of her blonde head and turns her to face the door. “You have half an hour to get your sweet ass back here before I come looking for you.” He pats her backside and pushes her toward the door.

  “Vermont…sure…okay.” As Kelsey makes her way toward the door, she’s visibly disoriented, and I decide to take pity on my friend and escort her outside.

  I’ve never seen her so affected by a man before. I jump off the couch and pull my friend toward the door. “I’m going to walk her to her car.” I stifle my laughter as I lead my friend outside. We reach her car as she disengages her alarm.

  “What just happened?” she asks as she looks back at the log cabin.

  “Jamie kissed the fight out of you,” I chuckle. I can’t believe all it took was one kiss. Boy, I think Kelsey’s finally met her match.

  “That was…he is…damn,” she sighs dreamily.

  I can’t contain my laughter, if this is what happens to her after just one kiss I can only imagine how she would be if they actually had sex. I also need to tell her I’m not going to Vermont tomorrow, but how do I do that when there are four shifters inside who can no doubt hear our conversation. I quickly pull out my cell phone and bring up a blank text.

  Don’t say anything, but I’m not leaving tomorrow. Just play along and I will explain everything after they leave.

  I show Kelsey the screen and pray she keeps her mouth shut. She gives me a quizzical look, but nods her head.

  “Okay well I guess I need to get home and pack a bag. I’ll be back soon.”

  I’m thankful for once in her life that she’s not fighting me for answers. “Better hurry I don’t think you want Jamie hunting you down,” I chuckle as I back away from Kelsey’s car. The sound of a gun being cocked halts me in my tracks.

  “Hello, gorgeous, who’s your friend?” I know that voice and from the expression on my best friends face, she recognizes the face it belongs too.

  “Two for the price of one, hot damn.” I’m suddenly grabbed from behind and lifted off the ground. I try to fight, but it’s like trying to bend steel. Kelsey screams as she’s grabbed an
d forced by my side. I continue to fight my captor as several gun wielding men step out of the woods. Oh god, they’re going to ambush Adam and his brothers. The four men in question storm out of the house, guns are promptly cocked and raised in their direction. As they survey their enemies, growls emanate from the four men.

  “Let the females go,” Adam yells. The wind picks up as clouds move across the night sky. Lightning begins to flash wildly across the now darkened landscape. Several men glance around wildly and take a few steps back.

  “I’d knock off the parlor tricks, Enforcer, unless you want me to gut your mate in front of you.” I feel something pressed into my stomach and instantly begin to panic. Adam raises his hands in surrender as the weather dissipates around us.

  “All right, just don’t hurt her.”

  My captor begins to chuckle. “I don’t think you’re in a position to make any fucking demands. Now let me tell you how this is going to go. I’m going to kill you then I’m going to spend the rest of the night passing your mate and her friend around.” He presses his nose to my neck and inhales deeply. “I’m sure she would love to know what it’s like being with a real man.”

  His meaning hits me, and I struggle to break free from his grasp. His arms tighten painfully around my body as he raises a gun in Adams direction. A shot rings out and I begin to scream. Adam drops down to a knee, but hastily makes way to his feet. Blood begins to pour freely down his left leg.

  “That was a warning not to move again asshole.”

  Kelsey begins to struggle next to me, the man holding her raises a gun at the other three men. He leans in and smells her hair.

  “And who do you belong to, sweet cheeks?”

  Kelsey continues to fight until Jamie steps forward.

  “SHE’S MINE. Now take your fucking hands off of her!” he growls. The man fires a shot into Jamie’s thigh, blood seeps down his leg as the ground underneath my feet begins to shake.

  “JAMIE!” Kelsey screams as she tries to break free from the man holding her captive.

  “Is that all you fucking got?” Jamie laughs.

  Is he insane? They are seriously outnumbered not to mention out gunned.

  “It’s going to take a hell of a lot more than a bullet to stop me, motherfucker.”

  “Enough!” Micah shouts out. “You’ve got us surrounded, we are at your mercy now let the women go so we can get on with it.”

  “Oh we’re just getting started, Enforcer,” the dirt bag from the bar says. He points his gun at, Adam. “According to legends you can’t use your powers when you’re in animal form so I want the three of you to shift, but not you. I’m not done with you yet.”

  Adam and Jamie share a look, “Do it or my friend here will snap your girl’s neck.” Kelsey struggles as the man holding her starts to move his hand up the length of her body lingering in various places before settling around her throat.

  “You are going to fucking pay for that,” Jamie growls as he pulls his shirt over his head.

  Micah and Cass start to remove their clothing as Adam stands in front of me. His eyes briefly change colors.

  “Listen to me, princess,” Jamie says, staring into Kelsey’s eyes. “I know you’re scared and don’t understand what’s going on. Just know that it’s still me and I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  And right in front of our eyes, Jamie shifts into a massive black and gray wolf.

  “Oh. My. God,” Kelsey gasps as the three wolves, begin to snarl and snap their teeth.

  “I guess we can add exposure to your list of offenses. Now we’ve done what you asked, let them go. I’m not going to ask again.”

  The wolves continue to growl as they crouch into attack positions.

  “You know, I don’t understand how others have had such a hard time taking you fuckers out. I mean it was so easy. I can’t believe I’m standing in front of the elusive Horsemen. Shifters ordained by fucking Angels. Guess what, Angels aren’t going to save you now and neither are your powers. You will die by my hand tonight and my name will go down in history.”

  Adam begins to chuckle. “Do you really think we need our powers or the help of Angels to take you out, Oscar? If you truly believe us to be the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse then you must realize that none of you are making it out of this alive.”

  I glance around the lawn, there are about thirty fully armed men, how in the hell are we going to get out of this? I stare into Adam’s honey colored eyes, confidence radiates from them giving me hope that everything will be all right. A large man steps forward and I’m thrown into his arms while Farron is handed a 12-gauge shotgun.

  “Is that so?” He ready’s the shotgun and aims it at the center of Adam’s chest. “By the way, your step brother says hello.”

  Adam’s eyes change to gold just as the trigger’s pulled. A thunderous bang fills the night air as the man I love falls to the ground. I begin to scream as the men start to open fire on the three wolves. I’m lifted off my feet as I fight to break free. I need to help, Adam.

  “Let me go…ADAM!” I cry out as tears stream down my face. I’m thrown into the back of a van with Kelsey as shots continue to ring out. The sounds of snarls and screams join the chorus.

  “You bastards,” I yell as I blindly punch and kick at the nearest shifter. I’m quickly tossed aside for my efforts.

  “You are going to pay for that, bitch.”

  Pain radiates in my shoulder as I pull myself up to a sitting position. The van doors slam shut and the van starts to move. The seriousness of the situation hits me. I just watched them murder the man that I love.

  Chapter 20

  “ANDY!” I yell for my mate as I watch her being loaded into a black van. I try to move, but the pain is excruciating. Spots form in my line of vision as I fight to breathe. The van’s pull away and the gun- fire ceases. The only sounds are the groans of pain coming from my brothers. I hear my name being called, but I can’t seem to muster enough energy to respond.

  Jamie looms over my body and pulls me into his arms. “You’re going to be okay, brother. Micah we need to get the bullets out.”

  I try to shake my head to disagree, but the action seems to be too strenuous in my condition. It’s too late. My body has already begun to shut down. I can’t believe this is how I’m going to die. Thoughts of my mate bring tears to my eyes. I didn’t have enough time with her, I’ll never get to marry her or create a life with her. I thought I’d have eternity with Andy, but I only had a few weeks.

  “Hold on, Adam, don’t you fucking die on me,” Jamie yells as tears stream down his cheeks. I’ve never seen him cry before, seeing his pain hurts me more than the gaping hole in my chest. I reach for him as I try to articulate all the things I’ve wanted to say to him over the centuries. Micah grabs my right hand and places it over his heart.

  “Why are you just fucking sitting there? DO SOMETHING!” Jamie shouts at his older brother.

  “There isn’t anything I can do James, his fight is over.”

  Cass comes into my line of vision, his tear stained face breaks what’s left of my heart.

  “The fuck it’s over, he’s not going to die. Do you hear me? I won’t let you die.”

  I squeeze his arm and voice the only thing that matters to me.

  “Save…her.” And with one last breath, my world turns black.

  ***

  “Wake up my son,” a deep voice echo’s around me. I know that voice. I open my eyes to find myself starring at a man I haven’t seen in centuries.

  “Raphael?”

  I’m greeted with a warm smile and bright green eyes that shine with love.

  “Where am I?” I ask as I take in my surroundings. Gray mist swirls around us like a cocoon.

  “It does not matter, my son, you will not be here long.”

  I glance around and wonder which Angel will greet me. Remiel, the Archangel of hope takes souls to heaven while Azrael, the Angel of death takes souls to hell. I’m secretly hoping for Remi,
only because Azrael’s gloom and doom attitude gets on my nerves. Raphael begins to chuckle and I realize he’s heard my thoughts.

  “I have missed you, Adam. It’s been far too long.”

  I couldn’t agree more, but right now, the only thing I can think of is saving my mate. “I’ve missed you too. I have to say I’m kind of pissed off I had to die for us to be reunited again and you can bet your ass I’ll be complaining about it for eternity, but right now the only thing I care about is finding Andy and bringing her home safely. Please help her.”

  Sorrow washes over the Angel’s face. “Our war with the Fallen has kept me busy. I had never intended to leave you for this long. For that, I am truly sorry, but you need not worry about your mate. She will be saved. ”

  Oh thank god. “I’m the one who should be sorry. I messed up big time, Raphael. I allowed my mate to get kidnapped by Omegas. I’ve left my brothers to fight this war alone, but worst of all I’ve let you and the other Angels down. Please forgive me.”

  Raphael grips me tightly and pulls me into his arms. “You have not let me or anyone else down. If anything I am proud of the man you’ve become.”

  How can he think that? I’ve made such a mess of things these last few weeks.

  “This isn’t your fault, you are a good man, but you are still learning. One day you will be great, I know it.” He releases me and holds me at arm’s length.

  “I hate to break it to you Raphael, but I’m dead, this is as good as I’m ever going to get,” I snap.

  The Angel shakes his head and I notice his short black hair and modern clothing. It really has been a long time since I’ve seen him.

  “That is where you are wrong my son. Now before our time runs out, tell me about, Andrea. She turned out to be a good woman, yes?”

  His question puzzles me. “Have you met her before?”

  He nods. “Once when she was a child, she was in danger. It cost me my wings for a short time, but it was worth it to save your future mate.”

  His statement hits me like a ton of bricks. “You saved her when her parents were murdered.”