Valyn_Mystic Protectors_An Angelic Paranormal Erotica

by Kathi S. Barton

  “Can I just lay down, Mom?” She got a little choked up whenever he called her that, so she was only able to nod. “I’m really tired, and I hurt a little. I should have taken that pill before we left like the doctor said to. I just want to take one now and go to sleep.”

  “All right. But Davy will be in the bed with you. Are you sure you don’t want to rest in the other room for now? I’d hate for him to roll over on you.” He nodded, nearly crying by the time they got up the flight of stairs. “Come on now, buddy. Let’s get you something for the pain and get you in bed.”

  He was asleep before she left him. Connor looked so tiny in the big bed, and she wanted to crawl in there with him, just to make sure he was safe. Going into the other bedroom, she saw that Davy was still asleep, and she whispered to Valyn what she’d done with Connor.

  “You going to be all right being nursemaid to two little boys?” He was joking with her and she smacked him on the arm. Making their way out of the room, he pulled her to him and kissed her. “I should go. There is a lot going on over at the compound, and I’d hate to leave them hanging again. I haven’t been there since the accident.”

  “Go. The sooner you get there and get done, the sooner you can come back to us. I’m going to ask Janie if she can just make me something light for lunch, then we’ll all eat dinner together if they’re feeling up to it.” He said that was a splendid idea. “Thanks. I have them once in a while.”

  He swatted her ass as he went by her. She loved that man so much she wondered what she’d do without him in her life. Or the boys. Checking on them once more, she went down to the kitchen to talk to Janie. She could tell that something had upset her and sat down to talk to her.

  “When I was coming over here before you got home, I thought I saw someone or something out by the garage. I wasn’t sure that I had, but there were footprints in the snow.” She asked her what this person looked like. “Nasty. I don’t know why that comes to mind, but that’s what it looked like. I couldn’t tell if it was a man or a woman, but they were lurking about the house. I could tell too because of the prints again.”

  “Did you ask Bonner if he saw anyone?” She said that he’d not seen anyone, but he was able to see some tracks inside the yard by the trees. “We’ll have to make sure that the house is locked up tight.”

  Her mother was the first thing that popped into her head. She had a good idea that she had come to get money from her too. Margo Bash had called her a few days ago, telling her that her mom had camped out on her couch for a few weeks, and that she was headed toward her.

  “Honey, you’d better take care that you don’t get too close to her. She’s not bathed in I don’t know how long. And the only way they will be able to do anything to that nasty mop of hair she has is to cut it down to her head and be done with it.” Jenny thanked her and told her that she’d be all right now. “You take care. I’m so glad that you’ve gotten yourself on a good footing. You should be very proud of yourself.”

  “I am. And thank you again.”

  Margo had been the only person from her past that she had talked to. Just after she’d gotten her first good paying job, Margo had reached out to her, sending her a card and telling her who she was. And that she’d not had any contact with her mom in some time. And since then, they’d been talking every week or so, just to catch up on things. They never talked about her mother again after that first conversation.

  Now there was someone on the property and she was afraid it was her, but not that she was afraid of her. It’s just that she didn’t want her coming around. There was only ever one thing on her mind, and that was Jenny giving her money. And if not money, then something that she could sell for some. Jenny wasn’t going to do that, not ever again.

  After her mom had hit her across the face and left her on the side of the road, Jenny had had to find her own way in the world. It had been rough too. She’d been almost nine then, and had nothing but the clothing that she had on. It took her nearly two weeks to find her a place that felt safe, and longer still to figure out that her mom wasn’t coming back for her. Going to the place that she’d left her would only make her cry because she was alone.

  She’d found herself a couple, an elderly couple, that took her in. Jenny had helped them around the house, making sure that the house was clean and the trash was taken out. And in return, they kept her fed and with a bed to sleep in at night. After four years of helping each other, one morning the mister didn’t wake up. They’d had to bury him in the beautiful cemetery that was close by. The missus had sat at the table, just staring out at nothing for a week before she’d gone to bed and never woke up either. The note she left Jenny, with cash inside, was all she had in the world.

  She’d told her to go out and conquer the world. The two hundred dollars had helped a little, but not enough to conquer much more than getting her a place to stay. Jenny had always been tall for her age, and it had helped her land a job as a dishwasher in the same restaurant that she’d been nearly killed in.

  When everything went to shit after the credit card scandal, she’d gone back to see if she could get a job and Jimmy had hired her on the spot. She’d been working there for a year or so when a man came in determined to kill them all.

  “Miss?” She looked at Janie, who was staring at her as if she’d been saying her name for a while now. “Are you all right? You look like you’ve been through the ringer a few times.”

  “I was just thinking of my life before Valyn. I can’t believe how much things have changed for me. And now I have kids.” Janie told her that she was lucky indeed. “Yes, I do believe that I am.”

  Jenny spent the rest of the afternoon playing and hanging out with the boys. They’d woken from their nap and joined her in the living room and watched a movie. They had also pulled out some board games that she had no idea where they’d come from and had fun with that. As casually as she could, she told them about the person on the property.

  “I don’t know who it is, but I want you to stay indoors for a few days. This person might only be some homeless person looking for some food, but we don’t know that right now.” Davy asked if they needed a gun. “No, I don’t think we need to have a gun, but you keep an eye out for the person, all right?”

  “I’ll protect you, Mom.” She thanked him, and he sat in her lap. Connor was concentrating on something, and she asked him if he was all right.

  “Yes. I just don’t want you to be hurt again. They might be coming here to rob you or something. And that would be just terrible.” She agreed with him on that, but did tell him that Bonner was at the gate. “He is, but that’s a far way away. He might not make it here in time. I think that me and Davy, we’ll keep an eye on things until Dad gets back. That way he won’t come here and we’re all upset because things got taken from him.”

  “I thank you for being so brave for me.” She started to tell them that she had it under control when she looked at their little faces. They needed to do this for her. And she was going to let them. “I feel so much better that you guys are here with me. I really do.”

  The rest of the afternoon was spent the same way as before. Only now one or both of them would go to the windows and doors on the first level and look around. Neither one acted like they were afraid of what might be skulking out there, and that really did make her feel safe.

  But Jenny knew that her mom was out there someplace, and she was going to cause all kinds of trouble for her. And the kids and Valyn would be drawn in with her. Jenny thought about giving her money, that was all she ever really wanted anyway. But that would be a never-ending thing. Her mom would suck them dry just because she could.

  Well, not this time. She was going to stand up to her and make her see that she wasn’t that eight-year-old that she’d left by the side of the road. She was a person of worth. Her mother was going to see a different person when she came here with her greasy paw out.

  Chapter 12

  Valyn was just finishing up putting the papers
away when all the other Mystics came in the room with him. At first he thought that something had happened to his family, but Agon was quick to tell him that they were all fine. When he was asked to have a seat, he told them to just tell him.

  “We know that the mother is on your land.” He did sit then, and then stood up to leave. “She’s doing nothing at the moment, but she’s been around the house. Looking in windows and trying to get into the garage.”

  “How do you know that?” He was handed a small computer and was told to hit play. “Where did you get this from? It’s my house.”

  “Yes. We’ve had cameras put up all over the compound, as well as at the houses of each of us. I meant to tell you earlier, but you had the boys then the accident. It didn’t seem the right time to tell you we were watching you.” Valyn thought of all the things they’d been doing in the hot tub and looked at Agon. He cleared his throat and spoke again. “We’re not watching you every moment, Valyn. I swear we aren’t.”

  Watching the recording of his house, he saw the person moving up the drive then around the house. He couldn’t tell who it was or even if it was a male or female. Then she turned and seemed to look right at the camera for a few moments. Valyn had never seen Jennifer’s mom, and asked them how they knew it was her.

  “Facial recognition program. It took it a while to figure her out too. The hair and how much weight she’s lost was making it more difficult. But once we figured out who it might be, we did some searching and found out that she’d been on her way here.” He asked Galin how he knew that part. “She hitched a right with a trucker as far as the town’s limits. His Protector was helpful in verifying it was the same woman. He also told us that she stank. Not that he could smell her, but apparently the driver had to ride with his windows open for fifty miles before he could roll them back up. He complained about the smell for hours.”

  “So this is her, wandering around the property looking for Jennifer. Did she hurt Bonner or anyone else that is there?” Riss told him that she’d snuck by him when they’d left to pick up the boys from the hospital. “Do you think that she’ll break in? Or just go to the door like she hasn’t done anything wrong?”

  None of them answered him and he stood up again. Riss started talking and telling them what they thought might happen. Pretty much what he’d said. She’d come right up to the door and knock. And she’d more than likely demand money from Jennifer.

  “And failing that, she’ll go to you for it. She figures, according to her Protector, that you’ll be an easy target because you won’t want your name slandered all over the place.” Valyn told Galin that he didn’t care about that, so long as his family was safe. “You know that, and I know that, but she has no idea what she’s dealing with.”

  “Jennifer will need to be told.” Arryn said that he thought she might already know. “How? Did she already go to the house?”

  “Not yet, no. But Janie, your cook, noticed the extra footprints in the snow. She told Jenny as soon as she came into your house. And if Jenny is as smart as we know that she is, she’s already warned the boys to stay inside and is preparing for a battle. So to speak.” He asked Riss how he knew that. “Because, like I said, your Jenny is a smart girl.”

  All kinds of things ran through his mind. He wanted to go there now, but they were telling him the plan. Not that he was paying very good attention to it—he was more focused on his wife and sons. When Galin said his name, he looked at him.

  “You zoned out.” Valyn told him he was worried about his family. “As you should be. But we’re taking precautions as well. There are extra people around the house. And when you leave here, we’re going to go with you. A stronger force, I guess you could call us.”

  Telling him the plan again, they headed to their cars. Valyn reached out to Jennifer to see if she was all right. He smiled when she told him that the boys were protecting her from the evil woman.

  So you know that it’s her that’s out there. Jennifer told him she wasn’t positive, but was close enough to it. The rest of the guys are coming over to hang out until we figure out what she wants.

  Money. It’s always money. But I do appreciate the extra muscle around too. She was quiet for a bit and he asked her if she was all right. Yes. I just hate that she’s showing up right now. I wish never, but we’re just getting things around here settled, and she’s going to mess it all up. I know her.

  She might try, but we’ll beat her. Even if we have to have her arrested for trespassing. She told him that wouldn’t keep her from coming back. No, but it will slow her down a little. How are you guys feeling? Do I need to bring home extra food for us all?

  No, I’ve told Janie how many for dinner and she’s thrilled. I swear, this woman loves to cook for us. He laughed when she did. I’ll call the others in—might as well have a nice reunion while we’re at it. The women and the babies.

  He felt better just talking to her. Valyn didn’t know what this woman would want from them, but she’d most assuredly get more than she’d bargained for.

  He was searching the grounds as he drove up the drive. And while he’d not seen anything out of the ordinary, just knowing that someone was out there gave him the creeps. Valyn got out of the car just as the rest of them pulled in the drive. They were a big group; maybe this would keep her away.

  The entire family—because that was what he considered the others that he worked with—was very quiet, and tried not to tower over the boys. Davy wasn’t nearly as timid as Connor was, but after a little while, when he realized that no one was going to hurt him, Connor came around too. Davy asked if they all had wings.

  “We do, young man. And you know not to tell anyone, don’t you?” He told Riss that he’d never tell anyone about them. “I’m glad to hear that. It would be terrible if someone came here and tried to take us away. And they might hurt the babies or the other women while they were about it.”

  “I’m going to keep my mom safe too. If you wanna help, that’s all right. But just don’t get in my way. I might hurt you accidently.” Riss nodded at him, just as straight faced as he could. Then when Davy went to check on the little ones, Riss laughed, as did the rest of them.

  “You have yourself quite the dragon slayer, Jenny. I do believe if I were your mother, I’d be worried about that one.” Jenny thanked Riss and told him that they’d been protecting her all day. “Good—as it should be with young men. They’re good boys, as I’m sure you know. And lucky to have you as a parent.”

  “No, I’m the lucky one. To have such wonderful friends, a great husband, and two of the best little boys. There isn’t anything other than for my mom to go away that I want or need.”

  Riss hugged her, then the others did as well.

  Valyn considered himself to be very lucky too. To have all that he had, and all the wonder and magic that came with having a family. He looked out the window in the living room, just to gather his emotions again, and he saw her. She looked much worse in real life than she had in the pictures. And nasty didn’t even begin to cover what she looked like

  “She’s coming.” They all looked where he was looking. “I want to know what you want to do, Jennifer. Whatever you wish is the way it will happen. Unless, of course, she tries to hurt any of you.”

  “She won’t get a chance.” Jennifer went to the door and opened it before her mother could knock or ring the bell. “Hello, Mother. What rock have you crawled out from under? Wherever it was, I suggest you go back there and leave me alone.”

  Valyn stood behind Jennifer and put his hands on her shoulders. He could feel the tension and the anger radiating from her. He wanted to pull Jennifer away and handle this for her, but he knew that it wouldn’t end there or solve anything. He just let her do the talking.

  “What a way to speak to me. You do remember that I’m your mother, don’t you? That’s no way to treat me.” She didn’t speak to her mother, and when she blocked her from coming in the house, Beth looked upset. “You’re not even going to invite me in?
It’s cold out here, Jenny. Let me get in there and we talk about stuff.”

  “I’m not going to give you anything. No money, no shelter, nor am I going to allow you to hurt me again.” Beth looked at him, and he could see that this woman would never give up on what she’d had decided was hers. “I don’t have any idea how you found me, nor why you’d even care to. I’m finished with you, and you know the reason why. You would suck me dry if you could, then still be pissed off because there wasn’t more for you. But this is how you left a young kid by the side of the road when you wanted a fuck buddy.”

  “My God, how long are you going to hold that against me? So what? I left you by the road while I pursued some of the things that I deserved. Having you hanging around was cramping my style.” Jennifer asked her if this was supposed to be her style. “I’ve run into a bit of hard luck, which you’re going to help me out of.”

  “No, I’m not.” She started to close the door in her face, but Beth stuck her boot in the door before she could. “Go away.”

  “I want you to give me some money. It’s the least you can do after all I did for you.” Jennifer asked her what that might have been. “Well, you’re not dead, for one thing. What if I told you that I kept you from being raped by the men I had around? They would have paid good money to have you.”

  “I don’t believe you. First of all, you would have sold me off for the first flashy thing that they waved in front of you. Secondly, you were too busy getting stoned to pay any attention to anyone but yourself.” Beth tried her best to get in the door again, but Jennifer had her blocked well. “You’re not welcome here. Not now, not ever. You gave up any rights to demand things from me the moment you pulled away from your eight-year-old daughter.”

  Beth looked at him. “You will hand over some cash, won’t you, big guy? I mean, my rude assed daughter here didn’t even introduce us. I’m Beth Hale. And you are...?”