Demon Seed

by Jianne Carlo

  “That’s when he kidnapped Elvira?” Demon hugged Jacinta closer.

  “It was a terrible time. We had decided I would stay on for a while, so as to not arouse his suspicions. Rosa and Elvira had been friends. When Rosa heard what had happened, she offered to return to Pedro if he would free Elvira.”

  “He was a monster.” Jacinta shuddered. “I am glad that he no longer walks this earth, and I am so grateful that I am not his daughter.”

  “Rosa was so afraid Pedro would find out about you, and she was terrified that he would find out who your real father was. Pedro locked Rosa away. There were guards everywhere. He’d always let me see her, but not after Rafael’s interference. Then my other three brothers disappeared. That’s when I knew he’d become suspicious. No one knew Patrick, Father Lawson, was my brother. At that time, there was a terrible dysentery outbreak. We pretended I had died. Before I went to the cloister, I managed to see Rosa one last time. She asked me to train you. To make sure that you could always protect yourself.”

  Demon pulled a tissue from a box on the table and handed it to Jacinta.

  Confused by his actions, she looked at him.

  “You’re crying, kitten.” His arm tightened. “Tell us about the money.”

  Sister Helen bowed her head for a moment. “I don’t believe Pedro was ever normal—mentally. He grew more and more strange. Earlier this year, he became convinced we lied about the baby. We, Patrick and I, never could figure out how. Rosa was petrified and certain he’d eventually find you. She decided money was the only way to protect you. Pedro’s new financial man was about the only one allowed inside the estate. She started an affair with him. Learned the location, account numbers, and passwords for all Pedro’s banks.”

  “She must’ve known he’d find out.” Satan refilled his coffee cup.

  “I believe she lost the will to live after so many years of abuse. She sent the information via Patrick after she finished transferring the money. We both decided the only person who should know all the information was you. Patrick gave parts of the codes to each of us. Not a single one of us knew the whole. I taught you some of them. Mother Superior taught you others. And so did Sister Concilli. And Sister Claudette.”

  Jacinta rubbed her aching temple. “I do not understand. When? How? I remember none of this.”

  “The last term of physics you so hated—the lists and lists of numbers that made no sense.” Sister Helen leaned back on the chair. “Your photographic memory is a great gift.”

  “Just how much money are we talking about?” Satan studied Sister Helen intently.

  “Millions.”

  “I do not want it. It is blood money.” Jacinta hugged her arms. “I will never feel clean again.”

  Demon fingered her cheek. “Legally you can’t keep it anyway. And you will feel clean again. I promise you that.”

  “He’s right, child. Give it time. And never forget, the sins are all Pedro’s, not yours. You are your mother’s and Deaglán’s child first. She wanted you to live a full life. To have all the things she couldn’t. I’m not speaking of material things, but of a husband and family, of love. This man loves you and you love him. Love between two people is a rare, precious gift. Grab it and run.”

  Jacinta shrugged out of Demon’s embrace. “I am so confused. And scared. My whole world has gone turvy-topsy.”

  Sister Helen pushed off the chair, squeezed between the coffee table and the sofa, knelt, and framed Jacinta’s face. “I raised you better than this. You are a woman now. You knew this man was your mate. Marry him. Have those babies you always talked about. Be happy.”

  Tears streamed down Jacinta’s cheeks. “I do not want to leave you.”

  “It’s not as if we’ll never see each other again. I’ve decided we should embrace modern communication. There’s this Skype thing. We’ll be able to speak to each other every day. And I will insist that you bring your babies for long visits. Now. I must get Mother Superior back to the cloister before she has another round of fainting fits.”

  Demon twined his fingers with Jacinta’s. “I have a suggestion.”

  Sister Helen rose to her feet and clamped her hands on her hips. “And what might that be, young man?”

  “Some win-win scenario’s my guess.” Satan grinned.

  “Why don’t Jacinta and I accompany you back to the cloister? We’ll pick up the other sisters on the way. Is there a village priest, kitten?” He turned to face her.

  “Of course. Why?”

  He held her gaze. “This isn’t quite how I planned it. Here goes. Will you marry me, Jacinta Maria da Silva, when we get to the cloister? We can get married in the chapel, and your cloister family can be our witnesses.”

  The tears came so fast and furious that she couldn’t see him clearly. A happiness so sharp and poignant that her heart hurt swept through every pore. “I cannot answer you in kind.”

  He paled. “You’re saying no?”

  She shook her head. “I cannot answer you in kind, Demon mina. I do not know your name.”

  He made a strangled noise, looked up at the ceiling, and blew out a long exhale. “My mother listed my name as Angel Gabriel Jesus Christo Natchez. I legally changed it to Deaglán Éamonn Máenach Odhrán Natchez when I turned eighteen.”

  Sister Helen gasped. “Éamonn Máenach Odhrán? This cannot be. Éamonn, Máenach, and Odhrán are the names of my three brothers who disappeared.”

  “Father Lawson sent me to Venezuela with your brothers, and we went on to the United States from there. They eventually arranged for me to join the navy. They saved my sorry ass when I was hell-bent on self-destruction.” He shrugged. “I figured I owed them, and I was sick and tired of everyone’s reaction to my baptismal name. They had been telling me stories of their warrior brother, Deaglán, who had died tragically, since I could remember.”

  “Why would you not tell me your real name?” Jacinta glanced at Satan. He didn’t seem in the least bit surprised.

  “I changed my name without telling them. I thought they’d be pleased, but they were pissed. Made me promise never to reveal it. They told me that they had been involved with the IRA and that their names could be recognized.”

  “The price on our heads. We Irish carry grudges for centuries.” Sister Helen made the sign of the cross.

  “You knew of this?” Jacinta addressed the question to Satan.

  “I told him and the rest of the squad when I decided to go after Pedro.” A dark flush rode Demon’s cheekbones. “I intended to tell you before I sent you to Trinidad.”

  “He sent me an e-mail for you. I presume it contained a complete explanation in addition to the will leaving everything to Jacinta?” Satan’s black stare would’ve caused her to shiver not hours ago, but now she recognized the glint in his eyes for what it was—fierce loyalty and an absurd sense of humor. “What’s in a name anyway? To quote the famous Will, a rose by any other name…as in Deaglán Éamonn Máenach Odhrán Natchez.” He emphasized the first letter of each name.

  Jacinta grinned. “The initials spell Demon. I will marry you in the cloister’s chapel, Deaglán Éamonn Máenach Odhrán Natchez, aka Demon. I will marry all your names. Truly I love you from my heart’s bottom.”

  She didn’t know how he did it, but Demon had them back in their room in no time flat.

  “Alone finally.” He dragged a hand through his hair. “Are you okay with how I did it?”

  “Did what?” Jacinta beamed up at him. “Why are you frowning?”

  “It wasn’t exactly romantic. No flowers or candles. I don’t have a ring—”

  “I don’t need a ring. And it was perfect.” She tiptoed, but even with a little jump, only managed to kiss his chin. “So fitting. Thinking of the chapel. And the sisters will be so pleased to be included. You are the most thoughtful, wonderful man. Did you mean it about babies?”

  “Every word. But I want you to think about the timing. We don’t have to start a family right away. You said you’d picked w
eaving as a trade.”

  He hadn’t touched her since they left the library. Why?

  “What does a trade have to do with having babies?” She rested her palms on his chest.

  He covered her hands with his. “You could go to college. Have a career, and when you’re ready, then we can start trying for a baby.”

  Jacinta craned her neck, wanting to see him clearly. Brown eyes, no tic. “Are you not ready for babies? Is that why you did what you did before?”

  “Before? I’m not getting what you’re saying, kitten.” He kissed her forehead.

  “When we were—before—you wasted all those potential babies on the bedcovers.”

  Demon crushed her to him. “It killed me to pull out then. I was just trying to protect you. I wanted you to have choices. Some, anyway. You’re so blasted young. I don’t want you to regret rushing into motherhood.”

  The ball of happiness that had started in the library ballooned bigger and bigger, and she couldn’t get a word out, couldn’t stop the tears from falling, couldn’t have loved him more than in that moment.

  “From my heart’s bottom, I love you, Demon mina. I want your babies. In my dreams, I see a little you, only plumper. I see us on a porch watching our son take his first steps. I am ready. Will you now flush all the rubbers and spend your sperm in me and not the covers?”

  “Want to start now?”

  “Very much. I should like to remind you of something.”

  “What?” He drew back and shot her a wary look.

  ”You promised that I could suck your dick later.” Jacinta began unbuckling his belt.

  He threw his head back and roared with laughter. Picked her up and spun her around and around and around.

  Jacinta cuffed his arm. “Stop. Stop. You’re making me dizzy. This was not the reaction I expected.”

  “You’re going to turn my world totally turvy-topsy. I just know it.” He held her so they were at eye level.

  “Topsy-turvy.” She rubbed her nose against his and threw her arms behind his head.

  “I like it better your way. Tell you what. We’ll indulge in another kind of foreplay. It’s called sixty-nine.”

  Epilogue

  A week later, after they checked into the village inn, Demon and Jacinta watched as Sister Helen bullied Satan into agreeing to accompany her and Mother Superior and the nine other nuns to the cloister.

  “He is very softhearted, your Satan.”

  “Never let him hear you say that. He’s very attached to his demonic scare-kids-and-babies persona.”

  “As is one other spaghetti-for-brains, dumber-than-straw marine that I know.” The menacing, angry words came from behind them.

  Demon and Jacinta spun around. “Devil. Great to see you, man.”

  “Couldn’t call me? Your best friend? I had to hear everything from Satan?” Devil wore a pissed, sour face.

  The pretty, fresh-faced blonde woman standing next to him rolled her eyes. “Man up, Zubiri. You’re acting like a spurned girlfriend. So, Deaglán Éamonn Máenach Odhrán Natchez, you’ve fallen hard and fast. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer man. You must be Jacinta. I’m Jess, your new BFF.”

  “BFF?” Jacinta asked.

  “Best friend forever. You’ve inherited a few BFFs, I’m afraid. It’s a little overwhelming at first, but you’ll get used to it. Especially after a few kitchen klatches,” Jess replied.

  “Kitchen klatches?” Jacinta glanced at Demon.

  “Man, am I glad to leave that explanation to you, Jess. Jacinta, meet my best friend, Dominix Zuberi, also known as Devil, and his wife and better half, Jessica Blaine.” Demon twined his fingers with Jacinta’s.

  “Jess. Jessica Blaine is my professional name, but you’re family and family calls me Jess.”

  “I am very pleased to meet you both.” Jacinta extended her hand.

  “Girlfriend, there’s no standing on formality with the squad’s extended family.” Jess hauled Jacinta into a tight embrace. “We need breakfast, Devil. You and Demon can catch up while Jacinta and I get acquainted. I am so, so happy to meet you. I know you’re exactly what Demon needs. OMG, where do I begin?”

  Jacinta’s eyebrows climbed to her hairline. “Begin?”

  “So much to tell you. Okay, first a few crucial things to remember. One, Destiny can’t keep a secret to save her life. Two, whatever Mrs. Chapman sweetly suggests, no matter how peculiar it seems—go along with it. Three, if Nalini signs you up for a team 5K walk, expect a minitriathlon. Actually it’d be best if the night before the 5K, you and Demon flew to Shifty’s cabin in Alaska. Nalini’s been known to scale superwoman walls to win a competition.”

  “I think you’d better slow down, cheerleader. Jacinta’s eyes are eating up her face.” Devil picked Jacinta up and twirled her around and around. He eyed Demon and then kissed Jacinta full on the lips. “I’m Devil, official Hades Squad charmer. Has Demon told you how he and I first met? At an amusement park in Indonesia?”

  Demon made a strangled noise and snatched Jacinta out of Devil’s arms. “Don’t even think about it.”

  “Dream on, strategy man. It’s payback time,” Devil replied. “And has he told you how much he loves the circus?”

  Jacinta’s glance bounced from the two men to Jess. “Destiny? Fate? Mrs. Chapman? Nalini? What is a shifty cabin?”

  “Destiny is Sinner’s wife, Nalini is Lucifer’s. They’re Hades Squad team members and bonded for life, like the rest of us. Mrs. Chapman is, well, Sinner’s mom, but really a five-star general.” Jess tapped her lips and eyeballed her husband. “Hah. This is the third mention of that amusement park and the circus. Methinks you have much explaining to do, Dominix Alexander Zubiri.”

  By the time the two couples arrived at the cloister three days later, the women had indeed become BFFs. Demon and Devil had resolved their differences and were bickering and grumbling the way men too macho to show tender emotions always did.

  Satan surprised Jacinta and Demon by flying in not only the rest of the Hades Squad team and their wives, but also the entire Chapman family—all ten brothers and sisters and Mr. and Mrs. Chapman—for the ceremony. He also located Sister Helen’s brothers, who’d joined the priesthood after Demon had signed up for the navy and had ended up living and serving God in a monastic boarding school, one Mount Saint Benedict, in Trinidad and Tobago. The brothers had severed all contact with Demon and their sister, Helen, for their own protection. The joyous reunion of the siblings was accompanied by generous amounts of fine Irish whiskey and the warbling of every Irish ballad known and then some.

  Devil acted as best man.

  Sister Helen acted as “mother” of the bride.

  The ten Chapman siblings managed to repair the rusty organ. Sinner, aka Lincoln Abraham Chapman, accompanied by his sister, Susan, sang a rousing rendition of “Amazing Grace” that brought a tear or a hundred to every eye witnessing the wedding mass.

  Five-month-old Washington George Chapman wailed his displeasure at being denied a feeding two seconds before the groom began his vows. His mama, Destiny, did her best to appease her son’s hunger while performing her duty as a bridesmaid.

  Dainty Sabrita Lilith Anders celebrated her twelfth-week birthday and the wedding by issuing a belch of such proportions that the entire party—which also included Lucia, Fredo, Xavier, Maria, the village and every single La Esconca student—gasped.

  Right after the ceremony and the rings were exchanged, Jacinta, now Mrs. Deaglán Éamonn Máenach Odhrán Natchez, declared, “From my heart’s bottom, Demon mina, I love you.”

  Jacinta never did learn the correct idiom until much later, long after they arrived in New York. Long after their first child, a chubby replica of Demon, was born. Long after they christened him, Patrick Lawson Natchez, in the cloister’s chapel. And even after she found out that the correct phrasing was from the bottom of my heart, Demon wouldn’t let her say it any other way than hers.

  Loose Id Titles by Jianne Carlo

 
Valentine Voodoo

  White Wolf

  * * * *

  The HADES SQUAD Series

  A Paratrooper in a Pear Tree

  Lucifer’s Choice

  Deviant Devil

  Demon Seed

  * * * *

  The MEDITERRANEAN MAMBO Series

  Manacled in Monaco

  Notorious in Nice

  Carnal in Cannes

  Jianne Carlo

  Jianne’s an Iron Chef America and Law and Order addict who loves to cook, eat, read, and write. She wishes a body could burn a ton of calories being sedentary and eating. Don’t you? If only…

  Married for 34 years to an amazing man who still manages to sneak up on her every single day, she’s also the proud mama of three fantastic sons, all of whom are now of legal age. Now if only they’d stop changing majors in college…

  Alpha males, strong heroines, exotic locations, and cultural differences are her forte. She’s travelling the world through her books. From Manacled, which is set in Monaco, to D is for Desire, set in Trinidad at Carnival time, to A Paratrooper in a Pear Tree, set outside of Denali National Park in Alaska, to Dark Chocolate Side of the Moon, which is set in Sleeping Dog, Texas.

  Jianne’s writing career began in 2008, and since then she’s been lucky enough to have fourteen books published. Nothing makes Jianne’s day more than an email from someone who’s read one of her books. Jianne loves to hear what tickles your fancy. So far, she’s received emails from almost every continent on the planet. Almost…

  Read all about what’s new with Jianne at http://www.jiannecarlo.com.

  Table of Contents

  Title page

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three