You think that he’s going to be thinking of things that are going to upset me. He said that he was sure of it, and that they’d more than likely be about her demise. Then I’ll wait until you get home. I don’t know if I’d like to do that alone if he was thinking of killing me. Tanner said nothing, and instead of asking him what he was thinking, she moved on to asking him about the house. She wasn’t sure about poking into Rogan’s head. Giyanna didn’t want to know what sort of plans he had for her. The rooms do enlarge, but I’ve never been standing in it when it did it. It’s sort of freaky, isn’t it? She laughed and told him that it was more than that, it was dizzying too. Well, what room is it? That way I can be impressed at the size of it when I see it. The dining room. The table is larger as well. I was thinking that should we have your family over, there’d not be any room for everyone to sit down. Also, the table was too small. Now it’s not. She laughed again. You might also notice that the china cabinets are larger, with more dishes in them. I think we could feed an army should we want to. There are glasses and silverware that goes with it all. I have never seen so many forks in my life. Good, because feeding my family is a great deal like an army. She told him that she had needed to talk to him, but didn’t realize it. I needed you a few times today too, but since I forgot to mention this part of our being mates to you, I didn’t want to freak you out when I started talking. It’s been known to happen a few times. It would have too, I think. They were pulling up in front of the mall when she told him she had to go. And I’m ready to talk to you about this relationship that we aren’t having. I don’t know what the next level is, but I’m willing to talk to you about it. I’d love that as well. And remind my mom for me that I gave her some of the cards that are ready for you. They’re from the bank, and spend whatever you want—we can well afford it. She told him that she had money and a credit card. I know that. But since we’re mates, no matter what level we’re on at the moment, you are still my mate, and I want you to never have to worry about money again. Thank you. She supposed she could have gotten pissy about it, but it would serve no purpose. As she’d been told, he was a nice man and a good person. He gave her the cards simply because he wanted her to have them, not to rub in her face that she was his to rule over. As they were getting out of the van, all of them laughing about how they’d fit things in there when they were finished shopping, she realized something. She was in love with Tanner. She didn’t just like him a great deal, but she actually loved him. Staggering a little, she wasn’t surprised that Chloe caught her. When she smiled at her, Giyanna blurted out what she’d just realized. “I know. It’s kind of nice, isn’t it?” She nodded at the other woman. “And the sex is fantastic, if you need to know that. You’ll think you’re going to die one minute, and the next you’ll feel the earth move under you. It’s that good. Even better when you’re all alone in the woods at dusk. Yummy.” Moving into the mall with them, it was a long time before she let herself think of anything but how good the sex was going to be. It was then that she decided to buy herself something sexy, to tempt the beast, she supposed. Yes, she was very happy that they were going to go to the next level. Perhaps all the way to the top, if she could convince him that she was ready.
Chapter 6
Tyrrell waited in the large room for his brother to be brought out to him. Rogan had requested for him to come and see him, for what was anyone’s guess. But he came to see if he’d had a change of mind and was going to realize that he wasn’t getting out of prison. Ever, if Tyrrell could manage it. Rogan had gotten huge. And the fact that he was wearing a jumpsuit did nothing to hide the fact that he was sloppy too. When he was chained to the table between them, he picked up the phone when his brother did. “I got me some trouble.” He asked him what sort of trouble. “You mean other than me being in here? Plenty. That judge, he told me that they found a body on my property and that they’re thinking that there might be a few more.” “Yes, I’ve heard that too. Four so far. What did you do, Rogan?” He knew that they were being recorded—the sign was right in front of them. He also pointed to it for Rogan to see. “They’re recording every word we say, so you might want to think about that when you open your mouth.” “I don’t give a shit about that. It’s only a scare tactic when they say they’re recording you. I know that they don’t have time to man those things. But I need for you to go over to the station house and confess that you did all the killing. That way I can get out of here sooner and get Bridgett’s ass back here so she can cook and shit for me. It’s not like you have a life, Ty. Just do it.” Tyrrell looked at the officer that was in the room with his brother, then back at Rogan. “Just tell them that you did it, so I can get out of here. I don’t want to be in here no more, Ty. You do this for me and I’ll owe you for the rest of my life. I might even not hit you anymore when you get in here. You’d be better at being in this place than I am anyway. You’re used to being alone all the time. I got me a bunch of buddies that are missing me too.” “Are you kidding me? You want me to go and confess to the murders? I’m not going to do that, Rogan. I can’t even believe you’d ask me to.” He said he wasn’t asking but telling him to do it. “No. I’m not going to do it. And I’m not a child that you can order around anymore. There isn’t any way that anyone would believe me if I was to do that, which I most certainly am not.” “Ty, I’m not joking around here. They’re going to try and pin them on me, and I’ll never get out of here. I am not going to spend any more time in this jail than I have to. Just go over there and tell them that you did it all. And maybe you can tell them that you were the one that tore up the house too. They’ll be nicer to you because you’re a sap.” Rogan nodded at him, like he wanted him to agree with him. “What does it matter to you if you’re in prison? It’s not like you have a woman or anything. And you know as well as I that Giyanna will come to see you. She will for a bit anyway. She and I have some unfinished business too. Also, before you do that, I want you to go to your bank and take all the money out of your accounts. I’m going to need that to find Bridgett and my kids. See if you can hit Giyanna up for hers as well. No credit cards, I hate them things.”
“You’re insane. Positively insane if you think I’d even consider doing that for you. Again, I’m not, but you cannot be serious in thinking that anyone would.” He said that he was as sane as the next person; his temper sounded like it was coming through the phone. “I’m not going to do any of those things. I’m especially not going to confess to something that I haven’t done. I can’t believe that you’d even ask me to do such a thing. Christ, do you have any idea what they’d do to me if it ever came out that I’d had any part in your scheme? They’d disbar me, and I like being an attorney.” “I’m not asking you, damn it. I said to do it before I come out there and show you who’s boss, like I did when you were a kid. There ain’t not one reason that you shouldn’t be doing this for me. I’m older than you, much smarter, and I have some shit that I have to take care of. You got nothing. And you will have an easier time than I would.” Tyrrell hung up the phone and stood up. Listening to Rogan was making him ill to his belly. Even through the glass, he could hear his brother screaming at him to pick it back up. As he stood there, the police officer came up behind Rogan and told him to settle down, and that only seemed to make him angrier. Before he was able to step away from the phone where he’d been seated, Rogan was being pulled away by five officers. Tyrrell sat back down, his knees just too weak to hold him up at the moment. Rogan had really expected him to just confess to murder. To say that he’d killed not only the woman whose body they’d found, but any other body they found as well. And even say that he’d been the one that had messed up the house. Tyrrell wasn’t even around there when that happened, and the police would know that. Tyrrell didn’t know how he made it out to his car, but he found himself sitting in the driver’s seat like he’d been there for a while. Looking at his watch, he figured that he’d been there for a little over an hour. His mind had never shut down, just kept swirling around with
the same thing. My brother wants me to confess to murders, and he thinks that I should be fine with it because that’s what he wants. He wasn’t sure that he could safely drive home, so he rolled down the window and let the breeze filter though his car. He needed to clear his head and to think about what he needed to do. No matter how he tried to spin what was said to him, he knew that Rogan was insane. No one could be sane and think that someone would do what he told him to do. Picking up his phone with shaking fingers, he called the only person that he could think of. He wanted to call his sister, but he knew that she’d be as upset as he was. Instead, he called Tanner and told him what was going on. “You said you told him he was being recorded?” Yes, he told him, and then told him what Rogan had said. “I’ll get a copy of the transcript. They do record those. I’ve used them before. Are you all right? I’m sure that you’re not, but do you want me to come and get you? I don’t mind, I’m out and about anyway.” “You’d do that? Just drop everything and come here?” Tanner told him he was on his way now. “I don’t...I’m so glad that you and my sister are going to be together. You’re a good man. I’m sure you get told that all the time, but I wanted to tell you again. I like you, Tanner, and am glad that we’re going to be related, even though its only through marriage.” “I don’t hear it as often as I’d like to.” Tanner laughed. “I’m joking. My mother would blister my butt but good if she thought that I’d left you stranded anyway. She raised us better than that. And I like you too. I’m glad to have someone to talk to about the law and such, and someone that doesn’t mind calling me when he knows that he’s in trouble with driving. You’re a smart man, Tyrrell.” Tyrrell thought it was more than that, but told him he was thankful that he was coming for him. When he looked at the prison that his brother had been transferred to today, not jail but an actual prison, he asked Tanner why that had happened. “They can’t accommodate someone of his size locally. I guess there was some trouble in the shower stall and he put up a big stink about it. And the fact that they don’t have suits to fit him. Out there, they’re used to men his size and bigger. Also, they have a hospital right there should he get himself hurt.” He asked him if he thought he would. “No, but you have to know that he’s carrying around the extra weight, and it’s going to come and bite him in the ass sooner or later.” “Hopefully sooner. But I learned to live with disappointment at an early age. I keep coming back to him thinking that I should do just what he told me. I’m at a loss as to why he’d think I would.” Tanner said nothing, but Tyrrell realized that he really did hope that—that his brother would die and leave them alone. “Giyanna quit her job, did you know that? She’s going to be living here, I’m assuming with you.” “Yes, she told me. I don’t know about the living with me part; she goes between our house and the hotel once in a while.” Tyrrell knew that they weren’t sleeping together. He thought that if they were, both of them would be a lot more relaxed. “I’m pulling in now, Ty. And I’ve talked to the warden about your car. He’s a wolf too. He said it would be all right for a couple of days if you need to leave it.” Hanging up when he saw the other man’s car, he got out and locked his. This was beyond anything anyone had ever done for him in his hometown. Just getting someone to come help him when he broke his leg two summers ago was like pulling teeth. Getting in the car with Tanner, he thanked him again. “I’m thinking of doing what Giyanna is doing. Not quitting my job, but I’ve had enough of corporate America. I think I’d like to go into practice here—that is, if you’ll take me on as a partner.” Tanner asked him if he was serious. “I am. I miss my sister, and my work has me traveling nearly all the time. I want to have a little fun before I’m too old or too cranky to enjoy it. And please, don’t feel obligated to say yes because of my sister, either. If you don’t take me on as a partner, I’ll just hang out my own sign and be your competition.” “No, I don’t do business that way. But I was actually thinking of asking you if you’d come work with me when this was all over.” He smiled and Ty smiled back. “This will be great. I have the offices that I work from in town. I only have the one client, and I love working for Noah, but you could take on anyone and I could work with you. It might be the best of both worlds for us both.” “Yes, I know about Noah. I’ve not met him as yet, but I’m looking forward to it. Joe can’t say enough good things about him. And he’s done a lot for the town too, I’ve heard.” He put out his hand and they shook on it. “Now I just have to move my household here and find a place to live. Easy, right?” “Do you want a house or an apartment? The reason that I ask is, there is a really nice pool house on our land. They must have moved the pool closer to the house, because the pool house now is set back from the house. It can be converted into two bedrooms, and we can add on if you’d like. Giyanna would love having you that close, I think.” He said that he’d talk to her; she might be sick of him. “I doubt it. She’s having a good time with you being so close. And we’re closing her house in Ireland in a couple of weeks. She’s decided that she wants to keep it in case she wants to go back for a visit or two. I would love that, but that is all up to her.” By the time they were back at Tanner’s home, Ty was ready to move in. Giyanna met them both at the door when they got to the house, and he hugged her and was glad to see her kissing Tanner. He understood her need to take things slowly, but they were in love, anyone could see that. He told her what they’d talked about, skipping over him talking to Rogan. “That would be wonderful. You’d be so close that I could talk to you anytime I wanted. And I have a job. I’m going to work with Jas on the projects that she has going. I’m organized, and she said that’s what she needed.” Tanner said that his grandma wasn’t organized at all. “Yes, she told me. Oh, you have company. We’ve been talking since she arrived. It’s Chris and Myra.” Tyrrell had yet to meet these women, and was looking forward to it. Giyanna invited him to stay for dinner and he told her that he would. Things were moving along now, and as soon as this deal with Rogan was finished, he was going to start living. He’d not been able to do that before, not because of his brother, not directly, but because he was so afraid. He was sick of feeling that way. “Your home is all ready for you, young man.” He asked the brightly colored woman what she meant when she spoke. “You were going to move into the pool house, correct? It’s ready for you.” “Yes. But there were some renovations that need to be done first. Tanner said that there was a bathroom but no shower.” Myra, she told him her name was, said it had one now. And that the basement was finished too. “There’s a basement?” “There is now. Oh, and it will have the same magic that is here in this house. If you’ve not been made aware of it, you should talk to your sister. I believe that she’s been having some fun with it. There is also a cook for you; his name is Gibson, and he’s a witch of some considerable age. You’ll love him.” He said he wasn’t sure he needed a cook. “Everyone does. Come, sit beside me and we’ll get to know each other.” Tyrrell looked at Tanner for some help. “You might as well just say thank you and enjoy it. She’s already done it, and I’ve found that it’s easier to just let her than to try and talk her out of whatever she’s done.” They were all laughing when they sat down, and Ruben brought them all drinks and a platter of fruit. “Now, did you see the babies?” “Oh yes. My goodness, they’re beautiful, aren’t they?” Chris took a bunch of grapes, and Tyrrell noticed that they didn’t disappear from the platter but replenished themselves. “You’ll get used to us, Ty. We’re a very magical group of beings. But I know how you feel. The first few times my magic became stronger, I was as freaked out as you are now.” “So I’ve noticed.” He sort of wished for a scone; he loved the fruit filled ones. As he was reaching for one of the bunches of grapes, his hand was filled with a scone. He looked back at Chris when she laughed. “I’m going to have to get used to this, I think, like you said. It might take some time, but I love that food just comes to you. It might turn out to be bad when I’m as big as a house, but I’ll try and curb it.” “You will, and then wonder how you worked without it. The house that
you’ll be living in, it too will help you out. The rooms will enlarge should you need them to. Furniture will adjust itself to suit you rather than what was put in there. Also, the house is protected. No one will ever be able to enter that has ill will in their heart. All the homes have that.” He nodded and thanked Chris. “No reason to thank me, Tyrrell. We’re just happy that you’re now, and forever will be, a part of this family.” “I’m sure that I missed something in that statement, but I’m a little on edge right now. Tanner had to come and get me at the prison today. It was...it was enlightening, if you want to know the truth.” He looked at Giyanna. “Rogan is nuts.” “I knew that. What sort of man beats his family and thinks it’s all right? But what happened? Tell us what he said to you so I can beat his ass.” He laughed as he hugged her. Finally, he had to tell them what had happened at the prison. “He went on about how I was to take the blame for it because he wanted out of prison. Like that would have even worked. And the fact that he was warned that the place was recording him didn’t even faze him.” Giyanna shivered as he continued. “I’m sorry, honey. I didn’t mean to upset you more.” “You didn’t. I mean, I’m upset, but that’s not the only reason. I heard from Chloe a little while ago, and they’ve found eight bodies so far. And there was one lying on top of the ground, like he had gotten it to the yard and it was too much for him to go on.” Chris said that was just what had happened. “You knew that they were going to find bodies there?” “Yes, there is yet one more that will be found on that property. And I know what you’re all thinking, how did he get this by Bridgett and the kids. It was easy really. She worked, and while she was gone, he would take them out back and bury them. When he was less heavy, it was easier for him. But now that he’s put on that extra weight, he can’t do it as well. There are more women that he’s killed that are buried elsewhere. And once they have his DNA, they’ll attach him to other murders too.” She looked at him and Tanner. “You’ll excuse yourself from the rest of the trial. And tomorrow if you can. There isn’t any reason why you need to be a part of this now that he’s going down for a great many murders.” “What do I tell the judge about not being able to help Rogan anymore? Neither one of us have ever tried a murder case, but I don’t think that’ll be enough, do you?” “Tell him that you’re marrying his sister and you cannot, because of the new charges, be a part of him any longer.” Tanner nodded, but Tyrrell wasn’t so convinced. He asked her why she knew this. “I’m a very powerful witch. The grand witch of all witches. And in that, I have the power to see into the future. While I can’t make any adjustments to it, I can tell you what you should do. I have some very strict rules that I can bend a little but not break. I try to help those that are willing to help themselves, but sometimes people are just too stubborn to listen to me. And it gets them hurt, or sometimes killed.” “Can you tell what’s going to happen?” Chris told him to a point, she could. “Sometimes things happen for a reason. I’m sorry, but I cannot warn people that they are going to perish. And if I do, then the fates will find other ways for those set to die to die.” He asked her if he was set to die at Rogan’s hand. “You’re an immortal, Tyrrell, just as the rest of the Calhouns are. Even if you were injured, you’d not be killed. But there is no reason for you to be harmed either. I promise you this, that once the dust is cleared, you’ll be fine.” “My brother wants me to go and see him.” Chris said that Giyanna should see him. “I don’t want to. I know that I should, just to tell him to fuck off, but I don’t want him to say things to me that I’d just as soon not hear.” “You’re a very brave and strong young woman. You have within you a lioness that will keep you safe and bring out the part of you that will win against him.” Giyanna nodded, but didn’t comment. “I must be going. Myra will be around should you need her. It is always a pleasure to see you, Tanner. You do what I suggested, and things will go better for your lovely mate here.” “I will.” After she was gone, Tyrrell couldn’t shake the feeling that he was missing something in what she’d said. No matter how many times he went over it, he was sure that he should have paid more attention. Oh well, he thought, he’d sleep on it and then it would come to him. If it didn’t, then it might not have been as important as he had thought. ~~~ Tanner was heading up the stairs when he saw Giyanna. She was standing at the top of them staring down at him. He wondered if she was sleep walking, but when he got to the top, she came to him and wrapped her arms around him. He held her tightly and inhaled her scent for himself. “We’re going to have sex, and a great deal of it.” His heart skipped several beats before she spoke again. “I’m not going to wait on you hand and foot, so get that out of your head right now. I’m not going to jump when you tell me to either. I have things I want to do as well, so if you’re thinking I’m going to be at your beck and call, then you can just forget this.” “I’m not sure what this is about, but I’d never expect you to do any of those things.” She nodded and let him go. The warmth of her body being gone made his chill to the bone. “Can you tell me what brought this on?” “Yes. I’ve not been myself since I’ve been here. I’m not a nice person.” He wisely kept his mouth shut. “I’m a fiery red head that is bitchy and has a temper. I’ve been so worried about what my brother was going to do that I became someone that I didn’t like. This is me and all that I am.” “All right. Why now? I mean, you have a reason for letting your inner self go, right?” She told him damn right she did. “Well, can I hear it?” “Chris.” He asked her what she had to do with it. “I’ve been thinking about what she said, that I should go and see Rogan. I’m going to go, but not like I did before, where he had me cowering in the corner like a small child. I’m a fucking adult. And it’s high time that he began to realize that. Also, I’m not going to take him abusing me verbally either. I’m done with his shit.” “Yes, you are.” She continued telling him what she was. He liked this version of her. She was spicy and hot. The freckles on her face were more visible. Tanner realized that she was waiting on him to reply to something she’d said, but he missed it. “I was thinking about how beautiful you are right now, and not paying as close attention as I should have been. Will you forgive me and repeat it please?” The low growl had him nearly laughing, but the look on her face told him that he’d be hurt badly if he did. So, asking her what she had said again, he waited while she had an entire conversation with herself about men and how they listen. Then she stopped and stared at him. “I told you that I love you.” He was stunned into silence. “Did you hear me that time? Or do I need to say it again until you get it? If this is how you’re going to listen to me, or not listen to me, in the future, we’re going to have some issues, you and I.” “I heard you this time. I’m letting it settle into my heart so that I can keep it forever. You love me. You really love me.” She smiled at him, and then came toward him again. “Not that I’m complaining, mind you, but what brought this on?” “I was thinking about you after we head talked today. And I thought of how kind you were and how you made me feel even when I was being childish and letting my heart rule my head. Rogan is never going to change. He’s never going to be a brother that anyone can count on. He’s a monster, a killer, and he just doesn’t care how he gets his way, or who he hurts to get it, so long as things benefit him.” Tanner agreed with her. “I guess coming here, I think in a small way, I was hoping that he’d changed. And with that change, I’d have the brother that I never had. But what I got was so much worse that I couldn’t even think beyond how disappointed I was. But now I have had a good talk with myself, and I’m ready to take him on. With gloves on too. He’s nasty.” Tanner laughed with her this time. “I’m so sorry that you had to have this happen to get that.” She nodded and wrapped her arms around him. “So, thinking of your brother made you realize that you loved me?” Laughing, she shook her head. “No, it was how you rescued me. Gave me time and space to love you like you knew that I would. You never once rushed me into anything, and for that I’m so happy. You just let me come to love you in my own way at my own pace, and that was what I
needed.” He told her that he loved her. “And I love you, Tanner Calhoun. With all my heart.”
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