Breaking Fate

by Georgia Lyn Hunter

  “Hmm… my sibling must do because he greeted me with ‘what in the blazes took you so long to get back?’”

  Darci’s eyes widened. “You’re kidding, right?”

  “I wish.” Nora’s expression turned pensive. “I'm doing some work for him. He’s so impatient to get it done. My father’s usually too busy, so I rarely get to see him.”

  “I'm sorry,” Darci said softly. It was hard enough growing up without parents, but she was so grateful Declan loved her, even if he was a tad over-protective.

  Nora had told Darci her mother had died when she’d been very young. And her brother had her working her tail off. He was a collector of rare and old artifacts. Right now, she was tracking a vase or something for him.

  “Nora?” Irina cut a quick look their way. “You're coming next Saturday, right?”

  “For?”

  Irina rolled her gray eyes. “Duh, my engagement.”

  “Ah, so you and Thomas the hunk finally decided to make it legit?” Nora teased.

  “Yup. Or be castrated, since my five brothers found out he’s been having sleepovers at my place for several months.” Irina added another book to the pile on the counter that looked in danger of toppling over. Darci hastily scooped up the wobbly stack of returns and loaded them in the cart.

  Nora laughed. “Now, how can I miss that? I’ll be there.”

  Darci’s cell phone vibrated near the computer. Her heart thudded as she took it and did a quick scan for Lester. The dried-up old stick didn't care for personal calls, but she refused to ignore hers in case it was Blaéz again. Or Grace.

  “Take it, I’ll keep watch.” Irina winked.

  “Thanks.” Darci answered her call. “Hello.”

  “It’s me.”

  The sound of his voice, like cool velvet stroking her senses, was enough to make her knees give way. She leaned against the counter and tried to calm her racing heart.

  “Darci?”

  “I'm here. Are you all right?”

  “You asked me that once before,” he murmured almost absently… then, “I want to see you.”

  “All right. I get off at six—”

  “No, now.”

  Her fingers clenched around her cell. He sounded too cold, distant. The knot in her stomach intensified. Damn, Lester would go ape-shit if she took off at their busiest time. “Blaéz—”

  “I'm outside.”

  The knot loosened. “Okay, see you in a minute.” She ended the call and glanced around the busy library. If Lester found out she’d ducked work, he would so fire her ass. But much as she loved her job, she had to see Blaéz, see that he was okay, especially after the way he’d left her that morning, followed by his odd, silent call.

  “Cover for me,” she whispered to Irina.

  “Gotcha,” the girl said with an irrepressible smile. “Toilet break, if he-who-shall-not-be-named asks.”

  “Thanks.” Darci turned to Nora, unable to satisfy her friend’s curiosity. “I'm so glad you're back, but I need to go.”

  “Is Grace all right?” Nora asked in concern.

  “No—no, she’s fine. Let’s meet at Hannigan’s and we’ll catch up, okay? I’ll call you.”

  Darci straightened her cream top over her cinnamon pencil skirt and hurried outside, cell clutched in one hand. The noon sun, warm and bright, almost blinded her. She shielded her eyes and glanced around the busy street for Blaéz’s car.

  A warm, callused hand snagged hers. Her heart skipping, she spun around and met his pale eyes. Without a word, Blaéz pulled her along with him, sidestepping several people headed for the library. Of course, the women would stop and stare at him — he was that gorgeous. It did her bruised heart a world of good that he didn't even notice.

  They rounded the corner into a quiet, shadowy lane. Blaéz hauled her to him, taking her mouth in a breathtaking kiss. Stunned out of her mind, it took Darci a moment to react. Then she kissed him back, drowning in his taste. She inhaled his clean, masculine scent. God, she’d missed him, even though it had only been a few hours.

  His arm tightened around her waist as he deepened the kiss, his tongue caressing hers with deep strokes. Caught in a maelstrom of desire, Darci gave herself up to his possessive demands…

  As the furious tide of passion ebbed, his mouth gentled over hers. Darci broke away and gulped in much-needed air. He rested his brow against hers. Voices and a car honking brought her back to where she was.

  “I needed that,” he murmured. “Needed to hold you.”

  His words warmed the cold pit in her chest that had formed when he’d walked out. She eased back, but only as far as his banded arm would allow, which wasn't much considering her nose practically touched his lowered chin when she looked up and met his turbulent gaze. “I was so worried.”

  “Don’t be. I'm a selfish bastard—”

  “No. You were badly hurt, it’s understandable.”

  He brushed her lips with his thumb then followed its path with his tongue. Her breath hitched. “I need to know we’re good.”

  Did he think she’d walk away because of what had happened? Leave him when he was in pain? That wasn't her style. Her heart settled. A smile lifted her mouth. “Yes, we are.” Still, that deep-seated worry wouldn’t leave. She searched his face. “The wound’s healed?”

  The hunger in his eyes faded a little. His mouth tightened.

  She didn't push. Whatever this thing was between them was so new. And Blaéz, she was starting to understand, was a very complex man.

  “The wound’s healed.” He surprised her with an answer. “I'm sorry about the lamp.”

  “Don’t be. Ikea practically gives them away.”

  A hint of a smile appeared. One that always made her heart melt.

  Her cell beeped. Sighing, she lowered her one hand from his neck and read the text. Damn. “I have to go. Lester’s on the prowl.”

  “I’ll talk to him.”

  Ah, so protective. But, heck no. Then she’d definitely get fired. “No, it’s fine. Will I see you this evening?”

  A short nod.

  “Okay.” She spun away.

  He grabbed her hand, pulled her back into his arms and just held her. His chest expanded as he inhaled deeply, then his mouth brushed her brow light as butterfly wings before he let her go.

  Her heart clipping like a racehorse, she gave him a tremulous smile and hurried up the lane back towards the library.

  Chapter 10

  Darci glared at her sister-in-law’s smiling face as laser lights flashed around them, the rock music near deafening in Soho’s Club 59.

  She should have known by Grace’s evasive phone call that afternoon, wanting to know if she’d be home that night that something was up. She’d envisioned a quiet evening with them. Instead, they’d dragged her to dinner to celebrate their seventeenth anniversary and met up with Declan’s friend, Alex, at the restaurant.

  That she didn't mind. It was after, when they’d decided to hit a club for a few hours that she’d wanted to leave. But Declan had insisted. The last thing she wanted was to tell her over-protective brother why she didn’t want to be there, so she gave in and went along.

  She glanced in the direction of the bar where Declan and Alex had gone to get drinks. She’d met Alex once, weeks ago at a dinner her brother had given. Alex had been new in town, and just hired at the law firm Declan worked for. Of all her brother’s friends, she liked Alex the best. The guy was easy to get along with. More, he wasn't interested in her — at least not in a romantic way.

  “It’s been a long night, shouldn’t you go home and rest, Grace?” Darci leaned closer to yell over the loud music. Hopefully, Grace would agree, then Darci could go home, too.

  “I have Dec for all that worrying.” Grace patted Darci’s hand, still looking a little too pale. “I'm fine, really. I needed this after everything that happened. Don’t worry, I'm not going out there to do something reckless like dance, not when I fought so hard to keep this little one inside me.�
��

  When she put it like that, Darci felt like the worst person on the planet for coercing Grace to leave. “Whose idea was the club scene anyway?” she asked, glancing at the jittery dancers.

  “Mine, of course. I thought you’d enjoy the night out after seeing Lester’s face all day long.”

  Darci wrinkled her nose and turned back to Grace. “Is that your way of reminding me I'm almost twenty-seven and still single?”

  Grace smiled.

  Darci snorted then narrowed her eyes as something clicked — just the four of them? “No, you didn't? Tell me you didn't — Alex?”

  Grace grimaced. “What can I say? Declan was so happy you finally showed an interest in a guy, he invited Alex tonight.”

  “Oh, Lord!” Darci slammed her palms several times against her brow. “I mention some guy looks good, and Declan drags them to me? The very thought is mortifying.”

  “Don’t forget you love his green eyes,” Grace chimed in helpfully.

  Darci glared at her sister-in-law. She’d stated in passing that Alex had nice eyes. Apparently, it had sealed the deal in her brother’s books. Jeez!

  It wasn’t green that consumed her thoughts but tones of glacier blue. Thoughts of Blaéz made her smile. She’d texted him that she wouldn’t be home. He hadn't responded. Hopefully, he wasn't too upset she’d cancelled last minute. If she had her way, she wouldn’t even be here. But she had to rectify the situation concerning Alex.

  “You do know Alex is gay, right?”

  Grace stilled and then she laughed. “I had wondered about him. Oh darn, Declan will be so crushed. He thought this was the one. I’ll tell him later.”

  Darci just shook her head, her mind back on Blaéz and that stunning kiss they had shared outside the library. Gently, she touched her lips. Her stomach fluttered in anticipation of seeing him again. Maybe she’d call him once she got back home.

  “Now there’s a smile I haven’t seen like in… forever. Who is he?”

  “No one—” The denial rushed out.

  At Grace’s arched eyebrow, Darci scrunched her nose and played with her cell phone lying on the table. No getting away from her observant relative. “Just someone I met recently. And yes, I like him very much — that’s all I'm saying. I need the restroom, be right back.” She made her escape. After her dismal relationship failures, she didn't want to discuss Blaéz and risk jinxing this.

  A few minutes later, Darci left the ladies’ room and headed back to her table. A prickle darted across her skin. The fine hairs on her nape rose. She slowed and looked around the dance floor, then to the table where Grace sat, but she couldn’t see anyone who spiked this intense awareness.

  Another sweep around the place and her heart skidded to a halt. Only by his height did she pick him out. Blaéz stood to the side of the corridor leading toward the exit.

  He saw her and made his way over in that loose-limbed, sexy saunter that was his alone, sidestepping a boisterous crowd.

  She smiled as he drew closer. “Hey.”

  His expression held all the warmth of ice. He didn't respond, just grasped her hand and headed back for the entrance. Damn, he probably thought she was blowing him off after her text, and took off to a club instead. She had to explain before he believed the worse. “Blaéz, wait—wait.”

  The man either couldn’t hear her with the loud music or was ignoring her. She suspected the latter. She tugged at his hand. “Blaéz!”

  He stopped dead, and she crashed into him. Crap! Hitting a wall would have probably been softer. Grimacing, she rubbed her sore nose and stepped back. “How did you know I was here? New York’s littered with like a million clubs.”

  Those unnerving pale eyes nailed hers. “I called you, a female answered.”

  Right, she’d left her cell phone on their table in her haste to escape Grace’s question. Darci frowned — wait, she’d barely been gone a few minutes to the restroom, he’d gotten here that quickly?

  Before she could ask, he said, “‘I'm not home for the night’?”

  At his cold reiteration of her hasty text, Darci winced at the unintentional provocative wording. Ugh, she’d had to text fast with her brother and Grace hovering. “I'm sorry. My brother and sister-in-law turned up. It’s their anniversary. They wanted to go out—”

  “Dars? What’s going on?” At her brother’s sharp voice, she froze.

  Blaéz’s eyes narrowed as Declan stepped protectively to her side. Somehow, he must have seen Blaéz drag her off. Damn, damn, damn! So not how she wanted this first meeting between them to occur.

  Grace appeared, her expression alive with curiosity. She handed Darci her evening purse. At another’s presence on her right, Darci groaned. Alex had turned up as well, probably as backup for Declan. With Blaéz dressed in leathers, and that cold stare, appearing all badass lethal? No, he wouldn’t inspire the confidence her protective family demanded.

  Darn it! Why did these things only happen to her? And why couldn’t Alex act gay or something?

  Blaéz folded his arms over his chest, looking too big, too dangerous, too… everything.

  Aggression oozed off Declan.

  Before things got out of hand, she hastily made the introductions. “Blaéz, this is my brother, Declan. Grace, my sister-in-law, and that’s Alex, a friend. Dec, Blaéz was the one who rescued Daniel and brought him to me.”

  His narrowed eyes filled with suspicion, Declan cut her a sharp look. “Why didn't you tell me this?”

  “You were upset that night. You just came in and hauled Daniel home, remember?”

  “Honey.” Grace rubbed his biceps. “Why don’t we go outside and have this conversation? It’s far too noisy in here.”

  His jaw rigid, Declan nodded.

  Blaéz grasped her hand again and pulled her along with him like she had no sense of direction. Some distance from the club, he stopped next to a black SUV parked at the curb near a gloomy building. His fingers slid to her nape, warm and heavy, he drew her against him.

  Darci thought for sure her heart would crash through her ribs and land at her feet at his possessive gesture in front of her family. And there went her brother’s eyes again — narrowing. Grace smiled. Yep, her sister-in-law already knew Blaéz was the one Darci had spoken of.

  “What exactly is it you do?” Declan demanded of Blaéz.

  Darci answered in a breathless rush, “Blaéz is, er, special ops.”

  She could practically feel Declan struggle to accept what she’d revealed. That Blaéz wasn’t really a thug.

  Good manners finally won over. “Thanks for saving my son.”

  “No thanks necessary, just doing my job.”

  “No,” Grace said softly, a hand on her pregnant tummy, “if it weren’t for you, I dread to think what could have happened to Daniel.”

  Declan rubbed Grace’s arm in a soothing gesture. “Daniel will be fine, love. He’s safe with your parents now.” He glanced back at Darci. “I think we should head home. Alex will drive you.”

  Declan obviously refused to give up on his matchmaking.

  “There’s no need. I will.”

  At Blaéz’s resolute tone, Darci knew nothing would shift him from what he wanted.

  Declan looked ready to peel her away from Blaéz and drag her off himself.

  To avoid any more discord, Darci told her brother with quiet determination, “Dec, I’m leaving with Blaéz.”

  His features tightened. When he didn't say a word, Darci swallowed her sigh. She hugged Grace and hissed softly, “Tell him about Alex.”

  It was the only way Declan would ever give Blaéz a chance.

  ***

  As they drove toward East Village, possessiveness and betrayal tore through Blaéz. This surprised him since he’d felt nothing when he’d received her text, he only knew she’d broken her promise to him.

  Her careless disregard of their plans had made him recall too much of his other life. The Morrigan was noted for her false promises, especially when it came to
him.

  She’d taken him, a servant, soon after he’d passed his twelfth summer and made him her squire. Like a fool, he’d been so excited that the Great Queen of Unius — the subterranean realm of the Celtic pantheon — had favored him. But it had all been a lie. She’d wanted him close, but not close enough to tell the entire nation the truth — a truth he’d accidently found out on his twentieth year of birth of who he really was.

  His emotions churned like an aerated geyser. Too late, he saw the red light and slammed on the Range Rover’s brakes. The vehicle skidded to a halt.

  Darci grabbed the dash, her gaze rushing to him. She blew out a rough breath. “Blaéz, look, I’m sorry about the way my brother acted, and for canceling on you last minute. I didn't want to go, but it’s Declan and Grace’s anniversary. They’ve been through so much in the past few years, I could hardly say no.”

  Family. The word seeped into his chaotic mind. She hadn't stood him up… her family was important to her. His thoughts drifted to the copper-haired human who’d stood so protectively behind her. Blaéz’s fingers tightened on the steering wheel. “Who is he, the other male?”

  “Alex? He’s a friend — well, more Declan’s friend, really.”

  Her brother, it appeared, favored the man for her.

  Over his decaying corpse would Blaéz let that happen, and since he couldn’t die… yeah, never. But the sense of unease rolling through his gut just wouldn’t quit. Declan disliked him, it didn't take a genius to figure that out. And Darci loved her brother. What if she did as he wanted and refused to see him any longer? That thought shot Blaéz’s already filthy mood into the gutter.

  Moments later, he pulled up outside the brownstone. She opened the door and turned to him. “Are you coming in?”

  “No,” he said, tone flat. “You’re home, safe. I’ve work to do.”

  Her gaze widened before narrowing. “Really? You brought me all this way just so I wouldn’t leave with Alex?” She shoved her hair off her face with an impatient hand, eyes citron in ire. “I don’t believe this. Blaéz, Alex is my brother’s gay friend. And, what? You plan to make me a prisoner in my own home? Let’s get one thing straight. I agreed to see you, not have you run my life.”