The Power

by Cynthia Roberts

  “The mind reading?” Troy peered over at her. Lillian frowned.

  “I’m not sure. It just does.” Lillian replied in distraction.

  “You hear everyone’s thoughts?” Troy pressed.

  “Not all at once.” Lillian frowned. She met Troy’s curious gaze, and her frown deepened. She wasn’t used to sharing her personal thoughts. “I guess I have to concentrate. It has been so long since I have had to think about how it is actually done.”

  “So you pick someone out of a crowd and listen to their thoughts?” Troy nodded to a tall, black woman in a short, black, leather skirt, tall, red pumps, and a torn, half shirt held up at the right shoulder by a safety pin. Lillian met the woman’s dark chocolate eyes, pretty eyes with flecks of gold, she thought. The woman stared right at her.

  “Here comes the freaks.” the woman thought in distaste. “I’m charging double for this shit!”

  “She believes we have come to pay her for sex.” Lillian voiced, not missing when Troy ducked his head, and seemed to blush. “As a couple. She thinks we’re freaks.” she added, and Troy chuckled in embarrassed amusement.

  “Look straight ahead, Lillian, straight ahead.” he said beneath his breath, and Lillian couldn’t help it, she smiled.

  Chapter nineteen

  They had been working the case for months and had gotten absolutely nowhere. The only almost evidence that they had secured were the statements from would-be witnesses and the ramblings of a deranged Medical Examiner. At none of the scenes had any fingerprints been recovered, nor were any blood or skin samples belonging to their murderer found. Baffled and frustrated, Jack tossed back a beer, and closed the dark folder on the table before him. His hands in his sandy blonde hair, he tugged and groaned out loud. It was late, Wednesday night, and he was at his brother’s restaurant, having just consumed a meal that would have been to die for if he had actually paid attention to what he was shoveling into his mouth.

  “No luck?” Garret slid into a chair opposite of him, and Jack’s amber gaze lifted. He frowned in response, and Garret smiled. “These things take time.” Garret’s voice resembled a pat on the back, a pat that Jack didn’t want.

  “That’s what I hear. I also hear words like incapable…incompetent. Of course those come from the pricks at the FBI, who by the way, haven’t made a dent in the case either.” Jack downed the rest of his beer, and motioned for a waitress that was passing by to bring him another.

  “Well, that proves it then. It isn’t you.” Garret said as if reading his thoughts. Jack leaned back in his seat. He was so tired that he could go home and fall out, he thought, imagining doing just that. It would feel great, and he needed sleep right about now like he needed to breathe.

  “Tell me about Sheila. When is this wedding going to take place?” Jack needed to get his mind off the case.

  “We’re, uh, still working on that.” Garret was the one nursing his beer now.

  “Not getting cold feet, are you?” Jack’s brow lifted.

  “Of course not! You know women; they have to have it just right, the right dress, the right caterer. I tell you all these plans are driving me batty!” Garret complained with a chuckle.

  “But it will be well worth the hassle in the end, right?” Jack inquired.

  “Right.” Garret didn’t sound too convincing. Jack grinned. “What about you, Brother? Who is this mystery woman I’m to meet Friday night?”

  Jack took the bottle of Guinness when it was handed to him, and he took a long, bitter swallow. “Well?” Garret pressed.

  “I don’t know.” Jack shrugged. “She’s…she’s amazing.”

  “Amazing? How?”

  “How isn’t she? She’s beautiful, stunningly so. Wait until you see her.” Jack gushed. “She…I don’t know, she just does something for me that no other woman ever has.”

  “Oh that?” Garret joked, and Jack tossed his bottle cap at his brother, who chuckled at his expense. Jack grinned.

  “We haven’t gotten to that part yet.” he confessed. “But God, Garret, I can’t stop thinking about her. Amidst all of this chaos, and murder, and everything.”

  “Sounds like she may be the one?” Garret cocked a dark brow. Jack looked up, his amber gaze connecting with Garret’s suddenly serious stare. His heart seemed to pause in his chest at the thought.

  “Maybe.” Jack replied, and he thought it over. Maybe, he thought again. When Lilly had called him back the other night, they had stayed on the phone for hours. They hadn’t discussed the case or even about the business she was conducting in Boston. She had asked him over his family and his life, and he had ended up telling her his entire life story, or so it had seemed. There had been plenty of content sighs, and rich laughter, and Jack had been mesmerized by the low, hypnotic sound of her voice. God, she had a sexy voice! This thing between them was growing fast, moving fast. How could that be? He was up to his forehead in blood, gore and murder for Christ’s sake! The last thing that he should be thinking about was a relationship! His mind should be on the case! But damned if he wasn’t tempted to hand this one over to the Feds just so he could spend more time with Lilly! What was it about this woman that had grasped his attention so completely? Yes, she was beautiful, but it was more than that, so much more. His heart panged in his chest just thinking of her. He missed her, he realized, very much so.

  “Where did you go?” Garret asked knowingly.

  “Heaven?” Jack raised a dark blonde brow. Garret chuckled, and took a swig of his beer.

  “That’s it, Brother! I’ve got to meet this woman and soon.” Garret ordered.

  “Friday night.” Jack promised, and he grinned.

  “Just don’t beat me to the alter.” Garret pointed the neck of his beer bottle warningly at Jack. Jack’s grin fell, and Garret laughed at his expense.

  “Now who has cold feet?” he accused, making Jack swallow. He had barely known Lillian a little over a month, but already he felt as if he didn’t want to live his life without her. How insane was that? Jack nursed his beer. He had a lot to think over, he decided, and he tipped back his beer again, finishing it off.

  Chapter twenty

  The scent was fresh like flowers or freshly spun silk. The soap that she washed with was pleasant and appeasing, he thought as he drew it in. He watched her as she walked from an older model car toward a stone, apartment building. It was dark and the parking lights were dim, but he could see her as if it were as clear as day. She was tall. He had known that she would be so, for even as a child she had been lengthy. Her legs, though incased in baggy, tan slacks, he could see were slender and shapely. Her waist was tiny and her breasts small, but adequate. Her hair was her greatest treasure, a strawberry blonde like a burnt sunset that he had not seen for hundreds of years. He imagined its warmth wrapped firmly around his fingers and the thought pleased him immensely. She had done well for herself, Nicole Harold. He had kept track of her over the years, waiting for just the right moment to reintroduce himself. She had studied like a busy little bookworm, had graduated college with honors, and had gone on to medical school at Harvard, only to return here to New York City to take care of her ailing aunt. She worked now as a Medical Examiner, the top in her field. She was intelligent. He liked that about her. He liked her independent spirit as well. He would own her, and she would worship him. He had decided this long ago. It was as it should be. He would possess her, and perhaps that would make up for his loss of the other.

  He heard when the keys in her hand dropped to the pavement, and moving more quickly than the human eye could comprehend, he made it to her side, and bent to retrieve those keys before her pale slender hand could clasp them. A startled yelp escaped her, but when she looked up, and those beautiful blue eyes fastened on his face, a look of calm awe came into them.

  “Good evening.” he said, and a slow smile lit her face. “Here. Allow me.” he placed her keys in her small hand, and all she could seem to do was smile up at him as they both rose to their feet, he standing a f
ew inches over her. “These lights are so dim. Someone should complain about that to the manager of this place. It isn’t safe for beautiful, young ladies such as yourself to be out in these shadows. Who knows who or what could be lurking about?” His feigned outrage over the lights, or rather lack of, had her smiling from ear to ear. He watched as she tucked flyaway strands of long curls back behind her ear.

  “And who is to say that you are not the one lurking?” she asked in a flirtatious manner. He smiled then. He had her right where he wanted her, he realized.

  “Actually, I have just come from visiting a client of mine.” he nodded back toward her apartment building. “When I saw you out here all alone, I couldn’t just walk away. I came to see if you might allow me to show you safely to the door?” he allowed a dark brow to rise curiously.

  “My mother always warned me of talking to strangers.” she ducked her head almost shyly, and Ewan grinned.

  “That is good advice, my lady.” he bowed regally before her, and he prepared to walk away, knowing already that she would stop him.

  “What is your name, sir?” she called after him, and he grinned, though his back was to her. Yes. Right where he wanted her!

  He turned, facing her with his hands locked behind his back. “My name is Ewan. Ewan Derringer.” he told her, “And you are?”

  “Nicole. Dr. Nicole Harold.” she said.

  Lilly was late meeting Jack in the living room of her home by over thirty minutes, but when she stepped into the room in a long, red gown that slid smoothly over her long, lithe, luscious body, Jack could barely remember his earlier felt impatience. “I’m late.” she voiced with a smile. “I apologize.”

  “Apology accepted.” Jack breathed out, not being able to tear his gaze from her. He rushed forward and took up her slender hand in surrendered awe. The feel of her cool, soft fingers brushing his palm caused his heart to take off in rapid beats.

  “You look beautiful.” his amber gaze fell over her from head to toe and appreciated every inch of her stunning beauty.

  “Thank you, Jack. So do you.” she countered shyly, and he didn’t know if to laugh or thank her for the compliment. Beautiful? Him?

  “Are you ready to go?” he asked, and she nodded with a smile tossed over her shoulder to the three men who stood there like father, and older brothers there to send their little sister off to the prom. Jack grinned at the thought, and shook his head as Lillian looped her arm through his and walked by his side out to his Mustang. Jack helped her in and shut the door behind her.

  “I’m nervous.” She confessed as Jack climbed in behind the wheel, and pulled on his seatbelt, nodding for Lilly to do the same. She smiled, and slipped the seatbelt into place.

  “You shouldn’t be. Garret should be nervous about meeting you.” he countered with a smile as he started the engine and pulled out of the drive.

  “Oh Jack, you didn’t tell him I come from money, did you?” she scoffed.

  “No, I didn’t.” Jack met her lovely eyes to say. “Besides, Garret is somewhat of a success himself. His restaurant is A-listed. Movie stars dine there, you know?” he raised a dark brow, and Lillian smiled.

  “You’re proud of your brother.” she acknowledged

  “Very much so.”

  “And he is proud of you?” she took his hand and squeezed when Jack didn’t answer straight away. “He is.” she said in a reassuring tone. “How could he not be?”

  “I’ll feel like a peasant sitting there with the two of you tonight.” He teased, but Lilly didn’t laugh, and Jack worried that his hang-ups where money was concerned was upsetting her again. He squeezed her hand to let her know that it was all right.

  It took them twenty minutes to get to the restaurant. A line was already gathered outside, but Jack pulled Lilly along through it, and was let in by Larry, the door attendant, much to the crowd’s annoyance.

  Jack led Lilly up a set of black, iron stairs that curved around on themselves to the balcony floor. Garret stood and smiled in greeting, pulling Sheila along with him. Introductions were made, and Garret agreed that Lillian was just as beautiful as Jack had told him she was. They sat down and ordered dinner. When the waiter spoke in French and Garret answered fluently, Jack felt out of his element. Garret turned to Lillian, and asked over her order, and that was when Lillian squeezed Jack’s hand, and ordered for herself in perfect French. Impressed and feeling more like a skunk in a house of beautiful, expensive cats Jack settled back against his comfortable seat and smiled over at Lillian.

  “You speak French?” he asked knowingly.

  “Oui Monsieur.” she quipped.

  Garret and Sheila chuckled in amusement as the waiter went off to give their order to the kitchen.

  “Anything else I should know?” Jack asked, watching her face.

  “I also speak a bit of Italian.” she replied, and he swallowed, and ducked his head. “It’s for my job, Jack.” she explained as if her being multi-lingual were something to be ashamed of.

  “Jack says that you’re an artist?” Garret asked loudly from across the table, and Jack could have hugged his brother for coming to his rescue. The last thing that he wanted was to make Lilly feel bad about where she came from, or who she was!

  “Yes.” Lilly’s gaze went to his brother.

  “You paint?”

  “Yes, mostly portraits with some landscapes thrown in here and there.”

  “I’ve seen some of your work. Very impressive. I wish I held such talent, but I doubt I could draw a stick figure.” Sheila laughed. Lilly smiled, and it took Jack’s breath away. Still, it was difficult not to feel inadequate in her presence. Did she know how wonderful, how special she was?

  Lillian felt Jack’s unease and she longed to comfort him. Had she overdone it by speaking French? Why had she done that? Because you want his brother to like you, she reminded herself, and she smiled over at the friendly, yet intimidating couple. She had not done this in ages, tried to join in polite conversation, to be part of a group. It was a bit unnerving. Quietly, she looked to Jack, who was nursing his glass of red wine. He gave her a reassuring smile, but she could read of his thoughts that he, too, was feeling inadequate.

  Dinner was spent with talk of the men’s childhood. Garret shared an embarrassing story from when the men were young, of a time when he had locked Jack out of their home in only a towel when the Craymire twins were cruising their street one evening. Jack had looked thoroughly embarrassed, but he had laughed, and related his own embarrassing story concerning his brother.

  “Were you nervous. I don’t think I saw you take a bite of your food all night.” Jack commented with a smile as they climbed back into his car.

  “That’s because I don’t eat human food, Jack. It would not sit well in my stomach, you see, as I am used to only blood for my nourishment,” Lillian thought to say. She turned and looked out her window instead.

  “That wasn’t so bad was it?” Jack scooped up her hand, and gently ran his long, thick fingers along the edges of her own. It felt nice. So this was what a date felt like, Lillian mused? She had never been on one officially. Her experience with the opposite sex was limited to evil immortals and now to a kind, wonderful human being. “What is it?” Jack asked as if reading her mind, and Lillian smiled at the thought. If only this could be, Jack, she thought and she ducked her head in regret.

  “You didn’t have a good time tonight?” Jack guessed, and Lillian met his gaze.

  “It isn’t that.” she whispered. Silently, she wished that she could tell him everything. She had once upon a time, she mused. She had told him absolutely everything about her immortal self, on a ship bound for America over a hundred years ago! If in fact, the man sitting beside her was indeed the same man from her past. Jackson had stood beside her even after he had known the truth concerning her, she recalled warmly.

  “Tell me.” Jack encouraged as he drove toward destination unknown. Lillian looked away. How could she tell him anything? It was too soon. It wasn�
�t the right time! Would it ever be the right time? How did one tell someone that they were a cold blooded killer, or worse: that they were a walking corpse?

  “I had a wonderful time tonight.” she whispered instead, feeling the frustration pulse through Jack’s body.

  “Something is wrong.” Jack stated knowingly and he squeezed her hand.

  “No.” Lillian lied, and she forced a smile. Jack frowned back.

  “I wish you would confide in me.”

  “Be careful what you wish for.” Lillian bit out, and she pulled her hand from Jack’s grasp. Jack took a left, and suddenly, Lillian knew that they were headed back to her home. He was upset. She could feel it within him, the frustration, the hurt that she would not confide in him.

  When they arrived in her drive, Lillian opened her door, and stepped out before Jack could even kill the engine. Jack hurried out after her, catching her by the arm as she started up the front steps.

  “What is this about? What have I done?” he demanded in a pleading tone that seemed to tear at her insides. She didn’t want to hurt him, but how could she not? It wasn’t safe for him to be around her. She had taken things too far!

  “Nothing.” She whispered brokenly, and he pulled her back to face him. Gently, he tucked her chin, and her eyes locked on to his. Jack moved forward. His breath was warm on her face and she knew that he meant to kiss her. Reaching up to the back of his head, she pulled him down to meet her lips and she kissed him with everything that she had felt awakening inside of her since the moment she had laid eyes on him. He was Jack Stone, but wasn’t he also Jackson as well? It was possible. It had to be! Jack’s hands tangled in the back of her hair. He stepped in closer, tilting her head back as his mouth moved expertly over hers, as his tongue dove into the depths of her moist mouth, and she surrendered to him heart, body, and soul.