JJ glares. “Killian leFevre.”
“What’s his deal? Where did he come from?”
“No one knows,” JJ says. “Pretty sure he is up to something. He zoned right in on her, and, yes, Rebekah is a beautiful girl, but it is almost like he was sent for her.”
“You think?” I ask, watching them, and JJ nods.
“Yeah. I’m on red alert with that guy.”
I make a noncommittal noise as I lean back, nursing my beer. For the next couple hours, I watch with JJ as Rebekah, Alena, and Killian all work. The bar gets incredibly busy, and when that happens, no one really speaks to each other, only to relay things they need. Meanwhile, I’m drinking, trying so hard not to think of Taegan.
But then JJ speaks up. “I know you don’t want to hear this.”
I look over to him, and he’s watching me. “This must not be good.”
JJ grins ruefully. “While I know you think she completes you, you’ll find someone else. I know you will.”
“I don’t want anyone else. I want her.”
“Now, you do. But that will change. Don’t worry.”
Still, I shake my head. “No, it won’t. Have you ever been in love, JJ?”
Leaning back in his seat, he laughs. “When in the world do I have time to fall for anyone, boy?”
I shrug. “So that’s a no.”
“It’s a no. I don’t have time, nor have I ever. I had puppy love when I was a teenager, but I don’t feel it was real love.”
“See, I have loved Taegan since I was sixteen. I loved her all through school, and even when she was gone to her homeland. When we got together, I knew I wouldn’t love anyone else. I’ve had this master plan to take over, change the rules, and marry her, but my father…” I trail off because just saying that is enough.
JJ knows how Father is.
“He forbade it, like he does everything else,” he says, shaking his head. “Don’t worry, Oceanus, your time is coming.”
I swallow hard, looking at the top of the bar. “But will it come before Taegan marries?”
Glancing up, I meet his concerned gaze as he slowly shrugs. “That I can’t answer, my boy.”
Before I can say anything else, though, out of the corner of my eye, I see a familiar face. A face I know well, one I grew up with. The face of someone who used to be a close friend but is now an enemy. As I stand, my head whipping in the newcomer’s direction, JJ asks, “Is that Thomas Kelley?”
“Yes, it is,” I growl as I stalk toward him, watching as he speaks to my sister. She is none the wiser as I lean against the bar beside him. “A Kelley, in the Clandestine? That is odd, I’d say.”
I see Rebekah go white as my old friend grins up at me mockingly. Sometimes, I miss the friendship I had with Thomas. We were close, two peas in a pod, but when his father became very sick, he begged me for the formula from my father. I tried to get it for him, but when I couldn’t, Thomas tried to fight me. I figured it was just an emotional response; he was worried for his father. But then Thomas completely stopped talking to me and dragged my name through the mud. Calling me a piece of shit and a liar. I could deal with my name being run through the mud, but I cannot deal with my sister’s life being threatened, and Thomas has done all the threatening. I haven’t spoken to him in years until this moment, and I don’t know the person looking back at me.
Thomas shrugs, his eyes wicked as JJ comes beside me. “Ah, Oceanus, don’t be like that. I thought this club was for everyone in the Works.”
“It usually is, Thomas. But you see, that was before your family threatened the life of my sister.”
Thomas’s face fills with confusion. “Blasphemy. We would never hurt the Princess von Stein.”
“That’s not what we were told,” JJ says sternly. “And because of that, we’d ask you to leave, please.”
Before I can agree and haul his ass out, another voice comes from the left. “Now, boys, can’t we play nice?”
Turning to the source of the voice, I see a very stunning woman standing in all her gorgeous glory looking back at me. She’s wearing a tight black dress, her straight black hair is in a bob, and her honey eyes are in slits. Very familiar honey eyes, ones that belong to a girl I used to date. It was a regrettable mistake during a dark period when I was missing Taegan even more painfully than usual.
“Christiana,” I say, my eyes narrowing as my shoulders go back, on the defensive. “Two shifters in one night, all the product of Frank Kelley. Yeah, this isn’t fishy at all.”
“Oh, please, I’m here to meet my brother,” she says, waving me off and moving past me to sit by Thomas. She smiles sweetly before asking Rebekah, “Can I have a glass of your best Pinot Grigio?”
Rebekah is stark white in the face as she quickly nods before going to work. Looking back to me, Christiana grins while my poor sister looks like a cat in a room full of rocking chairs.
“I promise, boys, we are just visiting. My brother is in from out of town. I’d love to hang out with him outside of our home,” Christiana says, pulling my attention from my worried sister.
Clearing my throat, I shake my head. She’s full of shit. “Well, Christiana, like I told your brother, I find it odd that a rumor has made its way through my family that you’re after my sister, and now you two show up. Tell me that doesn’t stink.”
“Ah, it stinks, but I assure you, we aren’t here but to visit.”
“I don’t trust you, and I won’t apologize for that.”
She waves me off effortlessly, and I don’t miss her smug ass at all. She used to do that to me all the time. It bothered me then as much as it does now. I’m not sure what I saw in the Princess Kelley, but I regret that choice immensely. I probably went after her because she’s not only beautiful but easy.
“Your precious sister is in no danger, and our fathers are to meet tomorrow. Would we really risk something stupid when William von Stein is coming into our home and we need his help?”
What the hell is she talking about? Before I can ask, Thomas clears his throat. “We are honestly just visiting. We don’t wish any ill will to your sister.”
I glance to JJ, unsure what to do, but he only nods. Then I notice that he is tucking his knife back into his pocket. At least one of us had protection; I was just going to take them with my hands. Looking back to the Kelley children, JJ says, “Fine, but we are watching. And Rebekah, you don’t serve them. Vampire, you’re on your own.”
I look to the vampire as he nods. “Yes, of course.”
“Move,” JJ says to Rebekah, and she quickly moves away, down by where we were sitting. I follow her to the end of the bar, my eyes on them and her, on high alert. I don’t know what they are doing, what they are up to, but they won’t touch my sister on my watch. Or ever. I’ll kill them all for her.
As I sit down, JJ sits too, his eyes on them as he speaks very low. “Something is not right.”
“I agree.”
“We should get her out of here.”
“They’ll know we’re scared,” Rebekah says then, and I meet her gaze, nodding.
“She’s right. I want to watch them.”
JJ doesn’t answer at first, but I know he knows Rebekah is right. He just doesn’t want to admit it. Means that Rebekah is growing up, and boy, is she. Though she looks scared to death, she stands proudly, her shoulders back as she pulls in a deep breath and says, “But if they were really wanting to do me harm, wouldn’t they shift into another person they knew I trusted and get me that way? Why would they come at me in front of everyone, in their real bodies? They know I can’t leave, so it isn’t like they can get me, you know? Maybe they are here just to visit.” I look back at her, fully impressed. I hadn’t even thought of that. Shrugging her shoulders, she says, “You know what I mean?”
JJ nods. “Yes, my Rebekah, you’re right, though I still don’t trust them.”
I nod too, my eyes back on them as the vampire is carrying on a very intense conversation. Maybe JJ was right, maybe that
guy is up to something. Looking back to my sister, I hold her gaze as I say, “Yeah, good point, but don’t let your guard down.”
“Didn’t plan on it,” she says with a laugh, and as she turns to serve someone, I look back to JJ.
“That vampire is up to something.”
JJ’s gaze hasn’t left the Kelleys or the vampire, and he nods slowly. “Told you.”
And to think, I thought my biggest and most important issue was my relationship was Taegan.
Really, it’s the fucking shifters and what I assume is their vampire spy.
Or better yet, their assassin.
Chapter Nine
I’m dead asleep when I feel her lips on my jaw.
I almost think I’m dreaming until I open my eyes, blinking in the pitch black to see the outline of her body. Her eyes are sparkling in the moonlight as her naked body warms mine. While I’m giddy to see her, she isn’t supposed to be here. She had a dinner tonight with her brother and his soon-to-be wife. She had said she would be out late with them, wanting to spend time with them, and that she would see me tomorrow. Confused, I wrap my arms around her, kissing her temple, but then I can feel that she is crying.
My eyes widen, and I’m fully awake as I kiss her cheek, whispering, “My love, what’s wrong?”
Choking back a sob, she whispers, “They set a date.”
My body goes cold. Even with the furnace she is putting out, I’m frozen with fear.
For the end is near.
“For?” I ask, wanting to buy time before she tells me what I already know is coming.
“My wedding to him,” she says through her sobs, her body racked with them, shaking my own body. “Oh, Oceanus, I don’t want to marry him!”
Holding her closer, I kiss her temple, her nose, and then the spot between her eyes. “I don’t want you to either, my love,” I say, my eyes closing as I lean into her, needing her. We lie like that for what seems like hours. Neither of us saying anything, neither of us moving. Nothing, just her sobs and the sounds of my soul shattering filling my dark, empty room.
“We can’t run, can we?”
I slowly shake my head. “My father will kill you, Tae. I can’t. I just can’t. I’d rather have you with that dog than take you for myself with the fear of my father finding us.”
Her sobs are deafening, and all I can do is hold her tighter, kissing her and begging her to calm down. “My father said the same,” she whispers through her tears. “I told him about us.”
“Oh, Tae.”
“I know, I should have just let it be. But when he told me, I told him no, that I loved another. He got me by my throat and told me I would not ruin this, that this will help our families more than I realize. That if I didn’t marry Marcello, he’d kill the man I do marry.”
Moving my nose along hers, I swallow hard. “I’m sorry, my love. I wish I knew how to make this better, to make you happy.”
“Just hold me,” she whispers, and I agree, knowing I can do that. Closing my eyes, I make the darkness my friend as her body shatters against mine. I feel out of options, and a part of me is glad that we are doing this until the day she marries him. I’m not ready to say good-bye. Not yet.
And while I don’t want to know, I know I have to know.
“When?” I whisper.
“A little over a month,” she answers, and just like that, my body goes numb. “Five weeks, to be exact.”
We now have an expiration date.
***
It’s been a week since the Kelleys have been to the Clandestine. It’s also been a week since Taegan came into my room to tell me about her upcoming nuptials. A week I’ve spent going through every option to be with Taegan, though I know it’s naïve of me. There is really no option for us—except death. While I might just die without her—yes, very dramatic of me—I can’t live with myself knowing she would die because of me. No, never. So instead, I have four more weeks to love her and give her memories to last her the rest of her life.
At least, that’s what I keep telling myself.
Falling into the seat beside my sister in my father’s office, I grin at her, hoping she doesn’t see the pain I’m in. Rebekah doesn’t smile back, though, not fully, at least. No, she is too nervous.
This is her first meeting of the Patchwork.
As my father takes his spot at the head of the table with his brother, Samuel, I rub Rebekah’s back, giving her support. She is going to be fine. Usually, these meetings are boring as hell. We do have the issue of the shifters, but in the last week, we’ve had no sign of them, nor any threats. I wonder if they are even after Rebekah anymore. JJ seems to think so and has been watching her like a hawk. Along with watching the vampire, Killian.
Neither of them has given us anything to worry about, but JJ still worries. And because he does, I do.
The meeting starts like any other, talking about the goings-on of the Works. And soon, I beyond bored as my father and his brother argue about vampire affairs. Samuel is very pro-vampire and does everything he can to protect them. He’s in love with half of them and has slept with the other half. Father hates it, but he never says anything to Samuel about it. Today, though, they are arguing about the wolves protecting the vampires for their blood runs. Father doesn’t feel we should have to pay for it, but Samuel says they need the protection.
I agree they do, but not at our expense.
“Yes, they will pay,” Samuel pushes, and I roll my eyes. We’ve been discussing this for half an hour. Why was he holding that back? “I’ve already spoken with Alistair. He wants the protection from the rogue vamps and is willing to pay extra.”
“Then why are we discussing this?” I ask, annoyed, as Cyrus nods.
“Exactly. Wasted time, right here,” Cyrus adds as he crosses his arms. “I don’t even know why we care about their affairs.”
“Because they are part of the Works,” I add, glaring over at him. He looks like a slob, scrunched down in his chair with a bored expression on his face. Reaching out, I smack him upside the back of his head as he cries out in distress. “Sit up, you slob. Show some respect.”
Slowly inching back up in the chair, he looks to our father. “Let’s talk about something that matters. Those shifters, for example.”
For the first time since the meeting started, Rebekah sits up, fully paying attention now. “Yes, I agree.”
Father looks to her, though, and shakes his head. “In due time. Tell me, Rebekah, you’ve been spending a lot of time in the bastille. Any news from down there?”
I let my head fall back as Rebekah goes on about the guys who live down in the bastille. It’s our form of prison for the Patchwork people who break the laws my father has established. If he doesn’t kill you, you go down there. Somehow, my sister has fallen in love with the group down there. She goes down there weekly to feed them, bathe them, and read to them. It’s sweet, and while I appreciate her going down there, I worry for her. Those people have killed or stolen from us. Some aren’t good people, yet she doesn’t see the bad in anyone. Only the good.
That will probably get her killed one day.
God forbid.
“Fine, now for what everyone has been waiting for, a recap of my meeting with Frank Kelley.”
Finally. Thank God.
Sitting up, I lean on my elbows, watching as Samuel slowly clears his throat before saying, “You’ve kept us waiting almost a week. Please, out with it.”
Father nods, moving a piece of hair out of his eye. “That reason is because we had a second meeting last night.”
“A second meeting?” JJ asks, crossing his arms over his chest. “I wasn’t aware.”
“No one was,” Father says bluntly, leaning back in his chair. “Last week when I went, we discussed the rumor of his family coming for Rebekah. He denied it, brought his children in. They denied it too, as I thought they would. It’s fine,” he says, waving it off. But I, for one, don’t think it’s fine. Nor does anyone else at the table, but Father
doesn’t notice, he’s too deep in his story. “He asked for the formula, I said no. He then asked for me to heal him, and I agreed.”
He, what? As my mouth drops, I look around the room, finding everyone basically matching my expression. Sputtering with confusion, I demand, “You agreed? Why?”
Father holds up his hand. “For reassurance. He promised he would not send anyone after Rebekah or anyone else if I did—”
“He’s lying!” JJ yells, standing up. “William, this is naïve of you. A dead Frank Kelley is a helluva lot better than a live one! He’s the one who hates you, not his family. They only follow him. But doing this—”
“Will bring the families together, which is what I want. I want unity. I can heal him, give him a second chance at life, but I refuse to make him or his family immortal. I’ve thought this out. This is why there was a second meeting. It’s done.”
JJ lowers into his seat, and I feel Rebekah’s apprehension pouring off her. I look to her as she asks shakily, “So they won’t come after me any longer?”
Father’s eyes soften as he looks to her. “No, my love. He wants the same as I do. Peace throughout the Works.”
I’m hesitant to believe that. “Can we trust him?”
“I don’t think so,” Cyrus says. “Because if so, then why threaten us? What if he’s healed but gets sick again, or Christiana or Thomas do? Then what? Threaten us again for another dose? I feel you’ve set us up for failure.”
“Exactly,” Jonas agrees. “This should have been discussed with all of us.”
Father shakes his head, a reassuring smile pulling at his lips. “My children, I promise you, it will be fine. Frank wants what we want. I know it.”
“He’s a liar, and I don’t trust the lot of them,” JJ mutters, and I couldn’t agree more.
I point to JJ. “Neither do I, Father. I don’t know if this was the right choice.”
“Well, when you run the Works, you can make that decision, my boy. I feel good about this,” Father says, looking to Samuel, who nods slowly.
“It’s four treatments. He messes up within the next year, we’ll just kill him,” Samuel announces, and I cringe. That’s the answer to everything around here.
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