Chapter 34
CHAPTER 34
A mara sat at the long table, surrounded by laughter and warm conversation. The women around her, Mates of the Warriors, welcomed her as if she had always belonged. She was trying her best to keep everyone straight, but there were so many of them, and each had their own unique energy. They were strong, confident, and fiercely protective of their men. She admired them.
She had met most of them before, back when Joey was in the hospital, but at the time, her mind had been in too much of a haze to truly absorb anything. Now, sitting among them, she felt something she hadn’t felt in a long time...a sense of belonging.
“So, you and King, huh?” Nicole, Damon’s Mate, teased, a knowing grin stretching across her face.
Amara’s head snapped up, her cheeks instantly heating. “What? Oh, ah...” God, she sounded like a total idiot.
Nicole smirked with a laugh. “Mmhmm. She’s got it bad girls.”
Beside her, Tessa laughed. “Oh yeah, she does.”
Amara groaned, dropping her face into her hands. Oh, my God.
Lana, who had been sitting across from her, leaned in. “Warriors have a way to make us speechless.” She grinned wiggling her eyebrows. “And King is very handsome.”
Her eyes found him across the room, standing near Joey, Sid, and a few of the other men. He must have felt her gaze because, without hesitation, he turned his head, locked eyes with her, and winked.
Amara’s stomach flipped as she quickly dropped her gaze to the table. She was sure the heat in her cheeks had gone from a light blush to a full-blown inferno.
“Are all the Warriors so...” Amara couldn’t think of the word that would relay what she wanted to say, but the response she got before she even finished told her that the Mates knew precisely what she was talking about.
“Yes!” They all said simultaneously and began to laugh.
“I didn’t even finish.” Amara chuckled, feeling normal for the first time in a long time.
“Honey, you didn’t have to,” Caroline said with a huge grin. “They are all the above.”
“Joey thinks the world of King,” she added feeling comfortable with the women. “That’s all he talked about before I even met him. He actually talked about a lot of you.”
That made them all pause, their teasing smiles softening into something more heartfelt.
“It meant so much to him when you all came to his recitals.” Amara smiled, genuinely grateful for these people. “He never really had much of a family outside of Lee and me, but you all… you showed up for him. That means everything.”
Lana reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “That’s what family does, Amara. And whether you realize it or not, you’re one of us now.”
The words hit Amara harder than she expected, emotion swelling in her throat.
For so long, it had just been her, Lee, and Joey against the world. But now? Sitting here, surrounded by these women who had taken her in without hesitation, who had been there for Joey when she had been in hiding…she could never repay their kindness.
The night stretched on in easy conversation and laughter, the warmth of full bellies and good company making the world outside feel far away.
Amara had to admit that Sid’s cooking was incredible. Every bite had been a burst of flavor, the kind of meal that made you feel at home, even if you weren’t. Now, with her stomach so full it ached, her body felt heavy, satisfied, and sluggish. It was the kind of comfortable tiredness that made her want to curl up somewhere soft and drift into sleep.
She smiled as she listened to the women talk, soaking in the feeling of belonging, something she hadn’t realized she craved until now.
“Tessa said you were a photographer,” Lacey said, drawing Amara’s attention.
Lacey was stunning. All the women were beautiful, but Lacey had a classic beauty that was matched by her personality. Amara had learned over the course of dinner that her mate was Viktor. And the two of them together...wow. They looked like they belonged on a movie poster or like one of those couples that made you believe in fairy tales.
“I am,” Amara smiled at her trying not to stare like a weirdo.
“What do you photograph?” Lacey asked, her expression genuinely curious.
“Everything,” Amara admitted with a laugh. “But to pay the bills, I’ve done weddings, birthday parties, anniversaries—basically whatever keeps the lights on.” She shrugged. “Every once in a while, I take a picture that a magazine wants to buy. I’ve finally made a name for myself, so now I get calls for specific projects.”
“That’s amazing,” Lacey said with a warm smile.
“I took photography in high school and loved it,” Becky chimed in. She had a bright, engaging energy, and Amara liked her instantly. “I thought I’d go further with it, maybe make it my career.”
Amara tilted her head, intrigued. “Why didn’t you?” Her gaze flickered to Sloan instinctively before shifting back to Becky. It was impossible not to wonder what it was like to be his Mate. Sloan Murphy had a presence that was powerful, commanding, and intense. But Becky? She had a quiet strength in her that made perfect sense how she and Sloan worked together.
Becky’s lips curled into a smirk, amusement dancing in her eyes. “Unprotected sex,” she said, then chuckled. “Which, honestly, gave me my greatest blessing...my son, Frankie. But it also put a pause on a lot of my girlhood dreams.”
Something about the way she said it—so blunt, yet filled with love made Amara smile. “It’s never too late to pick up the camera,” she said, her voice soft but certain.
Becky nodded, but Amara noticed a sudden sadness that filled her eyes before her attention was pulled away to someone else.
“What do you like to photograph the most?” Nicole asked, curiosity in her voice.
Amara didn’t even have to think about it. “People.”
She saw the interest spark in Nicole’s eyes, so she continued.
“A single picture of someone can tell you so much about their life story, their emotions, even the things they try to hide.” She let out a small breath, her fingers instinctively itching for her camera. “If you look hard enough, you can see them, really see them, in a way words can’t always capture.”
A brief silence settled over the group. Then Lacey smiled. “That’s beautiful.”
“She’s done nudes for a paycheck, too.”
The voice froze her in place. It wasn’t just any voice. It was her brother’s. Her stomach dropped. The room seemed to shift as conversations around her faded. Every muscle in her body went rigid, her heart hammering against her ribs.
No. It wasn’t possible.
“Oh, shit,” Caroline’s voice cut through the stunned silence. She shot up so fast that her chair scraped against the floor. “Lana!”
As she turned, Amara barely registered what was happening, her breath lodged in her throat. Lana sat next to her, completely calm, wearing a knowing grin. But as Amara stared, horror spreading through her veins, that grin became something else—something familiar.
“Hello, sister.” The words came from Lana’s mouth but the voice was Lee’s voice.
Amara’s breath hitched violently. Her vision blurred, her world tilting. No. No. No. She was losing her mind. This couldn’t be. She jerked back so hard that her chair tipped.
The crash of wood against the floor barely registered as pain shot through her elbow, but Amara didn’t stop moving. She scrambled back, crab-crawling away from Lana her hands slipping against the polished wood. Her chest heaved, her breaths sharp and uneven. She couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t think. Her heart was pounding so fast, too fast, as if it were trying to escape her ribcage.
Lana—or whatever this was—stayed perfectly still, watching her. Amara could hear voices, but she couldn’t comprehend anything as her pulse roared in her ears. Her mind screamed at her to wake up, that this had to be some kind of horrible trick.
It wasn’t possible. Lee was dead. Her entire body shook as she stared at Lana, her vision tunneling.
“Amara!” King’s voice broke through the roaring in her ears, cutting through the panic like a blade. Warm hands cupped her face. “Look at me,” he urged, forcing her eyes to his.
The world felt like it was tilting, like reality had cracked wide open, but King was her anchor.
“It’s okay,” he said, his golden eyes searching hers with an intensity that made her pulse stutter. “Lana and Caroline… they speak to the dead. Sometimes they take over their bodies. I should have warned you, but I?—”
“You didn’t think,” Caroline cut in, sounding irritated. “Neither did I, apparently.”
Amara barely heard her. Her attention was locked on Lana. Because Lana was still smirking, but it wasn’t Lana’s smirk. It was his, her brother’s.
“It’s me, Amara.” The voice didn’t belong to the woman in front of her, but the way Lana’s lips moved, the way she rolled her eyes in that annoyingly familiar way…Amara’s breath caught. “I taught you to be tougher than this. Get off the floor and talk to me so I can let this poor woman go.”
Her chest clenched so hard it hurt. It was Lee.
“Holy shit.” Amara ripped herself away from King’s grasp, pushing to her feet. Her legs were still trembling, her mind struggling to catch up. This wasn’t possible. But it was. Lana—Lee—grinned at her. And damn it, it was his grin. Her stomach twisted, her head swimming with too many emotions to name. She took a step forward.
“Boo.” Lana jerked toward her and then laughed loudly.
Amara jumped back, her heart slamming against her ribs.
Lana sighed, shaking her head. “Sorry, I couldn’t resist.”
“You’re an asshole,” Amara shot back automatically, but a small, shaky smile pulled at her lips. Because that laugh, his laugh had that deep, familiar laugh she thought she’d never hear again.
Sid stepped up beside her, his presence like a protective shadow. “You hurt my mate, and I’ll?—”
“You’ll what, Warrior?” Lee snorted, shaking Lana’s head as if Sid was being ridiculous. “I’m not going to hurt her. You Warriors have some serious trust issues.”
Growls rumbled through the room. Amara barely noticed. Her focus stayed locked on Lee’s presence inside Lana.
“Listen, I don’t have much time here.” He frowned, looking around. “Where’s Joey?”
“I’ll go get him,” Jared walked out of the room.
“Did John Griffin kill you?” King’s voice was measured, careful.
Lana’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Yes, that son of a bitch.” He then looked at Amara. “I swear I wasn’t doing anything shady. I was trying to keep you safe. I don’t have time to tell you everything, but please know I did everything to keep you and Joey safe.”
“Who hurt Joey?” Amara frowned, wanting to know that more than anything because whoever it was needed to pay for what they did.
Lana’s expression shifted instantly. “What?” The panic in Lee’s voice sent a chill down her spine. It was real. “What happened to Joey? Where is he?”
“He’s fine,” Amara said, though her voice still shook. “Now.”
Lana slammed a hand down on the table hard, startling her. “I want to see my son!”
Lana winced as if the slam on the table hurt her. “Lee do not hurt Lana,” Amara warned feeling Sid’s rage beside her.
“Sorry,” Lana wiped a hand down her face, something her brother always did. “They were blackmailing me by using Joey.”
“Why in the hell didn’t you come to us with this?” King growled, and Amara could feel his frustration as if it was her own.
Lana looked away from them, her eyes falling to the ground. “I thought I could handle the situation, but I got in too deep.” Finally, Lana lifted her eyes to look directly at King. “I overheard some things that I shouldn’t have overheard. There is someone named Locke who is paying big money for anyone who can bring him a person with RH Null blood. I guess they got spooked by what I overheard.”
“How did you get hooked up with these people?” Sloan asked with a frown. “I’m sure they aren’t openly advertising what they are doing.”
Lana’s gaze left Sloan’s to land on Amara before shifting away. “When you hang out in bars, certain ways to make a few bucks present themselves.” Lana gave her an apologetic, sad smile. “I really was trying to protect you, Amara.”
“Dad?” Joey stopped short, his crutches making him slower, but his body went rigid.
A tear slipped down Lana’s cheek. “Yeah, son.” His voice cracked, thick with emotion. “It’s me. Don’t be afraid. Please—don’t be afraid.”
Joey’s lips parted, something shifting in his gaze. “I’m not.” He took another step closer. “Jared told me what was happening. Have to say, it’s pretty fucking weird hearing your voice come out of a woman.”
Lana snorted. “You should be on this side of things.” She shook her head before looking Joey up and down. “And watch your language, boy. Who did this to you?” She motioned toward his cast.
Joey hesitated.
King answered for him. “Was hoping you could tell us that.”
“You need to speed this up,” Caroline interjected, her voice tight with worry. “The longer he stays in Lana, the more danger she’s in.”
The words sent a shiver down Amara’s spine. As much as she had ached to hear Lee’s voice again, she didn’t want to endanger Lana.
Lana pushed up to her feet and walked toward Joey, stopping in front of him.
Amara barely breathed.
“Son,” Lee’s voice thickened, raw with emotion. “I’m sorry for everything. I tried to be a good dad, but I know I failed you in so many ways.” He swallowed hard, his hands clenching. “Just know...I’m proud of the man you’re becoming.”
Joey’s face crumpled. His crutches clattered to the floor as he launched forward, crashing into Lana. Sid caught Lana before she could stumble back, his grip firm and protective. Lana lifted her gaze to King, her eyes flashing with fierce determination.
“Find who did this to my son,” she said, Lee’s voice a sharp edge of pain and fury. “Make them pay.”
“You have my word,” King vowed, his hold tightening around Amara. She sank into his warmth, taking in the silent exchange between King and Kane.
Lana noticed, a soft, knowing smile flickering across her lips. Relief. “You and my sister, huh?” Lana said with a chuckle and a shake of her head. “Didn’t see that coming.” Then she turned her attention back to Joey, gently pulling him away just enough to look him in the eye.
“Never forget me,” she whispered. “I love you, son.”
Joey’s jaw trembled. “I won’t,” he said, voice breaking. “I love you, too.”
Caroline’s sharp cry shattered the moment. Lana’s body went limp, taking Joey down with her.
“No!” Amara lunged forward, heart hammering as Sid barely caught Lana’s head before it hit the floor.
King pushed past her to lift Joey, pulling him out of the way as Amara knelt and wrapped an arm around him. Her gaze locked onto Lana, who lay motionless and silent.
Sid was hovering, his whole body tense. “Slade!” he barked, panic seeping into his usually controlled voice. His hand trembled as he cupped Lana’s cheek. “Damn it, Lana.”
“Just give her a minute,” Caroline said quickly, kneeling beside them. Her own face was pale, worried. “She didn’t know this was coming. It might take a second for her to come back.”
Amara felt Joey shaking in her arms. She held him tighter, pressing her forehead to his temple.
“Did that really just happen?” Joey’s voice was rough, almost like he couldn’t believe it himself. “Was my dad’s voice coming out of her?”
Amara pulled back, meeting his gaze. Tears blurred her vision. “Yeah,” she whispered, her throat tight. “That really just happened.”
Joey let out a shaky breath, nodding. “Holy shit.”
King helped him up, steadying him before grabbing the fallen crutches and handing them over. Then he reached for Amara, his touch solid, grounding. She let him pull her to her feet, her legs still feeling unsteady beneath her.
A small, relieved gasp had them all turning back to Lana. Slade had his hands on her, checking her over, his face lined with worry. Finally, her eyes fluttered open.
She blinked up at them from the floor, her expression twisting in irritation. “God, I hate when they do that.”
Amara’s breath hitched, relief rushing through her so fast her knees almost buckled.
Lana’s eyes shifted to her and Joey. “I’m sorry there was no warning.”
“You hate that?” Sid growled, pulling her up and into his arms. “How the fuck do you think I feel? Not to mention hearing a male voice coming from the lips that I kiss every day.”
Lana chuckled weakly but let him hold her, resting her head against his shoulder. “Sorry, just part of the...job...I guess.”
Joey, still leaning heavily on his crutches, swallowed hard. His gaze locked onto Lana, searching—needing confirmation. “Is he…?”
“He’s gone,” Caroline answered for Lana, offering Joey a small, understanding smile.
Joey nodded, his throat working as he tried to hold back the emotion rising inside him. “Good,” he whispered, voice thick. “He deserves that.”
Amara’s chest ached as she reached for Joey’s hand, squeezing it tightly. She then looked at Lana. “Did he hurt you?” Amara knew Lee would never hurt a woman purposely. He was many things, but never would he hurt a woman.
“No,” Lana said, then frowned, making a fist as she looked at her hand. “Well, maybe my hand, but that wasn’t on purpose. I’m fine, really. It just took me by surprise. While he was talking, I did some prying, which is why I think it affected me the way it did. I was ready for the release.”
“And?” King frowned as he steadied Joey, who struggled with his crutches.
“Give me a little bit of time.” Lana frowned, touching her forehead. “Things are a little jumbled, and my head is hurting.”
“Come on,” Sid started to lead her out of the kitchen. He turned to look at King. “I’ll call you later if it’s anything important.”
Amara pulled away from King, rushing toward Lana. Touching her arm, Lana stopped and looked at her. “Thank you,” Amara whispered.
Lana pulled her into a hug. “It’s what I do, Amara. Me and my sister. No thanks needed.”
Amara nodded, watching until they disappeared. She turned to see King staring at her. She walked directly into his arms, wishing to hell this was over, but it only felt like it was the beginning.