Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
CALEB
Me
Can you help me run interference with your grandparents? We ran into them at breakfast with your sister, and now we’re on our way to their house.
At least I hope that’s what I texted because I did it without looking. It seemed like a bad idea while getting glared at by Hollis and Nova’s grandfather. Aine just keeps staring at Nova with wide eyes as she holds tightly to her husband’s hand.
We wanted to give Nova the time to process things, but this was just bad luck in terms of timing.
“Sir,” I begin as the driver drives through the gates of their estate. “We didn’t mean to keep this a secret from either of you. She was recently found and then Hollis was kidnapped in her stead.”
Kevin’s eyes swing over toward me, the blood leaving his lips from how hard he’s pressing them together.
“No one bothered to inform me of that either?” he growls.
“There’s been a lot happening,” I sigh. “She killed Nova’s kidnappers, but not at the expense of herself. Hollis is nursing some broken bones.”
“Oh my God,” Aine whispers. “Where is she?”
My phone vibrates in my pocket and I take a chance, pulling it out to check it.
Hollis
Malcolm is driving me out. Warn my grandparents I’m going to be pretty drugged up. While I’m feeling better, I’m aware that this shit still hurts.
Fuck, I love this girl. Not in a romantic way at all. She’s been my best friend for a long damn time though.
“Hollis is on her way,” I breathe.
Aine and Kevin don’t live in Minneapolis, but outside of the city limits. I’m unsure how this psychic connection the twins have works, but Nova hasn’t shown any sign that she’s in pain.
“She goes by Nova,” Lars murmurs, his eyes on the omega in his arms. “The people who took her were connected to Roberto Domino, and the kidnapping was done to hurt you and your family.”
“They’re dead?” Aine asks, her eyes dark and angry through her grief.
“Yes, ma’am,” I reply. “Brutally and in a way that would make you very proud.”
Her lips twitch in a way that reminds me of Hollis, and she shudders as she thinks about the unknowns happening here.
“It was a shock to see her eyes,” Kevin grunts.
“It’s how Lars and I realized who she was,” I explain. “She walked by Hollis’ hospital bed the day of the attack at the mixer.”
“If Domino is dead, maybe we can finally get rid of that hateful Emilia woman,” he growls. “I’m going to get the ball moving on that as soon as I can.”
“Enough with the politics,” Aine mutters, squeezing his hand as the car comes to a stop. “Let’s focus on our granddaughter’s return for now.”
The driver opens the car door, helping Aine and Kevin out of the vehicle before we follow after them. Nova whimpers in Lars’ arms as she begins to wake up, and I watch as my brother purrs for her. Kevin’s head turns so quickly that he almost trips, and I wince as he finds his footing.
“Do you have something else to tell me?” he growls.
“She’s our scent match,” I say, leaving my brother to comfort Nova.
Lars’ lips press against the shell of her ear as he speaks to her, and she nods weakly as she opens her eyes.
“What are the odds,” Kevin whispers as we head inside.
“Our families have always been close,” I start to say, worried suddenly that he may dislike the fact that Lars and I are pursuing his granddaughter.
“That’s not what he means, Caleb,” Aine says, leading the way with her cane to the living room.
A maid pops her head in and Aine nods at her.
“Can we get tea and refreshments please? I believe we may have a few more joining us as well.”
“Hollis is on her way,” I tell Nova as Lars sits on a large wingback chair with her in his lap.
“Is that a good idea?” she asks, pushing herself into a more comfortable position. Lars grunts but doesn’t complain, and I think about how he seems to be trying harder to keep the peace.
Instead, he seems to be getting used to being her chair since Nova continually ends up in his lap.
“She’s downing some pain meds,” I murmur. “Hollis was also doing better when I saw her yesterday.”
“I don’t like to be kept out of the loop,” Kevin grunts. “Nova, I’m sorry we overwhelmed you earlier. We both decided to go out to breakfast at the same restaurant it seems. What are the odds?”
Nova lifts a shoulder weakly as she gazes at her grandparents in wonder.
“Apparently, pretty good,” she says, voice cracking. “I went out on a date and found my grandparents.”
The maid comes in with tea, food, and glasses of water, and Nova gratefully takes a sip as she looks around.
Kevin doesn’t seem to know if he wants to laugh or take my brother and I into the backyard and blow our heads off. Growing older doesn’t mean that you’re any less dangerous.
“So what exactly are your intentions with Nova?” he asks, making my heart sink.
On second thought, I’d probably deserve the bullet to the brain with how I’ve been treating his grandchild.
“I think that’s a little heavy handed,” Nova intervenes. “We haven’t known each other for very long, and I just found out we’re scent matches a few days ago.”
“Hmm,” Kevin mutters.
Lars and I share a glance, and we can tell we’re on thin fucking ice.
“Check the testosterone at the door, boys,” Aine says sharply. “You’ve shown you can’t be in control of this conversation, Kevin. Take a breather. Nova, ignore them. They’ll growl and posture. The only way to keep my husband from killing them both is to keep them from talking.”
Nova’s breath catches at that, and my lips curl into a smug smile. All I see is that she’d miss me if I disappeared. I can work with that.
“How long have you been in town, Nova?” Aine asks, her tone softening.
“Since September,” she says. “I’m a traveling midwife, and was passing through. I stay as long as I can before moving on.”
“Why is that?” her grandmother asks, her lips pursed.
“I had people following me. They’re dead now.”
Nova and Aine talk, allowing Lars and I to really see how fucked her life has been. I’ve overheard things here and there, but I haven’t heard the full extent of things. Nova doesn’t speak about the sexual assault John put her through, but her scent changes when she talks about the physical abuse.
Hollis comes in during this part, her pack surrounding her as she walks in as if she owns the place.
“Hey, baby sister,” she says, striding in and grabbing Nova’s arm as she yanks her to her feet. It’s a little aggressive, and Lars and I growl under our breath. “Hush, I didn’t hurt her, guys.”
“She didn’t,” Nova whispers, her eyes watering. “Oh my God. You’re a mess.”
“A properly over-medicated mess,” she corrects her sister. “Come here. I’ve been wanting to hug you for ages.”
Hollis and Nova are squeezing the hell out of each other as they both sob, and Kevin’s eyes soften. This isn’t about any of us, not really. They may have all lost Nova, but she’s Hollis’ other half.
Pack Ledger stands in the doorway watching them and Kevin turns his attention toward them.
“And you are?” he asks, standing.
“Grandfather,” Hollis hiccups, looking over at him. “It’s been too long since I’ve been by, hasn’t it? This is my pack and also Nova’s landlords.”
“Your sister did mention them,” Aine says, taking Kevin’s hand as she hoists herself up. “She didn’t tell me that they were your pack though.”
“Already keeping my secrets, huh?” Hollis teases Nova as she grins. “Not that it was a secret, we’ve just been in that figuring it out phase.”
Aine and Kevin make a sound together that could mean anything, and Hollis steps back from her sister to face her grandparents.
“I understand the people who did this are dead?” Aine growls, moving over to inspect Hollis’ face.
While she has the ability to heal faster than the average person, the bruising is still apparent on her face.
“Super dead,” Hollis says with a giggle, the drugs in her system making an appearance. “They’re also ash because we played with fire, Grandma.”
“How many drugs are you on, dear?”
“A lot,” Hollis says proudly.
“You really didn’t have to do that for me,” Nova sighs. “I would have dealt with it.”
“I’m in the dark again,” Kevin grumbles. “Someone fix it.”
“Nova feels my pain unless I’m really hopped up on drugs,” Hollis says, ripping off the bandage. “It only happens if she's within a certain distance from me, and it’s not an exact science. I’d rather not purposely hurt myself to figure it out.”
“Well that’s fun,” Kevin sighs. “Let’s have a visit, get to meet your pack, and hope you don’t overdose, Hollis.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t say that I’m strong like bull?” she ask, making me snort in amusement.
“Probably too late for that,” I chuckle.
Nova is hiding her smile, and I feel my phone buzz again as we all sit down again.
Tyde
What the fuck is going on? Her thoughts are all jumbled and she’s crying.
Me
We ran into her grandparents.
Feeling evil, I smirk. “Sir, Nova has another scent match. Would you like to meet him?”
Nova’s eyes grow wide as she glares at me, and I raise my phone up at her.
“He texted me to make sure you were okay. Your emotions were freaking him out,” I explain.
“A bonded mate,” Aine murmurs.
“You’re a jerk,” Hollis hisses at me, sitting next to me.
“I’m not going to sit in the hot seat alone,” I grunt at her. “I thought your grandfather was going to murder me when he heard she was my scent match.”
“He’d probably just shoot you full of holes,” she retorts. “You’d survive.”
“The two of you are worse than children,” Kevin says. “You know I’m not deaf, right?”
Nova covers her mouth as she hides her laugh, and her grandfather smirks at all of us. He’s a really good alpha, just scary as fuck. There’s a reason he’s in the Senior Mafia Family circle.
“Nova, is your other alpha able to come over?”
She’s quiet for a moment before she drops her hand and nods. “He says he’s headed to his car, he just needs the address sent to him.”
“Definitely bonded,” Kevin says, shaking his head. “Well, at least we know our granddaughters will be happy once their alphas get their shit together.”