Chapter Fourteen #2
“I won’t believe it,” she whispered, but the idea had been planted.
Staring up at the ceiling, she reviewed the facts.
There were only two new people in her life—Kieran and David.
And David wasn’t really new, but he’d been absent for a long time.
Both had shown up out of the blue. Before their arrival, her life had been filled with nonstop work, predictable.
Her single staff member had quit and left town with her boyfriend the evening before Kieran had shown up. Was that coincidence too?
Now she was getting into conspiracy theory territory.
Try as she might, she couldn’t come up with a single reason Kieran would want to harm her.
He kept saving her life, for heaven’s sake.
There was no way he could have a hand in the car accident.
That was simply one of those random things.
Although, a little devil whispered in her ear, if he’d orchestrated the accident at her house, it would be easy for him to swoop in and save her.
She rubbed her hand over her chest and shook her head. That would mean she’d slept with a man who was trying to kill her. Her instincts might be bad when it came to men, but she refused to believe they were that skewed.
That left David. Try as she might, she had a difficult time picturing him skulking around her kitchen and turning on the gas. He was more likely to try to wheedle what he wanted out of her. That was how he operated.
All of this was nothing more than a series of unconnected accidents. The only thing they had in common was her. A chill ran down her arms. How did the saying go? These things came in threes. She wasn’t sure she’d survive another assault on her life.
It was all she could do to keep from calling the nurse in and asking her to get Kieran back. When he was around, she felt safer, as if he’d put himself between her and whatever was coming for her next.
I’m not his problem.
The reality made her chest tighten and her stomach knot.
Soon, he’d be nothing more than a memory, a cherished one, but a memory, nonetheless.
His life wasn’t here, while hers was. She was used to being alone.
It was nothing new, but for some reason, she suddenly felt it more keenly.
Maybe it was the brush with death. It was a reminder of all she hadn’t done, of the dreams she harbored deep inside of her—a husband and family being top of the list.
If it ever happened, it wouldn’t be with Kieran. He’d made it abundantly clear that his stay in Redemption was limited.
Exhaustion crept up on her. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on breathing, an act she’d never take for granted again.
A picture of Kieran hovering above her, his eyes dark with worry, flashed in her mind. He’d be back to pick her up when they released her. Whatever happened, she’d see him again.
…
Both men were silent as they crossed the parking lot.
A couple of hours had passed while they’d been at the hospital.
Knowing Georgia was going to recover was both a blessing and a curse.
All he’d done was prolong the agony. Once in the truck, Kieran rolled down the passenger window, rested his arm on the door, and drank in the fresh air.
The vehicle rumbled to life, and they headed to the exit. “Thought you were here to reap her soul, not save her life,” Sam commented.
And there it was. The opening volley. “I’m here to save your and Alex’s asses.”
Sam tapped his fingers against the steering wheel as he rolled to a stop, checked both ways, and pulled out onto the road.
“That’s where you’re wrong. There’s nothing to save.
We’re both happy right where we are. I figured after what happened with Georgia, you’d understand. ” He turned onto Main Street.
“It’s not that I’m not sympathetic. Eternity is a long time to be alone.
I get the allure of believing you’re in love.
It’s exciting and different. But you took it too far.
You interfered with their destinies.” Even now it was impossible to comprehend.
He ignored the taunting inner voice pointing out that he’d done the same with his actions tonight.
“What the fuck were you thinking? You know what the old man is capable of.” By rights, both his brothers should be dead for their defiance.
Being Death’s sons hadn’t brought them redemption; it had cost them everything.
“When you die, there’ll be nothing left,” he whispered.
The muscle in Sam’s jaw tightened. “I’m aware of that, and it changes nothing.”
“If Adrianne claims to love you, why is she allowing that, huh? You think she loves you, but she’s only saving herself.”
The truck jerked to the side of the road. His brother reached over, grabbed him by the throat, and yanked him forward. “She died to save me.”
He knocked Sam’s hand away and coughed. “What?” That made absolutely no sense. “She’s alive.”
“Yes, but only because I willingly gave up everything to save her.”
“You’re talking in riddles.” His neck hurt, but he refused to rub it. Sam might be human, but he had an iron grip.
Muttering a curse, Sam pulled back onto the road. “You had to be there. Look, I have no idea why Dad sent you on this so-called rescue mission. He’s the one who drained our powers and decreed our final outcome. Bottom line, whatever his game is, neither Alex nor I will play it.”
“Where does that leave me?”
Sam pulled into Georgia’s driveway and pointed at him. “You had a choice.”
“Did I?” He was beginning to wonder. “Let my two brothers face their end in a matter of decades with no hope of rebirth, no anything.” He swallowed back the emotion threatening to choke him. “Damn it, Samael, you’re my big brother, my only family.”
Sam hooked his hand around the back of Kieran’s neck and pulled him forward until their foreheads touched. It was something they’d done as children. “I don’t know why our father is punishing you for our choices.”
Kieran spoke aloud the thought that had been haunting him. “You think he’s trying to get rid of us?” It was difficult to believe of the father who’d raised them, but easy enough to consider that the Grim Reaper might decide such a thing was not only acceptable but desirable.
“I want to say no, but I honestly don’t know.
I have no idea how, but he had to be aware of how I would react to Adrianne and how Alex would be with Cilla—even how you are with Georgia.
Otherwise, why bother to bring us here? We’ve reaped hundreds of thousands, maybe millions between us, but these women are special.
The cops might be willing to believe in coincidence, but I sure as hell don’t. ”
“It’s as though he wanted us to face the one thing, or rather, the one person, that might lead to our downfall and destroy us.” That felt as right as just about any other scenario Kieran could come up with.
“Maybe so, but if that’s the case, he’s going to lose his sons.
” Sam’s matter-of-fact answer slammed into Kieran’s solar plexus.
“I’m sorry he made you choose without giving you all the facts.
That seems to be his way of stacking the odds in his favor.
Look at it this way: we might all be dead in a few decades, but before the end comes, we’ll get to spend quality time together.
That’s something we haven’t done in centuries. ”
Kieran had to laugh and shake his head. “Only you would view that as a plus.” He climbed out of the truck and shut the door. “Thanks for the ride.”
“You’re welcome. Just remember what I said back at the park the day you arrived. I love you, brother, but I’ll protect Adrianne with my life.”
“I’d expect no less.”
“There are worse things than having a life with a woman you love.”
There was that word again. Kieran didn’t believe in it, didn’t want to.
What he felt for his brothers was loyalty and deep affection.
Their relationship was built on thousands of years of history, not a few days or weeks as it was with the women his brothers had chosen.
How could they know? How could they be certain enough to forsake their immortality, their souls?
Despite trying to keep his mouth shut, he asked, “What’s worse? ”
“Never having loved her at all.” With those parting words, Sam left him standing in the driveway.
Turning away, Kieran trudged toward the garage.
He’d shower, get something to eat, and maybe catch a short nap.
Then he’d check on Georgia’s back door and see what supplies he’d need from the hardware store to repair it.
The cops had secured it, so it should be okay for a few more hours.
He also needed to put a sign in the bakery window advising customers they’d be closed for the day.
He was almost to the top of the stairs when the fine hairs on the back of his neck rose and a sense of dread washed over him.
Expecting to see his father, he was confused to find Malaki perched on the newel post, silent and unmoving.
The bird lived to make a grand entrance.
It was a sign of how serious last night’s transgression was.
Refusing to be intimidated, he crossed his arms over his chest and met the bird’s fathomless gaze. “Well?”
The crow made a series of croaks and clicking sounds. When he was done, he took to the air and vanished. Kieran let himself into his temporary home, shut the door, and leaned against it.
He’d been given another chance to make things right.
It was more a curse than a blessing. He’d resigned himself to his fate, almost grateful that it was out of his hands.
It seemed his father wasn’t letting him off the hook that easily.
After his conversation with Sam, the lines had been drawn.
He fisted his hands by his sides, his entire body trembling with fury.
There was no way out of this. For any of them.