Chapter Six #2
Tori took that opportunity to make their intentions crystal clear to everyone in the room.
“You seem like a perfectly nice person, Avalon, but I’m not nearly as nice. I fight for what I want, and I’m not going to lie. I’m not letting our family go easily. Lucian is ours, and so is Bishop. You can’t have our family. We will fight you on this.”
Instead of answering, she waited.
Why?
Because the person in question was now in the room.
When they heard his voice, everyone turned to see him standing there with Ridge beside him.
“Lucian has already made up his mind,” he admitted.
“I’m not leaving, Avalon. I’m sorry, but Bishop is happy here, and Ridge is my family now, too.
We began a life here, and while I would love to dedicate my life to saving lost psychics, like I once did, that’s not my path.
Maybe had things been differently, and I never met my wife, but I can’t drag her and my children into this. ”
Avalon knew what was at stake, and she knew what was in Lucian’s heart. When you connected on the other plane and shared psychic links, you felt and saw it all.
This man loved it here, and she’d never ask that of him.
EVER.
So, she reassured him.
“We don’t need to worry about this,” she said. “I may not survive, and then the point is moot, no?” she asked. “We can cross that bridge when we get there.”
At her words, Nate looked pained. Only, Lucian got it. Nate was loyal to his wife and was doing everything in his power to save her.
There was no doubt that loving Avalon had to be difficult for him. He knew what was at stake when he fell in love, and it had been a rough journey.
They had been through a lot.
From lost friends to nearly dying a few times, he’d stayed loyal because they were the core of that family. Lucian and Bishop had found a whole other core to connect to.
Lucian sat, and on one side of him was Bishop, and the other was Ridge. He held both of their hands, connecting them as one.
For what was coming, he suspected he was going to need to be strong for them, and himself.
“I’d like to get Ridge home so he can rest and shut down for a while,” he said, “but first, I’d like to say something to everyone.”
They were all ears.
They were all eyes, too, because they were seeing how closely Ridge was sitting to Lucian, and how Bishop was NOT reacting to the man holding the other man’s hand.
“This is going to be dangerous. I can feel that energy starting back up. He’s on the prowl.
We shouldn’t risk the whole family, so I’m asking we don’t.
Taking that energy and Wynter’s life fed his needs for a while.
Like any killer, that urge will be back, and I believe he’s already on the prowl. I can feel the darkness in Salem.”
Ironically, they’d been talking about that, but now they had confirmation that he was back doing what he did best.
EVIL.
“Your wife just said that,” Honor admitted. “Well, that and she’d found out some things about Wynter.”
She kept it vague so as not to hurt Ridge.
He looked as if he was barely holding on. His head was on Lucian’s shoulder as he was leaning against his body.
Silently.
And they let him have that.
“I concur,” Raven said. “You don’t bring twenty PIs to a paranormal knife fight. You bring some psychics, witches, and a couple of cops to do the legwork.”
Avalon nodded.
“Like I was saying, Lucian and I can fight this in the static. If Ridge can go in,” she began, but was cut off.
By Lucian.
“He won’t be. Ridge is sidelined until his mental wellbeing is better. I will NOT risk him in the static if this thing tries to take him next.”
And that said it all.
The bigger man had laid his claim to the man, and how he was going to protect him.
“I’ll go in with you, but he won’t be with me. You’ll have to help me navigate it.”
Avalon nodded, but in that moment, she knew he’d just chosen the path she didn’t want him on. All the work she’d done to save Lucian’s life was slowly unraveling in front of her. If Ridge didn’t go in, Lucian wouldn’t survive.
She now saw his death.
And couldn’t stop it.
Instead of arguing, she gave this to him and hoped she’d be able to save his life.
Now, she had to make different plans to do just that.
“Then, if the two cops and my husband work the case, and Raven and his partner in this work the magick, we should find this person. Then, Maura and Jagger will handle it.”
No one spoke.
Why?
That seemed to be for the best.
Because she didn’t want to not say what she was thinking, Bex raised her hand.
“I still want to help. I can do it from home, like I said. I can make calls, I can babysit the dead, or I can do whatever it takes. I want to help my husband. If he and Booth have to work magick, I’ll make sure they are okay.”
Booth went there.
“And my wife is going to put on a goddamn protective pentacle now, isn’t she?” he asked, not mincing words. “Because if she tries to fight me on this, she’ll be the first one with a tattoo in the morning.”
Uh, what?
She didn’t want to know what that meant, so instead of fighting her very twitchy witch, Honor gave in.
Why?
Well, that was simple.
Honor had seen what Wynter had done to herself, and she’d see her dead friend for a long time in her head. The last thing she wanted was her husband to have to live with that, too.
“I will. I’m not risking it. There’s no need to get bossy, husband. We’re going to cover our bases, so I’m not next.”
The minute it was out of her mouth, Honor regretted it.
Why?
Ridge actually flinched.
“I’m sorry, Ridge,” she said, gently. “I’m so sorry what happened to Wynter. Please don’t think I’m not mourning her. I am. She was my friend,” Honor said, wiping her eyes with a tissue her husband had given her.
From where he sat, Ridge just nodded.
What was he to say to that?
He wished with all of his heart that his wife had listened to him.
As for what Lucian had said…
Ridge was grateful.
The bottom line was that he couldn’t go back into the static with Lucian right now. His heart wasn’t in it. For now, he was out of the game, as he mourned what he’d lost.
And found out about his wife.
Bishop continued.
“I’m going to get into Wyn’s phone tomorrow. I was going to do it the legal way, but fuck it. In for a penny, in for a pound. I’m going to really throw my badge into the fire, so we all survive this. I’ll be tribute on this one.”
Honor was to the point.
“You seem to do that a lot.”
Yeah, tell her about it.
Julian was curious.
“What are you going to do?” he asked.
She was to the point.
“The phone is locked by face or fingerprint. I’m going to sneak into the morgue and use her finger,” she said, not going there with using her face, and for good reason. “I’ve already tried Ridge’s birthday, their anniversary, and Sophia’s DOB. I’ve got to get into that phone. My gut says to do it.”
Oracle was curious.
“What does your gut say?” Avalon asked. “Since this isn’t my thing.”
She explained.
“My gut says Wynter left breadcrumbs. She was smart, and I don’t doubt she suspected something. She was sitting in that square yesterday after interviewing the doctor for a reason. We can’t account for her time for a reason. Something isn’t sitting right with me. I just don’t know what.”
She wasn’t done.
“Also, I need to get into the phone because I want to find a way to tie Kenyon to this. He’s the lead pony on the race for me since he now has had contact with ALL of the victims. Someone got that medallion into Wynter’s pocket, and she wasn’t oblivious.
To get that close to her, that took skill or opportunity. ”
As soon as she said it, Honor gasped.
That made them all look over.
“What?” Julian asked.
The lightbulb had gone on for her.
“Speaking of the doctor’s office, I got a call as we were going into the back to interview him.
When we arrived, the personal assistant made a comment about knowing Wynter.
She covered it, and until now, it didn’t occur to me.
Then, I had to take that call. She was alone with the doctor and his assistant for a few minutes. I missed that!”
Well, they all missed things.
Unfortunately.
Wynter missed that she was also in danger since she fell into the categories. They asked everyone if they were depressed for a reason.
It was to prevent this.
“Know what would make this easier?” Booth admitted.
“What?”
He went there.
“The dead. I don’t like not having Trey and Bethany running point for us. We don’t have our early warning system anymore.”
They were all aware.
Only, the risk was too great.
“I even wish they were here,” Julian admitted. “That should tell you all you need to know.”
Oh, it did.
From where he sat, Julian had been quiet, and that was because he was mulling it all over. He might not be the investigator his wife was, but he could hold his own.
“Okay, so we know Wynter had a bout of post-partum. We also know that she wasn’t wearing protection. The other women were all taking meds. Was she?” he asked. “Did she fit that category, too?”
They all looked over at Ridge.
“Other than birth control pills, no.”
The way he said it…there was so much sadness in his voice. There was also confusion from the people in the room who were just hearing about this.
For all intents and purposes, they thought the couple had been trying to have another baby.
Oh, boy.
Because she could see the looks on their faces, Bishop took over, distracting them for the man, and for her husband, who had just kissed Ridge on the temple to soothe him.
“There were none in her purse.”
Honor was honest.
“We can check the house.”
Tori knew what she needed to do, and since they were going to walk the house, she wanted to do that too.
Why not?
Her dead were locked up, but she might get lucky and find one lurking who could help her.
“I want to do a walk-through. I know it’s violating your investigation, blah, blah, blah, but if Ridge is dreaming about her, I might be able to find her. Maybe she’s not where this thing is sending them, or she’s stronger than him and can break out of it.”
She pointed down, but only because Ridge wasn’t watching.