CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Four days later
– FOSCA –
“It’s been four days and I’m ready to climb up the walls,” I huff and stare at my phone.
It’s on speaker, making it easier to wave my hands in frustration while I pace the room.
Zara hums, “I know, my sweet friend, I know. On the other hand, you being there makes it safer for you, and takes away the concern of the others. Greater good and all.”
“It’s frustrating. I’m not completely useless,” I grumble.
I might have been stuck at the compound for the past few days, but I haven’t sat on my ass and twiddled my thumbs. After completing the bond my magic feels as if it’s organized.
Sounds weird, and yet it’s probably the calm and strength due to the merge with Sevrin. Either one of us is able to draw magic from one united powerful ability. Learning the depths of this ability has been keeping me sane...until now.
“I can swing by after I’ve closed the shop in about an hour. The batch of salty caramel brownies with marshmallows and cookie crumbles came out very nice, and I can bring you some,” she offers.
The pregnancy is starting to flare up cravings for sweetness. Strange since I’ve only been pregnant for a few days, and the only time I felt any confirmation was when Triton used his magic to put a shield inside my veins. When he did, it felt like something did a somersault inside my belly.
There was a burst of joy and confirmation about the pregnancy, and yet it was instantly shoved down by sadness. Triton confirmed the genie who is probably working with my brother is Asra’s daughter.
Sadness and frustration is also a trigger to eat, and my mouth waters at the thought of Zara’s creation. “Did you add white chocolate?”
A chuckle flows over the line. “Yes, it’s at the bottom.”
“Can’t you close up now?”
The chuckle turns into a bark of laughter. “Keep it together, Fosca. I’ll be there soon enough.”
“Fine,” I grumble. “I’ll try to restrain myself from escaping.”
“As if you can escape. I hear the herd of centaur shifters decided to stick around. Those protectors are hard to sneak away from.”
My chest tightens at the thought of Holton’s family. Most are not by blood, and the brotherhood he was once a part of surely doesn’t care about this little detail either. Still, they have all agreed to stay in town to see their fallen brother’s killer brought to justice.
Even if Sevrin has already reached out to other chapters of Kings of Anarchy, just in case they need extra backup.
He’s explained to me that Big Daddy, the president of the founding chapter of Kings of Anarchy, is up-to-date about everything and even if they might not have paranormal ties, they aren’t exactly oblivious either.
So, for now Sevrin has accepted Lucan’s Cowboy Bikers centaur shifter to stick around.
Which is probably for the best since most of them are staying at the beach resort where two people were killed.
Hopefully, they’ll be able to prevent others from getting killed to keep the resort safe.
Deaths are not exactly good for business, and it puts all eyes on the owners.
The centaurs sticking around isn’t exactly information they’ve shared with others to keep the element of surprise.
Which makes me wonder why Zara is aware because she hasn’t been around since Holton’s funeral. “And how exactly did you hear this?”
She mutters something under her breath and it takes my brain a breath or two to catch up.
When it does? “Oh my shits. Did you have sex with him? Seriously? Aren’t you two like mortal enemies or something? You’re a dolphin shifter, he’s a freaking shark shifter, Zara.”
“Yeah, yeah, I move up and down and he goes side-to-side, whatever. We collide deliciously, and without bloodshed, I can tell you that much.” Her voice carries a hint of longing.
I blink a few times while staring at my phone. “Okay. Well, more power to you and all. Ugh. This discussion is over, and certainly not my business. Be careful, though.”
“Warning accepted, but we’re just having fun. So, don’t worry.”
Needing a change in topic, I blurt the thought that’s been on my mind for the past few days. “I’m going to quit my job.”
“What?” she gasps.
“Oh, don’t be so surprised. We all know jobs or time in one place for us is limited,” I grumble.
Thanks to being an immortal and not aging, it’s hard to keep the same face a secret after a few decades.
Sevrin mentioned his parents have property in Italy, among other places in the world.
Moving, staying somewhere else for a few decades, and returning when humans who knew you have either died or too old to remember.
Planting my ass on the bed, I take my phone in hand. “Besides, the pregnancy doesn’t give me much choice either. Triton mentioned it will progress faster and I really don’t want to explain my booming belly to my boss.”
“Still.” Zara sighs.
She doesn’t need to say it. “I know. I love my job and hopefully we all get to live long enough to see these kids being born, raised, and all so I might be able to...nah. I don’t think it will work, being a medical examiner while the father of my children is an outlaw biker.
Another thing I definitely don’t want to discuss with my boss. ”
“Sorry.” There’s a tiny pause and then she adds, “You know what? I’m going to close early and come your way.”
“Don’t forget my treat,” I tell her and all I get in return is a chuckle before she hangs up on me.
My phone instantly starts to ring again. It’s the office and I accept the call.
“Sorry to disturb your vacation time, Dr. Decimus, but we need you.” I don’t recognize the voice.
“Text me the address,” I tell him and disconnect.
It might happen at times where I get called in to work, either due to illness, to consult, or whatever. Except, with everything going on? I’m more suspicious.
Leaving the room, I walk down the hall and search for Sevrin. We haven’t spent much time together these past few days. Between Holton’s funeral, the other MC visiting, and everything else, the only discussions we’ve had were problem-related.
We do share a bed, but I’m the one falling asleep first and am barely aware when he comes into the room hours later. He’s gone when I wake up, so I know he’s only had a handful of hours of sleep each night.
“He’s not here,” Levan states.
Shock is leaning against the wall next to Sevrin’s office, watching me closely.
“I have to go out, job related.” Glancing from Levan to Shock, I add, “Would you two mind coming with me? If you’re not too queasy, seeing I have a dead body to get to.”
Shock snorts, and Levan gives me a sharkish grin.
I narrow my eyes. “If you hurt my friend I’m going to let you implode. All there’d be left of your stupid grin will be red mist for a mere second before that’s gone too.”
He holds my gaze and calmly states, “You can try.”
The fucker pisses me off and I curl my fingers into fists.
“Fun and games, folks,” Shock rumbles and touches my arm.
A gasp rips from me when the tiny spot tingles from what felt like a small electrical zap. “Did you just zap me? I’m pregnant, idiot.”
Shock rolls his eyes. “It hardly affected the rest of your arm, let alone came near your womb.”
“Sevrin’s at the crime scene with Nathan. We’ll join them there,” Levan states.
“What?” I frown. “How can he be there already?”
Levan’s face turns grim when he grunts, “Because the dead body is at the brewery.”
“Fuck,” I whisper, and quickly follow both bikers out the door.
We get inside a black SUV. Shock is behind the wheel when I take out my phone and indeed notice the address I received in a text message is that of the brewery.
I shoot a message to Sevrin, asking for details.
Annoyed by his lack of response, I shove my phone back into my pocket and silently fume the rest of the drive over to the brewery.
Shock brings the SUV to a stop and turns. “Stay seated until one of us opens the door.”
I rear my head back and can’t muster a reply quick enough when both instantly step out. Sevrin is striding to them and it’s then I realize the asshole must have been communicating with them and has been deliberately ignoring me.
Yeah, our relationship has been getting so much better after putting the bond in place. Not. I still have waves of emotions which compares to hating the asshole, and not minding if he loses his head...quite literally.
I can’t imagine raising kids with him if we can’t even manage to get along with one another. Having a brother who is set to kill us is definitely not the only problem we’re facing.