Deep Deliverance: The Deep Series, Book 3 (18 page)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

At dusk, the skyline burned. That was one thing you could count on in LA. On windless days when the smog hung in the basin, it made for spectacular sunsets. The sky was indigo and just beginning to prickle with stars directly above them, there were soft clouds curdling toward the mountains, but the horizon sizzled with every color of orange and purple and pink and red—the setting sun, a burning golden ball in the midst of a mad artist’s palette.

A fitting, beautiful tribute to Sahar, it was as if even the universe mourned her passing.

They were laying Sahar to rest in a too-modern cemetery. Adin stared numbly at the hole in the earth that would be her final resting place. Theirs was a small gathering. Compared to Harwiche’s, it was pitiful. A handful of coworkers and friends, assorted monsters, and the very man who’d killed her. What lies had her friends and family been told about how she’d died? Adin didn’t even know. Flowers adorned her coffin, and those mourners who were in attendance wanted to be there for her.

Donte and Sean flanked Adin. Santos stood in solemn solidarity. Tuan was there, and there was a floral arrangement from Edward and one from Boaz, who had arranged the graveside vigil, but left shortly after. Donte said not to expect him back, but Adin hardly cared anymore.

What was between Boaz and Donte was between them. They could work it out or not.

Some nondenominational clergyman spoke of time and good works and regret. Of living well and the sadness of dying young. A couple of Sahar’s friends shared memories of happy times. One by one, they drifted away until only Adin and his supporters were left to watch her casket lowered into the grave.

To Adin’s very great surprise, Barrett’s SUV drove up to the curb and Barrett and Elizabeth emerged, dressed in unrelieved black. Both wore sunglasses and somber expressions. They came to stand behind him in silent support.

Adin had no words to give Sahar. No pithy sentiment. No way to outline her life on earth. He didn’t know her. Not really. What he’d seen when he looked at her, what he’d felt for her, didn’t come from knowing her in any mundane sense. It came from someplace he couldn’t name. Someplace deep and timeless and possibly spiritual. He let a single white rose fall from his fingers, watched it come to rest on the magnificent spray of white flowers already there, and stepped back. Donte’s hand fell on his shoulder. He felt the comfort, the empathy in his lover’s touch. He let it soak into his skin, his sinews and bones.

“Grief becomes a way of life,” Donte murmured. “If you let it, it will drown you—make you numb to everything beautiful the world has to offer.”

“I can’t seem to keep my head above the tide.”

“If you have need of anything from me, you have only to ask.”

He knew that. His lover would turn himself inside out, would die for him. But there was already too much dying. Too much sorrow to go around. “I want to go home.”

“To the hotel?” Donte asked.

Adin shook his head. “To Bainbridge Island.”

“All right.” Donte gave a curt nod. “I’ll make the arrangements.”

Adin turned and thanked his friends for coming to support him. His gaze fell on Barrett, who shrank back as though he’d been slapped.

“We should talk.”

Elizabeth stepped forward protectively. “We’re here because Barrett wants to take responsibility for—”

“I’m the adult.” Adin spoke sharply. “The responsibility for this particular tragedy is mine. I need to speak with your brother.”

Barrett stepped around his sister with his hands shoved into his suit pockets. “It’s okay, Liz. I don’t need you sticking your nose in.”

“You absolute shit,” Elizabeth protested. “I’m only—”

“This is on me,” Barrett said. “Whatever anyone says, this is on me.”

“Enough.” Adin grabbed Barrett by the scruff of his neck like a kitten to pull him away. “Walk with me.”

“All right,” Barrett muttered. “Not like I have a choice. Do you have to be so grabby?”

“Sorry.” Adin let him go. “How are you?”

“I’m fucking grounded for life, pending a hearing where I have to rat out the guys from my lacrosse team. How do you think?”

Adin looked pointedly back at Sahar’s grave. “I think you got off lightly.”

Barrett paled. “You’re right. I’m sorry about the woman. She was your thrall?”

“She was my
friend
.” Adin didn’t want to claim ownership of anyone. It seemed so wrong. “I fed from her when I arrived here. When I needed her she came to me and I killed her.”

“I’m sorry, all right?” Barrett hunched his shoulders. “I’m sorry already. I really am. If I could go back and—”

“Listen carefully because I’m only going to say this once. Despite what you did, this is on me. The whole thing is on me. I should never have gone out without Sean or Donte. Without an elder to look out for me. I should have gone and met with the council, gotten my token, obeyed the rules. I was wrong to get involved with you in any way. You are not responsible for what happened to Sahar.”

Barrett gave a short, sharp nod.

“However.” Adin changed his tone. “What you did was reprehensible. What did you think to gain from drugging me? Was it some kind of payback? Getting a vamp back for old shifter grudges—”

“A grudge? No, of course not. What do I care what our ancestors thought of each other.” Apparently that was the furthest thing from Barrett’s mind. “I think you’re hot.”

Adin winced. “Is that why you drugged me? Because you think I’m hot?”

“Yeah. But it was just molly. It wasn’t a date-rape drug or anything. I—” Barrett raked his hand through his hair, “—I get it. That was like, a really, really bad idea.”

“No fucking kidding. I should beat you!”

Barrett held both hands up. “I just wanted you to chill out. You were so uptight. I wanted—” He broke off with a shocked glance toward Adin’s right.

Adin assumed Barrett was searching for words, but then he caught sight of something moving behind a statue of Jesus that seemed to be the geographical center of the cemetery.

“What is it?” Adin followed his gaze. When Barrett didn’t answer, he glanced back to find Barrett had whipped his sunglasses off and was staring, narrow-eyed. “Barrett?”

“I thought I saw…” Barrett glanced back at Adin, his face pale in the fading light. “Can’t be.”

Adin looked again. Someone—a figure dressed from head to toe in black—was heading away at a dead run. Whoever it was moved far too fast for a human. He was there one second and gone the next. Adin looked back to see if anyone else had noticed, but Donte, Santos, Tuan, and Sean were all speaking quietly next to Sahar’s grave.

“Did you see that?” Barrett asked roughly. “I mean, it wasn’t just me, right? You saw him?”

“Who was that?” Startled by the urgency in Barrett’s tone, Adin asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Liz?” Barrett called for his sister. “I want to go home.”

Elizabeth came running at them, fury coloring her cheeks. “What did you say to him?”

Adin gasped. “I—”

“Come on, Barrett.” She took his arm. “I told you this was a dumbass idea.”

“It’s nothing Adin said.” As he shook free of her, Barrett had the grace to let Adin off the hook. “It’s fine. We’re fine. I just—” He broke off with a frown. “I thought I saw someone who shouldn’t be…
Can’t
actually be there.”

All three of them waited to see if whoever had been there would show himself. At their sudden watchful silence, the rest of their small group drifted over to join them.

“Who did you see?” Elizabeth asked. “Was it one of your shitty little friends? I swear to God, if I get one more phantom phone call—”

“What do you mean, phantom phone call?” Tuan asked. “Are Barrett’s friends harassing you?”

“Yes. They are.” She turned to Tuan. “They call and
breathe
in my ear, and then they hang up. Original, right? There’s no contact information, so I can’t call their parents and tell them about it either.”

“Have you been getting calls?” Tuan asked Barrett. The kid hesitated before shaking his head. Adin thought he was lying. Maybe he was unwilling to give his friends further trouble.

“You need to keep me informed if you’re being harassed,” said Tuan. “They’re in enough trouble already as it is.”

“That wasn’t any of my friends. That—” He pointed off into the distance, shook his head, and said, “I don’t know what that was.”

“Did you recognize him?” Adin asked. He looked in the direction of the fleeing man again. Could it have been Boaz? Was he once again skulking on the periphery, waiting for the right time to come back? Adin wouldn’t put it past him.

Barrett clamped his lips together and shook his head.

“You’re lying.” This came from Santos, who studied the boy’s face for an uncomfortable few seconds. Barrett turned away, hunching his shoulders and hanging his head.

“Hey.” Elizabeth stepped between them. “He said he didn’t recognize who it was.”

Adin thought Barrett had been lying as well. “Elizabeth, I know you want to protect your brother, but—”

“He’s in enough trouble already because of you. I warned him it would only get worse if we came here, but no.
He
wanted to apologize. Now he’s done that. We’re leaving.”

“Liz—” Barrett dragged his feet as she tried to lead him away. “I don’t need you fighting my battles.”

“Yes, you do. You will as long as you keep doing stupid, stupid things.” She gripped his hand and pulled him along toward his car. “Give me the keys.”

“But Liz, I swear to God—”

“We’ll talk when we get home.” Liz continued to drag him until they were both out of earshot.

“What do you suppose he actually saw?” Donte asked.

“Whoever it was, it frightened or confused him.” Adin glanced back toward the last place he’d seen the retreating figure. “You don’t suppose it was Boaz, do you? He certainly didn’t move like a human.”

“I—” Donte followed Adin’s gaze. His expression tightened. “It might have been Boaz. Perhaps he wanted to make sure that his instructions were followed for Sahar’s internment. He’s conscientious that way.”

“Perhaps.” Boaz was turning out to be something of a barnacle, but surely he wouldn’t harm any of them. Adin shook off his worry for the moment. Boaz would show up again, and when he did, they would deal with it.

“That little brat should be more frightened of me than any shadowy figure, after what he did,” said Donte.

“I told him he was lucky I didn’t beat him.”

“He’s in enough trouble, I suppose.”

“He really is,” said Tuan. “I’ll follow up on the phone calls they’ve been receiving. If his teammates or their supporters really are trying to terrorize them, I need to put a stop to it.”

“I’m ready to go.” Adin took a last glance back at Sahar’s grave. Workers waited at a respectful distance to cover it up and lay the sod.

“All right. I’ll take you back to the hotel.” Tuan got out his keys.

Santos and Sean had come in their own car, but they trailed the others to where Tuan had parked the car.

“My little plan to get you out of the doldrums has failed utterly, and for that, I apologize,” Santos said finally.

Adin turned to look at him. “I actually believe your heart was in the right place.”

“That must be where I went wrong.” Santos shrugged. “Whenever I try to do anything good…”

“Thank you,” said Adin. “For everything you were trying to teach me. I’m sorry I was such a poor student.”

“You mean that, don’t you?” Santos’s expression was fond. “Not about the poor student bit, but—”

“Yes.” Adin had meant what he said. He was grateful for everything he’d learned.

I am neither a weak human nor soulless monster.

I am far worse than either.

I am a weak human with monstrous needs.

Oh, yes. He’d learned. He’d even learned to shield the bitterness of his thoughts, at last, so Santos couldn’t read his mind just then. If he had, that sanguine smile would have dropped right off his face.

Santos held his hand out to shake. “Until next time?”

“I look forward to it.”

C
hapter Twenty-Eight

Deana’s bungalow looked tidy and welcoming. The porch light was lit. Donte pulled their rental to the curb. He turned the engine off and waited for Adin to exit.

Adin stared at the neat little house. “Maybe she’s not even home.”

“There’s only one way to find out,” Donte said. “If you feel more comfortable, I can wait here for you.”

Adin turned. “No. If I’m going to do this, I’d like you to come with me. I want Deana to meet the man I love.”

Donte smiled warmly. “All right.”

Adin’s phone vibrated. “Text message.”

“Important?”

Oh good God.
“It’s from Barrett. ‘Need to talk to you, please.’ Okay, yeah. Not going to happen, kid. Sorry.” He deleted the message.

“What do you suppose he wants now?” asked Donte.

“Doesn’t matter. I’m busy. I came here to tell my sister the truth. I just—” Adin hesitated. “I don’t know how.”

“It’s entirely up to you. We don’t have to tell her anything.”

“I don’t know what she knows. I did some research. Walkeil is one of the companies that use that wretched testing facility, so she might actually be aware…”

“Possibly.”

“All this time she’s been after me to have safe sex because of AIDS and hep C and the human papilloma virus.” Adin got out of the car and Donte met him on the sidewalk. “I don’t know how to begin to tell her I’m…what I am.”

“You must feel your way. My guess is she’s perfectly capable of handling the truth.”

“How would you know?”

“She’s your sister. She loves you.”

Adin gave a nod and took Donte’s hand. “All right then. Let’s go.”

He knocked on the door, and when it opened, his sister’s welcoming smile lifted his spirits enormously.

“Adin! Oh my God. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?” Deana had answered the door dressed in sleep pants and a thin camisole. She hugged him tightly and then shoved him away so she could get a good look at him. “You’re pale. Why?”

“Knock it off.” Adin cleared his throat. “Deana, I’d like you to meet—”

“Oh Christ.” She got a look at Donte and shrieked. “I’m not dressed. You idiot. Why wouldn’t you call if you’re bringing a friend over?”

Adin made excuses for their bad timing. “I’m sorry, we were just in the neighborhood—”

“I need to get some clothes on. Jeez. Come in.” She let them in, and then before she even closed the door, she sped off down the hall toward her bedroom. “I’ll be right back, make yourselves at home.”

Donte went to the mantle, where Deana kept family pictures. He found one of Adin as a baby and picked it up. “By all the saints. Look at that.”

“What?” Adin came over to look.

“Your hair made little curls when you were a baby.” Donte held the picture out. “And you have a hellion’s gleam in your eye.”

Adin took the picture from him and put it back. “I
never
.”

Deana came back, wrapping the sides of a cardigan sweater around her and tying a belt. Adin figured Donte would see the resemblance. His hair was a hundred different shades of blond and brown and hers was mostly blonde, but their eyes were the same hazel green. She was pretty and trim and her smile lit up the room. She hadn’t changed a bit, whereas he had changed irrevocably… He had killed someone.

His heart sank and he had the urge to run away.

She spoke first. “Introduce me to your friend.”

After a brief, tense moment, he smiled at her. He couldn’t help himself. She was family, and he’d missed her.

“This is Donte Fedeltà.” Adin gestured to Donte, and then to his sister. “Donte, may I present my highly inquisitive
little
sister, the scientist, Dr. Deana Tredeger.”

“How do you do?” Donte bowed over her hand.

“I’m very well, thank you. May I ask if you’re the reason my brother has been so very secretive lately?”

“Possibly.”

She took her hand back and glanced at it. “I guess I’d want to keep you all to myself too. Whoo golly.” She turned to Adin and mouthed, “
Charisma.
”

Donte must have understood her because he laughed. “Thank you.”

“
Welcome to my home. Can I get you anything to drink? A glass of wine? Something stronger?”

“Perhaps a glass of wine.”

“I’ll be right back. Adin, come help me.” When Adin would have balked, Deana simply grabbed his arm and hauled him along after her. Donte settled himself on the couch. If Adin was about to tell her the whole truth, things could take a while.

Once inside the kitchen, Deana turned to him with excitement. “When were you going to tell me you were dating an Italian supermodel?”

“Donte’s not a model.”

“He should be.” She took a bottle of merlot from the cupboard while he got down three glasses. “You could cut glass with that jaw of his.”

“I’ll be sure and tell him you said so.”

“So he’s from Italy. What does he do?”

“He’s a businessman. Import export,” Adin temporized.

“Where’d you meet him?”

“I met him on the plane, coming back from Frankfurt last year.”

“Oh my God. This isn’t the guy you were mooning over, is it? The guy that broke your heart?”

“I’m afraid so.”

“So he came back?” Her eyes sparkled. Any minute now she’d say,
I told you so
. “And you’re together now?”

“Yes.”

“Wow. Okay. Congratulations, I think.” She tilted her head and gave him the side-eye. “He’s not still being a dick, right? Because weren’t you saying there was a problem? Or—”

“No, he’s not still being a dick.”

“I’m glad.” She bumped his shoulder while she dug through the drawers for a corkscrew. “You deserve a nice guy.”

“Thanks.”

“If he’s not nice, I’ll have to kick his ass.”

“I can do my own ass-kicking.”

“Maybe not, you’ve lost weight since the last time I saw you. A little red wine will be good for you.” She opened the wine and poured three glasses. “So tell me what else has been going on. I’ve hardly heard a word from you for months. I’ve been worried as hell, and frankly, I’m not seeing anything that sets my mind at ease.”

“I’m fine. Busy with work.” Adin’s attention was captured by movement outside the window. He went to investigate but saw only a shadow—a shape moving quickly in the darkness. Goddammit. Was that Boaz? It was too dark to see in the shadows, but… “Did you see something just now?”

“What?” asked Deana.

“I saw something move out there. It looked like—”

“It’s probably the neighbor’s cat. He jumps the fence all the time, lands on the trash bin, and from there he goes wherever. The first time I heard it I about had a heart attack.”

“Must be that.” Adin let all his senses open wide while he picked up his glass. He heard some cabbie’s radio. Deana’s neighbors, the footsteps of joggers and their rapidly beating hearts. Distant traffic sounds from as far away as Santa Monica Boulevard. No sense of anyone or anything else. But a vampire could shield his thoughts and Boaz… Heaven only knew what Boaz was capable of.

Donte appeared in the doorway to the kitchen, a perplexed but amiable smile on his face. “Can I do anything to help?”

“Just take your glass.” Deana was opening a box of crackers and layering them onto a plate. “Hope you like Brie, that’s probably all I have.”

“We just had dinner out,” Adin lied. “I’m stuffed so full I couldn’t eat another bite.”

“Oh.” Deana glanced at Donte, who shrugged. “Okay, more for me then. I’ll be out in a sec.”

Adin followed Donte back to the living room.

“What is it?” Donte asked. “I felt you tense up.”

“I saw something in the shadows outside. Deana says it’s her neighbor’s cat. Do you suppose Boaz is following us?”

Donte’s brows lowered. “You believe you saw him at the cemetery?”

“I saw something. It might have been him. How fast can he move?”

“If it was Boaz,” Donte said carefully, “there is no threat.”

“Are you so certain?”

“Yes.” Donte avoided his eyes. Sampled the wine. “This wine is very nice. Peppery.”

“Donte—”

“Thank you.” Deana spoke from the kitchen. “It will probably ruin your good opinion of me when I tell you I picked it because the label was so pretty.”

“Not at all. That’s exactly how I picked Adin.”

Adin nearly spit his drink. “You—”

“Okay. Now I like you.” Deana came back in, balancing her glass on a tray of snacks. “Even though you may have broken my brother’s heart at one point.”

“Deana,” Adin chastised.

“It’s true. He thought I was a monster.” Donte met Adin’s gaze. “Have you forgiven me?”

“You know I have.” Emotion seared Adin’s throat. He did forgive Donte, now that he understood. And he loved him more than ever, now that they both carried secrets and regrets in common. “Donte hides what he feels, but eventually, I cracked the code.”

“That’s nice to hear.” She took a deep sip of her wine. “God. Look at you two.”

“What?” asked Adin.

“You’re gorgeous together. I’ll bet you turn heads wherever you go.”

“C’mon. Deana.”

“All right, all right.” She settled into a dainty, floral embroidered chair. “Tell me what you’ve been up to and I might forgive you for dropping off the face of the earth for months with only an occasional phone call.”

“We were in Europe for a while. Recently, we’ve been in Colorado, enjoying some downtime.”

“I know how difficult things were after your attack,” she said. “Are you planning to go back to work in the upcoming academic year?”

“I—” He hadn’t given much thought to returning to his job; there had been so much else on his mind. “I haven’t made up my mind yet.”

“I’m surprised the university’s leash is as long as it is. They aren’t going to hold your job forever.”

“Considering I’m uniquely qualified to do it, it’s not that big a stretch.” Adin avoided the curious look Donte was sending his way. “But I probably won’t be able to go back.”

“Why not?”

Donte answered for him. “My business requires a lot of travel, and Adin seems to enjoy it. If he chooses to go with me, he’d be invaluable, especially since my secretary just quit.”

“He’d be your
secretary
?” Deana asked, eyeing him as if he’d just offered Adin a job as a chimney sweep. “Adin has a PhD.”

“So did my secretary, as it happens. Believe me, the job is far more interesting than it would seem, and Adin would be an excellent candidate. The pay is quite good.”

“Really?” Adin asked. “I thought you paid Boaz in eggs.”

“Boaz got a regular salary and an impressive benefits package. Plus, free travel.”

“I don’t know if it’s such a great idea for you to work for your boyfriend, Adin.”

“Well, we could marry, and then I wouldn’t have to pay him, precisely. Then he’d get half my worldly goods. What do you say, Adin? No prenuptial agreement. Straight fifty-fifty. In fact, you can have everything I own, everything I am, if only you’ll stay by my side. What do you say?”

“What?” Adin couldn’t have heard right. When Donte took a knee in front of him, he covered his face with both hands.

“Oh, shit.” Deana set her wine glass on the table with a loud clatter. “Where’s my phone? I need my phone. I need a goddamn camera.”

She tore out of the room and came back a few seconds later with her phone, ready to record the event for posterity.

“Deana.” Adin’s face caught fire.

“Okay.” She pointed the phone in their direction. “Do it. I’m recording.”

Donte looked utterly solemn when he reached into his pocket and brought out a black velvet box that looked as old as Adin felt just then. He must have planned this well ahead of time if the ring was one of the treasures from his private collection…Christ.

“Più amato.” Donte’s low voice was gravelly with emotion. “You of all people know what this means to me. You’re the only person alive who knows my heart. You hold my future in your hands. We will share everything, one way or another. Per siempre, amore?”

Adin held Donte’s gaze and accepted what he was saying—and what he didn’t say—with a sad smile. Adin still didn’t know if he could do this… If he could be this. He was reeling from Sahar’s loss.

He hated himself.

Hated all of them, Santos and Donte and Sean and himself.

Yet something hopeful in Donte’s eyes drove him to consider his words.

And remember his promise.

It was too soon after Sahar. Too soon to know if he could even bear to feed again.

But the love shining in Donte’s eyes was utterly irresistible. And his sister was so happy. He held his hand out and let Donte slip the heavy gold signet ring onto his finger. “Per siempre, my lover.”

“Oh my God. Oh my God.” Deana stopped the video to give them both a hug. She grabbed their glasses and headed for the kitchen. “This calls for champagne.”

“Did you plan this?” Adin asked when she’d left the room.

“Possibly.” Donte faced him with more than a little triumph. “I knew it would be extremely difficult for you to say no in front of your sister.”

A champagne cork popped, and a minute later Deana returned with three flute glasses on a tray. “I was saving this for when
I
met Mr. Right, but men being men—” she glanced up, “—er…present company excepted of course.”

“Of course,” said Donte. He met Adin’s gaze with an almost-smile.

When they all three had a glass, Deana gave a toast. “To the happy couple. Long life and happiness.” Her face shone with joy.

Adin felt like the world’s biggest liar. “Thank you.”

“You’ve made me the happiest man…alive.” Donte smiled sadly and Adin knew he was thinking the same thing.

Christ. How wrong was this? They weren’t alive. They weren’t even really
people
. They had no right to this kind of happiness.

Deana didn’t notice his mounting anxiety, or if she did, she ignored it. “Is your family still in Italy? Is that where you plan to be married? Oooh. Destination wedding. Will you return to the States to live or—”

“Whoa.” Adin stopped her questions. “Time out. I’ll need a moment to catch up to what just happened here.”

“Oh, oddball.” His sister was lit up from within. “You just got engaged. And you know what that means, don’t you?”