Elixxir (The Brethren Series) (7 page)

“I don’t owe you anything, Dennis. Get off me. No…won’t tell your parents…. I know I’m not your real sister. It doesn’t matter! Please don’t!”

With angelic speed, he entered their unoccupied room and burst through the adjoining door, ready to pummel the bastard that had found his way in. He aimed to the left and right and to the bed, fully expecting to see some thug accosting her. But she was alone. Her arms worked feverishly to remove invisible threats to her thighs as she tossed about, the terror in her voice escalating. He put the safety back on the gun and holstered it.

“Damn it,” he muttered. He hurried over to the distraught woman and gently shook her shoulder. “Callie, wake up. You’re dreaming.” She carried on, yelling for Dennis to leave her alone. Telling him she was too young and asking how he could do this to her after everything she’d been through. She twisted herself into a frenzy, nearly falling off the bed. “Callie! Wake up!” He shook her harder. She jolted awake, flailing her arms about, slapping his chest in the process.

“What? What? Why are you waking me up?” She sat up and squeezed herself out of the sheet’s wrappings like a snake shedding its skin. “What’s going on? And where’s your shirt?”

“You were having a nightmare and almost fell off the bed.” He rubbed his stubbly cheeks and chose to ignore her last question. “You all right now? You wanna talk about it?”

She put her head in her hands as awareness washed over her face. “Shit,” she muttered. “No. I don’t want to talk about it.”

“It might help.” He reached out to her.

“Don’t touch me. Just leave me alone, okay?” She got out of bed and scurried to the bathroom. Before he could blink, he heard the shower going.

He sighed and sat down on a chair.
Shit is right. Dennis must be the son from that family the lawyer placed her with. That son-of-a-bitch sexually assaulted her
. It explained so much. He heard her crying softly. Between the obvious post-traumatic stress and sexual abuse, he had no idea how she’d kept it as together as she had. Over his many centuries in the military and bounty hunting, he’d seen it all. Stronger men had been brought down by less. So she tucked herself into bed funny and talked in her sleep. She was abrasive and secretive. He could get past those walls, given enough time and some advice from Emma D’Angelo. She would know how to reach her. Heck, the Great Savior Mother could even heal her. He made another mental note to call Emma in the morning.

The shower stopped. Curtain hooks scraped and screeched across the shower rod. A few minutes later, Callie emerged, rubbing her hair with a towel. She wouldn’t look at him. She wore her boxer shorts and tank top again, giving him a perfect view of bright red skin that accentuated the lingering cuts and scrapes earned earlier in the evening. She’d scrubbed herself raw.

“All better now?”

“Yeah, tons.” She sneered and sat on the bed. She looked at him for the briefest of moments and then down at her hands, using her wet hair as a curtain. “Listen, I’m really uncomfortable now, here, with you having seen and heard…. It happens sometimes, my nightmares.”

“Hey, we all have crap to deal with from our past. Even from our present. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. You’ve had a hell of a couple of days here that I’m sure played a big part in bringing them out. I can’t unhear what I’ve heard, though. So you’ll have to get past it.” He leaned forward in his chair, forearms resting on his knees. “Tell me, is this Dennis anywhere in your life now?”

She looked up at him, shamefaced. “I reported him to the police and he got seven years in jail. He was released, but I know he’s had some run-ins with the law since. So no, no he’s not a part of my life, except in my nightmares. He doesn’t seem to want to let me go. As much as I try, he comes back every now and again to terrorize me like he used to.”

“Do you usually scrub yourself raw in the shower like you did just now?”

She looked at her legs and arms and started to cry. “I can feel his hands on me. Still. Every time. When I wake up from one of these, I still feel his punishing touch. If I scrub hard enough, the pain numbs my skin.” She wiped her tears with the towel and shook her head. “Oh, this has so not been a good day for me.”

Nathanael knew she’d probably throw a fit, but he dared to do what his heart wanted him to do and his conscience screamed against. He sat down next to her, and putting his arm around her shoulder, pulled her in close. Ready for a slew of curses and yelling, he winced, but they never came. Instead, he felt her arm loop around his waist and her head fell against his chest.

“You know, if you tell me where he lives, I can beat him up for you.” She tittered softly. “Or I could have him thrown in jail again on some trumped-up charges so he can be some inmate’s bitch for a night.” She slapped him lightly on his stomach.

“You’d do that for me?” She leaned her head back so she could see his face. He nodded. “Okay, you’re not an ass anymore.”

“Oh good, because that was really bothering me all day. I don’t mind being called a piece of ass, but plain old ass just makes me sad.” He winked. “Hey, slide back on the bed. I’m gonna show you how to sleep soundly and comfortably without wrapping yourself up like a mummy.”

She looked dubious but complied with his demands. He lay down next to her and gathered her over to him, moving so fast she didn’t have time to complain. At first, her body went rigid and tensed against his. “Nothing like a heartbeat’s rhythm to relax you. Now settle in, take a few deep breaths, and close your eyes. I’m here, and you are safe. Think sweet thoughts like puppies or kittens or whatever you girls think is sweet.” He didn’t know what to say anymore, so he went for touch instead.
If only I had a Protector’s skills of comforting and bringing peace, this would go a lot easier. My strength and cunning are all I got
. He smoothed his hand against her damp hair and then stopped to massage her head lightly. Her body loosened. She groaned and snuggled closer. He smiled.
Maybe I don’t need Emma’s help after all. I must be a natural
.

He waited until her breathing became even and regular.

Nah, just damn lucky
.

Chapter Six

Callie decided that on her list of must-haves should be one of those sound machines with a heartbeat on it. Nathanael’s real heartbeat, slow and steady, was the perfect remedy to her restless sleep and she could very easily get used to hearing it every night. She smiled.
Get a load of you
!
Going soft on him, are we
?
Could it have anything to do with how he said he could beat up Dennis for you, or is it his luscious, half-naked body fitting perfectly next to yours
?
Or could it be the way he said he’d keep you safe
?
Check off all of the above
.

Kemuel never said stuff like that to her. No, he was a total lunkhead. A sexy and funny lunkhead, but clueless in the women department. He may have been good for many a romp in bed, but long, deep conversations weren’t his forte. Then again, she hadn’t wanted that at the time, either. She’d wanted an escape from her sorry excuse of a life. In the end, if she analyzed their relationship, he couldn’t possibly have been the right one for her. Nope. Not at all.

Nathanael isn’t either, Callie-girl
. She had to remember she’d sworn off men completely. Abstaining from all relationships until she got her shit together took top billing in her book. Maybe softening a little toward him would be harmless to her goal. He had been super nice and willing to help fight off the bad guys and find the Elixxir. She frowned slightly against his chest.
Why, I wonder
?
What’s in it for him
? Another puzzle to solve another day. She set it aside and sank in deeper to his body, drifting off to sleep.

***

Nathanael watched as Gabriel swooped down from the sky to land before him on the second floor walkway, and shook his hand. “Hey, Brother, thanks for coming. How are ya?”

“I’m good, I’m good.” He retracted his wings and dug into the back pocket of his leather pants. “Mission accomplished. Ariana Kupi is the daughter of the slain Joseph and Celeste Kupi. She went dark twenty years ago, and for all intents and purposes, died, too. Trail ends. Her father was partners with one Edward Murati of Las Vegas, Nevada. They owned Kupi and Murati’s Curiosity Shop. I found some scary tidbits on the now sole owner of the store.”

“Do tell.”

“Well, first of all, his shop was a suspected front for drug dealing.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Nope. I checked his financials. He should barely be making ends meet, given profit/loss statements. But when I dug deeper, I found out he lives in a multimillion-dollar mansion, and he’s got a personal jet to his name, as well, that takes him to Tahiti several times a year. I’m still trying to locate precisely where he goes. I’ll get back to you on that.”

“So he’s rich. Where’s the hard evidence about drugs? They were real close. She called him uncle, you know. I gotta tread carefully and have undisputable proof that he’s into illegal stuff before I go telling her anything.”

“Is this file hard enough evidence for ya?” Gabriel passed a manila folder to him. “Don’t ask me where I got it. I’d have to kill ya.” He chuckled.

“Give me your short version. It’ll be just as thorough, I’m sure.”

“He’s been investigated in the past, charged numerous times for dealing cocaine and ecstasy, but none of the charges stuck. They were all mysteriously dropped each time.”

“Interesting. He’s got someone high up in his pocket. Wonder if he involved her father as well before he and his wife were murdered?”

“The first charge goes back a long ways, about twenty years ago.”

“Hmmm. Her parents were murdered twenty years ago.” He pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes briefly. “All right, so we got a no-good uncle running her father’s old shop as a front for drugs. Lovely. Hey, would you take a look at this while you’re here? It’s a key I found looking through the burnt remains of her apartment. What’s it go to? Do you know?”

Nathanael handed over the key he’d been fumbling with since they’d begun talking, and waited patiently while watching Gabriel turn it over and over in his hands.

“Hmm. It looks to me to be a key to a locker in a bus station. See how it says B54 on this side?” Gabriel pointed to the engraving. “That tells you that it’s in Section B, locker number 54. But to what specific station, I haven’t a clue. Instincts tell me, though, if it’s hers, and you find the locker to that key, you’ll find yourself with a whole bunch of answers. How is she?”

“Messed up, man. Still very guarded. PTSD has a strong hold on her, but I’m wearing her down.” He smirked. “I thought I’d be able to get my hands on that Elixxir, no problem, but she has no idea where it is.”

“Do what you can with her until Raphael and Emma are available to help. I gotta go, but if you need anything else, I’m free and so are Michael, Urie, and Kemuel.”

“Uh yeah, well, Kemuel’s gonna have to stay far away from this mission. Suffice it to say, he and Callie should not be in the same with room with each other for a good long while.”

“Okay, not gonna ask. Don’t want to know. Oh, hey! I almost forgot. E.L. says he’s got an upgrade for you Warriors to check out and use from here on out. He’s ramped up your shielding capabilities to transparent. Now you can shield your threaded signature and your appearance. There’s nothing better than hearing the word ‘upgrade’ in my world, so you’re freakin’ lucky. Call me, bro.” Gabriel stood, released his wings, and flew off into the purple sky. Dawn was coming, and with it a whole host of questions for one complicated woman.

Nathanael trudged back into the room, tossing the key about in his hand. His senses revealed no more about it. Not the slightest thread of intent or emotion remained. He’d have to rely on Callie to offer up any additional information. The rhythmic rise and fall of her body told him the enigmatic woman still lay sleeping. He’d have to wake her up soon if they were going to make decisions on what to do next. Sitting on a chair, he stared at her back, trying to wrap his head around a plan percolating in his mind.

“Stop staring. You’re creeping me out.”

He laughed. “I didn’t think you were awake. How do you know I’m looking at you? You’re not even facing my direction.”

“I don’t. You just confirmed my suspicions. Kemuel always watched me sleep.” She turned over and glared at him. “I don’t know what it is about you guys. You seem to have an aversion to sleeping or something.”

“We need to talk about what we’re doing today,” he said, diverting her attention to a more suitable topic.

She leaned up on her elbow and sighed. “I think all signs lead to Vegas.” He raised a brow in surprise. “I think we need to go there. I can’t let these killers get their hands on what’s mine. And what’s mine has to be there somewhere. Maybe you, being all Brethren Security, black ops, and bounty hunter-ish, can do what the cops haven’t been able to do in twenty years. Catch the assholes who killed my parents. I’m not sure, though, where to start once we’re there.”

“Why don’t you start with this?” He took the locker key from his pocket and poured the chain into her palm.

“What?”

“I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?” He sat back and folded his hands on his lap.

“Well, it’s a key, of course.” She put it around her neck and tucked it under her tank top.

He leaned in. “Apparently it’s yours.”

“Yes, it’s mine. Where did you find it?”

“Back at your apartment, or what used to be your apartment. What does it open?”

“I don’t know, actually. My father gave it to me when I was a little girl and told me it was the key to his heart. I used to wear it all the time. I wasn’t supposed to keep anything from my former life, but I couldn’t help it. I had to have something tangible from my parents, so I hid it no matter where I lived. I should thank you for finding it.” She smiled.

“You’re welcome. I think it’s an important piece to all of this. Try to remember. Did your dad ever take you to a bus station when you were a little girl and use the key?”