Three Hearts One Soul (The Soul Series #1) (5 page)

A moment passes and then her reply pops up.

Your funeral. Give me your contact details, I’ll see what I can do. Don’t you mention my name to anyone, I didn’t tell you anything. Do you understand me?

My funeral? What is she talking about?

Of course, if that’s what you want. Please, just help me let him know Jase is sick.

She gives me a basic ok,
then her name goes offline. A moment later, her account completely disappears. Feeling a little queasy, I search her name. Gone. She deleted her account. Why would she delete her account? Was her speaking to me so dangerous she had to remove it just like that? Shake my head in confusion, I power down the laptop and put my head in my hands. What sort of trouble has Whiskey gotten himself into? It’s obviously not good, because Sarah was determined that I should drop it. Why would I be in danger over looking for someone, unless that someone was in serious trouble themselves?

I shove the laptop aside and roll my now aching neck. Worry fills my chest. What has Whiskey done? Is that why he really left all those years ago? Is he hiding from Jase because he doesn’t want to put Jase in danger? Is that why he hasn’t contacted him? So many questions run through my mind, so many that
I can’t answer. I’m worried for Whiskey, something deep inside my chest is telling me I need to drop this, I just have that horrible feeling it won’t end well but I made a promise to Jase. I can’t not fulfil the last promise, I won’t do that to him. So whatever the cost, I will find Whiskey.

Chapter 3

“
Sorry ‘bout the attitude I need to give when I’m with you, but no one else will take this shit from me,” Is the soulful sound I hear, it’s the deep, husky purr of Whiskey’s voice filling my ears and travelling through my body.

He’s perched on the stage at our local pub, looking divine. His black shirt stretches across his chest, his dark jeans hug his legs and his heavy black boots tap against the wooden floor as he fills the room with that delicious voice. His eyes never leave mine. Whiskey has been singing this song to me since he first heard it. He always said it made him think of me. I’m still trying to figure out exactly how it could possibly remind him of me. Jase grips my hand and we both stare up at Whiskey, admiring him. He was blessed with one hell of a voice
..

“He loves to sing this song for you,” Jase grins, running the tip of his finger over my palm.

“Yeah, it makes me feel warm even though I’m yet to understand what it means.”

“One day you will.”

I smile and watch as Whiskey continues singing, his voice fills the room and travels into my soul like a raging fire. I can’t push him out, even in all his darkness, because he makes my life lighter somehow. Jase wraps an arm around me and leads me to the bar, forcing me to turn my eyes away from Whiskey. When we get to the bar, Jase and I order another beer and make our way to a nearby table. We both sit down and continue listening to Whiskey’s haunting voice.

“Oh hey Jase, that girl over there is totally checking you out,” I grin, noticing a girl nearby smiling over at Jase. She’s pretty, with dark black hair and light blue eyes. Most men wouldn’t think twice about chatting her up if they caught her looking at them the way she’s looking at Jase right now.

He turns, looks at her and then turns back to me with a grin. “Nah, I’m cool tonight.”

“She doesn’t think so,” I tease, wiggling my eyebrows at him.

“Well, best we make her think so.”

Jase grips my face and pulls me closer, brushing his lips across mine. The kiss is in no way passionate, in fact, I kiss him more passionately when we’re just chilling out together. To her though, it’s enough. When we look back, she’s pouting and staring at another group of males in the corner. I giggle, my two boys gather attention no matter where they go
, there’s just something so luring about the Levanox brothers. Poor girl is probably so horribly disappointed.

“She’s on the prowl,” Jase laughs.

“And you missed out, you could have gotten lucky, Jase.”

He laughs and wraps an arm around me. “I am
lucky, I have the only girl I want right beside me. I couldn’t get luckier.”

I giggle and kiss his cheek.
“You sweet talker, Jase Levanox!”

He chuckles. “I am good, right?”

“Oh yeah, you sure are.”

“Do you reckon Whiskey is next on her list?”

I turn and stare at the girl, who now has a group of friends with her. They’re all staring up at Whiskey with dreamy smiles. When he winks at them, they break out into a fit of giggles. Turning away to hide the jealousy on my face, I smile at Jase.

“Probably.”

Jase’s eyes scan my face. “That bothers you?”

“No, of course not.”

He smiles and flicks the tip of my nose. “You’re a bad liar, Nevaeh.”

I roll my eyes and pick up my drink. “Come on handsome, let’s dance.”

I am jerked out of my dream when the phone beside me rings. Blinking out of my sleep filled haze, I stare down at the screen. Unknown number. I pick it up and answer it with a sleepy, groggy, hello.

“Is this the girl looking for Whiskey?”

I sit up as the gravelly male voice travels across the phone.

“Um, yes, I am.”

“I won’t say this twice, so listen very carefully. You will stop looking for him. If you value your life and your safety, you will drop this right now and move on.”

Why does everyone keep saying that? And how dare he ring and threaten me when he doesn’t even know me.

“I’m sorry who is this?”

“It doesn’t matter, don’t keep looking for him, you’ll end up tangled in something you don’t want.”

“Well, I need him so I can’t stop looking.”

“Are you stupid or just simple? I am not joking around with you girl. Stop looking. He’s none of your concern anymore.”

“His brother is sick,” I snap.

“That’s too bad.”

Then he hangs up. Well great. That’s helpful. What is with these people? Honestly, can’t they just give me a straight answer? Better yet, why can’t they just tell me where Whiskey is and let me deal with him on my own. No, not them though, they are all doom and gloom ‘if you keep calling you’ll die’ kind of thing. I’m over it. This task of finding Whiskey is going to be far harder than I first thought. He’s obviously not wanting to be found and has his little back up guards on the hunt for anyone who tries to find him. Jesus Whiskey, you couldn’t just make this easy could you?

I rub the sleep from my eyes and stare at the clock. It’s five am. Well, I do have to start work at six thirty so I guess I didn’t lose too much sleep. I crawl out of bed and plod into the shower. The warm water is enough to wake me from my sleepy haze. I dress in my uniform, make myself a coffee and then head into work. I don’t mind morning shifts, I prefer them. I’m not a great night shift person. In fact, I’m just good at night ever. What can I say? I like my sleep.

When I get in, the hospital is buzzing, as always. It never sleeps, quietens down or stops. It’s always busy, there’s always someone needing help or care. I make my way up to my station and see Tanya right away. She’s at the nurses’ station, chatting to a fellow nurse. When she sees me, she smiles. I have no doubt she’s smiling because I went home instead of staying with Jase. I stare down the hall at his room and Tanya clicks her fingers in front of my face.

“He’s been moved to oncology now.”

I focus my attention on her. “What?”

“Yeah, he was only in our ward because of the bed shortage. He’s finally gotten himself a new room up there.”

I force a smile, I am grateful Jase has himself a good room but I don’t like that he’s not close. I can’t just check on him now. I pull my charts from the bench and sigh.

“Oh well, what have we got going on here today?”

“Nothing new, the patients are all the same.”

I like easy days. Mind you, easy days can change in a split second in a place like this. I flick through the charts and scan what’s been done during the night,
then I get onto my rounds. The morning flies by fairly fast and by ten, I’m ready for my break. I grab a coffee and head up to oncology. When I get in, I walk over to the nurses’ station.

“Hey Nevaeh,” Jane, the head nurse, smiles.

“Hey Jane, I’m looking for Jase Levanox?”

“Ah, yes, he’s in room fourteen.”

I flash her a smile and walk down the hall until I find the door with the golden 14 on it. I open the door softly and I see Jase sitting by the window, just staring out at it. I can’t help the sting of pain that pinches in my chest, but I squelch it and whisper, “Hey handsome.”

He turns and his smile lightens my day. I walk over and stop next to him. I take him in, scanning my eyes over his body for any changes, anything that might be different since last time, but he looks ok. Well, as ok as someone so sick can look. He’s still drawn out and tired looking, his body is hunched and his skin is cool and clammy. He’s still so beautiful to me though, he always will be.

“Nev, god, I missed you. When I woke, you were gone.”

I smile. “They sent me home, you know, so I didn’t become a crazy stalker.”

He laughs hoarsely and pulls me down onto his lap. “I’ve been moved away from you, so now I can’t hear your laugh in the halls.”

I smile and snuggle into him. “I’ll text you my laugh.”

He chuckles, then coughs. “And how will you do that?”

“I don’t know, I’ll record it and send it to you.”

He snuggles further into me. “Hmmm, ok, that sounds good.”

“Have you eaten today?”

“No nurse.”

I lean back and frown at him.
“Nothing at all?”

“It doesn’t stay down.”

“Haven’t they given you meds for that?”

He grins. “Yes nurse, but I’m not quite up to eating.”

“Water?”

“Plenty.”

I nod and slide off his lap. “So, I’m going shopping this afternoon. I’m going to get you whatever you want, so you better give me a list.”

His eyes sparkle for the first time since I’ve seen him and he stands. “Oh you know
, ice cream would be good. What were those ones you liked so much?”

I giggle. “That’s not funny.”

“If I recall, we had a lot of fun with those.”

“You can’t eat ice cream,” I smirk. “So there!”

He waggles his eyebrows. “But you can.”

“Oh, no,
I’m never trusting you or Whiskey with ice cream again.”

“Remember how hard we got you,
god, that was so funny. You were covered from head to toe in ice cream.”

I smile at the fond memory.

“Run Heaven, we’re gonna make this worth the chase!” Whiskey calls, waving his ice cream at me.

I squeal and turn, running out of the room only to slam into Jase. He grips me, wrapping his arms around my body and ramming his ice cream right into my face. The cold frozen treat being smothered all over my face makes me squeal. I squirm but I’m not strong enough. Whiskey catches up to me in a second and he drives his ice
cream into my face too. With a gag and a laugh, I reach up and grip a large blob from my cheek and smudge it all over Whiskey’s lips.

“Oh, you’re going to pay for that!” he chuckles.

“Oh yeah?” I pant. “Bring it.”

Jase lets me go and I spin around, leaping on him and rubbing my face over his. He roars with laughter and puts his hand directly over my face, pushing me back. Whiskey appears from behind me and wraps his hands around my face and smudges the ice cream all over my cheeks and runs it down my neck.

“I hate you two!” I cry, giggling so hard I’m letting off crazy little snorts here and there.

“But we love you!” Jase laughs.

“Even when you snort like a cute little piggy,” Whiskey grins, then he leans down and snorts in my face. I shove him and we all burst out laughing.

“God,” I smile, helping Jase to his bed. “That was
hilarious, I was sticky for like a damn week after that.”

Jase laughs softly. “Yeah, I bet you were.”

“So, ice cream is out, what can I get you?”

He shrugs. “You’re enough.”

“Aw, come on tough guy. There’s got to be something you want?”

His smile becomes pained. “I want my brother.”

I lose my smile and grip his hand. “I’m going to find him Jase, I promise you.”

“What if it’s too late Nev? What if I don’t get to say goodbye?”

“I won’t let that happen, I’ll find him. I swear to you Jase, I will do whatever it takes.”

He nods, looking away. I grip his face in my hands and turn him back to look at me. I let my eyes bore into his so he can see that I am serious. I won’t let him down.

“I promise you, Jase, do you hear me?”

He smiles and his brown eyes scan my face.

“I hear you girl.”

I grin and lean over to kiss his cheek, but he moves his head so our lips brush softly. Giving him a grin, I bite his bottom lip and he chuckles.