Tortured Embrace Page 14

  Adam stormed through the door. Gripping his car keys in a tight fist, he panned the room for any evidence of his sister’s presence.

  Shutting the door quietly to not alert anymore of his neighbors of the drama on the top floor, he crossed his arms in front of him and waited for the onslaught.

  Adam sniffed. “Is she here?” he asked menacingly, his eyes searing a deep navy blue, his face flushed. The vein on his buddy’s forehead threatened to break skin.

  Biting the side of his cheek, he didn’t respond, couldn’t even look him in the face. Ashamed, he stared at the floor.

  “I can smell her all over you. I’ll ask…”

  “Yes.”

  Serena’s scent was all over him and coming from the bedroom, but Adam still flinched as if he couldn’t believe it. “You son of a bitch,” he whispered.

  Jason met his scowl. The look on Adam’s face would haunt him for years. Never in his life did he think he’d betray his friend this way, in any way. Adam was his best friend, and he’d outright done the one thing Adam asked him not to do.

  They stared for a moment, as the reality of the situation washed over them both. Jason never felt more uncomfortable in his entire life. He’d rather be chatting it up with a room full of vampires at a tea party than facing his girl’s brother after what they’d done.

  Adam’s cheek twitched as the bitter sense of hurt and betrayal filled the room. “You took advantage of an innocent during the moon heat? After what she’s been through? What kind of man are you?”

  Shutting his eyes, he let Adam’s words sink in. That’s exactly what he’d done. As soon as the heat struck, he’d become a different person. Not being able to control his urges made him a sorry excuse of a man, but what could he say? She’d refused pills, and he’d taken the last of his last night, nearly overdosing.

  Practically reading his mind as it was clear that Serena had come to him, Adam said, “You should have refused her. You should have sent her home. Nick was on patrol, he could have…”

  Growling, Jason’s eyes shot to his, shoulders hunkering down.

  Leaning his head back, Adam pinned him with a glare and waited for the rumble to pass, jaws tight. “Despite how you feel, you were given a direct order.”

  Jason opened his mouth to speak.

  “What order?” Serena asked.

  Adam’s head swung to the hallway where a scantly clad Serena stood in one of Jason’s t-shirts, skirting the tops of her knees.

  Jason groaned in his head, aching to be inside her again, and wondering if Adam would kill him here in front of her or have the decency to wait until she left.

  Her brother grimaced at her appearance then asked through gritted teeth, “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. I asked you a question, Adam. What order?” she queried again, her cheeks turning a bright red as she sensed her brother’s answer.

  Looking away from her, Adam spoke to the room at large. “He was given orders not to get involved with you. Moon heat or not, he disobeyed them last night.”

  “How could you do that?” she asked, aghast. “Who do you think you are?”

  “Serena…” Adam tried, but she cut him off.

  “No!” she shouted, her expression fierce. She moved closer to her brother, pointing a delicate finger at his chest. “You don’t run my life, Adam. I’m an adult, and I can and will do whatever I damn well please.”

  “We’ve discussed this, Serena. This is not the life…”

  “Screw all your excuses, Adam. Enough is enough. I choose what is best for me. And for your information, Jason didn’t disobey you. I came here unmedicated to be with him. He had two options; let me writhe in pain in front of him or mate.”

  Scowling, Adam growled down at her, “You should have been home.”

  Leaning closer to her brother she uttered, her voice shaking, “My. Life.”

  They glared at each other before Jason spoke up. “I love her, Adam.” Sister and brother snapped out of their staring contest and looked to him. “And I’m not sorry for what I did. She’s mine and I’m hers. I’ll face the consequences for my defiance. Just name the date and time.”

  “No!” Serena shouted, her expression panicked.

  His eyes soft, Jason looked to her and gently said, “It’s okay, little one. It has to be done.”

  She rounded on her brother again. “What are going to do? I swear, if you hurt him…”

  His alpha was actually at a loss for words. He looked everywhere but at them, his fierce expression had vanished, replaced with turmoil and regret. Shame for what he had to do oozed out of him. Shaking his head, he uttered, “Damn you, J. Damn you.”

  “When?” Jason asked, quietly.

  “Tonight.”

  ****

  Kevin marched the last few steps in a huff. Breathless, he took out his handkerchief and dabbed at his forehead. By the names on the mailboxes downstairs, he’d found the Blacktail beta’s apartment. He wondered why the Fighters of the pack lived so out in the open.

  Weren’t they concerned their enemies would find them? It had been so easy to procure an address it was almost laughable. What he hadn’t expected, though, was the two Glocks aimed at his face the second he’d reached the top landing.

  “Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Kevin uttered, gruffly. Old age and his years of smoking cigars had roughened his vocal chords. Holding up his empty hands, he managed to take his eyes off the two barrels. He looked up, way up to find two of the most frightening men he’d ever met.

  They stood shoulder to shoulder in t-shirts which threatened to tear at any moment under gargantuan arms. One had long brown hair, the other short and black, but they both had the same fierce amber eyes glowing bright, their teeth bared as they snarled threateningly.

  Arms outstretched, the dark haired male spoke. “Stupid game you’re playing, human. Two choices. One, speak real fast and get the hell out, or two…” he cocked his gun, smiling devilishly.

  “Okay, fellas. No need for that. I don’t want any trouble,” Kevin said, arching his shoulders back to appear bigger than he was. Years ago he stood at five feet ten inches, but now he hunched a bit. Not wanting to show these two beasts he was out of his league, he stood straighter and cleared his throat. “I’m assuming you’re the beta,” he said, looking at the long-haired male.

  Choosing to ignore this inquiry the guy asked, “If you don’t want any trouble, then why the hell are you packing, old man?”

  Guess these two either smelled the metal in his pocket or he wasn’t concealing it as well as he thought. “I’ve got a license to carry a weapon, and it’s my damn right,” he admonished. “Now you two boys need to lower your weapons. I told you I didn’t come here for trouble. Feel my emotions, why don’t you. I just came here to talk to the beta.”

  For a moment, the two men stared blankly at him as if he’d just given them a math problem they couldn’t figure out without pencil and paper.

  The dark one spoke again. “Weapons stay until you state your business. You’ve been lurking around too much for our liking, and now you’re way too close for comfort. What do you want?”

  Kevin winced slightly, feeling stupid to try and spy on a pack of werewolves. “I take it you’ve noticed my presence there, huh?”

  They just stared back mutely, waiting for an explanation.

  Linking his hands behind him in military fashion, a position he’d taken when addressing a man of superior rank, he surveyed the men. These guys weren’t military, but the way they carried themselves made Kevin feel like he was a lieutenant speaking to his captain. “I wanted to introduce myself to the Blacktail beta. I’d hoped he could arrange a meeting with you, sir.” Kevin nodded his head at the dark one, assuming he was the alpha of the pack.

  Both men seemed to relax some, their yellow eyes fading back to their normal color.

  As he’d been looking at the alpha, he immediately noticed the brilliant hue of his blue eyes and froze, remembering just who this man was. “Adam, is it?�
�� he asked, a small smile escaping his lips.

  “There are better ways to approach us,” he said, his scowl still in place.

  Kevin shook himself. “I understand, but under the circumstances, I felt I had to be…cautious.”

  “If you’re going to continue to be cryptic, these weapons are staying right where they are,” Adam Perez said.

  “My apologies,” he said, then shot a nervous glance at his feet. “Look, I don’t know how else to say this, but I need to meet your sister.”

  Both men tensed again, the Glocks getting closer to his face as the beta growled low.

  Adam spoke through tight lips, “Not a chance in hell, grandpa. You can say what you have to say to me, then get out and stay as far away from Wilmington as possible. Got it?”

  Clearing his throat, he jerked his chin up at the man. “No,” he said as strongly as he could.

  “You got a death wish, old man?”

  Kevin blinked, his throat closing up. “Not anymore, sir. My only wish is to meet my daughter, Serena.”

  ****

  Serena stared apprehensively at the man before her. The older man stood in the middle of Jason’s living room shifting anxiously from foot to foot. With etched lines near his eyes and graying hair, he looked to be in his sixties.

  As they’d all picked up on the familiar Old Spice scent at the same time a few minutes ago, Jason and Adam had hustled her into the bedroom the instant the man ascended the stairs. Curious of course, she’d listened to their entire exchange out in the hall.

  Serena and the man continued to stare, dumbfounded.

  Daughter?

  At first she thought the man must have been crazy the second she heard his announcement, but then she felt recognition wash over her brother and Jason, then pure astonishment. Shocked, she heard Adam utter the words, “Dear God,” and before she knew it, they were ushering the man through the door.

  Before she’d left the bedroom, she threw her coat on over Jason’s shirt not wanting to greet the man so scantily clad. He didn’t seem to notice how awkward she looked in a black trench coat and bare feet.

  He gazed openly at her now, his misty eyes shimmering, and she couldn’t help but feel the joy and agony he experienced. His emotions were doing a number on her. It was heartbreaking. The need to cry was overwhelming, but she wasn’t sure whose need was greater, his or hers.

  “Hi there,” he said, twisting a handkerchief through trembling fingers. “My name’s Kevin Goode.” He coughed through a fist. Glancing nervously at Adam, he said, “It’s lovely to meet you, Serena.” He hesitated, repeating her name as though testing the sound, “Serena.” He gave her a small smile. “You have no idea…”

  “I know who you are,” she said pointedly, cutting him off.

  Kevin jerked slightly, “What…how could…”

  “I can hear quite well,” she answered, pointing distractedly toward the hall.

  He let out a nervous laugh, coughing again. “Ah, right.” Looking down at the floor, he hesitated, his eyes somber as she felt worry lace through him. Meeting her avid gaze again, he asked timidly, “You believe me?”

  Serena couldn’t speak for a long while, her eyes roaming over his every facial feature. Understanding as to why her brother and Jason had let him in hit the instant she’d laid eyes on his.

  Those eyes. God, they were the exact same brown as hers. Even his nose was a larger image of her own and what hair wasn’t covered in gray was the same shade as hers too.

  She let out a sharp breath, staggering slightly. Before she could lose her balance, Jason’s hand was at her elbow, holding her steady, yet still giving her space to process what was happening right now.

  Shaking her head, she stuttered at the man, “How…how…”

  Kevin gave her a sad smile, tilting his head. “I’d love to explain everything, my dear. But, please, just give me a moment to look at you.” Gazing mesmerized, he added softly, “You have no idea how happy I am.” He laid a hand over his heart. “I wish to God I knew…” Shuddering, he rubbed his eyes.

  They all stood quietly taking it all in until Adam uttered the words she could not manage to speak. “How did you know our mother?”

  Serena drew in a shaky breath, her heart racing as she waited for him to answer.

  Kevin stuck his hand in his pocket, taking out a tattered card. Taking her eyes off his face for a second, Serena realized it was a photo. Dazedly, she took it from him when he held it out to her.

  Sitting in an armchair near a window, the sun’s rays cast a woman in an ethereal glow. The woman in the photo smiled sultrily at the camera with a white coffee cup in her right hand, her legs tucked underneath her. A pang shot through Serena’s chest.

  Her mother was absolutely stunning.

  Longing for her stung her eyes, but it was the smile she wore that truly broke her heart. Never in all the years she’d spent with her mother had she ever smiled so beautifully. Even though it was just a photo, Serena could feel how relaxed her mother felt at that exact moment. Her brother realized it too as she sensed the uncontrollable sorrow run through him.

  “We met through mutual friends,” Kevin began, but Serena couldn’t take her eyes off the photo. “Your mother had gone to Chicago for a funeral.” Gesturing to Adam with a nod, he added, “Perhaps you remember. Danny and Samantha Amato’s father had passed that year, and your mother came up to take care of their mother, Gina. Gina’s parents and mine were old chums. We grew up together in Lincoln Square.”

  Hanging on to every word, Serena dragged her tear-stung eyes from her mother’s photo to face her…father.

  “I met your mother at the funeral, and we…” he smiled adoringly, remembering some secret memory. “Well…hell…she stole my heart the second I saw her.”

  The tears were now relentless. Serena laughed as though she too was there at their first meeting. She didn’t know what overcame her, but for some oddly wonderful reason this news made her happy, happy to know her mother who’d suffered for so long with her wretched, abusive father had, for a short time, found the carefree love she deserved.

  She didn’t need to know the whole story to know this man had truly loved her mother and if she was not mistaken, Kevin had taken this photo of her to capture the love she’d held for him.

  Kevin stared open-mouthed, “Oh wow. You’ve got her smile, my dear.”

  Serena smiled even brighter at his words. Turning to beam at her brother, he relaxed a bit, watching her carefully. “You okay, Rena?”

  Nodding vigorously, she looked to Kevin. “Where have you been? I can tell you’re stunned so you obviously didn’t know about me. So…how did you find me?”

  “I ran into Danny a couple weeks ago. The night you returned, I believe.” His lips stiffened, anger boiling through him. “Told me he was on his way here. He’d been excited you were finally found and told me who you were.”

  Shaking his head as if he still couldn’t believe it, he continued, “Your mother told me she was married and had a son. We only had those few days, but we spent every possible minute together.”

  He swallowed visibly before continuing, “We fantasized about starting a family of our own, and she told me how much she’d always wanted a girl. We even talked about names, and I…I said I’d love to call our daughter Serena.”

  Serena’s hand went to her throat, trying to control the sobs aching to burst out of her.

  “The instant Danny mentioned your name I knew. I knew you had to be mine.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Ramo waltzed right into his cousin’s house without a knock, wiping his boots on the mat, noisily. He knew it seriously irritated his cousin when he let himself in, which was why he did it. Besides, Eva didn’t seem to mind. He assumed the lady of the house was still in bed after enduring the moon heat with her mate since she didn’t come out to greet him.

  Moving along the circular house with an extra spring in his step from his heat mate’s services the previous night, he went i
n search of the guys. The minute he stepped into the archway of the dining room he felt a heavy sense of dread filling the room. He stopped in his tracks.

  “What?” he asked seriously. “What’s wrong?”

  Only Nick looked his way, shaking his head.

  Ramo’s eyes panned to Adam standing at the window where Jason usually stood. It was him. Adam was the one filling the room with anxiety. His pack members’ fear stemmed from him. His cousin had something to tell them, and it filled him with such trepidation he was pale in the face.

  Standing with his arms crossed, shoulders tight, the Blacktail alpha bowed his head, staring dejected at the hardwood floor. “I call…” Adam cleared his throat. “I call this meeting to order…”

  “Where’s J?” Ramo asked, not taking a seat, but remaining where he was by the door, confused. The alpha didn’t call a meeting without his beta. And why was he being all formal? Old packs “called meetings to order,” but the Blacktails didn’t give a shit about propriety. What the hell was going on?

  “…to address the insubordination of Jason Linus, beta to the Blacktails.”

  Ramo stiffened as growls reverberated around the room. The rumble was instinctive, each member reacting to Jason’s betrayal and the fear of what might happen to him.

  Jason was not just their pack member, he was their friend, no, a brother to each of them. He was stunned. “What did he do?” Ramo asked quietly, hardly recognizing his subdued tone.

  Adam remained silent for a while, his jaws twitching. His brow screwed up tight, he squeezed the life out of his bicep.

  Sitting up straighter in his chair, Alex asked, “What happened, boss?”

  Adam chewed the inside of his mouth for a second then said, “I gave Jason orders not to get involved with my sister. Last night, he disobeyed me.”

  Ramo sucked in a deep breath through his teeth. Damn, he thought, although, he couldn’t help but silently applaud the guy. It was about freaking time. He’d only been in love with the girl for-fucking-ever.

  Picking up his elation for Jason, Adam’s focus from the floor moved to him. “You got something to say, Ram?” his cousin bit out.