Fallen Death (The Trihune Series Book 3) (24 page)

Chapter 43

They stood in the alley across from Asjhone’s building and stared at the window they jumped through. Everything had a red haze.

The demon whimpered.
Kill? Kill?

Its love for Asjhone and her son meant anyone who harmed either should be killed. Now it included the demon.

Images of Keandre’s scream. Asjhone’s face twisted away in fear. Her whispered, desperate pleas for her son’s safety. The smell of Keandre’s blood. All on repeat in their mind.

The Other’s fault. All of it.

It injured the boy.

Scared Mine.

Death was too fine a punishment.

It’s not just your fault.
Sarid spoke from inside a corner of the demon’s mind.
It’s mine as well. I should’ve told her. Or never entered her life in the first place.
We are both at fault.

This didn’t appease the demon. It moved on to the bigger problem.
Need to protect. Mine, the Boy. Not safe.

They don’t want to see you.

The demon growled.
Mine not see you either.

More than likely true.
Let me try. You’re right; we can’t protect her down here. Even now he could be in there. Hurting them.

Have scent.
The demon lifted its head. Inhaled. Caught a whiff of it.
Go. Now.
Kill.

I want to stay. We have to watch over her. What happens if he doubles back and we miss it? What happens if we don’t get back to her in time? Let me try and explain you to her. Maybe she’ll understand.”

The demon gave a small noise of reluctant acceptance, then,
Me kill. Not you.

Sarid hesitated. If the male showed, the demon wanted a piece.
Only if your actions don’t harm Asjhone or the boy.

Yes.

The transformation back was instantaneous, though the process, extremely painful. Every bone in his body had to break and reform. By the time Sarid was back in charge, he barely had energy to brace a hand against the brick wall before he kissed it. Sweat dripped off him despite the cold night air. His muscles and bones ached. With each inhale it felt as if a five-hundred-pound weight sat on his chest.

Mine. Hurry. Go.

Yeah, he was moving as fast as he could. Besides, another issue. He was completely naked. Probably not the best idea to knock on Asjhone’s door without pants.

Five minutes and a dumpster dive—ow!—later he found a pair of torn sweat pants. He tried not to think about the stain on the front of the fabric as he walked into the building.

Sweat dripped down his back, but goose bumps had broken out across his skin. With a shiver he headed for the stairwell. The elevator dinged and he paused as the doors opened. A couple emerged, hand in hand. They didn’t even look in his direction. He caught the door as it began to close. Right now, five floors might as well be ten football fields.

Outside her door, he wiped his face then braced an arm on the doorjamb. Two heartbeats inside. Asjhone’s and Keandre’s.

She was close. Like in the kitchen.

What would he say to her?

No freaking clue. He knocked.

She gasped. Her heart rate increased.

“It’s me.” Or at least that’s what he tried to say. The words came out in a croak. He cleared his throat. Winced at the irritation. “Asjhone.” This time he was clearer, louder. “It’s me. Sarid,” he added as an afterthought.

She moved closer.

Mine.
They lifted their hand, placed it on the door. The too easily destroyed piece of plywood was their only separation. Wooziness made him sway. He leaned his forehead on the cool wood. “Please. Let me explain.”

“Explain?” Her voice rose on the end. “You’re a monster.”

He closed his eyes. Swallowed. “We—I’m not going to hurt you. Or Keandre. Neither of us would. Please let me in. I can find out where he’s at. Make sure he stays away from you.”

Kill.

“I want to protect you. From your,” he swallowed back the demon’s growl, or maybe his own. “Husband.”

She laughed. Not his favorite. It was full of mockery. “Protect me? Protect
me
?” Half a sob. “You’re worse than Wayne. I don’t even know what you are. You aren’t human.” Her voice shook. “I trusted you. I trusted you with my son! I trusted you not to hurt me. I loved you.” The last part was whispered.

“Asjhone.” Her name tore from his lips. An apology. A plea. A declaration of his own feelings.

“I want you to leave, Sarid. Leave and never return. We’re over.”

He didn’t move, was incapable of it at the moment. The pain tearing him apart inside was worse than anything he’d felt before.

Still leaning against the door, they heard her walk away. Her soft cries shoved the knife deeper into his heart.

Mine
.

Not anymore.
He swallowed. Blinked rapidly.
But we won’t leave until she’s protected
.

Sarid reached for his phone then remembered he was wearing someone else’s clothes. He took the stairs, not wanting to get stuck in the elevator with a stranger. By the time he reached the first floor, his muscles were seizing and his breathing labored.

In the glove compartment of his Hummer, he pulled out his spare phone. It’d only taken one time of unexpectedly changing into the demon before he stocked his car with an extra cellphone and a thumbprint touch ignition.

“Gabe. I need help.”

His
ach
arrived ten minutes later. He emerged from his car, eyebrow rising. “Interesting fashion choice. Did I ever offer to take you shopping?”

“I need you to stay here. Watch over Apartment 5G.”

His smile fell. “Who’s in 5G? Your
nheqeba
?”

Not Pretty Boy. Don’t want him near Mine. Send him away.

“We need him.”

“Need who?” Gabe asked.

Sarid shook his head. “Nothing. She’s been threatened.”

He reached for the knife at his lower back. “What happened? How many?”

“It’s not a Fallen. Or a demon. At least I don’t think. It’s a lawyer.”

His
ach’s
brow furrowed. “A Follower?”

“Yes.”

Gabe holstered his weapon. “Have the police been called?”

“She doesn’t want to call the police. They can’t help.”

He sighed, ran a hand over the back of his head. “Sarid, we can’t get involved in Follower affairs.”

“He harmed her!” His eyes flared blue. “Repeatedly.” Flared red. “He can’t be allowed to go near her.” Back to blue again.

“All right, my
ach
. Calm down. I’ll watch over her.”

Deep breath. Once. Twice. “Thank you. She’s packing, getting ready to leave. I need you to stay. Make sure she escapes safely.”

His eyes widened. “You’re just letting her go?”

“It’s for the best.” The growl erupted all on its own. He winced at the burn in his throat.

He cocked his head, studied Sarid. “Did the Other come out?” At Sarid’s affirmation, he sucked in a breath. “And she’s still alive? Her boy as well?”

“They are uninjured. Mostly.”

“Mostly? What does that mean? Do I need to call an ambulance?”

“No. They’re both fine. Only a small amount of blood. From a picture frame.” He glanced behind him to the front of the complex. “We need to go now.”

“We? Oh, you mean you and the demon.” He spoke softly, “I will be here, my
ach
.”

Sarid paused on the way to his car, faced his brother. “Thank you. I . . . It’s been a pleasure working alongside you these centuries.”

Gabe frowned. “The same to you, Sarid.”

He slid into the driver’s seat, placed his thumb onto the sensor.

It’s time. Do you agree?
He asked the demon.

Yes.

Chapter 44

Asjhone finished stuffing three grocery bags with non-perishables then glanced at the clock on the microwave. It was time. They needed to leave. Now.

She dumped the bags next to her suitcase by the front door then headed down the hall. “Keandre, we have to go. Whatever you don’t have packed we’ll buy on the . . .” His room was empty. Suitcase still open on his bed. Nothing inside.

Fear sucked the air from her chest.

The bathroom. Empty.

She began to shake.

“Keandre!” She crossed the threshold of her room.

Her legs grew weak.

The window leading to the balcony was wide open.

Spots danced in front of her eyes. She blinked them away. Forced her limbs to keep moving.

Maybe he was just outside?

As soon as the thought passed through her mind she knew it wasn’t true. She’d often spoken to Keandre about not opening her window and never stepping out onto the balcony. Even placed a rod at the top of the window to prevent anyone from pushing it open. The rod was gone. Had it been there when she came home? Keandre wasn’t tall enough to take the rod out. Probably didn’t even know about it.

She stuck her head out of the window. “Keandre?”

Her voice was thready. Throat dry.

No one there. She swallowed a sob. Maybe he ran to Devan’s? Her phone was in her purse by her suitcase. She tore across the room, stopped abruptly in the doorway. Pivoted slowly. Moved across the floor to her dresser. The lights in her room appeared brighter. Sounds, outside noises, and her own breathing increased tenfold. The picture Wayne had left her was face up. Next to an open black ring box.

The band was rose gold and lattice-shaped.

She’d instantly fallen in love with it.

Hundreds of round cut diamonds decorated the piece.

In the beginning, she’d held it up to the light just to watch it sparkle. It had fit perfectly on her left ring finger.

“No. No. No. No.” Her legs hit the bed.

Wayne had done this. Wayne had taken the rod out, unlocked the window when he’d been there. Had planned to come back in through the window to get her.

But he hadn’t gotten her. He’d taken her son. She bent over, wrapped arms around her waist.

“Please. No. I can’t.”

What could she do? Where to go? How to get her son back? What if Wayne just wanted Keandre? What if he was miles away now? Out of the city. How long had it been since Keandre went into his room?

A keening wail broke free. She placed a fist against her mouth to stop the others clawing up her throat.

Can’t break down. Can’t lose it. Have to stay strong. Can’t break down yet. Not yet.

A muffled cry escaped. How was she going to find him?

She bolted upright.
I can find out where he’s at.

Chapter 45

Gabe pulled out his ringing phone. “Luc. What’s up?”

“Where you at? Cade wanted me to call. Something’s up with Sarid. He wants to meet with everyone in the HQ, including the
ebhed
.”

“He called a meeting?” Sarid’s expression flickered in Gabe’s mind, then his parting words. Trepidation crept in. Before it could fully form, a woman ran out of the apartment complex. “Gotta go, Lucas.” He hung up on his
ach’s
protesting words.

The beautiful, dark-skinned woman gasped for air like she’d just run a marathon. Cellphone up to her ear, she frantically searched the street. A small object clutched in her free hand.

“Asjhone?”

She startled, staggered backward, hands outstretched as if to ward off a threat. Gabe eyed the screen of her phone now facing him. Sarid.

“It’s okay,” he said. “Sarid sent me.”

“Sarid?” The word emerged on a hitch. She stumbled closer. Grabbed handfuls of his black bomber jacket. “You know where he is? I need to see him. I have to talk to him. He said he could find him. He said that.” She sucked in air. “He took my baby and I don’t know where he is.”

“Ssshh, sweetheart. Start at the beginning. Who took your baby?”

“My husband. He took Keandre.”

Husband?
“The lawyer? You saw him?” Gabe gazed around the parking lot, placed himself between Asjhone and the building.

Momentary shock widened her eyes at the word lawyer. “No. But he left me this.”

She held out her left hand. Gabe took the small velvet box. Opened it. Stared at the expensive ring.

“It’s mine. He left that and took my son. Please. Please, I need to talk to Sarid. He said he could find him.”

“Get into the car. I’m going to check to make sure he’s gone.” When she didn’t move, “Sweetheart—”

“Please,” her voice broke. “We need to go. Get Sarid. The longer we wait the farther he can be. The longer we wait the chances of seeing my baby again—” She broke off, covered her mouth with her hand.

Gabe grasped her shoulders, spun her toward the car. After opening the passenger side, he set her inside. “We’ll get your son back, Asjhone. I promise. And this,” he held up the box, “means your husband isn’t leaving without you. I need to check to make sure he’s truly gone. But I can’t do that until you’re safe. Stay here. Lock the doors.”

She wanted to protest. He could see it on her face. But she fisted her hands, nodded once.

The moment he angled away from Asjhone, Gabe blinked his Behn eyes into focus. A deep inhale caught a faint scent. He followed it to the side of the apartment. Trailed his gaze up to Asjhone’s room. Gabe had monitored the front, dependent on his sense of hearing to protect Sarid’s
nheqeba
. Too used to hunting Fallen where a ring alerted the enemy’s presence. The bastard Follower had used the fire escape. He sprinted around the building, used his enhanced Behn abilities to check the cars in the parking lot and the surrounding property. Minutes later he was back at the car.

Asjhone had her seatbelt on, arms wrapped around her stomach. “Nothing?”

“It doesn’t mean anything, though.”

She didn’t reply. After passing the city limits, Gabe pressed the accelerator to the floor.

“How far away is he?”

“With this baby,” he patted the dashboard. “We’ll be there in less than twenty minutes.”

She bit her bottom lip. Tightened the grip on her middle.

“I know this is scary, Asjhone. Hang in a little while longer. We’ll have you back with your son in no time.”

She swallowed. Wiped her hands on her pants. “Do you turn into a big monster, too?”

He glanced over at her. There was no change in her expression. Eyes stared straight ahead. “Nope. Only the big guy can do that.”

“Do you work with Sarid?”

“Yes.” The
nheqeba
was trying to distract herself.

“At the security company?”

He blinked. Is that what Sarid had told her?

Before he could open his mouth, she made a noise at the back of her throat. “Yeah, I figured he was probably lying about that, too.”

He glanced at her, but her head was now turned to the window. “It wasn’t a lie exactly,” he said and started to talk.