Haunted (9 page)

“Possibly. However, you shouldn't be surprised that several months worth of abandonment, confusion, and trauma wouldn't come out especially pretty.”

“Touché.” He had the faintest curl at the corner of his mouth.

“I meant what I said, Sean, but I didn't say it how I wanted to. I've got a lot going on right now. I'm pretty stressed and I've had nobody to confide in. It's been miserable,” I told him, feeling an instant sense of relief. The simple act of admitting that I couldn't deal with the chaos in my life, especially to him, seemed to ease my sense of impending doom.

His brow furrowed and once again he moved towards me only to stop himself before making contact. He looked concerned.

“What's going on?” he asked.

“It's…it's Cooper. I don't really want to get into it now, Sean, it's late. I'm tired. It'll keep until tomorrow,” I said, not hiding the fatigue in my voice.

“OK, but where do we go from here?” he asked, searching my face for answers.

I looked around my room at the mess and at the clock on the stand. 3:02 a.m. The reality of the situation was that I needed to clean, and it seemed like Sean was up for explaining himself; I could multitask.

“If you want to get things off your chest, go for it. I've gotta clean this mess anyways,” I said, looking around the room. “Maybe we can clean up two messes at once.”

He chuckled quietly at my play on words and proceeded to kick his shoes off and climb up onto my bed, which was the only clean surface in the room.

“You want to know why I left, correct?” he asked. I gave him my best “seriously?” face and he took the hint. “Okay, okay, point taken!” he said, holding up his hands in surrender. “I'll start from the beginning. When I originally left, after I found out you were RB, I met with the Elders of the PC to see how things were going to be handled.”

Handled?

“When I arrived, they had already met and decided things. You were to die,” he said, sounding solemn. “You have no idea what I went through to change their minds…what I had to agree to.”

“What? What did you agree to?” I asked, staring at him across the room. His expression was heavy.

“It's nothing I want to get into right now.”

“Horseshit! Tell me now or go. If we're going to do this, Sean, you're going to tell me everything,” I said, snapping at him more loudly than I should have.

He looked at me conflicted. He didn't want or mean to tell me what he was about to, and he sighed aloud before starting.

“I needed to make them see that I was serious, that you were not a threat to the humans,” he said before pausing yet again. “I swore it on my life.”

I literally gasped at those words.

“You did what?” I shouted, lunging towards him, nearly tripping on a rogue pair of jeans.

“I told them that my life would be forfeit if anything happened – they could kill me,” he answered calmly.

“Why? Why would you do that? Why would….”

“Because they wanted you dead, Ruby, don't you understand? There was no negotiating; it was done. I wasn't there to inform them of the situation, I was there to receive your assassination orders,” he said, springing from the bed. I took a deep breath before speaking.

“So the only reason I'm still alive is because of what you did?” I asked softly, averting my eyes.

“Yes,” he replied, walking towards me. He came to rest with his hands on my shoulders. “And I'm glad I did it.”

I looked up at him through teary eyes. I had no idea…

“Sean, I…I'm…I don't know…,” I stammered, never finishing my sentence.

He pulled me to his chest, wrapping his arms around me.

“You and I should be enemies, Ruby. You should arouse the mercenary in me, but you don't. It couldn't be more the opposite,” he said, still holding me tightly. “When I came back and saw the state of your apartment, that you were gone, I was beside myself. I didn't know what had happened, but I had a good idea who did.” His body stiffened as he continued on. “I knew Eric had something to do with it, so the boys and I went down to Boston to get some answers. When we arrived at Marcus's place, they were having a celebration,” he said, his eyes darkening rapidly. “I quickly persuaded them to tell me why.”

My best guess was that bodies fell until Sean got the information he wanted – including Marcus’s. Sean could be very persuasive when he wanted to be.

“Eric was there?” I asked, feeling a growl well up from deep within me. He gritted his teeth.

“Yes. We had a little chat. I let him and a few others live because I wanted to be sure his story was true before distributing justice. If he'd lied and I killed him, I don't know that I would have ever found you in time,” he said, getting quieter. “At any rate, we'll just say he was in the sharing mood, and for once in his life he told the truth, for the most part.”

“For the most part?”

“He skewed a few of the details just to stick it to me. He said where you were, how to find you, but the why was a bit off. He said you wanted to be there, that you didn't want to be found.”

“Did you believe him?” I asked, pushing off of his chest so I could look at his face.

“I didn't know what to believe, Ruby. I didn't want to, but I knew you were scared. Fear is a great motivator. People agree to unimaginable things out of fear. I had to be sure.”

“Is that why you were so cold to me?” I asked, remembering his calculated demeanor when he found Cooper and me in mid-escape from the Utah compound.

“I prefer the term reserved,” he replied with an unsure smile.

I shook my head in disbelief.

“It's a good thing you're cute,” I said, returning the smile. “Seriously though, how could you think I wanted to be there?”

“Eric was less than forthcoming with the terms and conditions of your stay,” he said. “I'm still disappointed that I never got to have a follow up…conversation about that.”

That would've been one hell of a “conversation”.

“Sorry I stole the show on that one, or I guess Scarlet did anyways. But I'll take some credit, too,” I said in an attempt to lighten the mood a bit.

“Scarlet?” he asked raising his left eyebrow.

“Oh, yeah. You weren't here for that. I decided my other half needed a name. I thought Scarlet was befitting,” I shrugged. “She seems to like it.”

“Huh,” he grunted. “Regardless, she did wipe the floor with him, literally. Maybe I'll send her a fruit basket.”

“I'm sure she can't wait for that,” I mocked. “So back to Eric. How exactly did he manage to escape you guys? I mean, I don't suppose he was let out early for good behavior.”

Sean's face turned grim again.

“There were some casualties on our end,” he said without elaborating. I didn't ask for details. Perhaps I was starting to learn when to keep my foot out of my mouth.

“That explains a lot,” I replied. “I'm sorry to hear that.”

“I was too,” he said. “I should've known better. I was too preoccupied and not thinking clearly.”

I smiled internally, knowing that the preoccupation was with me, though I felt instantly guilty knowing what it had cost him. The PC brothers were his family and I knew all too well what the death of family felt like.

I leaned back into his chest, wrapped my arms around his waist and gave a little squeeze, receiving one in return.

“So I'm guessing that the hostility I received from the boys was well warranted then?” I asked, knowing the answer.

“In their eyes,” he replied. “Things are a bit strained at the moment amongst us. Casualties are a reality of our lives…our destinies even. However, your involvement, direct or otherwise has muddied the waters a bit.” He lifted my chin up lightly so that he could look directly into my eyes. “My feelings for you remain unshaken, regardless of the turmoil.”

I squirmed under the intensity of his gaze.

“So back to the original question at hand: why did you leave – the second time?” I asked to change the subject as quickly as possible.

“Things got a bit out of hand,” he said, running his hand through his wavy hair. “I needed to give a full report on our casualties, the Utah pack, Eric…and you.”

“Okay. I get that, but I don't really see why that took three months, Sean.” I tried to be sensitive and hide my irritation.

“The justice system works a little differently for us, Ruby. We're not allowed certain amenities like light, running water, or cell phones.”

I jumped back from him like he'd just smacked me in the face.

“What are you talking about?” I squeaked, trying to whisper and yell at the same time.

“I was awaiting trial,” he said calmly. “I…bent a few rules. I had to answer for them.”

“Are you shitting me? It was a friggin’ war, Sean. Who wouldn't bend a few rules?” I yelled, forgetting the early morning hour it was.

“Listen, there's nothing to get upset about anymore. It's done. Everything is okay for now,” he said, hesitating a bit.

“I want to know, Sean. We're supposed to be getting this all out in the open. Now is not the time to clam up on me,” I threatened.

“It's not a huge deal. There were no issues until we got back from Utah, okay? There was no protocol break in Utah, and they weren't going to do anything to you either, despite your performance out there. That pack had been on our radar for a while,” he said, trying to gain control of the conversation and my growing rage. “I wasn't even the one to defend your actions. One of the brothers did while I was…incapacitated.”

“So I killed all those people and I'm getting off scot free?” I asked, dubiously.

“They weren't people. They were animals.”

I caught the double entendre there, and let it be.

“Where did it all go wrong, then?” I prodded.

He sighed.

“Cooper,” he said wearily. “I shouldn't have taken him to…I shouldn't have helped him, beyond normal measures.”

“And what would 'normal measures' be? Stand over his dying body and go 'yeah, that's gonna leave a mark on your CORPSE'?” I shouted.

“Sophie is our Healer. It's a sacred job. I manipulated her into doing it,” he snapped back at me.

Ouch.

I felt the hatred from deep within me boil up to the surface. Bitch.

“I also took you to our safe house. No outsiders are to be there. Ever,” he said, speaking at a more normal volume.

I slowly lowered myself onto the edge of the bed, staring at the floor. I'd never been more angry and sad, not even the previous evening in the parking lot at Vain. Tears welled up in my eyes.

“What happened?” I asked calmly.

“I was incarcerated and questioned repeatedly until a suitable punishment was enforced,” he said, clenching his jaw. “My disobedience has been corrected.”

I tried to pay attention to him, but I couldn't get past the mention of her name. My skin crawled and my eyes burned. I tried to stifle my reaction enough to ask more about what “correction” his “disobedience” warranted, but I couldn't. Instead, I sat in silence.

“I know I promised you the whole story, Ruby, but I'm exhausted. Can we finish this another time?” he asked.

I wasn't sure if he was tired, or if he sensed my clear distaste at the mention of Sophie and wanted to bow out gracefully while he was still in the clear. I was on board either way.

“Sure, no problem,” I said, turning up to him, faking a smile. “I'll see you tomorrow.”

“About that…there's a little issue there,” he started, looking awkward for a moment. Sean never looked awkward. “I don't really have anywhere to stay. Half of the PC is crashing at my place and I'm out a couch,” he said sheepishly. “I think I'd planned on this reunion going a bit differently than it did.”

Exactly how different were you expecting?

“I hope you're not saying what I think you're saying right now, or you'll wish you hadn't come back at all.”

“No, Ruby, I didn't plan to sleep with you, not even close. I was, however, hoping to crash on your couch. It appears to be occupied by a teenager and with Cooper home, it doesn't leave a lot of options,” he said as his gaze shifted over to my bed. “Care for a friendly sleepover?”

My sweat glands exploded all over my body, and in typical fashion, I started rambling and stammering like an idiot.

“Uh, well…um…I guess so, but I, uh…well, I don't really have anything for you to…,” I said, struggling to form a coherent sentence. As I turned to face Sean he was standing in nothing but a pair of black boxer briefs. Very tight, very short boxer briefs. A smile was plastered across his face.

Oh my God.

I instantly panicked and mumbled something about clothes in Cooper's room, running out as quickly as I could. I barreled through the guest bedroom door, not at all concerned about Cooper's sleep status. I grabbed a pair of sweatpants I saw crumpled up on the floor; it wasn't the time to worry about the cleanliness of them, even though I had my doubts. I ran back to my room and threw them blindly in Sean's direction, turning immediately so I didn't see his nearly nude status again.

I could hear him laughing quietly. It was short lived. A horrific scream from the adjacent room snapped us both to attention, sending us running to Cooper's aid.