Revisited (Redemption Series) (29 page)

Yes.
Ian mentally grumbled.
Why did we agree to this again?

Abe sighed and proceeded to wipe off the remaining shaving cream. He threw the towel into the hamper and returned to stare at the reflection in the mirror. “As for the funeral, I want to be there for Becca, and for Renee. Renee deserved none of this. She just wanted an adventure with her friend and ended up getting her skull crushed by a psychotic demon.”

I guess we’ll be doing a lot of agreeing from now on
.

Abe shook his head. “You think this is a piece of cake for me? We know this is what is best for Becca.”

Ian and Abe had spent many hours alone in deep conversation about how they would survive without driving each other completely mad. Once they found that each of them was able to have control of the body, they agreed to trade off equally during the waking hours. They each would get to be in control every other night. So far, the issue of intimacy with Becca had not been a problem. They hadn’t been able to discuss it with her, and she made no effort to do so. She would just lie in their arms as she slept, and they would dream of how and when the topic might arise.

Their existence was all about compromise: what clothes to wear, which foods to eat, and most importantly, making everything as easy as possible for their Becca.

They had even agreed on the suit they would wear, even though the selection of a tie was a tad difficult. Ian wanted a black tie, while Abe wanted a silver one. Since Abe was in control at the moment, Ian conceded. When they stood in front of the mirror, Ian grumbled his approval and admitted they looked good.

They walked through Renee’s apartment as Becca finished changing in the bedroom. When they spotted the piano, the bench began to call to them.

The keys of Renee’s old piano felt odd beneath Abe’s fingertips, but somehow he knew he’d know how to caress each key to bring forth harmonic beauty.

“Who do I have now?” Becca asked, placing her hands on his shoulders as he sat at the piano.

“Abe,” he answered. Abe nervously adjusted his silver silk tie and suit jacket. Becca wore a black wrap dress, and her hair was loose in auburn waves cascading over her shoulders.

It had only been a few days, but she was beginning to tell the slight differences in the inflection of certain words and even the manner in which they spoke. It was a challenge for them, knowing every aspect of the other’s relationship with her, but they had to respect that she cared deeply for them both.

“Can you play? Have you tried?” Becca sat down next to Abe, rubbing soothing circles of encouragement on his back.

“He can play; I can play.” Abe started slowly, but quickly progressed to one of the most difficult pieces Becca had ever heard.

“That was beautiful.”

“Ian composed it; I just played it.”

“Hey.” Becca turned him on the bench to face her. “I know this is difficult. We’ll get through it.”

“It’s not that I even want my body back. I know how much easier it is on you this way.”

“Don’t make this about me.” Becca cupped his cheek.

“But it is.” Abe placed his hand over hers. “I know how painful it is for you to feel the way you do about us. We’ve agreed this is what’s best for all of us.”

“You’re saying you never want to be separated?” Becca asked with a knowing smile.

“I wouldn’t go that far. I will say that right now Ian and I are stronger together. I still have all the powers I had before and somehow Ian claimed Gideon’s power of foresight. With you by our side, we can take on anybody.”

“Even Filipp?”

“Even Filipp. We won’t rest until that guy is six feet under and stays there,” Abe joked, playing a quick flourish on the keys. “After that . . .”

Becca glanced at the clock on the wall and noticed how late it had gotten. “That is what we’ll have to do then. Let’s go or we’ll be late.”

Abe nodded. He looked around the apartment at all the pictures Renee had mounted on the walls. A vibrant and beautiful young woman lost much too soon. “Another senseless tragedy.” He shook his head. “And where’s Peter? Is he still nowhere to be found?” He blew out a long, frustrated breath.

“He’ll turn up eventually. We are celebrating Renee’s life today. It’s what she would have wanted.”

“It doesn’t make it any easier,” he muttered.

Becca stood and offered him her hand. “You know what will?”

“What?” he asked as stood and took her in his arms.

“A bottle or two of the finest whiskey we can find, and some beautiful music.”

“That is something we all can agree on.” Abe gave her a soft kiss.

The calm spread through her at a languid pace and it eased her thoughts. They were strong, and together the three of them could face anything thrown their way.

“Wow. I never would have expected a turnout like this,” Renee remarked as her vibrant green eyes sparkled with unshed tears.

Peter held her hand as they stood atop the hill near the cemetery where Renee’s body was being laid to rest. “There are so many people who care for you. I would not expect any less.”

Cars lined the streets surrounding the cemetery, a hearse with an ivory pearl casket at the front of it.

“My body is in there, then?” Renee pointed down to the hearse as men began to unload the casket and set it up beside the grave.

“Your old one. As you make your transition to an earth angel, you’ll receive a new body.” Peter smiled and took her hand. It was all so new to her, but she had taken each step with ease.

“Can the new one have a little less junk in the trunk? I swear it was like a rubber tire back there at times.” 

Peter laughed wholeheartedly and gathered her in his arms. “I’m sure that can be arranged.”

Renee spied her friends exiting a limousine. Lily held tight to Ryan’s arm as they sat beside her casket. Becca walked with Sam, Ian, and Nathaniel to stand behind Lily and Ryan.

The flowers one man carried caught her eye before he did. The man held a large bouquet of white and yellow roses, and he took a seat next to Lily.

“Jefferson,” Renee whispered and sniffled.

“I believe the yellow represents warmth and happiness, while the white symbolizes honor, remembrance, and new beginnings.”

Renee nodded in earnest. “I was happy with him. Maybe the happiest I’ve ever been.”

“So was he.” Peter held her tighter as the minister began to speak over Renee’s grave.

“Then why, Peter? Why am I here with you, and not back at the bar with them celebrating a new life with Jefferson?”

The trillion-dollar question. One whose answer he almost always hated to give, but knew there was not another he had to offer. “We have to have faith that our Father is leading us in the right direction.”

“That’s bullshit.” Renee immediately clasped both her hands over her mouth.

“It’s all right. I’ve heard worse.” Peter took her hands in his.

“I’m sorry, but you know it is.”

“That may be your opinion, but you’ll soon see why this is happening.” He knew it was cold comfort, but it was all he had to offer.

“Will he be okay?” Renee’s gaze focused on Jefferson. “I don’t want him to feel guilty. I know it wasn’t his fault.”

“He knows that, but unfortunately it doesn’t make it hurt any less.”

They saw the glistening tears run down their friends’ cheeks.

The crowd began to thin out after the minister finished the ceremony. Renee’s friends stayed behind as Jefferson approached the grave. He delicately laid the bouquet on the casket, and then nodded to the men on each side who lowered it into the ground. It didn’t take long before it was completely out of her sight.

“That’s it then?”

“Not quite.” Peter smiled with a distinct glint in his eye. “There is still a lot we have to do.” He began to lead her away from the view of the cemetery.

“Wait!” Renee grabbed onto his wrist and turned him back toward her. “Will I ever see them again?”

“Of course you will. All in good time.”

Liam tapped his foot against the linoleum floor in rapid succession, his fingertips strumming a rhythm on his thigh.

    “It’s all right. You have nothing to be worried about.” Lily offered comfort from beside him.

“She’s right,” Debir said from the chair in front of him. “I’m sure the process is much less painful than it was the last time I had it done.”

Liam picked up a magazine and tossed it at Debir, hitting him square in the chest.

Lior rolled his eyes before he interjected, “You’ll be fine and you’ll heal quickly. Even if there is pain, you won’t feel it for long . . . unless something goes wrong.”

“Stop, both of you.” Lily grabbed Liam’s trembling hand. “You’re just making it worse.”

“I don’t know how much worse it can get,” Liam grumbled, looking around the room they’d been waiting in for over an hour. “It’s like we’re stuck in some bad joke. You know the one that starts off, ‘Four vampires walk into a doctor’s office’?”

The other three snickered a little before the door across from them opened. 

Eli Manchester walked into the room. “I think we’re ready now, if you would all follow me.” He turned as the four of them stood.

As they trudged through the doors of the new facility in New York City that housed Project Rejuvenation, Liam’s thoughts turned to the last month, and what had led them here.

Liam was very quick to pick up the hunting techniques of his elders after they left Italy. Iceland was their first stop, for Renee’s funeral. He could hardly bear to think about going back after the chaos he had caused on his last visit. Valentina was by his side the entire journey and reminded him at every turn he was not that man anymore; he was no longer Filipp’s puppet.

Valentina’s strength and courage with her self-realization astounded him. His love for their child was the catalyst for his change, but it was the love they had found with each other that gave him the determination to stay on the right path.

As they settled back in New York City, Liam was able to show Valentina where he grew up and told her several embarrassing stories his mother would have told, had she been there. He sold his business to his father’s friends so he could concentrate on his family and their future. They accepted his reason for selling with the stipulation there would be plenty of visits where they could spoil the baby rotten. He agreed to their request and promised many trips to see them.

Lior thought about how much his life had changed in such a short time. He had hidden away in London for so long, he wasn’t sure what the right path was anymore. The guilt he carried with him over the steps he took to repair Iosif’s horrific misdeeds still weighed heavily on him. He was slowly learning to trust in those around him, thanks to Lily. He even began to like Nathaniel—maybe not like, but at least he tolerated him since they had all moved to the Archer Estate.

Debir thought he was the most optimistic of the four. He felt free for the first time in decades and encouraged the others to believe they would soon be rid of Filipp for good.

Lily thought about how she had tried get a little down time after Renee’s funeral. She and Ryan packed up several boxes before Sam personally delivered them to Renee’s mother. They stayed in Iceland for another week, grieving and drinking with the entire town before turning the bar over to a local businessman to run in her stead.

Lily believed the move to New York was a positive one. The Manchester Group offered her a facility to do whatever kind of research she wanted, with limitless avenues to pursue. All her family and friends came with them, knowing they would be safest at the Archer Estate. It was, at times, like a big slumber party with all of her closest friends.

Lily was convinced the step they were all taking was continuing down the right path that had been set before all four vampires. 

At the door to the operating suite, she gave Liam one last hug before they were each led inside. She followed the instructions to lay face down on the operating table that had a hole cut out of it for her face to rest in. The small microchip was on the instrument table, ready to be inserted. Her own nerves began to creep in as she remembered when the first chip was placed.