Tainted Legacy (YA Paranormal Romance) (27 page)

He got up and began to pace.

He needed to come up with a plan. Thinking things through had never been his strong suit. He was rash and impulsive. So he would start simple.

He packed a bag. He had an impressive amount of cash stored in his room but it wasn’t enough. He needed more money. He would go to an ATM. He would get Ava; beg her to come with him. If she refused…He didn’t want to think of that. One way or another, he would not let her refuse.

He was Roant no fool. He knew he was no match for his father. He needed help. There was someone who
would
be a worthy opponent. If only they would help. Could he convince them? For her sake, he desperately hoped so.

Gabe grabbed his hastily stuffed bag and his car keys. He glanced up at the main house. The lights were on, glaring through the darkness. As far as he knew, Rafe was home because he had not heard him leave. It wasn’t completely unusual for Gabe to leave at odd hours to go for a drive. He hoped his brother gave no thought to his leaving now.

Once he was on the main road he realized just how late it was. It was after ten. He needed to stop to withdraw some money before meeting Ava.

If she would even agree to meet him. It was getting late. It was a school night.

He would beg her if he had to. His father hadn’t given him a timeframe but he knew that time was running out. He tried to clarify his plans as he drove. With a crashing heart he realized this whole idea was likely fruitless. Whatever happened, he could not stay with her. She would only be in danger if he did. Was it possible to talk to her family? Beg them to take her away? Could he make them believe if he told them the truth?

He thought maybe he could. His stunt with the knife had given him an idea. If he had to, he could try to prove to them what he was. Or at least he could prove he was telling the truth when he told them he was not human. And that his father was something even worse.

When he pulled into the ATM he sent her a text as soon as he parked.

I need to see you. I know it’s late. This can’t wait. PLEASE.

Earlier, she had told him she would be there if he ever needed her. He would soon find out if she stood by her word. Or maybe she had come to her senses after the way he treated her. Maybe she had realized after she left that he was nothing but one big mistake, after all. He wouldn’t blame her if she felt that way. It was for her own sake that he desperately hoped he hadn’t pushed her that far.

He slid his phone into his pocket as he proceeded to withdraw the maximum amount of cash from all of his accounts. It was a sizable amount. He wasn’t sure it would be enough. If he had to, he would turn the money over to Ava’s family. He would try to reason with them, he would beg them to take her away. To find somewhere safe. But he needed to speak with Ava first. He needed to try to explain to her before he could deal with her family.

His pocket vibrated as he returned to his car.

At the church. 10 min.

Perfect,
Gabe thought. It would be the perfect place to speak. She should be safe there. He hoped that an empty church—one without organ music and hymns and silent prayers flent>Gabe thouoating through the air—would be tolerable enough that he could endure it for a while.

Bring a key
,
he texted back.

If Gabe had an aversion to the church, he could only assume it would be infinitely worse for his father. Did he dare hope,
impossible
for his father?

He doubted it.

He drove the few blocks needed and parked his car in the church’s empty parking lot. He was fairly certain she was sneaking out, not asking for permission. He realized if she was sneaking out, likely that meant she would be walking, not risking the noise of starting up her car. What had he been thinking? He should have picked her up in front of her house, or even a few houses down.

Fear washed over him at the thought of her on the street alone. Walking by herself, completely unprotected, so totally vulnerable this late at night. He bolted from his vehicle, heading toward her house. There were no cars in sight. The street was quite deserted and the sidewalk was well lit with the sickly yellow hue that is cast by streetlights. Yet the shadows along the edges of the houses concerned him. Most of the houses were dark, a few scattered lights shown here and there.

Gabe cast out his senses, hoping to detect danger, if it was present. It was a futile attempt. He ran across nothing but that only meant no menacing humans were present. Others could and would block themselves from him. The thought made him increase his pace to a jog.

Anyone,
anything
, could be lurking in the darkness between the neatly spaced homes that lined the street. When he saw her, the relief that spread through him was immeasurable. He slowed, but only barely, until he was at her side.

“Hi,” she said softly into his ear as he wrapped her in a hug. She returned it, hugging him back fiercely. “Are you okay?” she asked as she pulled away, searching his face.

“Not really,” he admitted. “Can we talk? Inside of the church?”

She dangled the key in her hand. “Yes.”

With a protective arm around her shoulders he led her down the sidewalk. The church was within sight but he would not relax until they were inside.

“Can you tell me what this is about? Why do we need to go into the church? Why can’t we just talk in your car?” she asked, quickening her stride to keep up with him.

He glanced at her. The look she was giving him was confused, worried but trusting.

“I’m going to tell you everything. I only hoingsed, pe that I can find a way to make you understand. I’m going to hope you can find a way not to hate me.”

“I could never hate you,” Ava assured him as they rushed along.

Gabe couldn’t look at her. “Don’t be so sure of that. You have no idea what I’ve done. What I am.”

Ava tried to stop but Gabe continued to tug her along. “
What
are you talking about?”

“Just keep walking,” Gabe insisted. “I don’t want to have any more secrets. I want you to know everything about me. But not here. As soon as we’re inside, where it’s safe.”

“Safe from what?” Ava demanded but this time she didn’t try to pull him to a stop.

“From me, I imagine,” Rafe announced. He had been standing behind a tree in someone’s yard nearly half a block ahead of them. As he spoke, he moved onto the sidewalk, obstructing their path.

Ava gasped in surprise as Gabe firmly pulled her to a stop. He put an arm in front of her before pushing her behind his body completely. He could feel Ava peering around his shoulder.

Rafe smiled delightedly at them.

“Ava! Good to see you again,” the figure said as he took a step toward them, his voice low but carrying to them in the clear night air
.
“How is your neck doing? All healed up by now, I would imagine.”

“It’s
him
!” Ava hissed from behind Gabe.

He was surprised that her anger far outweighed her fear.

“It’s me,” Rafe cordially agreed. “And I bet you are just
dying
to know who I am. And more importantly, who
he
really is.” He flung a disinterested hand in Gabe’s direction.

“What’s he talking about?” Ava asked.

Gabe could tell she was trying to keep her voice steady. It wobbled anyway, her emotions instantly changing with the implication that Rafe knew something about Gabe that she didn’t.

“That’s a good question. One you’re going to quickly learn the answers to. Isn’t she Gabriel?”

Gabe nodded, fighting for control of the situation. Of his emotions. “Yes,” he finally”e="T said. “That’s exactly why I was retrieving her.”

“Gabe?” Ava’s voice was clearly shaking now.

He looked down at her feet, relieved to see that she’d traded in the flip flops she’d had on earlier for the shoes she wore when she was walking that monstrous dog.

The streetlight above flickered and buzzed. Gabe could see the spires of the church so close, yet so far with Rafe blocking the way.

“Ava,” Gabe said with a commanding squeeze of her hand, he leaned in, close to her ear. Her hair brushed his lips. “When I tell you to, you run. You run as fast as you can to the church. Go inside and wait for me there. Do not look back and do not leave until I come for you. Do you understand?” His voice was low, he only hoped quiet enough that his brother could not hear.

Her eyes darted down the dark street, to the figure looming in front of them and then back to Gabe. “I’m not leaving you here,” she told him.

“I can handle him. But only if I don’t have to worry about you,” Gabe told her, his eyes pleading with her.

She opened her mouth to protest but Gabe cut her off.

“There’s no time to explain.” Still holding her hand, he pulled her forward. “What do you want?” he grated as he fearlessly moved toward his brother. He managed to stay a step ahead of
Ava, effectively putting his own body between them, continuously moving her closer to the church.

“Oh, come on Gabe,” he drawled, “we both know what I want. And you are going to bring her right to me.”

They were so close now. Gabe could see the hunger in his brother’s eyes. He could see the glint of red in his hair, reflected from the streetlight. He could feel his hatred but he could also feel the pleasure this encounter was bringing him.

“You know him?” Ava asked as the implication of his words settled in. Fear entwined with confusion swirled around her.

Gabe tugged Ava to his side, circling the stranger, too enmeshed in what he was attempting to do to bother answering her question. Neither Rafe nor Ava seemed to realize he was circling him in order to put himself between his brother and Ava. All while putting Ava closer to the church.

Rafe grinned at Gabe, assuming his approach was one of submission. That perhaps he truly was bringing Ava to him.

“Like bringing a lamb to the slaughter,” Rafe said in a voice that was uncomfortably reminiscent of their fathers.

“Excuse me?” Ava demanded. Her voice was indignant, which only caused Rafe to laugh.

“Do you really think I would just hand her over to you?d her ov yoRafe to la Gabe asked. He squared his shoulders. He was taller than his brother, but just barely. “Why would I do that?” he asked. He tried to keep his voice even.

“I think you know,” Rafe coldly replied.

“Go!” Gabe growled at Ava. He gave her a shove, firm but gentle enough not to make her stumble. When she took off, moving from the momentum he’d flung into her, he swung back in the same fluid movement, now aiming the momentum at Rafe. He didn’t hold back this time as he lunged, throwing his full weight at his unsuspecting brother.

Chapter 19

“
Ava
!” Gabe bellowed as he burst through the door.