“I don’t recall seeing him when I left.” Dylan continued. “Hell, I don’t remember leaving or driving here, but my car was at the bottom of the driveway. I woke up inside it about five minutes before I walked through the door.”
Delia’s hand brushed against Heaven’s back when she stepped closer. The other cupped Dylan’s cheek. “How did you find your father? Is he in Brightsville?”
Dylan eyed the floor. “No. He called me this morning, demanding I meet him. I refused, but he knew we were here and swore he’d show up if I didn’t cooperate. I didn’t want him anywhere near Heaven, so I left.”
The announcement caused a slew of questions and concerns. Everyone voiced them at once. Each debated on what Nate was doing and what they should do to ensure their safety.
It was Delia who cut through their questions with a shrill whistle. Once everyone grew quiet, she refocused on her son. “What did your father want?”
Darkness entered Dylan’s expression, darkness that made his energy quake the longer he remained silent. The erratic pulse was disturbing. So was the answer he gave. “He wanted to negotiate for Heaven’s life. Dad said if I left her and followed him, she would be safe. I declined. He made threats. Then fighting ensued.”
“Where did you meet him?” Her father chimed in from the hall.
“In a town twenty minutes north of here. I think it’s called Ormanville. I can’t remember now. The information is still saved in my GPS.”
“Good.” Her father tapped his fingers against the archway as he studied Dane and Spencer. “Dane and I will drive up to Ormanville and see if we can find this place. We’ll leave Spencer and Layne behind just in case someone shows up.” Both Dane and Spencer nodded at him, but she didn’t see Layne, nor did she have time to search for him. Her father refaced her. “In the meantime, you guys need to pack your things. I think it would be best if you went into hiding for a couple of weeks. We have a safe house in Kentucky that would be perfect.”
The floor shifted beneath Heaven. She placed her hands on her sides, shaking her head at her father. “Do you realize I’m thirty-four weeks pregnant? I need to see a doctor. I haven’t seen one since we left Jamaica.”
“I can examine you,” Layla announced. “I’m a nurse in modern medicine, but a healer in mystical medicine. I can give you a better exam than any doctor, and I don’t need any machines to aid me.”
“Sure. Why not? Might as well have some type of good news before we’re sent packing.”
“Heaven,” Delia chided, “no one is sending you packing. This isn’t permanent, but it will keep you safe until we find out what’s going on with Nate.”
“She’s right,” her father nodded. His shoulder brushed Dylan’s when he stepped closer. “We still haven’t found Raphe or his men. If Nate’s here, I guarantee they are too. I’m sure they’re searching for you at this moment.”
“You’ll be safe in Kentucky,” Delia assured her. “Dylan and Layne will be with you. My son needs to be away from here as much as you do.”
Her mother-in-law was right. She didn’t know what condition Nate was in, but if there was breath in his body, he’d be out for blood. Not just hers, but also Dylan’s.
“Fine. We’ll go, but answer this. What happens when my due date arrives and we’re no wiser to what Nate is up to?”
“You still have six weeks before the baby’s due.” Delia patted her belly. “We’ll have answers before then.”
It was final. Arguing was pointless when everything they said was true. Nate would be looking for them. This would be the first place he would search. Raphe would be with him, which meant any type of confrontation wouldn’t end well. Not just for her but also for everyone she loved. She, Dylan, and Layne needed to leave.
“I better go pack.”
“I can help if you’d like,” Hope replied, joining their father’s side.
Worry churned in her sister. After six long months, they reunited a few days ago. Now they were separating, again. Hope hated it as much as she did.
“Thanks, Sis. I’d appreciate your help.”
“I’ll go get started.”
The rest of the room dispersed, moving about in different directions. As they did, she caught a glimpse of Layne. He stood in the hallway behind Dylan, eyes locked on her face. A twinge of sadness quivered within him as he held her gaze. He’d watched her comfort Dylan after doing the same for her not even twenty minutes prior.
Once he turned away, he followed Hope toward the sliding glass doors. Part of her wanted to follow him—to apologize for ignoring him since Dylan arrived. She wouldn’t have made it through the last few hours had he not been by her side. They’d left many things unsaid, including the affinity discussion, but there was much more to discuss. In fact, they hadn’t scratched the surface on what their connection entailed.
“We better go pack our things.”
Dylan’s voice swept away the thoughts of Layne. When she nodded, he laced their fingers together and tipped his head toward the sliding glass doors. They didn’t take the first step past the couch before Delia touched their shoulders.
“There’s something else you need to know. I don’t have proof, but I sense your father did this on purpose. Anger and hate are the soul source of darkness. He used your hate for him against you.”
“Are you saying he wanted me to kill him?” Dylan squeezed Heaven’s hand when his mother shook her head.
“I believe he’d sacrifice himself if it meant you’d follow his path. Dark deeds suffocate a person’s light. That’s what your father attempted, Dylan. He tried to suffocate your light.”
“He didn’t succeed.”
“No, but this wasn’t his first attempt. He pushed for your music career because lust and power rule the industry. Both lead to the dark path. Now that you’ve turned your back on music, he’s getting desperate. This won’t be his last attempt to sway you.”
Dylan acknowledged her with a nod before turning to Heaven. She sensed how much his mother’s words disturbed him. His jaw flinched, sinking his cheek inward. He didn’t want to be like his father, had expressed as much on many occasions.
She wanted to tell him it would be okay, but he tugged her toward the door. The moment they entered the yard, she had a fleeting thought.
If Nate were this desperate to get his hands on Dylan, how would he react if he learned about his granddaughter?
* * *
Heaven stuffed the last of her clothes inside her suitcase and jerked the zipper around the edges. She hadn’t been in Brightsville for a month and was already leaving. Nate’s arrival compromised the safety she found in her childhood home. Yet living on the run was taking its toll on her mind as well as her body.
Something had to give. She wouldn’t be able to do this once the baby was born. They came close to losing their lives in Cleveland, especially Layne. Now that Dylan had injured his father, God only knew what lay ahead. They needed someplace safe and permanent. The cabin didn’t guarantee either, but it proved the best option for now.
Refocusing on the suitcase, she tugged the handle and slid it toward the edge of the bed. It hit the floor with a thud, but it didn’t have the impact she wanted, the impact that represented her frustration.
“Did you get everything?”
Hope’s voice traveled across the bedroom from the doorway where she stood. Heaven nodded and scanned the room once more. They’d been living out of a suitcase for months. There wasn’t much to leave behind except a piece of clothing or a shoe. She’d double-checked every room.
“Isn’t it sad? My life fits inside a suitcase. As you can see by the size of mine, there isn’t room for anything else. How am I going to have a baby and…”
Her throat closed from the lump forming.
“This is about more than leaving Brightsville. What’s bothering you?”
“I don’t know.” Her voice shook. “Maybe it’s because I know this should be the happiest time of my life. I should be decorating a nur
sery and razzing you or Chelsea about planning my baby shower. Instead, I’m bouncing between countries and states to stay alive and protect my child.”
Hope patted her arm and then sat on the foot of the bed. “If our lives were normal, you would be doing those things. We still can once you’re safe. If Nate’s men are lurking, they won’t stay long once they realize you’re gone. They’ll search elsewhere, someplace obvious, and it’s not the place you’re going.”
She couldn’t argue. Going deep into the hills of Kentucky wasn’t her first choice. Blending with thousands of people in a big city sounded more ideal. But The Fallen would think the same, which meant they would search those cities instead.
“I don’t want you to go either, Heaven. I worry about you and my niece, but I know Dylan and Layne will protect you. They won’t let anything happen.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“Don’t you agree?”
She rolled the suitcase toward the door and snorted. “Those two can’t stand the sight of each other most days. The only reason they’re behaving now is because of what Layne did to protect me.”
“I know this sucks, Hev, but at least your child’s father is by your side. Our sister is alone. I don’t know if she’s hiding out of fear or frustration, but she doesn’t have her soulmate or her Keeper. Hell, I don’t even have my Keeper.
“Don’t be in a rush to find him. Trust me. It will confound you once you do.”
Rolling the suitcase behind her, she left the bedroom and entered the hallway that led to the living room. Hope cut her off after a few steps.
“Are you saying you wish you didn’t know Layne?”
“No, but… You know about the affinity bond so I’m assuming Mom explained it, right?”
Hope nodded. “I don’t know much, but it sounds…complicated.”
“Complicated?”
Laughter exploded from Heaven’s mouth. Deranged laughter. Explaining her and Layne’s connection would drive anyone insane. She didn’t want to do this right now, but her sister wouldn’t move.
“Complicated doesn’t begin to describe it. My affinity with Layne affects me in ways that I don’t understand.”
“Trust me, Sis, I know. I sense auras. Remember? I know he has a thing for you. He has for a long time, but I didn’t realize it was mutual.”
“Beg your pardon?”
Hope’s eyes swept over her face before shifting to the floor. Regret played in her energy for saying anything at all, but it didn’t compare to her frustration. “I know the truth, Heaven. You’re attracted to Layne. If Dylan weren’t in the picture, you’d be with your Keeper. I worry you will be either way.”
The rapid beat of Heaven’s heart reverberated in her temples. She stared at her sister, speechless. No matter how much she contested, the truth was undeniable. An attraction existed between her and Layne, and if Hope had sensed it, there was a good chance she wasn’t the only one.
CHAPTER 3
Heaven slowed her pace across the kitchen floor and gripped the corner of the counter. It was happening again. The palpitations. The same ones causing the heaviness in her chest. Nothing would go according to plan. It never did. If the last year of her life hadn’t proven that fact, the past week at the safe house had.
She rebuffed those thoughts, focusing instead on the muffled words filtering from the bedroom. Dylan and his mother remained on the phone. Whatever they were discussing went from lengthy responses to short, affirmative ones. The harder she strained to hear his voice, the more it tore at her last sliver of hope—the hope she had of going home right away.
When the window came back into view, hills of budding trees spread as far as she could see. The sun peeked through the valley to the east. Its pink and orange hues contrasted against the blue sky. She’d never been to Kentucky before, nor did she know her parents owned this safe house. The acreage spreading before her was breathtaking. It soothed the erratic beat of her heart.
A cluster of trees towered over the ground fifty yards away from the house. Layne stood beneath them, stretching his arms behind his back. He sat on the ground a few minutes later, staring toward an open field.
The silent treatment he’d given her needed to end. It would today if she had her way. He’d avoided her long enough. Granted, he’d spent time scoping the area and learning the land, like he had in Jamaica. Yet as tense as their living arrangements were on the island, he still ate meals with them. He spent time on his abilities, but not every waking moment.
It was hard to believe he was the same man who comforted her while Dylan was missing. All the tenderness that pulsed in his energy, the words he spoke, the way he held her close…she didn’t want to believe it was for show. Energy didn’t lie. People did, people who were afraid of the truth.
The sooner she addressed the problem, the faster it would disappear. At least she hoped. Doing so meant talking to Layne, which she couldn’t do from inside the house.
When she was halfway to the door, Dylan appeared. He carried the cordless phone in his hand, tapping it against his leg. Once he spotted her, he set it on the counter and proceeded past the table. “Hey.”
“Hey. Is everything okay?”
He trailed his hand up her arm and shrugged. “Not much has changed since last week. There’s been no sign of Dad, but Dane said he isn’t on the spirit plane, so he’s alive. I’m supposed to call back in a few days to check in.”
“And then what?”
“If they think it’s safe, we’ll go back. If not….” His eyes moved to the window. “Guess we’ll be staring at these hills a little longer.”
It wasn’t the news she wanted to hear, but reality had a habit of impeding a person’s wants. All she could do is wait and hope that Nate would leave when he realized they weren’t in Brightsville. Once he did, they would return, stay long enough to have the baby, and then—
Her mind grew quiet. She hadn’t thought their plans through past the baby’s birth. That monumental event was enough to prepare for, and dealing with the chaos around them didn’t make it easier. They had to form a better plan because living in Brightsville wasn’t an option.
In fact, settling anywhere for an extended period of time would be impossible until her life wasn’t in danger. Who knew how long that would take. Only two things would guarantee her safety—shifting the balance of good and evil back to normal or Nate’s death. At this point, accomplishing either seemed impossible.
Rustling keys drew her attention to Dylan’s hand. “Are you going somewhere?”
“Yeah. I’m driving into town. If we’re going to be here for a few more days, we need things.”
“Do you want me to go with you?”
“No. I can manage.” He pressed his hands to her belly and grinned. “You kinda draw attention to yourself right now. It would be best if you stayed here.”
“I guess you’re right.”
She said nothing else as he knelt in front of her, cradling her belly with his hands. He caressed it with his, and then whispered, “Take care of your mommy.”
The sweet sentiment brought a wave of relief when he spoke the words. Even after he stood and swept his lips across hers, she enjoyed his display of affection. But the moment he walked away, the peacefulness vanished.
Since his confrontation with his father, she didn’t like the idea of him going anywhere alone. Voicing her fears wouldn’t make a difference. The front door clicked when it closed, indicating his departure. It wasn’t long before a car door mimicked the sound, and soon an engine revved to life.
There was no point in dwelling on her fear. He wouldn’t be gone long, and she knew where he was going, unlike the morning he met his father. Besides, his trip into town gave her the time she needed to approach Layne.
Swiping her sweater off a chair, she proceeded to the back door. The morning sky brightened as the sun ascended from the horizon. It gave the impression of warm air and pleasant temperatures, yet the opposite greeted her.
She g
athered the edges of her sweater and pulled it tighter. A puff of steam collected near her face each time she breathed. The air wasn’t as cool as it had been, but it wasn’t time to put away her winter clothes. By afternoon, she’d peel away the sweater and drape it over the chair, much like the prior day.
Once she descended the stairs, she strolled through the backyard, leaving the cabin behind her. The morning dew glistened in the sunlight like fairy dust covering the ground. She hated to disrupt its beauty with her movements, but there was no other way to get to the clusters of trees in the distance.
Layne remained underneath them, though he no longer sat on the ground. His profile revealed a set jaw as he faced the hill that led to a bend in the property. Another empty field lay just beyond it, the terrain increasing in height until it became one with another hill.
The dew-covered grass dampened the tops of her shoes the further she went into the yard. She came upon the old well, sliding her fingers across its rocky surface as she passed. When Layne’s body stiffened, her steps fell short. He’d either heard her approaching or sensed her energy. She wasn’t sure which had given her away, but he peered over his shoulder in her direction.
She pushed away from the well as he refaced the field. It didn’t take her long to reach the spot where he stood and even less time to sense how her presence distracted him.
“Hi,” she whispered.
“Hey.”
There was frustration in his response. He hid it from his face, but his stiff movements revealed his true feelings. He wanted to be alone. The longer she stood there, the more annoyed he became.
Tough shit.
Moving past him, she neared an old stump beneath a low-hanging branch. The wood dampened her pants when she sat atop it, but she ignored the cool sensation. She lifted her eyes to the branches extending in different directions.