“I can’t believe you did this, Faith! You didn’t even ask me if I wanted kids. Didn’t let me know that I had one on the way. How could you be so cold hearted?”
“Like I said before, you have no rights to my body. I didn’t want to have it, so I got rid of it. End of story.”
“Get out,” he seethed, jabbing his finger toward the door. “I hope I never lay eyes on you again. You’re a pathetic excuse for a woman.”
“And you’re a self righteous son-of-a-bitch. I’m glad to see I made the right choice ending the pregnancy.”
He’d heard enough. Walking back to the remaining boxes, he grabbed as many as he could before making his way toward the door. The closer he came to it, the more she frowned at him.
“What are you doing with my stuff?”
He didn’t answer. Instead, he went to the door, balancing the boxes between his chest and the glass panes until it opened. “I already told you,” he grumbled, waiting until the door smacked against the doorstop. “Get out.”
Two boxes went sailing across the yard. Then a third. He turned to go get the rest when he noticed her collecting them. “Touch one more of my boxes and I’ll hit you so hard, you’ll never have other children.”
“You know, the more I think about it, the more I’m glad that you had an abortion. That child would have had a hell of a life with you as its mother. For once in your life, Faith, you made a good decision.”
“You’re damn right I did. I prevented the world from being cursed with another you.”
CHAPTER 17
Dylan cringed as the screen door creaked to a close behind him. He didn’t want Nicholas to know he’d followed him. Not until he found the right words to say to Heaven’s father. If such words existed.
Maybe he’d have more of an idea what to say if he knew what went down between his father and Nicholas. While he didn’t doubt that Anna had been involved, she didn’t seem to carry the same resentment as her husband. She wouldn’t have kept the scrapbook if she did. So why did Heaven’s father hate his dad? What would change a childhood friendship?
As scenarios passed through his mind, he couldn’t think of anything that would come between him and Layne. Only Heaven. But now that they’d become friends, things had changed. He didn’t have to decide between the two.
But Nicholas—
“You are your mother’s son. Thank God. And your intuition seems to be on target.”
Great. Nicholas had been reading his thoughts this whole time. Or at least fragments of it. “I’ll take that as a compliment. I’d rather be like her than him.”
Blue eyes washed over Dylan with a sea of questions. “So it’s true. You don’t want anything to do with your dad.”
Dylan left his spot near the door, making his way to the picnic table where Nicholas awaited his answer. This was his chance to set the record straight. To prove that he was worthy of being with Heaven. That he would protect her with his life.
“No, sir. I don’t. I learned a long time ago what a piece of shit he is. But I didn’t let that change the person I am. My mother taught me better.” He lowered himself until his legs pressed against the wooden bench. “I don’t know what happened between you and my dad, or why he’s taking it out on your daughter. But I love her. I will take care of her. I know how. We’re also bound, sir.”
Nicholas’ eyes widened a moment later. Guess he’d made the connection. “If I didn’t understand the seriousness of that statement, I’d find it difficult not to kick your ass. You’ll understand why if you have a daughter.” He leaned his arms against the table, drawing one brow toward the heavens. “I know what it’s like to love someone so much, you’d die if anything happened to them. I’m sure your ability accentuates those emotions even more. So I don’t doubt how you feel about my daughter.”
Dylan would revel in the news had it not been for the look on Nicholas’ face. The way his jaw tightened. How he pulled his eyes away for the first time since their conversation began. Whatever weighed on his mind, it wouldn’t be something Dylan wanted to hear.
“There’s much you still have to learn about our kind. Your mother and my wife only told you the basics. Which I’m glad they did. You have to adjust to what you’ve learned here, today. Once you bring Heaven up to speed, we will teach you more.”
More? He winced at the thought. “What aren’t you telling me, sir? I may not be able to read your mind, and I can’t feel your energy as well as your daughter would. But you know my gut tells me things. I need to hear the rest of what you have to say.”
Tapping his fingers against the picnic table, Nicholas dropped his eyes toward the top. His sudden interest with the grains of wood sent a jolt through Dylan. This entire day consisted of secrets. When would they stop? He needed them to stop.
“I don’t feel comfortable telling you more. However, I will tell you this much. Our kind…we have different purposes. We seek and we keep. Based on your abilities, I can’t help but worry about my daughter. How well you can protect her. Because she will need protection.”
He wanted to ask what Nicholas meant, but his gut wrenched in protest. “I promise you, sir, I won’t let anything happen to Heaven. I’d take a rain of bullets to keep her safe.”
“It’s out of your control, Dylan. No matter how hard you try, you’ll never be able to protect her. Not by yourself. You’ll need a Keeper.”
“A what?” Why did their parents keep throwing around all these weird names? Maybe he shouldn’t ask. Should instead follow Nicholas’ advice and process everything else he’d learned. He still needed to find a way to explain it to Heaven.
Nicholas pressed his lips together, trying to hide a twitch at the corner of his mouth. At least the tension in his face had dispersed, but would he accept Dylan and Heaven’s relationship? And why did he think Dylan couldn’t protect Heaven? He’d managed so far.
Pushing himself from the table, Nicholas came to stand by the bench, motioning for Dylan to join him. They made their way toward the furthest point of the property near a vast wood line. One that stretched so far and wide, it secluded the backyard. The sea of maple trees had signs of autumn’s arrival. Hues of yellow, orange, and the deepest red.
A prickle spread over his skin when Heaven came to mind. She’d love seeing the trees change color. It was part of the reason they were coming here. So she could show him the beautiful scenery she grew up with. She should be here with him now. He wanted her to be.
“I wish she’d come, too.”
Nicholas and his mind tapping. He could say what he wanted. Dylan knew he could pick up on more thoughts than what he admitted. Guess he wanted people to feel some sense of privacy around him.
He nudged a nearby rock, giving it a swift kick into the woods as his hands sunk into his back pockets. “I shouldn’t tell you anymore. Not because I don’t want to, but it’s unfair to my daughter. If I hadn’t overreacted to your engagement, I’d be visiting with my little girl right now.”
“I guess I have my dad to thank for that. He’s the reason you found out.” He paused long enough to see Nicholas nod an affirmation. Son-of-a-bitch. “If you want her out here, I’ll get her on the next flight.” Dylan liked that he could make that offer to Nicholas. Even liked the way it made his face light up. But if he walked away from his dad, he’d lose that ability. He’d lose everything.
Except the person that mattered most. The one whose vibrations thrummed around him.
“I appreciate the offer, Dylan, but I know I’ll see my daughter soon. And it’s not a reason to keep you from the truth.” Nicholas stepped further into the woods, scuffing his shoes against the dirt as he walked. The loose soil left an earthy scented path that Dylan followed until both stood under a giant maple tree. “Keepers are the guardians of our kind, Dylan. They protect the Seekers, psychics with passive abilities.”
“So Keepers have aggressive abilities.”
“More or less. Their energy comes from a physical plane. They consist of Benders, o
r Kinetics, Transporters, and Shifters. Most Shifters walk the dark path now.”
Like Dylan knew what the difference was. Nicholas might as well be speaking a foreign language.
A low chuckle resonated off the tress as Nicholas shot him a look over his shoulder. “Don’t worry. Your mother and I will teach you and Heaven the difference. For now, just know that all Keepers are created to protect Seekers. They have the power to keep us from harm. Especially female Seekers, since they’re the most vulnerable. And powerful.”
“What about Seekers? What type of gifts do they have?”
“Each has it’s own subgroups, but are made up of Intuitives, Sensitives, and Readers. Everyone at this house is a Seeker, Dylan, including you.”
So this is why Nicholas thought he couldn’t protect Heaven. Because he didn’t have the right ability. Bullshit. “My mom doesn’t have a Keeper. Does Anna?”
Nicholas nodded, turning his back on the woods. “She’s on her second one.”
“What happened to the first?”
“He chose another path. One that Anna and I couldn’t accept or follow. Even though he’d been created to protect her, we had to part ways with him. It nearly killed Anna.”
Every second he spoke, Dylan’s insides shook. He didn’t need Nicholas to explain anymore. His instincts already warned him. The whole situation with his dad. His hatred for Heaven, for her parents. It made sense.
“Anna’s first Keeper…was my dad, wasn’t it?”
Nicholas grunted his affirmation. “You really do have your mother’s intuition.”
* * *
Delia uncrossed her legs while shifting against the cushion on the sofa. Her eyes danced over Anna, who hadn’t left her spot near the window. Every so often her facial expressions would change, sending Delia’s heart into a faster rhythm.
“I wonder how it’s going,” she said, waiting for Anna to answer.
“Not as bad as you might think. Dylan’s still cobalt. He’s using his gifts to read Nicholas. But my husband is forth coming. There’s a gorgeous glow about him. Apricot. Thoughtful communications. Whatever they’re discussing, it’s coming from the heart.”
Gazing at her old friend, Delia couldn’t help but see so much of Heaven standing there as well. Just like the first time she met her son’s fiancé. It was like being transported back in time. Back to the days when she and Anna were inseparable. When the four of them spent day in and day out, learning about their abilities. Testing them out. Discovering their lineage from their parents. Then Nate lost his mind. And everything went to hell.
“Your son’s a good boy, Delia. You should be proud of him.”
Delia nodded, watching Anna make her way to the sofa. “I am proud of him. I always knew he’d be good. Despite having his father in him.”
While part of her wished Dylan had developed some of his father’s powers, to know he was Seeker made her happy. He’d be one of the more powerful ones in history, especially if Heaven turned out to be a—no. She couldn’t think about that now. Not until she had more proof.
Anna grabbed the scrapbook off the center table before lowering herself onto the couch. She flipped over to a page filled with pictures of her, Nicholas and Nate. A sense of sadness loomed over her. “When Nate walked the path of light, he had a good heart. He cared, worried, and loved each of us. And knowing what brought all of that to an end…”
“He made the choice, Anna. Quit beating yourself up over it. You and Nicholas did what you had to do. We all did. Believe me, he tried selling me his pack of lies, but I didn’t believe him. I only left because of the children.”
The warmth of Anna’s hands folded over hers as a sigh trickled past her lips. “I tried to find you, over the years. I wanted to check on you. To apologize for—”
“No apologies. Believe me, I picked up the phone to call you several times. But I knew if Nate found out, he’d punish one of us.” More like Anna or Heaven. Nate wouldn’t hurt Dylan, and he wouldn’t lay a finger on her. Binding yourself to your soulmate had its benefits, even for the unfortunate. “All that matters now is that our plan worked. We kept the kids safe. They found each other.”
“There came a point when I questioned if they would. After Heaven’s attack—”
“Let me guess. An influencer.”
Giving her hands a gentle squeeze, Anna nodded her head. It made Delia’s stomach knot to know she’d failed her. And Heaven. “Yes. One that packed a powerful punch. He wiped a chunk of Heaven’s memory. The police blamed it on a drug, but we knew better.”
“Is he still locked up?”
“For at least another year. But I think he had a helper. We haven’t been able to prove it yet.”
As Anna flipped through the scrapbook, Delia tucked her feet at the corner of the cushion. “Nate tried to use music to distract Dylan. Luckily, it had the opposite effect. Instead of forgetting about Heaven, he wrote songs about her. He didn’t realize it at first. Didn’t figure it out until he met her. I just found out a month ago.”
“That’s the beauty of music. Its protective properties guard us from the dark energies wanting to harm us. I’m sure Dylan’s abilities amplified that power.” Anna closed the scrapbook as she placed it back on the table. “I wish I would have done more to protect Heaven. I hope she’ll remember the time she lost with Dylan. I can’t imagine not remembering Nicholas.” Anna’s eyes flew toward the door. Like she expected to see him at any moment. “Do you think Nate will hurt her, Delia?”
Yes, if given the opportunity he would. Had already tried. But she wouldn’t give Anna more to worry about. “I give you my word. Dylan and I will make sure she’s safe.”
“I want to see her. She’s been on my mind more than usual. I thought it was just this thing with the press, but hearing about Nate…I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe.”
“She’ll be safe, Anna. Dylan and I will make sure of it. The cards have shown me things. Great things. I had good vibes the last time I was around your daughter. If what I’m sensing is true, your daughter and my son are—”
Delia bit her tongue when she heard a door shut. The low male voices grew louder by the second. Nicholas and Dylan had come back in. She couldn’t chance her son hearing what she was about to say. If he knew what she suspected, his instincts to protect Heaven would go into overdrive. Which wouldn’t be good for Nate. Regardless of what he’d done, she couldn’t help but hope he’d see the light again. Especially if he found out that the prophecy was coming true.
* * *
Dylan clasped the phone in his hand, taking in long, deep breaths to soothe his frayed nerves. Heaven would either be so relieved to hear from him, nothing else would matter. Or she’d be so pissed he’d get a good ass chewing. While she’d never yelled at him before, he’d never done anything this reckless. Taking off and leaving her to wonder. He couldn’t deny he’d be upset if the roles were reversed.
His eyes traced over the canvas-sized photo of Heaven’s senior picture hanging on the wall inside the family room. When he noticed the heart-shaped pendant around her neck, his heart squeezed. Had this portrait been taken before he’d left her dreams? Each second he gazed at the photo, his heart ached to be home, holding her close.
He’d be doing just that if he could have exchanged his plane ticket for a sooner flight. Guess everyone in Ohio wanted to fly to L.A. today. Too bad he couldn’t have used the company jet.
At least he’d be home in the morning, before she woke. And Layne was with her. He’d keep her safe until he returned.
Sliding his finger across his phone, he flipped through his contacts, finding the Favorites section. He tapped the first number on the screen. Heaven’s new cell number. The line barely rang when her voice filled his ear.
“Please tell me you’re on your way home.”
Guilt ate at his heart. He wished like hell he could tell her those words. More than that. He wished he could be standing in front of her, forcing the ache in their connection to disappe
ar.
“I’ll be there before you wake in the morning.”
A heavy sigh filled the line. The way her disappointment trickled through their bond had him wanting to release his own sigh. He’d spend weeks trying to make this up to her. But at least he had good news. The news he’d hope to obtain with this trip.
“I know I shouldn’t have come here without you. I’m sorry, but I had to get your dad on our side. It’s important to you, therefore it’s important to me.”
“And how did that turn out? Are you at my parents’ house now?”
His eyes darted into the dining room where her parents and his mother sat at the table, having a glass of wine and whispering amongst themselves. “Mission accomplished. Your dad and I had a long chat. He feels really crappy about what he said to you. I offered to fly you in, but he said he would see you soon enough.”
The tension throbbing through their connection eased until only a trace lingered. That alone made the trip worth it.
“So he’s okay with us?”
He hadn’t meant to make her cry. And she was definitely crying. If the crack in her voice hadn’t given it away, the way her soul trembled would have.
“Yes, he’s okay with us. And he’ll be at the wedding.”
“Speaking of the wedding, I’ve changed my mind.”
Had he heard her right? Hard to say when the emotion choking her words made it hard to understand what she was saying. Surely he hadn’t come out here for nothing.
“I’m afraid to ask what you mean by that.”
“No! God, no. Nothing bad.” Her words forced his lungs to work again. He inhaled a deep breath, enjoying the berry-scented potpourri brewing in the pot on the mantle.
“I should have known it wouldn’t be anything bad. It’s all the craziness going on around us. I’m on edge.”
“That makes two of us, which brings me to what I want to tell you. I meant what I said before you left, Dylan. I want to marry you now.”