Chapter 11

Eyes wide, I turned to see Michael in the door. He looked like he’d barely just finished dressing after a shower, his dark hair still glistening with water.

Leone inhaled slowly and then opened his eyes and looked at me. “I’ll be back shortly.”

I nodded carefully.

Leone got up and then picked Chase’s weapons off the floor, and walked out without another word.

I waited a moment and then looked to see Michael staring at the stained carpet. “He called you here, didn’t he?”

His blue eyes flicked to mine. “Yes.” Crossing his arms, he watched me. “He’s pushing all the boundaries.”

“He’s succeeding. I know how hard it is for him to be near me.” My head felt strange this time.

“To a certain degree he is, succeeding. After decades of watching him struggle it is heartwarming to see him do this, but even he has his limits.”

“I know.” My stomach felt off too. I frowned, “I don’t feel right.”

Michael straightened, “too much eufori?”

Closing my eyes, I tried to assess what was wrong. “No. Less, I stopped him earlier than normal.” Opening my eyes, I tried to figure out why I felt off.

“How did you do that? Was he too rough?” He came to the side of the bed and knelt, so I could see him easily.

“No, he’s always gentle. I spoke to him and he stopped.”

Michael gave me an odd look. “How much blood did he give you?”

“Uh, he cut his chest twice.” I didn’t know how much. “Will too much make me feel strange?”

He shook his head, “not normally, no.” His eyes moved over my face, then paused on my neck. “How much of yours did he take?”

“He closed the punctures, so I guess however much that is.”

Reaching over, he touched my forehead. “No fever. What do you feel?”

“My head is swimming. I know I’m not brilliant after the eufori, but I can usually hold a thought.” I moved my eyes looking around as I tried to figure out what my stomach was feeling. “My stomach is tense, like when you have a bad feeling in the pit of your stomach.”

“Sounds like you may be feeling a trace of what Leone is feeling right now.” He looked at my neck again. “He must have ingested enough for a bond.”

“Should you go check on him?”

Shaking his head, he stood up. “I’ll know if he needs me.”

“That’s something other families could use, that connection.” He continued to look at me as if he was trying to see through me, into all those hidden spaces you try to hide the things you don’t want to share with the world.

“If it is a bond, it should settle in a few minutes. After Leone feeds, he’ll settle down.”

He just stood there, giving me that strange look. “Why is Leone helping me?”

Cocking his head, his pale eyes locked on my face. “Helping you heal?”

I would have shaken my head, but in my current position if wasn’t easy to manage. My stomach seemed to be settling. “Helping me everything. Heal, control the pain—he’s even set up some sort of magical training with Clairee—why?”

“I’ll let him explain the finer details. In all honesty though, any one of my brothers would help you heal. I would if Leone was unable to…”

“Be near the human girl.” I sighed.

“Yes.” His eyes moved over me slowly. “We owe you a debt, as odd as that may seem. If it weren’t you in that house with Leone, they would have found someone else. That someone probably wouldn’t have come and found us. You placed yourself in harm’s way by doing that, despite your crimes and involvement, you stood before us adamantly demanding that we hear you and listen. That is to be commended.”

I couldn’t think of anything to say to that, which was probably best. I was in enough trouble already. If he was feeling grateful, I’d take it, because I knew somewhere in all the fog in my head that once that feeling wore off, I was in a lot of trouble.

“Are you feeling better?”

“Yeah, a bit I think.” I smirked, “heads fuzzy but that’s normal after—”

Giving me and abrupt nod, he went back over to the far side of the room near the door and leaned against the wall. I wondered if he always came off this way, or if he just didn’t want to be in the same room as me. My mind wouldn’t let me not ask, it was just part of my nature and I needed to know, even though I didn’t want to. Stupid brain. Taking a deep breath, I exhaled slowly. “So, what happens after I heal?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Victor and I were just discussing that earlier.”

My stomach tensed; did I want to hear what I’d feared? Was it better to just keep pretending that life was going to be fun and fluffy after I recovered? “And?” I’d never been a coward or avoided reality.

Leone walked in. Somewhere in the short time he’d been gone, he’d stopped to get dressed in jeans and a black t-shirt. “And what?”

Michael straightened away from the door. “She wanted to know what happens after she’s healed.”

Leone tensed and glanced to me briefly. “There will be plenty of time to talk about that.” He motioned down the hall. “Everyone will be here shortly.”

Michael gave him a hard look. “What’s going on?”

Leone shrugged, “Emil called and he’s meeting us here, something’s up.” He looked at me for a moment. “Think you can handle the discomfort if I carry you to the couch?”

“To get out of this room, I’ll handle it.” I didn’t know why I needed to be included, but I’d take it.

“I’ll go get the couch set up.” He came over, grabbed a few pillows, and then hurried out the door.

Michael turned his head slowly and looked at me. “He hasn’t left you unattended since you fell.”

I didn’t have time to process that.

Leone came back in, “Give me a hand, grab some more pillows when I pick her up.” He came over and knelt on the edge of the bed behind me. “All at once, or onto your back first?”

I squeezed my eyes shut. “Let’s go for it.”

“Okay, scream if I hit anything that’s too painful.”

I didn’t answer, trying to focus on breathing evenly, hoping this wasn’t going to suck as much as I thought it might. I was allowed my delusions; I had fallen out of a building. I could feel the heat of his body close in on me, then his hands as he carefully placed them underneath me.

“Get her leg when I lift.” He said in a rough voice.

I heard Michael move closer, but kept my eyes closed. I was about to tell him to get it over with when the whole world spun as I was lifted. My ribs and shoulder screamed. Clamping my jaw tight, I didn’t want to make a sound. Breathing fast through my nose, I refused to so much a moan in pain, for fear he’d put me back in the bed. My leg didn’t hurt nearly as much, and I guessed it was probably because it had been lifted at the same time.

“Got it?” Leone asked.

My head started to feel light as we went down the hallway. I kept my eyes closed. A wave a nausea washed over me.

Leone made a sound of exasperation. I felt a presence in my head and then the pain was so faint I could breathe again. I opened my eyes just as he lowered me to the couch. The expression on his face was one of complete concentration.

“You can’t hold it for too long, Leone.” Michael said softly, as he propped pillows around my leg.

“I know.” Leone answered.

“I’ll get more pillows.” Michael walked out quickly.

I watched as he tucked the bag, still attached to my body under the blanket. With my arm free, I reached and touched his arm, so he’d look at me. His dark eyes flicked to my face. “Thank you.”

The hard look softened. “I can’t do it for long, but once we get you comfortable, I’ll gradually release my hold on it.”

I nodded, unable to say anything. There was a sheen of sweat on his brow now. “You can now.”

Michael came back out and handed him more pillows. His eyes moving over me slowly and then to his brother. He didn’t have to speak; I could see the worry in his eyes.

“Leone,” I squeezed his arm, “do it now before they get here so I don’t upset Alona again.”

His eyebrows went up, but he dropped to his knees beside me and took my hand. “Lean back, close your eyes, breathe slow…”

I did as instructed and willed my muscles to relax. I could feel him gradually letting it go. It wasn’t nearly as intense as it had been when he lifted me. I squeezed his hand hard, shaking a little bit. My back complained, but not as much as my ribs. Blowing out slow breaths, I kept my eyes closed. “Thanks for the short break.”

“Just rest until the others come. They were grabbing food.” He kissed my forehead and was gone.

I didn’t open my eyes, just focused on keeping the pain at bay. I was out of that room, so I didn’t want to do anything that would make Leone take me back there. Hushed whispers made me open them. The room was just as white as the bedroom carpet used to be. Leone and Michael stood on the other side of an island that separated the kitchen from the room I was in.

Leone stood, gripping the edge of the counter, his arm muscles tight. He had his head down, so I couldn’t see his face. Michael was leaning against it, his back to me. Whatever he was saying Leone kept shaking his head.

“Hey, superman,” He looked across the room at me, his eyes were red. “What’s is it?”

He gave Michael a hard look before shaking his head. “It’s nothing.”

I just continued to look at him, hoping my ‘that’s bullshit’ look was translating from this distance.

Chase appeared by the door before we could stare each other down.

“Thought I’d come and see if it’s under control here before Alona arrives…” He stopped and looked at me, then to Leone and Michael. Going over he stood across from Leone, who had still been looking at me. “Is it your turn for a meltdown?”

Shaking his head, Leone looked at him. “I’m…”

“Don’t say fine—”, Chase waved a hand up and down his own body, “emotion feeder, dear brother, in case you’ve forgotten.” He put his hands on his hips. “Even without that fabulous feature, the red eyes and vibrating muscles give away your lie. Didn’t you feed before coming back?”

Leone exhaled loudly. “Yes.”

“He blocked all Bethany’s pain while he carried her out here.” Michael said quietly.

Chase glanced at me and winked, “how chivalrous.” Turning back to Leone, he flicked his hand toward him. “Go feed and grab some food, then come back.”

Leone glanced over to me.

“She’ll be fine. We won’t leave her alone.”

Walking by him, Leone came over to me. I could see he was shaking.

“It’s like I said that in my head to myself, and not aloud.” Chase mused. “He’s doing the exact opposite of what he should be.”

Michael made a grunt of agreement.

Ignoring them, he knelt beside me and reached out a shaking hand to touch my cheek. His eyes were still red. “Is it bad? The pain?” He took a ragged breath. “I had to…”

Grasping the hand against my face, I squeezed it. “I’m good.” I rolled my eyes, “or as good as I can be right now. Go do what you have to do.”

Turning his head, he kissed my palm. “I will. You need to eat.”

“I’m sure one of those giants over there can push a button on the microwave. Go on, superman.”

He smirked briefly. “I’ll be back shortly.”

I nodded slowly, still afraid to move much. “I will be right here in this very expensive, tastefully decorated apartment.”

Standing up, he glanced to his brothers and then vanished.

“Well.” Chase pulled his phone out. “I’ll let the women know it’s safe to come over.” He pointed to the bowl on the counter. “Michael figure out how to heat that. Leone is liable to break off arms if we don’t get it for her.” He snorted and walked down the hall.

~

I hadn’t even gotten through half the bowl of broth before Alona’s apartment started to fill with Leone’s family. Which was okay, it was an excuse to stop eating the bland liquid. Not to mention just getting that spoon to my mouth was exhausting.

Leone had come back looking better, but still seemed tense. He’d also arrived holding a t.v., which he carried to the bedroom. It took me a minute to focus on anything but the fact he’d brought one twice the size of my own. He stood leaning against the wall now, watching.

Alona stayed as far from me as possible, and I couldn’t blame her for that.

Several of the males arrived carrying large plates of food. Which took me back to wondering just how often they ate.

Emil, I had concluded with some help from every person here, was another brother. One that was born on this side but wasn’t found for three hundred years. Three. Hundred. Years. I was still trying to wrap my head around that. While waiting for him to arrive, they bantered back and forth—even when the topic was serious, they kept a light tone to the conversation.

Daxx came over and gave me a quick assessing look. “It’s nice to see you almost sitting up.”

I smirked, “it’s as upright as my back wanted me to go.”

She stood there looking slightly uncomfortable. Glancing at Leone briefly, she smiled at me and then went and sat on the step between the kitchen and sunken room I was in.

A buzzer sounded, making Chase and Alona go to the door. She did something on a pad and then turned and looked Michael up and down. “I’m going to go out on a limb and say Emil’s other son looks like you.”

Michael and Rafael went over and looked at what I’d figured to be a monitor.

“He’s a better-looking version of you.” Rafael said with a smile.

Michael elbowed him for it.

When the door opened the Arius and Michael look-alikes walked in. If the one that looked like Arius was the father, the other must be this son. They were both giant-size, and I wasn’t surprised anymore to see people that size, really.

Alona was introducing everyone around the room. She paused when she looked at me. I lifted my good hand.

“Broken human, here. Hi.”

Emil raised an eyebrow.

I sighed, “Tried a backflip out of a building. I don’t how my execution was, but the landing was a total fail.”

The other one, Abraham his name was, came over and squatted down and held out his hand. “Abe.”

I took his hand cautiously and shook it with as little movement as possible. “Bethany.”

He smiled.

There was a low growl coming from the other side of the room. I looked around Abe to see a red-eyed Leone.

Rafael and Quinton stepped in front of him and put their hands on his chest.

Michael came over quickly and put a hand on Abraham’s shoulder, “come sit so your father can explain why we’re all here.” He glanced at Leone as they moved back toward the island.

Chase had an odd grin on his face. “This day is just drama.” He laughed and looked at Leone. “Go sit over there.” He pointed to me.

Leone, pushed through his two brothers and came over and sat on the floor next to me, leaning against the couch.

“Okay.” Chase looked back to Emil, “what’s going on?”

Emil rubbed the back of his neck and heaved a sigh. “I—we,” he motioned to his son, “can’t find Rena.”

I glanced to Alona and she mouthed ‘daughter’.

“When I got back and Dad explained what’s been going on, I decided I’d go check in with her.” He shook his head. “Her place is empty.”

“It’s not like her to not get in touch if she’s going away.”

“Oh,” Crissy jumped up from the chair she’d actually been sitting in. “Does she have white hair?” She looked from one to the other.

Emil frowned, “her hair is very light yes, she takes after her mother.”

Crissy looked to Victor, “It’s not good when I see her, she’s not happy.” Victor moved around the counter and rubbed his hand down her back.

“It will be all right, heart.”

She nodded and leaned into him.

“You saw her?” Abraham frowned.

Crissy nodded and tapped her head, “in here.”

Emil cleared his throat, “I explained her visions.”

Shaking his head, Abe looked at his father. “I know you explained, but it’s….” he waved his hand around at everyone in the room, “a little much to swallow in one try.”

I snorted, “I’m with you there.”

Leone exhaled slowly. “When did you last speak to her?”

Emil glanced to his son briefly. “A month? I was waiting for Abe to return from his trip to go see her and explain—” he sighed, “all of you, this.”

“If Ellis finds out, he won’t stay hidden.” Abe said, with a serious expression that was almost identical to Michael’s.

Chase looked from him to his brother, then from Arius to Emil. “Now I understand what all of you saw when you looked at Troy and I.”

Victor rolled just his eyes toward Chase.

“Sorry,” Chase took a deep breath. “Ellis has to stay put. We’ve already got enough bodies to keep out of harm’s way.” His eyes moved over Alona as he spoke.

Michael nodded. “I agree. The women we know they want too much, but men—anything goes.”

“What do you mean?” Emil crossed his arms over his chest and stared at Michael.

Clearing his throat, he glanced to Victor, who gave a slight nod. “We’ve recently found out they’re trying to—” he looked uncomfortable, “increase their numbers through…”

“Breeding.” Daxx said with a loathsome tone to her voice.

“Excuse me?” If I could have jumped up, I would have.

Leone got up to sit awkwardly on the edge of the couch and took my hand. “Alona had a meeting with Davis and a few of those in charge.” He looked around to Chase.

“Women born to this side can give birth with an Alterealm…partner.” Chase said in a low tone. “Full blooded Alterealm women can’t unless it’s with their mate.”

Abe turned and gave his father a wide-eyed look.

Emil shrugged. “I couldn’t explain what I don’t yet understand.”

“Speaking of which, I received a message from the guard we have on the inside. She’s on the island. It’s as we feared and populated with mostly women.”

“Wait—reverse.” I gave Victor a wide-eyed look, “island?” I rested my head against my hand, then winced from the sudden movement.

“What is it?” Leone took my hand gently.

I huffed out a breath. “Erin and I were supposed to go to an island after she helped Marcus. I refused to go anywhere without her—which is how I ended up…”

He nodded, so I didn’t have to finish.

“Where is this island?” Abraham suddenly sounded like the rest of the giants, his tone not allowing for anything but an answer.

“We can’t get on it—yet.” Quinton answered.

“Why?” Emil looked at Chase.

“It’s warded with warning systems.” Arius moved from by the door and leaned on the counter. “We’re hoping that Kinsley can find a way to get us on it, but we’re nowhere near a solid plan yet.”

I frowned. “You sent a woman there? Maybe I just missed something, which happens lately, but isn’t that…”

“She’s very well trained and knew the risks.” Victor interrupted.

“As soon as I find Rena, I’m going to help dismantle this madness.” Emil said, looking more concerned than he had when he arrived.

Troy nodded, “do you know other locations she uses?”

Rubbing his hand over his forehead in slow motion, Emil was quiet for a moment. Lowering his hand, he glanced to Abraham. “We know most, I believe.”

“I’d start with those. Maybe something happened, and she had to move on without time to give you notice.” Troy looked from one to the other.

Abe shrugged, “It’s happened before.” He shook his head. “I’d like to say the last two hundred or so years had been without mishap, but I’d be lying.”

Two hundred years? I was beginning to think I was about the age of a fetus, or younger compared to them all here.

Victor straightened away from Crissy; his eyes moved to Emil’s arm. He wore a device like the one I’d had. He looked at Rafael. “Go get two more devices, for Abraham and his sister, when they find her.”

Rafael set the sandwich down he’d been about to eat. “Be right back.” He vanished.

Abraham shook his head, “that…” he turned and looked at his father, “I just…”

Emil smirked. “I know.” Nodding slowly, he looked from Chase to Troy. “We’ll split up and check her other locations. Cover more ground in half the time.”

“Keep us updated.” Troy looked to Abe, “be very careful if you’re approached by anyone you don’t know. They’re getting desperate enough to try anything.”

“I can look after myself.” Abe answered, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Oh yes, you’re related right down to the finer details of your ego.” Alona said in a sarcastic tone.

Chase grinned, then winked at her. “You love it and you know it.” She actually blushed.

“So we don’t get to go kick some ass?” Daxx sighed.

Quinton lifted his hands and looked at her, “we just took out twenty guys the size of mountains, an hour ago.”

Daxx shrugged, “I feel like we have them on the run now. Have to keep the pressure on.” She gave me a curious look, “do you know any other places?”

I looked down at my hand in Leone’s, “I’ve been trying to remember if there were any other places Erin and I were...” I sighed, “It’s really foggy, but I’ll keep trying.”

“Don’t rush it, sparky, your head has had a rough week.” Chase gave me an abrupt nod.

“I was thinking,” Alona gave Chase a hesitant glance, “with Lou out of the picture…”

“No.” Chase said quickly.

“Absolutely not.” Arius added.

Victor turned and looked at her. “We don’t know who was on the other end of those cameras.”

She slumped her shoulders, “right. How absent of me to not remember.”

“Cameras?” I looked from one to the other.

Leone’s thumb rubbed over the top of my hand. “There were cameras in an apartment where a few women were being held…”

I jolted, then winced. “Held? By?”

He sighed and looked over to Michael.

Before he could answer, Rafael reappeared and held out two devices in this hand. “Keep them out of sight, anyone on team bad will recognize them.”

Emil took them and put one in his pocket and held out the other to Abraham. “Push the button and you’ll find yourself in another realm.”

Abe took is and turned it over in his hand. “That’s the part where I’ll want to throw up, right?”

Emil nodded. “Yes, although my system seems to be adjusting to it.”

“You suck.” I said. He gave me a startled look. “My stomach threatens to move out every time.”

Emil grinned, then looked at Leone and the smile faded. “It wasn’t pleasant at first, I agree. I go see Ellis every day now, though so I think it’s finally getting better.”

“Michael, make sure both have all our numbers, in case they need us.” Troy looked concerned.

“Should we use bonds?” Arius asked. “Emil may be part of the family connection and not know it, but a blood bond would help us find either of them if something happens.”

Troy raised an eyebrow and looked to his twin, before both turned to Emil.

Emil opened his mouth, then closed it and frowned. “I had thought I was too old for new things.”

His son looked up from the device on his wrist. “I need more details, before I agree to something involving blood.”

Arius motioned down the hall. The two men walked out of sight, followed by Michael and Arius.

I turned to Leone, he was looking down at the floor beside the couch, his brows drawn. I gave a little tug on the hand he still held. Jerking his head up, he looked at me. Cocking one eyebrow I asked him what was up without advertising it to everyone in the room.

He gave a brief shake of his head, his eyes moving over my face.

When he looked at me that way it gave me goosebumps. I looked at his mouth. He gave my hand a squeeze and got up. Going to the counter, he looked at the plates of food sitting on it. Michael’s eyes tracked his movement as much as I did.

I exhaled slowly; I’d really messed that man up.

His head came up and he looked at me, a cautious expression on his face. I smirked, understanding he was telling me no thinking. Looking back down to the plate, he picked up a sandwich. “Quint, Raf, I need you to go check on Beth’s apartment.”

Chase’s head snapped to him. “Is there a problem?”

Leone shrugged, “they found Daxx’s, knew about Crissy—” he motioned to the air around him, “this place is fort Knox, a fly can’t even land, but I’d like to be sure.” He took a bite and chewed it quickly then swallowed. “She’s going to be evicted any day now and before I take her there—”

Chase nodded and looked to the other two. “Go check it out.”

They all turned to look at me. I hesitantly looked between them, then the realized why. “Oh, I guess an address would help.”

Daxx held up a hand. “Let me get the map, I’ll drop them off as close as I can.” She went down the hall.

I watched Leone eat, thinking there was so much more to all of this I wasn’t aware of. “I’m hoping to try standing tomorrow.” Several shocked expressions turned my way. “If I don’t get a shower or bath of some sort soon, you all are going to need a hazmat suit to visit.”

“Standing might be pushing it.” Leone said between bites, “maybe we can manage a bath of sorts though.

Rafael frowned. “Don’t push it.” He shrugged, “we can get you a little motorized scooter to move around in here.”

“Oh yes, Alona would love wheel marks all over her carpets.” I rolled my eyes.

Alona held up a hand, “don’t mention the carpet yet. I can’t even force myself to go see if it’s as bad as I think it is.”

Daxx came back with a map looking flushed, she glanced to Troy briefly, before he raised an eyebrow and smirked at her. It took my slow brain a moment to catch up, then realized she’d probably walked in on the blood bond process. I paused, glad that I wasn’t the only one with a fascination with the whole biting thing.

She came over to me and knelt, putting the map on my lap.

I looked at it and pointed.

“Could be a worse neighborhood.”

I nodded, “yeah the tweakers are minimal in that area, the gang however is a different matter.”

Chase turned to Alona, “see you could have things like that to be upset about.”

She sighed, “I suppose.”

Leone looked around at everyone. “Beth needs to rest.”

After a few surprised looks at his bluntness, several looked at me and agreed. Just like that, everyone agreed to leave.