Mafia Beasts: The Complete Series, page 2
The wolf huffed and spun away. He strode through the sliding doors to the balcony and the fresh dusk air.
“One of these days, he’s going to kill us all,” Zane said in a hushed tone.
I nodded, not really listening to him, my attention on Lucas. He still wanted to find his fated mate, if it was possible. We had time. He could find his love. Zane too. The vampire was one handsome devil. But me? Females took one look at my face and recoiled.
Too bad our curses were intertwined. We either all found love, or the enchantress would torture our souls for an eternity. They were both doomed because of me.
3
EMMA
I gazed across the candlelit dining table at Garrett’s boyish, lightly tanned face. He’d really outdone himself this time for our weekly date night—er, weekly booty call. I’d been in Olympia for six months and, so far, no sign of my stalker or the hunters. Garrett frequented the bookstore I worked at downtown. After weeks of resisting him, because I didn’t do any kind of relationship, only hookups, he’d finally convinced me to go on a date. I still considered it a booty call, just an ongoing one.
The arrangement suited both our lifestyles. He was a busy politician, not looking to settle down. I could be leaving town at any moment, but for now, I wanted to enjoy myself. The last time I’d gone on a date was in college.
Tonight, the restaurant he’d chosen was new in town. Romantic, expensive, and everything I never dreamed of treating myself to in all these years. The booth was situated in a dark corner, mostly hidden from view. Being back here made me feel safer—less exposed. Melodious Italian music played in the background, and I sighed happily.
My phone timer went off, and I reached for the pill bottle in my purse. Taking one out, I downed it with some water.
“What is the pill for?” Garrett asked, studying my face.
“Oh, uh, I have a rare magical disorder.” I glanced down. “It developed when I was thirteen, after my father died. Probably brought on by the trauma.”
“I’m so sorry. What is it exactly? Perhaps I could find a specialist to help.”
My gaze darted to his. “Really? It’s a problem with sustaining energy. My reserves fall without the medicine to keep them up and, theoretically, I wouldn’t have enough power to cast spells.”
“How dreadful. But you say theoretically… do you not know for sure?” he asked.
“No. I always take my pill. A witch with no magic…” would be my living nightmare. I was still on the run, after all.
Garrett’s twinkling blue gaze lingered on my face, and a slow, sensual smile lifted his lips. Like all witches, he was attractive and powerfully built.
“What?” I asked, taking a sip of the pricey wine he’d bought. The rest of the bottle sat open on our table next to the half-eaten basket of bread.
“You’re beautiful,” he said, leaning in. His breath held hints of mint and the fruity alcohol.
A blush touched my cheeks.
At least he’d warned me we were going somewhere fancy tonight. I’d found this little black dress buried deep on a thrift store clearance rack. An hour of hair and makeup, which I did splurge on a little, had done the trick. I looked like I belonged here.
“You don’t have to compliment me.” I dismissively waved one hand. “Hell, you don’t even have to feed me, but you already know that.” Secretly, I did appreciate our dates before jumping into bed together. They were… nice. Free meals like this were wonderful, and I savored every bite. Who knew when I’d get to eat like this again? Plus, these dates made me feel not so alone in the world and appreciated by someone. For one night a week, I felt like I lived a normal life.
Garrett straightened with a frown. “I know I don’t have to feed you. I like to, though.” His gaze flicked to mine. “Emma, you need to start letting people treat you better. You’re worth it. In fact, that’s going to start with me treating you better from tonight onward.”
“What are you talking about?” I sipped at the wine in my glass, feeling awkward. People treated me fine. I didn’t have any complaints; these dates with him were just above and beyond my expectations. I would have been happy with takeout in a warm car.
He reached into one of his trouser pockets, drawing out a small, gold-and-black object, which he cupped between his large palms. The color of the box had my heart racing. I squinted at Garrett. He wasn’t my stalker playing some mindfuck game on me these past three months, was he? No, the pattern on the box was different. Just a coincidence of colors.
“I know this is soon, but I also know it’s right,” he said. He pulled up the top and it opened with a click as he asked, “Will you marry me?”
I stared at the glittering diamond in a gorgeous gold setting. My mouth went dry. Tearing my gaze away and upward, I gawked at Garrett. “Excuse me?”
“Marry me, Emma.” He set the gold-and-black velvet box between us on the table. “We’re both twenty-nine years old. It’s time to settle down. We haven’t known each other for long, but you enchant me. I’ve never met anyone like you. I’ll be mayor soon and in need of a wife. And you need a husband to take care of you.”
I gaped, my jaw dropping further and further. Soon, there’d be drool. While he’d spoken, my mind whirled with disbelief and horror. I wasn’t sure which to react to first. At twenty-nine, my life had finally gotten a bit easier. Orion had started at the academy three months ago, where he was finally safe. I had only myself to take care of now.
But that didn’t guarantee that I would be safe here forever. Eventually, my stalker would catch up to me and I’d disappear again. Garrett didn’t understand because I hadn’t told him about my life on the run, and I had no intention of doing so. Early on, I’d made mistakes by trusting people I shouldn’t have with my story. Never again.
Nope. Life was a solo ride for me for the next couple of years, while Orion was at the mandatory school for all supernaturals. After that, we’d probably be on the run again. My future was an unpredictable mess. Even if it wasn’t, Garrett was certainly not the love of my life. How had I given him that impression? This was all so wrong.
I finally said, “No. I can’t.” It was all I could manage.
“No?” His eyes flashed with anger. “What do you mean, no?”
“Just what it sounds like. I’m not marrying you. We barely know each other and—”
“You really need to reconsider.” He lowered his voice. “You hide it well, but you’re dirt poor, Emma. I’m rich. I will give you everything you can dream of, but I won’t without a ring on your finger. I need you to belong to me, and only me.”
I sputtered, “Yeah, that’s a hard no.”
He ignored my rejection. “You have absolutely no friends. You work all the time, and when you’re not working, you hide away in that decrepit farmhouse. I could change all of that for you.” He leaned in. “If you are left to your own devices, you’ll end up nothing more than a rundown, easy lay.”
Wow. Was he calling me a whore? I shook my head, unable to believe he was acting like such an asshole. Apparently, he couldn’t graciously take no for an answer.
“I think it’s time I leave,” I snapped. I started to rise when Garrett’s onyx wand appeared in his hand.
“Sit. Down.”
I froze, then abruptly did as he commanded. I glanced out at the restaurant to check for further threats. The patrons ate and chatted in the dim light, not one paying attention to us. No one looked out of place.
I refocused on Garrett. He was scaring me. Under the table, from my purse, I slowly pulled out my own citrine wand. If he wanted to be nasty, bring it on. I could be nasty too.
“This is the last time I’m going to ask you, Emma,” he said, his wand casually pointed at me. “Marry me. Or else face the consequences.” His threat rang clear.
I glared at him and murmured a paralyzing spell as I brought my wand up. The magic shot from the tip, reaching for him. He reacted quicker than I’d anticipated and blocked the spell. A bolt of orange magic stung my hand, and I dropped my wand with a yelp. A couple of heads turned our way. The server approached with a frown, but Garrett waved him away with a reassuring nod.
He summoned my wand to him, catching it in midair. “I’ll just hold on to this,” he said. His blue eyes flashed with triumph.
I reached across the table. “You can’t. That’s mine!” I kept my voice low. Drawing attention had never served me well.
“It’s mine now. Soon, you will be too. When you come to me to accept my offer, you can have your wand back.” A smug grin twisted his lips.
Taking a wand from another witch was cruel. In my case, it was life or death. My face heated with rage. “I need my wand. You don’t understand.”
If those who hunted me appeared right now, I’d be dead.
“I already told you what I want.” His gaze raked over my cleavage before returning to my face. “And I always get what I want, Emma.”
I licked my lips. Did I have the worst taste in men, or what?
He had me backed into a corner. I’d do anything to get my wand back, and he knew that was the case.
I swallowed hard. “Okay. I’ll marry you. Now, give me my wand.”
“Wonderful.” He grinned and picked up the ring. “Put this on.”
“Hand over my wand.”
“The ring first. To seal the deal.”
I took the diamond and evaluated it with a frown. Magic tingled in my palm. “There’s a spell on this ring.”
Garrett smirked. “I needed some guarantee besides your promise. A little tracking spell makes sure you don’t disappear on me, my love.”
Tracking spell, eh? I could probably find someone to remove it, though it would cost a chunk of change. If my stalker found out about this… None of that mattered. I’d never been a kick-ass kind of girl, despite the life I lived, and Garrett was much larger than me, armed with two wands. I didn’t stand a chance. This was the only way.
I slipped the ring on my finger. “My wand.” I held my hand out, palm up.
“Good girl.” He slid my wand across the table.
I snatched it up and put it in my purse. Immediately, I tried to yank off the diamond ring. It wouldn’t budge and panic filled my chest.
Garrett laughed. “You’re a wily one, but I’m two steps ahead of you.” He stood and pulled on his coat. “I’ll take you home.”
I didn’t want to spend one more second in his presence. Unfortunately, I couldn’t teleport out of the restaurant in front of so many humans. Grabbing my handbag and coat, I darted toward the exit.
Garrett caught my arm as I passed him, then tugged me close. “Behave or I’ll be forced to teach you some manners.”
I shuddered. My skin prickled where his fingers dug in with bruising force. I nodded. He kept me at his side as we wound our way through the tables and out the door.
Outside, the chilly, December night hummed with traffic. I threw on the black faux-fur coat, which I’d snagged from the bookstore’s lost and found, and waited for the valet to bring Garrett’s car.
I mentally cursed myself. I’d been so stupid, blinded by the casual sex, the elegant dinners, and his lavish compliments. I should have known it was all too good to be true without consequences. I’d have to add no dating to my long list of noes.
A car engine purred around the corner and stopped in front of us. Garrett opened the passenger side door for me, and I slipped in. He closed it, walked around to his side, and got in. Putting the yellow sports car in gear, he eased into traffic.
We sped along the winding streets in silence. At least he was taking me home to my place and not his house. He pulled onto a dark, narrow lane and slowed. The giant, rundown farmhouse came into view.
When I’d started looking for places to rent, this one had shown up so incredibly cheap, I thought there was a typo. But nope. The rental agent said it was in desperate need of repair, but not unlivable, and rumored to be haunted so no one wanted it. I snatched it up in a heartbeat after learning the price was real, and it came fully furnished.
The sports car hummed to a stop. Garrett swooped in for a kiss, but I ducked away. His cupped my jaw with his palm, turning my head toward him. “Don’t avoid me like that.” His lips touched mine as he ignored my sounds of protest. By the time he released me, my face felt bruised from his grip.
I moved to open the door. He punched the lock button.
“Not so fast, my love. I think we should celebrate our engagement.” He winked, but it came off as slimy. “I love getting down and dirty with you in my cars. We haven’t done it in this one yet. Hop on over here.”
“No.”
He grabbed me around the waist, and I slapped him—hard. The sound rang in the confined space as his head whipped to the side. He slowly straightened, touching the red palm print, and licked at his bleeding lip.
His gaze burned into mine. “I’ll let you go this time, Emma, but know that you won’t get away with that again. You will make yourself available to me whenever and however I want you. Otherwise, you’ll be punished.”
The lock clicked free. I yanked the car door open, bolted from the seat, then slammed it shut. Fucking crazy jerk.
The window rolled down. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Emma,” Garrett called, before backing out of the driveway.
Dread writhed in my stomach, making me nauseated. I really needed to get out of this town, and away from him. He’d already held my wand captive, threatened me, and conned me into putting on this tracking device ring. I certainly wasn’t going to become his perfect little mayor’s wife. Fuck that.
I started up the overgrown walkway. The large, five-bedroom, white farmhouse stood against a backdrop of evergreens. It was much bigger than we needed, but cheap, and that was all that mattered. Lights shone through the windows’ sheers, telling me my brother was home from the academy.
A hailstorm began as I opened the front door, trying to shake off the disastrous evening and my newest predicament. I kicked off my heels in the entry, followed by my purse and coat, then went into the kitchen. My brother sat at the wooden table, eating a bowl of cereal.
“Orion, you’re home! Why didn’t you call?” I leaned against the table.
He stood, deposited the bowl in the sink, then grabbed his backpack and slung it over his shoulder. “I was busy. Still am,” he said, avoiding my gaze.
“What’s going on?”
“Look,” his eyes finally met mine, “I know you’re not going to like this, but I’m eighteen now, an adult, and you need to stop babying me. I have friends now and you can’t drag me out of the academy, so I’m going to keep these friends. I’m staying with them over break. We’re going camping. I wanted to tell you in person.”
I stared at him, taken aback. “Orion, I don’t think that’s safe—”
“It’s not for you to decide.” His jaw clenched.
“So you’re not spending winter break here with me?” I knew someday he’d insist on his independence, but not this soon. Could he really take care of himself?
“I’ve spent the last almost eight years of my life with you.” He resettled the backpack on his shoulders. “It’s been just us, on the run, day-to-day living, and I’m so done with that. We don’t have any more answers than we did when Mom died. We don’t know if these people are after you, me, or both of us. But I don’t care. I can’t do this anymore.”
My eyes burned and my temper flared. “So what’s your plan? What if they come after you?”
“I’ll deal with it. I told my friends.”
“Orion,” I snapped. “How many times have I told you not to do that?”
“Your life isn’t mine!” He scrubbed the back of his neck. “I’m stronger with my friends. They know as much as I do now, and they have my back. If that stalking bastard, or those other creeps show up again, we’re going to take them out.”
“You say that like it’s so easy.” I slammed my fist on the table. “Don’t you think I would have killed them a long time ago if it were that easy?”
“Well, you didn’t have any friends to help.” His words punched me in the gut. Orion moved toward the kitchen door. “Look, I gotta go. See you later.”
“At least tell me where you’re going?”
“The Olympic National Forest.” His face lit with a charming smile. “They have hot springs.”
“Orion—” I called after him.
“See you later, Em.” He waved over his shoulder, not bothering to look back. He disappeared in a whirl of purple smoke.
Just like that, he was gone. My years of trying to protect us both had come to an end. I was alone, on my own for the first time. I thought it would feel more liberating instead of… lonely. Was I really okay facing the hunters on my own? Was he?
Orion’s words about not having any friends stung. I’d had friends, once upon a time. Growing up, I had a best friend. Claire. She’d been my rock after Dad died, which was the same year I was diagnosed with my energy disorder. We’d attended the academy together, then went on to university. After Mom suddenly fell sick and passed, the situation with my stalker and hunters started. I was twenty-two, a senior about to graduate.
I didn’t know who they were. The stalker often acted like a guardian angel, warning me to leave. Warning us when the hunters had found us again. Except for that first note, Emma, I killed your mom. Now, run or you die next. A much quicker death.
I did run. With Orion in tow, I ran straight back to my college dorm and Claire. That’s where I found her hanging from a noose with a note pinned to her chest that said anyone else I involved would die. From that point on, we were on our own until I slipped up and trusted a couple of big-hearted people and got them killed too.
I blew out a shuddering sigh and turned toward the humming refrigerator. Pulling out the milk, I poured some in a mug and emptied a packet of hot cocoa mix on top, stirred, then popped it in the microwave.
My stalker was obviously an insane, murderous creep. Why warn me every time we’re found by those who hunt us? How does the stalker even know? They have to be either part of the same group or somehow have inside knowledge. The bigger nagging question—why were we being hunted?
