Bound by Duty (Bound Series Book 1) (17 page)

Bethany headed out for class and I collapsed on the couch, exhausted though it was only eight in the morning. My phone dug into me from my back pocket and remembered that I still had voice mails to check.

Entering the appropriate passwords in, the string started. I deleted messages from Micah and Cole from last night, rolling my eyes at how similar both messages sounded. I was trying to befriend Micah so he could help me, I wasn’t signing up for a second big brother.

Then, Rynna’s soft voice came on and I couldn’t stop the gasp that followed her words.

“Hi Amelia, honey. I’m sorry I had to cut you off the other night. There are just things I can’t really talk about. I did want to let you know that your father came home and he seems just fine outside of being hungry. He has actually had a few really great days and even spoke to me a few times. Unfortunately, I’ve spent the last few hours trying to convince him that he shouldn’t, but he’s determined to visit an old friend. He believes this man has answers. He’s going to go whether I want him to or not and there’s not a lot I can do to stop him. I’m afraid that he might drop back into his normal state at any time, so I’m going to go along with him. We’re leaving in the morning and heading up into the mountains, so I don’t know what cell reception will be like. I’ll try to call or text when I can, just know that I’ll take care of him just like I took care of you. We’ll talk soon.”

Immediately, panic set in. Every alarm bell in my system went off at once. My hands shook and I dropped the phone. Swearing, I leaned down to pick it up to find both of my hands enveloped in violet pulsing light. I raised them in front of me, turning them front to back, shocked at how quickly my power had taken over, that I hadn’t done anything or felt anything and yet, there it was, at my disposal.

Mentally berated myself for being so easily distracted, I sent an internal command to shut things down and my hands slowly faded back to normal. I dove for my phone and punched Rynna’s speed dial in. It went straight to voicemail.
Dammit
. I tried again. Voicemail.

“Ryn, I just got your message. You need to call me.” I tried to contain the fear, but no matter what, my Dad was the only parent I had left and it was literally impossible to guess how he might react in any given situation. “He shouldn’t be doing this. Dad hasn’t left town in years. I don’t know that he can do this. Who is this guy? What answers does he have? Does this have to do with me? Ryn, I’m learning more about myself. I’m getting better at handling it all. He doesn’t need to do this. Just call me.”

I dropped back on the couch and dropped my arm over my eyes. Too much. The last twenty-four hours had just been too much. Taking a few deep breaths, I tried to calm the growing ache in the pit of my stomach that was telling me this was just the beginning.

The day passed relatively slowly, my classes dragging and my lack of sleep making me even less attentive. My mind was lost between thoughts of my dad and Rynna, the attack, and how I was possibly going to keep up training in the midst of all of this chaos. I was in line for my second caramel latte of the day when I felt someone coming up behind me. Before I could decide to react to the feeling, hands slid over my eyes, a low voice whispered in my ear, and I breathed in the welcoming scent of citrus and woods.

“Well, there you are. I’ve been looking for you all day.”

Warmth spread through me as Aidan’s voice sent shivers across my skin. Immediately, some of my tension lessened and it was as if I could breathe again. His skin was warm as I pulled his hands from my eyes and turned around.

“Is that so?” I asked as I gave him my best flirty smile. “Well, a girl has to keep you guessing. I can’t show you all of my tricks just yet.”

Aidan wrapped his arms around me, pulling me to him, keeping his voice low and flirtatious. “Tricks, huh? I think I’d like to see more of your tricks.”

His dark curls were falling across his forehead and it was obvious by the look in his eyes the kind of tricks he was talking about.

“Down, boy!” I said with a smack to his chest. I shimmied back into my spot in line and ordered my drink. I was thankful I’d spent a little more time on today’s outfit, pairing an A-line summer dress with my favorite wedges. It had been in an attempt to convince myself I felt better than I did after yesterday’s events, but the look on Aidan’s face as he took me in was a definite side benefit. The half-smile that played at his lips and the look of obvious appreciation in his eyes as they traveled from my face to my bright pink toe nails made each extra minute worth it.

As we moved to the side to wait for my drink, I found his mouth next to my ear again.

“I’m going to kiss you again, Amelia. Soon. Very soon.” I closed my eyes and smiled, reveling in his whispered promise. I could feel my power humming happily, reacting to the potential of it already. I turned around to throw another line his way only to find he had disappeared. I shook my head and laughed. Bethany was right…I was in some serious trouble.

I got to the gym a little early, wanting to talk to Cole without Micah. But, my being early meant I also ran into Aidan on his way out from his workout. Aidan didn’t ask why I was there and I didn’t offer. We chatted for a few moments, but his expression changed and a millisecond later I found myself being pulled into a training room.

The walls were red, covered in training mats in case the guys were tossing each other around a little too hard. Aidan held me captive against one of those mats, his forearms on each side of my head, his fingertips playing in the hair that splayed around me. It was dark in the room, just the light from a small window allowing the sun to peak in.

The only sound was our breathing. Mine a little more frantic than his. This proximity to Aidan narrowed my focus to only him — to the warm puffs of air he exhaled into my neck as he nuzzled that sensitive space — and I lost all coherent thought. After a nip to my earlobe, Aidan finally pulled back slightly. Though I needed that sliver of space, looking into his eyes made it perfectly clear what his intentions were. He silently dared me to object as his mouth got closer and closer to mine. I tilted my chin toward him a fraction of an inch before the reality of why I was at the gym sent an involuntary shiver up my spin. The attack. My power.
My damn duty
.

I sighed and that was enough to stop Aidan. He was hovering just a breath away.

“What is it?” he asked gruffly. His voice changed when we were in these situations. It was low and rough and so very sexy. I hated breaking up this perfect moment but the guilt weighing on me couldn’t be stopped. I had started this. I told him I wanted to try. But, the attack changed things. At least until we understood what it was. What it meant. The last thing I could take was Aidan being hurt because of me.

“Aidan, I can’t do this.”

He yanked backward, all of the sweet softness of the last few minutes replaced with stiffness and a wary look.

“No, wait, that’s not what I meant!” I rushed to try to salvage my choice of words, his reaction making me cringe.

“This is just so intense. It’s just so…much. I just need to slow down.” I had a hard time looking at him, knowing full well that I wanted to run full sprint into this. Even now, I wanted to jump into his arms, wrap my legs around his waist, and kiss him from here to moon, never even coming up for air. But, I couldn’t. I couldn’t keep making rash decisions and I couldn’t put him in harm’s way. If another attack came before Micah, Cole, and I could figure this out, and Aidan was hurt, I would never forgive myself.

He was suddenly wrapping me in his arms again. “Okay. Okay, doll. I’m sorry, I just can’t help myself when I’m around you. It’s like I can’t stop; you’re a magnet and I just want to be near you. To touch you. And, after the other night,” he pulled back to show me that mischievous grin I loved, “kiss you. Again and again.”

He pressed a kiss to the top of my head — it was starting to be one of my favorite things. A heartfelt reassurance that we were good and I hadn’t completely messed this up. His grip was firm on the back of my neck as he pulled me in close for a long, hard hug. “I don’t want you to be afraid of this, Amelia. Afraid of me. So, we’ll go slow. I know I can be intense. I guess that’s the foster kid in me. When I find someone worth it, I give it everything I’ve got.”

I pulled back, words I couldn’t say stuck on my tongue, not even sure how to make him understand what this meant to me. Simultaneously, I realized that even amid my lies, Aidan was being an amazing man. I didn’t deserve him. I dove back into his chest, giving him my own hug, muttering a thank you, wishing I could stay there forever and just forget the rest of it. He and I both had so much baggage, I was worried we couldn’t shoulder the load.

Aidan gave me a squeeze and then pulled away, looking down at me. “As much as I’d like to believe you were here for me, doll, I expect that your brother is waiting for you and I’d prefer to not end up being his punching bag during tomorrow’s training. So, I’ll see you later, ‘kay? And don’t think I’m going to let this go on much longer. The world is going to know we’re together, including your brother.”

He led me out of the room and gave me a little push toward Cole’s office, trying to fake a brooding stare that completely failed.

“Is that right?” I asked, turning back toward him with my hands on my hips. “You’ve just decided for both of us, huh?” It was hard to keep the smile from pulling at my lips and he clearly didn’t buy a word of my fake ire.

In a heartbeat, he had me pinned up against the wall and was lightly brushing my lips with his. I could feel his restraint thickening the air around me, intoxicating me into wanting to push us farther so he didn’t have to. “I absolutely have decided for both of us, Amelia,” he almost growled, his voice a low rumble that echoed throughout every part of me.

“Well then,” I said, breathless. “I suppose I shouldn’t argue.”

With that, he pulled away, chucking me under the chin and throwing over his shoulder as he walked away, “That’s right, woman. Know your place!” I laughed out loud. “Oh just get out of here, Montgomery!”

I watched him and Micah exchange a few words as they crossed paths and he gave me another smile and a wink as he left. I couldn’t help but smile and shake my head, wondering what the heck I was going to do with him — or worse, without him.

I waited for Micah in the hallway and we went into Cole’s office together. He wasn’t there yet, he was finishing a training session with some of the younger boys before sending them home for supper. I don’t envy the moms who have to feed boys who want to train in MMA — I can’t even imagine the grocery bill. But, I suppose they’d rather buy groceries than pay court costs, and most of these kids would have been out running the streets if it weren’t for Cole.

So, Amelia, what are you thinking? Do you have any ideas on who did this?

Ugh. None. I’ve been wracking my brain and I just don’t understand why anyone would want to hurt us.

My eyes flew up to connect with Micah’s. He was sitting in the opposite chair, smiling smugly, as he saw the realization of our unspoken conversation across my face.

Fun, huh?

Also weird, Micah. Wait, you can’t just hear things, right? We have to connect each time?

He read my mind, though not literally.
No, Amelia, I have no interest in your X-rated thoughts about Aidan. We do have to connect each time, and truly, you should pay more attention to your surroundings and your power. You should have felt the connection. Just because you don’t use your magic constantly doesn’t mean you should ignore it.

I rolled my eyes and sent him a glare across the room.
Oh, well, thank you, oh wise one. With everything else I’m dealing with right now, I’ll make sure I’m on high alert for when you’re sneaking into my head!

You don’t get it, Amelia. The fact that you aren’t paying attention to your magic could be how they are finding us. You’re not tuned into it. You aren’t hearing it, feeling it, reacting to what it’s telling you. You need to LISTEN.

“What exactly are you two doing?” Cole was standing in the doorway, arms crossed and leaning on the door jam. “Wait, were you talking?” He stood between us, looking back and forth. “Can we do that? Can you teach me how to do that?”

I put my hands up, trying to stave him off. “Cole, just chill out. We have bigger issues than you letting Micah all up in your head. Believe me, he’s a bigger pain than he’s worth sometimes.”

Ungrateful little viper.
Micah’s pompous demeanor didn’t change even when he didn’t actually speak out loud. I laughed and shot Micah a look to shut up. Then, I realized I could also control our exchange. I went inside and slammed the door to our connection shut. Micah jerked back in his seat, but gave me an approving smile.

“Well done, Amelia. I was waiting for you to figure that one out,” he said.

Cole was still staring. “Sorry, Cole. We’re done with that. Micah was just making a point. All conversation will be out loud from here on out. And, eventually, you and I can do some work on our own connection, but we have more pressing issues right now.”

He looked back and forth between us again, as if he wasn’t sure if we were truly done with our unspoken conversation, but finally walked around his desk to sit down.

“Okay,” Cole started, clearing his throat and immediately taking on the controlling role. “Micah, thanks for coming down. I want to start with hearing how this happened from your perspective. Ame has already filled me in on a lot of what you guys have been up to, and I appreciate that you offered to help her, but I need to understand who these people were and what they were after.”

Micah raised an eyebrow. “Oh, so you’re leading this discussion? I assumed since it actually happened to us, Amelia and I were just doing you the brotherly favor of filling you in on the details.”

I could feel the testosterone in the room building. “Oh, for goodness sakes, you two. Cut out the macho B.S. None of us have a clue what these people, or person, were after and we need each other right now. Micah, get over yourself and just tell Cole what happened. And, Cole, don’t turn into Dad here.” They turned to glower at me in tandem. I rolled my eyes blatantly at both of them and gestured at Micah to get to it.