Breathe Into Me (24 page)

My sweet man, I know he’s trying to help
, but Kelsey is never going to stop until she gets answers.

“You do realize going after murder
ers isn’t part of your job description. That is unless they skip out on bail.”

Oh crap, I should’ve known Kelsey would do her homework.

“Normally yes, but this is a special circumstance,” Micah quickly adds.

“I’m not buying it. Something strange is going on here and it starte
d when you guys came to town.” 

“Christ woman, why can’t you just fucking do what we ask?” Jamie asks exasperated.

Oh
jeez here we go
.

“Maybe I don’t
want to put my life on hold just because you tell me to,” she fires back.

“Are you always this stubborn or is this just some
thing special you reserve for me?”                                                                                                                     

“I never asked you to look out for me. In case you haven’t noticed I’m a grown woman, I don’t need to be protected. I get enough of this cr
ap from Henry and my brother.”                              

“If you’re so fucking grown
up then why are you acting like a child?”

I start to interrupt
, but Kelsey gives me a look of warning. Fine if she wants to fight with him be my guest.

“You know what? I don’t have to explain myself to you. I’m staying here and there isn’t anything you can say to change my mind.”

Jamie starts to argue, but Micah stops him.

“James
enough, Kelsey’s right, she’s an adult, and if she doesn’t want to leave we can’t force her.”

Jamie begins to rant in Italian as he paces the floor. Kelsey
doesn’t even try to stifle her laughter. I’m guessing he said something funny. I really need to learn more languages.

“Wow, your Italian is flaw
less, color me impressed.”

I watch Jamie cross
his colorful tattooed arms over his wide chest. “It should be, princess, I was fucking born there. So there really isn’t anything I can say to change your mind?”

Oh, I don’t like where this is going. He’s giving up way to easy. If she wins this round, he’ll never hear the end of it, and nether will I.

“Sorry big guy, looks like I win again.”

Yep, I knew it.

“Okay guess I’ll have to try something else.” As soon as the words leave his lips, he pulls Kelsey against his body. She opens her mouth to protest, but Jamie’s mouth covers hers.

Holy crap, their kiss is so intense and intimate I feel like I’m invading on a private moment and quickly glance away.
Suddenly flashes of lighting streak across the sky lighting it up like a Christmas tree. The bolts of electricity hit so close to the cabin that the hair on my arms stands at attention.

An audible growl fills the room and I realize it’s coming from
, Jamie. He ends their kiss, but continues to hold my friend against his muscular body.

“G
o home and pack a bag, princess, because you’re going to Vermont with Andy in the morning.” Jamie places a soft kiss on the top of her blonde head and turns her to face the door. “You have half an hour to get your sweet ass back here before I come looking for you.” He pats her backside and pushes her toward the door.

“Vermont…sure…okay
.” As Kelsey makes her way toward the door, she’s visibly disoriented, and I decide to take pity on my friend and escort her outside.

I’ve neve
r seen her so affected by a man before. I jump off the couch and pull my friend toward the door. “I’m going to walk her to her car.” I stifle my laughter as I lead my friend outside. We reach her car as she disengages her alarm.

“What just happened?” s
he asks as she looks back at the log cabin.

“Jamie kissed the
fight out of you,” I chuckle. I can’t believe all it took was one kiss. Boy, I think Kelsey’s finally met her match.

“That was
…he is…damn,” she sighs dreamily.

I can’t contain my laughter, if this is what happens to her after just one kiss I can only imagine how she woul
d be if they actually had sex. I also need to tell her I’m not going to Vermont tomorrow, but how do I do that when there are four shifters inside who can no doubt hear our conversation. I quickly pull out my cell phone and bring up a blank text.

Don’t say anything, but I’m not leaving tomorrow. Just play along and I will explain everything after they leave.

I show Kelsey the screen and pray she keeps her mouth shut. She gives me a quizzical look, but nods her head.

“
Okay well I guess I need to get home and pack a bag. I’ll be back soon.”

I’m thankful for once in her life that she’s not fighting me for answers. “Better hurry I don’t think
you want Jamie hunting you down,” I chuckle as I back away from Kelsey’s car. The sound of a gun being cocked halts me in my tracks.

“Hello
, gorgeous, who’s your friend?” I know that voice and from the expression on my best friends face, she recognizes the face it belongs too.

“Two for the price of one, hot damn.” I’m suddenly grabbed from behind and lifted off the ground. I try to fight
, but it’s like trying to bend steel. Kelsey screams as she’s grabbed and forced by my side. I continue to fight my captor as several gun wielding men step out of the woods. Oh god, they’re going to ambush Adam and his brothers. The four men in question storm out of the house, guns are promptly cocked and raised in their direction. As they survey their enemies, growls emanate from the four men.

“Let the females go,
” Adam yells. The wind picks up as clouds move across the night sky. Lightning begins to flash wildly across the now darkened landscape. Several men glance around wildly and take a few steps back.

“I
’d knock off the parlor tricks, Enforcer, unless you want me to gut your mate in front of you.” I feel something pressed into my stomach and instantly begin to panic. Adam raises his hands in surrender as the weather dissipates around us.

“A
ll right, just don’t hurt her.”

My captor begins to chuckle. “I don’t think you’re in a position to make any fucking demands.  Now let me te
ll you how this is going to go. I’m going to kill you then I’m going to spend the rest of the night passing your mate and her friend around.” He presses his nose to my neck and inhales deeply. “I’m sure she would love to know what it’s like being with a real man.”

His meaning
hits me, and I struggle to break free from his grasp. His arms tighten painfully around my body as he raises a gun in Adams direction. A shot rings out and I begin to scream. Adam drops down to a knee, but hastily makes way to his feet. Blood begins to pour freely down his left leg.

“That was a warning not to move
again asshole.”

Kelsey begins to struggle next to me, the man holding her raises a gun at the other three men. He leans in and smells her hair.

“And who do you belong to, sweet cheeks?”

Kelsey continues to fight until Jamie steps forward.

“SHE’S MINE. Now take your fucking hands off of her!” he growls. The man fires a shot into Jamie’s thigh, blood seeps down his leg as the ground underneath my feet begins to shake.

“JAMIE
!” Kelsey screams as she tries to break free from the man holding her captive.

“Is that all you fucking got?” Jamie laughs.

Is he insane? They are seriously outnumbered not to mention out gunned.

“It’s going to take a hell of a lot more than a bul
let to stop me, motherfucker.”                                                                                         

“Enough!” Micah shouts out. “You’ve got us surrounded, we are at your mercy now let the wome
n go so we can get on with it.”

“Oh we’re ju
st getting started, Enforcer,” the dirt bag from the bar says. He points his gun at, Adam. “According to legends you can’t use your powers when you’re in animal form so I want the three of you to shift, but not you. I’m not done with you yet.”

Adam and Jamie share a look, “Do it or my friend here will snap your girl
’s neck.” Kelsey struggles as the man holding her starts to move his hand up the length of her body lingering in various places before settling around her throat.

“You a
re going to fucking pay for that,” Jamie growls as he pulls his shirt over his head.

Micah and Cass start to remove their clothing as Adam stands in front of me. His eyes briefly change
colors.

“Listen to me
, princess,” Jamie says, staring into Kelsey’s eyes. “I know you’re scared and don’t understand what’s going on. Just know that it’s still me and I won’t let anything happen to you.”

And right in front of our eyes, Jamie shifts into a massive black and gray wolf.

“Oh. My. God,” Kelsey gasps as the three wolves, begin to snarl and snap their teeth.

“I guess we can add exposure to your list
of offenses. Now we’ve done what you asked, let them go. I’m not going to ask again.”

The wolves continue to growl as they crouch into attack positions.

“You know, I don’t understand how others have had such a hard time taking you fuckers out. I mean it was so easy. I can’t believe I’m standing in front of the elusive Horsemen. Shifters ordained by fucking Angels. Guess what, Angels aren’t going to save you now and neither are your powers. You will die by my hand tonight and my name will go down in history.”

Adam begi
ns to chuckle. “Do you really think we need our powers or the help of Angels to take you out, Oscar? If you truly believe us to be the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse then you must realize that none of you are making it out of this alive.”

I glance around the lawn, there are about t
hirty fully armed men, how in the hell are we going to get out of this? I stare into Adam’s honey colored eyes, confidence radiates from them giving me hope that everything will be all right. A large man steps forward and I’m thrown into his arms while Farron is handed a 12-gauge shotgun.

“Is that so?” He ready’s the shotgun and aims it at the center of Adam’s chest. “
By the way, your step brother says hello.”

Adam’s eyes change to gold just as the trigger
’s pulled. A thunderous bang fills the night air as the man I love falls to the ground. I begin to scream as the men start to open fire on the three wolves. I’m lifted off my feet as I fight to break free. I need to help, Adam.

“Let me go…ADAM
!” I cry out as tears stream down my face. I’m thrown into the back of a van with Kelsey as shots continue to ring out. The sounds of snarls and screams join the chorus.

“You bastards,” I yell as I blindly punch and kick at the nearest shifter. I’m qu
ickly tossed aside for my efforts.

“You are going to pay for that
, bitch.”

Pain radiates in my shoulder
as I pull myself up to a sitting position. The van doors slam shut and the van starts to move. The seriousness of the situation hits me. I just watched them murder the man that I love.

Chapter 20

“ANDY
!” I yell for my mate as I watch her being loaded into a black van. I try to move, but the pain is excruciating. Spots form in my line of vision as I fight to breathe. The van’s pull away and the gun- fire ceases. The only sounds are the groans of pain coming from my brothers. I hear my name being called, but I can’t seem to muster enough energy to respond.

Jamie looms over my body and pulls me into his arms. “You’re going to be okay
, brother. Micah we need to get the bullets out.”

I try to shake my head
to disagree, but the action seems to be too strenuous in my condition. It’s too late. My body has already begun to shut down. I can’t believe this is how I’m going to die. Thoughts of my mate bring tears to my eyes. I didn’t have enough time with her, I’ll never get to marry her or create a life with her. I thought I’d have eternity with Andy, but I only had a few weeks.

“Hold on
, Adam, don’t you fucking die on me,” Jamie yells as tears stream down his cheeks. I’ve never seen him cry before, seeing his pain hurts me more than the gaping hole in my chest. I reach for him as I try to articulate all the things I’ve wanted to say to him over the centuries. Micah grabs my right hand and places it over his heart.

“Why are you just fucking sitting there?
DO SOMETHING!” Jamie shouts at his older brother.

“There isn’t anything I
can do James, his fight is over.”

Cass comes into my line of vision, his tear stained face breaks what’s left of my heart.

“The fuck it’s over, he’s not going to die. Do you hear me? I won’t let you die.”

I squeeze his arm and voice the only thing that matters to me.

“Save…her.” And with one last breath, my world turns black.

***

“Wake up my son,” a deep voice echo’s around me. I know that voice. I open my eyes to find myself starring at a man I haven’t seen in centuries.

“Raphael?”

I’m greeted with a warm smile and bright green eyes that shine with love.

“Where am I?” I ask as I take in my surroundings. Gray mist swirls around us like a cocoon.

“It does not matter, my son, you will not be here long.”

I
glance around and wonder which Angel will greet me. Remiel, the Archangel of hope takes souls to heaven while Azrael, the Angel of death takes souls to hell. I’m secretly hoping for Remi, only because Azrael’s gloom and doom attitude gets on my nerves. Raphael begins to chuckle and I realize he’s heard my thoughts.

“I have missed you, Adam
. It’s been far too long.”

I couldn’t agree more
, but right now, the only thing I can think of is saving my mate. “I’ve missed you too. I have to say I’m kind of pissed off I had to die for us to be reunited again and you can bet your ass I’ll be complaining about it for eternity, but right now the only thing I care about is finding Andy and bringing her home safely. Please help her.”

Sor
row washes over the Angel’s face. “Our war with the Fallen has kept me busy. I had never intended to leave you for this long. For that, I am truly sorry, but you need not worry about your mate. She will be saved. ”

Oh thank god
.
“I’m the one who should be sorry. I messed up big time, Raphael. I allowed my mate to get kidnapped by Omegas. I’ve left my brothers to fight this war alone, but worst of all I’ve let you and the other Angels down. Please forgive me.”

Raphael grips me tightly and pulls me into his arms. “You have not let me or anyone else down. If anything I am proud of the man you’ve become.”

How can he think that? I’ve made such a mess of things these last few weeks.

“This isn’t your fault, you are a good man, but you are still learning. One day you will be great, I know it.” He releases me and holds me at arm’s length.

“I hate to break it to you Raphael, but I’m dead, this is as good as I’m ever going to get,” I snap.

The A
ngel shakes his head and I notice his short black hair and modern clothing. It really has been a long time since I’ve seen him.

“That is where you are wrong my son. Now before our time runs out, tell me about
, Andrea. She turned out to be a good woman, yes?”

His question puzzles me.
“Have you met her before?”

He nods.
“Once when she was a child, she was in danger. It cost me my wings for a short time, but it was worth it to save your future mate.”

His statement hits me like a ton of bricks. “You saved her when her parents were murdered.”

His expression turns dark. “She was marked to die along with her parents, and I couldn’t allow that to happen. When the killer came into her room I concealed her from his vision.”                                                                                                                                           

“I can’t believe you sacrificed your wings. How can I ever repay you?” I owe this man everything. What little time I had with her was only possible because of his selfless act.

“I want you to remember everything I have taught you. Find joy in everyday things, laugh with your brothers and those you care about, and love Andrea and your children for the rest of your days. Hold them close, son, because this is the only freebie you’ll be able to get.”

Before I can respond, I’m blinded by a bright white light. The mist has disappeared and I’m back in what’s left of my front yard. It looks like a bomb went off. Trees have been blasted apart while some have been completely burnt to ashes. Rain pours down as
flashes of lightning brighten the sky. Several dead bodies lay strewn around the lawn. The Archangel Gabriel offers me a big smile.

“This one is going to cost you
, my brah.”

Raphael nods his head. “It is worth it. Give me another minute with him.”

Gabriel nods and tries to hide his smile. I take in the Archangel’s appearance and have to hide a smile of my own. With his long blonde curly hair and board shorts, he looks more like a surfer than a solider of heaven.

I return my attention back to
the sight of my brothers. Jamie is still holding my body in his arms. Micah has an arm wrapped around Cass while his free hand is placed on his little brother’s shoulder.

“Do you see how they
mourn you? You have taken each other for granted. You must tell them how much they mean to you.” He places his hands on my shoulders. “I want you to listen to me. You are strong, smart, and courageous. You can do this. Now go save your mate and your family.” He releases me and nods toward the Angel of resurrection.

Gabriel shakes his head
and walks over to my brothers. “Tell Casanova I said ‘Aloha’.”

I nod my
head in response.

Gabriel leans over my lifeless
body and glides his long fingers over my forehead.

“Goodbye
, my son.”

My vision clouds and I feel as though I’m being turned inside out. The pain is so intense I can barely breathe. I open my eyes and suck in
as much air as I can.

“HOLY SHIT!
” Jamie yells as he releases me and jumps back.

I sit up and find myself back in my body. My newly healed body, holy shit is right.

“I don’t fucking believe it. How the hell are you alive?”

I smile and shake my head in disbelief. I’ve been given a second chance and there’s no way I’m going to waste it. I tilt my head back and let the rain hit my face. I send a silent thank you to Raphael a
nd Gabriel, no doubt those two Angels are about to catch hell for their interference.

“I fucking love you guys.
Oh and Cass, Gabriel says ‘Aloha’.”

Without warning, I’m tackled by my brothers.

“Don’t ever fucking do that to me again you son of a bitch,” Jamie growls.

“You scared the hell out of us
, kid. Welcome back,” Micah sighs.

“I love you to
o, brother, and thank God for my Angel,” Cass says.

No kidding, I owe the both of them, someday I will have to figure out how to repay them, but right now there is only one thing I need to do.

“Okay, everyone get the fuck off me, we have two females to save.”

***

I watch as the sun begins to rise, for some reason its colorful rays appear brighter, more exquisite. I lean against the railing and light up a smoke. The last few hours have been hell. My imagination is running wild with thoughts of what Andy is being subjected too. If they have hurt her in any way, I will bring the wrath of god upon them. I’m sure Jamie is having similar thoughts. After that kiss he’d shared with Kelsey, there is no denying his feelings anymore. He’s been pacing the floor and chain-smoking all night. After my miraculous recovery, Micah sent out an email to every Enforcer informing him or her to meet us here instead of New Hampshire. The pack from Boston should be here any minute, no doubt Grace will be with them. The poor woman was frantic when she was told what had happened here tonight. Gary had been my first phone call. He had rushed over and after an hour of yelling, I had finally convinced him to stay here while we rescue the girls. So he decided to help Micah with strategy, knowing an ex-marine has its perks. The only problem is we have no idea where our enemies are. Since they fled in vehicles, the trail didn’t go very far. Once more back up arrives, we will be able to spread out and cover more area. I will not stop until I find my mate. The sound of motorcycles fills the quiet morning air and brings me out of my musings. I enter the living room, as the front door swings open. The bear enters first and pulls me in for a hug.

“I am so sorry I wasn’t here
, brother.”

I pat him on his massive back.
“What’s important is that you’re here now, all of you. Thank you for your help.”

Lincoln releases me and I’m embraced by
, Gunnar.

“I have prayed to
Hlin for your mate’s protection and safe return.”                                                                                                    

“Thank you
, brother, the gesture means a lot to me.”

He pulls a necklace from his pocket and hands it to me. “It is a protection rune. Its elemental power is air just like you. My ancestors believed in the power of rune stones. They are said to bring powers, desires, and protection to the wearer’s life.”

I check out the detailing of the pendant, in the center of the silver pendent is the symbol for air. The two black beads on either side have intricate white designs.

“It’s beautiful, thank you
, brother.”  I place the corded string around my neck.

“It is not as go
od as having your own personal Archangel, but it will aid you in your quest,” he chuckles.

I doubt this will be the last
I hear about my resurrection. Apparently, that coyote made good on his promise and spread the word around that he had successfully killed me. The phones have been ringing all night from enraged Enforcers. I quickly greet Hannah and Dallas who both offer words of encouragement and promise to do everything they can to help. Grace falls into my open arms and begins to sob against my chest.

“I have been praying all morning and thanking the heavens for bringing you back to us.”

I kiss the top of her head and release her. “Thank you, Grace, but right now we need to pray for the girls.”

***

The last few hours have been complete chaos. Our once large home seems exceedingly small now that we have around sixty Enforcers here, and around forty more are expected by dinnertime. Grace has been busy in the kitchen, the woman insists on feeding each and every one of us. I have made the rounds and greeted each one of my brothers and sisters. Their presence here touches me and restores my faith in family, because at the end of the day that is what we are.

The doorbell rings and Cass jogs to the door to no doubt greet another group.

“Where is my son?” A commanding British voice asks. It can’t be, surely I’m imagining things. I enter the living room to see my father and three uncles standing in the doorway. The room falls silent as heads are bowed in a sign of respect.

“Thank you
, god,” my father sighs as I’m hauled against his chest.

“Dad, Lazarus, Isaiah, Zach
ariah what are you doing here?” Don’t get me wrong I’m thrilled to see them all, I’m just surprised.

“I was told that you were dead
, son, I had to see it with my own bloody eyes.”

Zach slaps me on my back in greeting.
“I should kick your arse for scaring us like that. Although, it caused your father here to go on a bloody rampage, Liza is dead and Tavish and his son are in the wind, but the town is now safe.”

“You t
ook out an entire army of Omegas in one night?” I knew my dad and uncles were brilliant fighters, but that’s impossible.