Ice Moon (16 page)

Chapter Twenty-Five

Taryn

I
jotted down numbers as Jared called them out. It kept me from obsessing over the bandage on his back. After we dropped Charlie off at school this morning, Jared needed to make a stop to give someone an estimate on a custom gate and trellis.

Even though the cold was seeping through my gloves, it was fun to see Jared in his element. He’d stretch out his tape measure, call out the number, and then reel it in slowly, tapping the hooked end on the ground, while he envisioned his finished product.

“Wait a sec, cancel that last measurement.” He yanked the tape back out, measuring past the existing post this time. “I’ll get rid of this one, and move it over another two feet. That’ll give me the room for more ornamentations on the gate.”

I waited, pen at the ready. He was talking more to himself than me anyway. Until I met Jared, it never occurred to me custom carpentry and woodworking were so artistic. He had a knack for visualizing the area already completed, and then making that vision a reality. My deck was a prime example of his gift. The way it angled toward the sun and the moon was inspired.

After he finished measuring, he came over to collect the clipboard and pen. He kissed my temple and whispered, “Thanks, beautiful.”

Suddenly I no longer noticed the cold, and my knees were rubbery. Being in love didn’t suck. He turned to rest the clipboard on the old fence, and started his calculations.

My phone rang. I pulled it out of my jacket pocket. Jared peered over his shoulder as I checked the screen.

“It’s Ray.”

He nodded and went back to work, while I walked toward his truck.

“Hey, Ray, what’s up?”

“Just got off the phone with a very unhappy Mr. Severino.”

I gripped my cell a little tighter. “What happened?”

“I called to schedule the appointment to close the escrow and deliver his keys.”

“And that upset him?” I stared at the snow, wishing Damian Severino would crawl back under the rock he came from.

“Yeah, he said he only works with you and insisted you call him.”

“You told him I had a family emergency?”

“Yes, but it didn’t faze him. He wants you to contact him right away.”

I sighed. “I have his number.”

“Sorry.”

“It’s not your fault, thanks for trying.”

I tucked the phone away and turned to find Jared leaning on the truck behind me. “Don’t call him.”

I flinched. “You heard all that?”

He nodded. “Let him stew. We need to talk to Sebastian first.”

“Okay.” I’d almost forgotten our dinner meeting with Damian’s older brother. “Is Charlie coming along?”

“Actually, I arranged for an amazing babysitter. Her name is Nadya. She’s finishing up her degree to be a teacher and she’s great with kids.”

I’d never left Charlie with anyone but Sherri, and recently with Jared. I worried my lower lip. “What about Damian?”

“He’d have no way of finding Charlie. And even if he did show up, Nadya’s boyfriend, Gareth, would eat him for breakfast.” His eyes searched mine as he took my gloved hand. “Trust me. I love Charlie. I wouldn’t suggest it if I didn’t know he’d be safe.”

My heart thrummed. I swallowed my fear and nodded. “As long as I can meet her first.”

“Of course. And if you don’t feel good about it, we’ll bring Charlie with us.”

I chuckled. “From all you’ve told me about Sebastian, he’d probably love that.”

He grinned. “He’d hate it which makes it tempting to skip the babysitter and bring the little guy.”

J
ared parked outside a garage. I turned toward him. “Takoda Harley Restoration?”

He nodded. “Yeah, this is Gareth’s motorcycle shop. He and Nadya live in an apartment in the back.”

I was having serious second thoughts about this, but my son on the other hand…

“Motorcycles?” Charlie’s eyes widened. “This is gonna be
so
cool!”

I sighed. “You’re not going to ride on any, got it?”

The door opened and a tall willowy woman with long dark hair and a warm smile walked toward us. Behind her, a man with black hair tied back in a ponytail closed the door. He had a tattoo on his sizable bicep, and a no-nonsense expression.

Now I understood Jared’s comment about eating Damian for breakfast.

“Hi, I’m Nadya. You’re Taryn?” She didn’t offer her hand.

I glanced at Jared and back to her again. “Yes.” I gripped my son’s shoulders. “And this is Charlie.”

Nadya’s face lit up, and something familiar struck me. But I’d never met her before. Had I?

“Hi, Charlie. Great to meet you.” She knelt to his level. “That’s Gareth, and you don’t have to worry, he’s really a softie.”

He crossed his arms, but a smile pulled at the corners of his mouth. “You’re ruining my reputation, Sweetheart.”

She looked up at him, beaming. “It’s not my fault your reputation is wrong.” Meeting Charlie’s eyes again, she lowered her voice. “Want to see the motorcycles?”

He nodded and craned his neck back to see me. “Can I, Mom? Please?”

“Sure.”

Charlie followed Nadya inside.

Gareth let his hands drop to his sides. “You guys want to come in?”

I answered before Jared could. “That’d be nice.”

In the garage, Charlie was already perched on a parked motorcycle, beaming. “Look at me, Mom!”

“I see you.” My gaze shifted to Nadya. “You look really familiar, but I can’t place where we might’ve met.”

She lifted Charlie down from the chopper and glanced at Jared as she straightened. “I’ve been trying to place it, too. By any chance, did you go to boarding school?”

My jaw slackened. “Brightwood.” It finally clicked. “You’re little Nadya Dalca.”

She chuckled. “Not so little anymore.”

“What are the chances we both ended up here?”

She shrugged. “I was actually in college in Massachusetts until recently. I’ve only been in Reno for a few months.”

“Jared told me you’re finishing your degree?”

“Yeah, two more classes for my degree in liberal arts, then another year for my credential.”

I still couldn’t wrap my brain around Nadya being all grown up. She’d come to Brightwood just before I left. She was an empath, sensing the emotions around her. And she’d been so cute and homesick. It was tough not to fawn over her.

Did she remember my gift? I stiffened. “Thank you for watching Charlie.”

“No problem.” She nudged her boyfriend. “Gareth is making us pizza, but we were waiting for you to get here before we put on toppings.”

“I love pizza.” Charlie ran over to hug me. “Bye, Mom.”

I managed to snag a kiss before he took off to the little kitchen area. Jared and Gareth clasped forearms. He’d done the same thing with his brother. Maybe it was like a secret handshake in a fraternity?

“Thanks for keeping Charlie company. We should be back in a couple hours.”

Gareth almost smiled. “Give Sebastian my best.”

Jared laughed. “Will do.”

I lowered my voice, watching the kitchen. “Will you tell Nadya that Charlie doesn’t know about psychic powers or Brightwood? I’d like to keep it that way.”

He raised a brow. “All right.”

“Thanks.” I held out my hand. He looked at it, then at Jared, before finally shaking my hand.

“No problem. Nice to meet you.”

Jared touched the small of my back, guiding me toward the door. “We’d better get going.”

Once we were inside the truck, I turned toward him. “Did you know she went to Brightwood?”

He nodded and met my eyes. “Yeah. I told you I’ve dealt with Nero before and they funded your school.”

Heat licked at my belly. I pulled in a breath. “So she and Gareth know about my Pyrokinesis?”

He shrugged and started the truck. “If you went to school at the same time, maybe she does.”

“If they see the burn on Charlie’s arm…”

He put his hand over mine. “Nadya and Gareth are good people. I’ve known Gareth my whole life.”

“That doesn’t matter. Charlie’s scar, that wound he suffered, was my fault. If she remembers my power, she’ll know I hurt him, and I won’t be there to explain it was an accident or tell her what happened.”

“They’re not going to see his scar and call CPS.”

I blinked back tears, struggling to calm the fire inside. “How can you be so sure?”

He tucked my hair behind my ear. “Because they’re like my family. I trust them.”

“Charlie is all the family I have in the world.”

“You guys aren’t alone anymore, remember?” Jared cupped my face, his thumb stroking my cheek. “I would never leave him here if there was any chance he’d be in danger.”

Jared had a family and close knit friends. He’d never be able to relate to this deep-seated fear brewing inside of me. I’d lost everything, my family, the father of my twin boys, and even one of my sons.

“I can’t lose him.”

“And you won’t.” He kissed my forehead. “Let’s talk to Sebastian and we’ll come right back, okay?”

He pulled out, and I watched the garage get smaller in the side mirror, and my chest constricted as the heat smoldered deep inside.

J
ared scanned the dimly lit restaurant and led me to a table in the corner. Sebastian was taller and leaner than Damian. There was a resemblance, but Sebastian’s features were more refined, definitely more attractive.

“You weren’t followed?”

Jared shook his head as I slid into the booth. “No. We’re good.” He sat beside me, his hand rested on my thigh under the table. Possessive.

Sebastian’s attention turned to me. “It’s good to meet you, Taryn. You knew my mother.”

I nodded. “She was the principal of Brightwood.”

“Yes, she loved that school.”

I cleared my throat and lifted my chin, sliding into my comfort zone, my all-business persona protecting me like armor. “I’m sorry if this comes off as rude, but I’m not here for a trip down memory lane. Your brother grabbed my son last night. I need to make him leave us alone.”

Sebastian raised a brow. “Direct. I’ve heard that about you.”

“They don’t call me the Ice Queen for nothing.”

Jared rubbed my thigh under the table. “Sebastian’s not known for his warm personality either.”

Sebastian rolled his shoulders back. “My brother has envied my place as first born since he came into my life. His thirst for winning our father’s favor in the hopes he might inherit my birthright often consumes him. I’m sure stumbling across a female with the psychic ability to manipulate fire had him frothing at the mouth.”

“And why aren’t you?” Having Jared beside me helped to control the heat in my body. His touch grounded me. Sebastian couldn’t hurt me in a public place, and even if he tried, Jared would protect me like he defended Charlie last night.

Sebastian ran his index finger around the lip of his wine glass, but his gaze never strayed from mine. “Because unlike my brother, I
think
before I take action. Kidnapping a prominent business owner would attract too much undesired attention.”

I frowned, the muscles in my back tensing. “So it has nothing to do with doing what’s right.”

He smirked. “Right and wrong look very different depending on which side of the chess board you’re sitting on.”

While I enjoyed business negotiations, I’d never dealt with another party who admitted that kidnapping would only be wrong if it brought the police to your door. I took a breath and got myself back on point. “How can we stop him?”

“You could kill him.”

Jared slapped his hand on the table. “That’d make things easier for you, right? And then your father sends all of Nero after us in retribution.” Jared shook his head. “This is getting us nowhere.”

I pressed my lips together. “We’re not done here yet.” I looked across the table at Sebastian. Negotiations depended on knowing what each party desired. “You want to know why your mother helped me.”

He nodded.

“And if I tell you, what do you have to offer us in return?”

Sebastian chuckled, shaking his head as he sneered at Jason. “Your woman is so pleasant.”

Jared leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a threatening intensity. “Insult her again and we’re leaving, you arrogant asshole.”

Pissing contests like this were why hot-heads were poor negotiators. “I’m still waiting to hear your offer.”

Sebastian’s dark eyes met mine. “I put a GPS tracker on Damian’s car this afternoon. I will monitor his movements and keep you alerted if he is heading your way.”

“Where is the tracker?” I asked.

A crease formed between his eyebrows. “Why does that matter?”

“Because it shows good faith.”

He laughed, shaking his head. “Very few have faith in me.”

“With good reason,” Jared grumbled.

“Where did you put it?”

Sebastian sobered. “It’s on the muffler.”

My pulse thrummed. Now we were getting somewhere. He didn’t hesitate when he revealed the placement, no blinking, and no breaking eye contact. He wasn’t lying. “And how do we trust you’ll keep your word to call us if he’s heading my way?”

“I don’t see that you have much choice.”

“Maybe not.” I shrugged. “But we could leave now.”

He rolled his eyes, biting his words, the first inkling I’d finally struck a nerve with this guy. “What do you suggest?”

“I’ll give you a prepaid cell phone from my office, and when we text you for Damian’s position, you’ll answer.”

“And if I don’t?”

“Then the next time I see Damian, and we both know I will, I’ll tell him you’re in town and to check his muffler.”

Sebastian narrowed his eyes. “No one threatens me.”

“That was no threat.” I reached for my ice water. “I meant every word.”

His stare bored into me as I took a sip and waited. This was the moment most people fell apart, but I held eye contact. Daring him not to take my deal.

“Fine, we use your cell phone and I’ll answer.”

I swallowed. “Fair enough.” The tension in my back eased up as the heat in my chest subsided. “What do you want to know?”

He straightened, still not happy, but too eager for information to sulk. “I want to know why my mother helped you get out of New York.”

“I contacted her after my apartment caught on fire.” I took a breath collecting myself. “I asked if I could stay in the dorms again until I had money for a new place. But she said no.”