Love's Deadly Touch (5 page)

“You failed again.”

“I’ve worked for her a long time and trying to read her mind is like breaking into a safe.”

“Everyone here can read minds.”

Angelo shook his head. “She’s different. Always has been. I’ve seen it before with people who can push thoughts into other people’s heads.”

“Has she ever pushed thoughts into yours?”

Angelo shrugged. “Probably, but she’s good. She’s powerful.”

“I know. That’s why I saved her for last.”

He tilted his head to the side, casting a sidelong glance at the man shrouded in cloak and shadows. “You know what she can do?”

A white predatory smile gleamed against the night. “Yes. Her ability is exquisite. She has a unique gift. One that can bring me what I want most in this world.”

“That gift is iffy. You don’t want her anywhere near you with that one. She almost killed someone. At least that’s the rumor.”

Again that smile.

“I don’t give stock to rumors. She’ll give me what I want and when the time comes her gift will work just fine.”

A chill drifted over Angelo and he looked at the shop once more. “So what’s she gonna give you?”

“Life.”

****

“Are you going to be all right?” Danny followed his sister’s movements around the store room. “I mean you barely know this guy and he professes to be in love with you.”

She stopped and looked at him. “He said that?” A sappy smiled creased her lips and she hugged the notion to herself. If he loved her that meant...no, it couldn’t be possible, there was too much at stake for him to love her and vice versa, but if he was already professing his feelings… Her pulsed pounded a little harder. Didn’t he realize the danger of declaring his love and her not accepting
—for both of them?

“Yes he said that. Why do you sound so surprised?”

She ducked her head and resumed restocking the shelves.

Daniel pushed off the wall. “This is the first time you’ve two met, outside of Council, isn’t it?” He pursed his lips and blew out a breath, then dragged his hand over his head. “I can’t believe this. He champions you at every turn. C’mon Dana, you’re smarter than this.”

“What are you saying, Danny?” Her temper flared as she caught the meaning of his words. “You think I’ve somehow corrupted him? Bent his will to suit my needs?”

“I wouldn’t know. He would know.” He held her gaze, his eyes imploring her. “You have to be sure. If you pledge your love and are wrong—” He held his hands palms up in a helpless gesture. “You just need to be sure.”

She mulled over his words. Ever since her parents died, things had been hectic. Without her parents as a buffer or true love to anchor her, she’d continue to have issues, until she professed her love. The risk was too great, but continuing to doubt her abilities was far worse.

The last time someone actually sought her out to use her gift was over a year ago. When one of the Council members’ daughter was dying.

Dana couldn’t have helped her, even though she wanted to save the girl. She had been too weak herself and, without the girl’s consent, Dana’s hands were tied.

That put a target on her back with the Council and then the accident last week changed everything. A gift she used to control was erratic at best and she never knew which touch she’d have. She yearned to once again wield power over life and death with confidence. Admitting her failure to do so would only give weight to the rumors and innuendos of the Council. She couldn’t live with that reality.

“I know what can happen if I’m wrong, Danny.” She looked at the ceiling, then at him. “But he came here. He found me and touched me.” Her voice caught on the last. “That has to count for something.”

“I just want you to be certain.” He reached out a hand to stroke her arm and stopped.

They both looked at his hand. A sad smile creased her lips. “You can’t even touch me now without worrying what’s going to happen.” His hand fell to his side. “I’ve dreamed of him for a very long time, Danny.”

He shook his head, still unconvinced. “I wish Mom and Dad were here. They’d know what to do or at least give us some sort of wisdom on why your gift is so wonky.”

She turned away. Their parents had been killed years ago in an explosion that collapsed the building they’d worked in. Many others had lost their lives as well. Her mother had held the same gift, the ability to heal and resurrect the dead, even if only for a short time.

“Well, we don’t have the benefit of their knowledge. We’ve consulted the elders of the city, the wise widows and no one has an answer. The only reason I’m not locked up somewhere is because of who our parents were, the fact you sit on the security council, and the fact that they don’t consider me an actual threat...yet.”

“You were never a threat.” Danny touched her gloved hand.

“Just a menace?”

“Whatever happened changed the way your gift works.”

“More like a curse.”

Simon entered the room at that moment. His head snapped up and he stared at them. “What? What did you say?”

Dana brushed a hair from her face. “About what?”

“You think you’re cursed?”

She shrugged. “Things have been a bit off with me for a while. Ever since the accident.”

Simon stood in front of her. Out of habit, she stepped away when he lifted a hand to touch her. He frowned.

I told you. You won’t hurt me.

It’s hard for me to remember that.

“You two realize I’m in the room,” Danny reminded them.

“Then maybe you should leave,” Dana said.

“I don’t know if his intentions are entirely honorable yet.” Danny eyed the other man as only a brother could.

Simon met his stare with equal arrogance. “Whenever you’re ready.” He flexed the muscles in his arms even as his energy bowed and bulged the walls of the room.

Dana shook her head. “Just take it outside. I’ve got stuff to do and no time to referee a pissing contest.” She stalked across the room. There was a box of Halloween decorations she needed to set out.

From the corner of her eye the two men engaged in a little shoving match before they left the room. She almost laughed.

“Don’t kill each other,” she called after them.

Laughter floated to her ears. She grinned, located the box and carried it to the front. What crazy ritual entailed smacking each other around? She set down the box to rub her temples. For a moment her vision blurred, then cleared. She glanced around the shop. Nothing out of the ordinary.

An occasional grunt drifted through the open door. Dana emptied the contents of the box, draping black tablecloths over the small round tables. Every now and then she’d stop to rub her temples. Again she got the impression she was being watched.

She paused and peered out the large display window. Cars whizzed by, while pedestrians navigated the darkened sidewalks. She resumed placing skull shaped candy dishes on the tables. Tomorrow she’d add the electric candles.

It’s your fault.

The menacing words hung in the air, bringing the metallic scent of blood and decay. Glimpses of a stone altar floated before her mind’s eye. Heaviness weighed on her shoulders. The tables and chairs of the shop wavered then were replaced by a dark, stormy night. A woman with honey-blonde hair and vivid blue eyes shimmered into view. Sandra! She wasn’t dying, not a scratch was on her.

Dana opened her mouth to speak and Sandra lifted a finger to her lips. Dana nodded in understanding. The woman pointed to the mangled car. Dana followed her long, frail arm and stared at—she tilted her head to the side—a dying man. The same man who’d grabbed her, stolen his life back.

A wave of anger washed over her. Again, she opened her mouth to speak and again Sandra pointed. A flicker. Dana squinted. Something in the shadows. She slapped a hand over her mouth to keep from crying out. As the man’s soul departed his body, it was snatched and the shadowy creature slithered in and occupied the vacant space. No, oh no. A soul stealer. Only one entity had the power to do that, to crawl back into a body.

The ground shook at her feet, a chasm opening. She tried to move, but she was stuck. Hands reached for her, grabbing her ankles.

“No!” The word wrenched from her lips before she could stop it and then she was plummeting headlong into the abyss.

Strong arms cradled her close. The crisp clean scent of pine and warm masculinity enveloped her. Her eyes fluttered open and she stared into a sea of vivid green.

The coolness of the floor seeped through her clothes and she shivered. She glanced around. One of the tables lay on its side while the skull candy dish had rolled against the wall.

Danny knelt on her other side. He glanced at Simon, who nodded. When her brother rested his hand on her shoulder she jerked.

Warmth radiated from her shoulder throughout the rest of her body, gripped her heart and leaked from her eyes. It had been nearly a year or so since she’d felt her brother’s touch and now she soaked it up like a long bubble bath.

“What happened?” Simon smoothed her hair from her face. “Can you sit up?”

She nodded and with both their help, she shifted to lean against Simon. She found the gentle rise and fall of his chest against her back comforting and with Danny holding her hand, she was surrounded by love so unexpected she no longer doubted the role Simon had in her life. He was the only who could give her this priceless gift.

“The accident.” She caught the worried glances the men exchanged.

“What about the accident?”

She relaxed, nestled in Simon’s arms and with her brother by her side. She stared at Danny. “The guy.” She swallowed. “It was not my intention to heal him after what Sandra showed me. I was just going to walk away and let nature take its course. After what I saw, he didn’t deserve a second chance.”

Simon’s fingers running through her hair soothed her.

“He grabbed my hand. It felt like he was trying to rip my life away.” She shuddered as she recalled the sensation.

“He was.” Simon said.

She tilted her head back to meet his eyes. “I heard a voice.” Realization dawned. “Your voice.” He smiled and nodded. “I was just going to let go.”

Danny squeezed her fingers. “You didn’t tell me that.”

“I couldn’t.”

“Why didn’t you?” Curiosity clung to her brother’s voice.

“I was ready to give up and I knew you wouldn’t like that.” She lowered her lashes, not wanting to see the condemnation in her brother’s eyes. “After what happened with Sandra, what she’d shown me and she still refused a second chance. Then her boyfriend just reached out and grabbed my hand. A soul stealer.”

Both men went still at her admission. She didn’t need to look at either one to know she’d messed up. A tear seeped beneath her lashes. “I’m responsible for letting her die and just as responsible for letting that man live.”

Gentle pressure on her fingers made her open her eyes. Not disapproval, but understanding greeted her. “You couldn’t have known what he was going to do,” Danny said.

Simon stroked her hair. “He’s right. You couldn’t have known he was going to grab your hand.”

She moistened her lips. This next part was hard. “It doesn’t matter now.”

Green eyes pinned her. “Dana?”

“Tomorrow he’s going to kill me.”

****

Music pulsed through the speakers while costumed and masked people gyrated beneath a silver disco ball and black light. Black and orange streamers were strategically draped from the ceiling and windows. Fat, round pumpkins, some with smiling faces and others with baleful grins guarded the shadows.

Angelo ladled green punch into a cup and passed it to a scantily clad angel. It was a good thing her halo was slipping. She sashayed away, tossing a coquettish wink over her shoulder.

He surveyed the room. Every year his boss managed to throw a slammin’ Halloween party. The power and energy vibrating in the air made it easy for him to slip in and out of thoughts. Even with that added boost, he still couldn’t get close to Dana. Heck, he couldn’t even find her. Every time he tried he met a wall he couldn’t breach.

A pair of green eyes hovered in the crowd. The impression of danger slinked down his spine and he backed up a step.

“What’s the matter Angelo? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

He stumbled away from the man in black. Danny. Even the mask covering the upper half of his face added to his ominous presence. Angelo swallowed, taking another step back. Danger oozed from every cell of the man before him. Danny flexed his arms, the muscles rippling beneath his form hugging shirt. The black cape to his costume drifted over one shoulder.

“N-nothing, Danny. Just doing my job.”

Danny shifted. “You know the Council truly frowns on abusing one’s abilities.” He ladled punch into a cup. “Whatever the reason may be.”

Angelo gulped a breath while sweat trickled between his shoulder blades. He plucked at the hem of his apron, failing miserably at containing his fear. “You don’t have to report this.” He tried to smile and it drooped. “I promise...”

Danny waved his hand, cutting off any further reply and stepped closer. “You’ve been warned numerous times.”