Soul Enslaved (Sons of Wrath Book 3) (53 page)

Ferno’s lids lowered beneath his furrowing eyebrows, and he tilted his head, as if welcoming the death. As if offering a fresh stretch of skin to slice the blade across.

Arms viced around Zayne’s body, and he shot out a kick as he flew backward from Ferno, falling against the cold stone walls.

“Enough!” Maddox stood between them, arms outstretched. “Like getting stabbed at both ends. Fuck!” He closed his eyes and let out a breath. “Zayne, man. Whatever is going on with you … this ain’t the time, or place. It kills me to know that about Shey, Brother. It does. But killing him isn’t going to bring either of them back. I feel for you, Zayne. I hurt every day for you. But not any more than Ferno hurts himself.” Maddox rubbed his hands across his skull. “Please, don’t do this to each other.”

“’The hell you do. You two’ve been tight since it happened.” Zayne glanced around. “This? This is where she’s been since her death.”

Maddox’s brows came together. “Shey?”

“She’s been waiting here. For me.” Zayne clenched his fist, holding it over his heart. “I’m not letting either one of you hurt her again.”

“Shey is walking through Elysian fields right now, Brother.” Maddox held up a cautious hand, like a man approaching a rabid beast. “She isn’t here.”

“She’s there.” He pointed to where he’d heard her voice, but saw nothing. “Shey!” Zayne shot to his feet, and bolted toward the darkness. “Shey!”

“This place … it’s fuckin’ with you, Zayne.” Maddox’s voice reached him from behind.

“No!” Zayne scratched at his face. “I heard her voice. I know she was here.”

“C’mon, Brother. Let’s go.” Mad Dog held out a hand to him. “That girl? Denya? She’s gone.”

Zayne spun around like Maddox’s words had snapped through his hallucination and pressed his fists to his temples. “Gone?”

“Somebody took her. Gavin and Sabelle think it might be that crooked ass pimp. Jovan, or whatever the fuck his name is.”

The more Maddox talked, the more reality seemed to settle over Zayne, and his stare finally fell on where Ferno sat, clutching his skull. Lost in his own hell.

Fuck
. What had he done? Said? As if he’d fallen into a black void, unaware of what had happened just moments before.

Zayne fell to his knees before Ferno and reached out before hesitating. “Brother … nothing I say will convince you otherwise, I know this. You’ve tormented yourself … so long. And I wasn’t myself just now. I said things … things I shouldn’t have said.”

“You spoke truths.” Ferno’s voice remained flat, devoid of emotion.

“Truths that didn’t need to be spoken. Please, forgive me.”

Ferno’s fingers curled into fists against his skull. “Why you’re asking my forgiveness, I’ll never understand.”

“I was wrong.”

“Leave me.”

Zayne pushed up from his brother. The damage would play out in the most unimaginable way and there was nothing he could do. “I’m sorry.” He couldn’t take back what he’d said. What he’d confessed. He had no idea what his hurtful words meant for Ferno’s fate. The brother had tried so many times to kill himself, but knowing he’d taken two lives might just have been enough to push the blade.

Not daring to touch his brother—Ferno had never been one for affection and love—Zayne strode away, glancing back just long enough to see Ferno’s slow rocking and Maddox pacing in front of him.

CHAPTER 25

Thomas peered up at Sabelle from beside her on the back seat of the Mercedes, while Bennett drove her and the twins toward a hotel downtown. “Mommy, i-i-is Mister Gavin mad at us?”

“No, sweetheart. We’re just going to stay somewhere else for a couple days.”

Gavin had offered to set her up anywhere she wanted, for as long as she needed, and much as she hated accepting it, she’d had to. She needed answers. She didn’t want to cut Gavin off entirely, because he had the only ties to her sister. So Sabelle needed to keep it in check. Keep it civil with Gavin, even if a small part of her wanted to scream at him, hit him so hard it actually hurt him. Pierce his soul, the way hers had been pierced. She needed to make the woman aware that Gavin was no longer with her, but keep her children at a safe distance. Neutral ground might just be the perfect place, and if Sabelle could find her first, she’d have a much better shot at keeping her kids safe than being taken by surprise.

“Are we going back?” Janie asked beside TJ.

“No, baby.”

“I like Mister Gavin’s house. I like Anna. And Bennett. And Magnus. And Uncle Zeke. He’s funny. And Uncle Zayne is really good at tricks. Uncle Maddox taught me how to count in Italian. And Uncle Logan taught me how to punch a bully …” Janie rattled off a host of experiences she’d had in just a few short days.

“Okay … uh …” Sabelle rubbed her temples. “You don’t … have to call them uncle, you know? They’re not really your uncles.”

“We w-w-want to.” Thomas shifted on the seat. “Mommy? Can we call them uncle?”

“Yeah, honey. That’s okay.” Resting her head against the back of the seat, Sabelle stared out the window.

***

Fuck!
Gavin tipped back the shot of Elysia and slammed the glass down on his home office desktop, leaving yet another mark on another desk. For a cool brother, his furniture had begun to look like something Logan would own.

Part of him wanted to get drunk and drown himself in the misery of knowing he’d brought Sabelle the most unthinkable pain. Because of him. His mistake. Another reminder of why he just needed to be done with women. Pack up and ship back to Obsidius.

He couldn’t, though. He’d made a promise to Sabelle and, goddamn it, he’d come through, no matter what. Nothing in his life was more important—not even the downright, soul-wrenching despair of losing the only woman he’d ever loved.

Yeah, he loved her. All his doubts had come tumbling down to one single truth that he’d known all along. He loved her. Even if she didn’t trust love. Even if he’d live with the agony of unrequited love. He loved her.

He needed to set things right.

Rising up from his chair proved more difficult than he’d anticipated, and he stumbled backward. Elysia. Always hit hard. Through traipsing drunkenness, he staggered along the hall, to the staircase that led to the catacombs, and came to a stop at the last door on the right.

Gavin knocked, grateful for the lack of sexual sounds drifting from Xander’s room. No doubt, he’d have a female tied up in there. Gavin could only hope she was a willing captive. Most were. Unlike many of the Fallen, Xander had a certain charm, and most women considered him to be physically attractive.

Xander threw open the door, bowing as he ushered Gavin inside.

Cautiously, Gavin peeked around him to find no evidence of a female. Only a stack of books and a bedside lantern. “No female?”

“Nah.” Xander fell onto his bed, folding his arms behind his head. “Didn’t feel up to it.”

“Is that even possible?”

“Only when you’re craving someone else.”

Gavin cleared his throat, trying not to dwell on that thought too much. “You’re privy to a lot of shady clubs in the city. Any idea where the Optevyl might hang?”

“Couple places. Raptor’s where you’ll find the high rollers. Gypsy’s has a lot of thugs.”

“Raptor and Gypsy. Got it. Thanks.”

Xander sat up. “You look like shit, by the way. Figured no one else would have the balls to tell you.”

“I feel like shit.”

The angel shook his head. “Only one thing can make a man look
and
feel like shit.”

Gavin nodded and backed out of the room. Didn’t need to get into a psychoanalysis of how he’d fucked things up. He ascended the stairs and walked the hall toward his office.

Maddox met him at the door. “We got a problem.”

“With Sophie? Sabelle had called her son Gordie, and a nurse was supposed to come pick her up.”

“Worse. Whatever the fuck alterrealm that was did something to Zayne’s mind. He attacked Ferno. Lotta …” Mad Dog shook his head. “Told him Shey was pregnant.”

“Shey was pregnant?” Gavin squeezed his eyes shut, knowing the words likely delivered the final blow for Ferno. The guy had been suicidal since the accident, but knowing he’d taken two lives would probably send him right over the edge.

“Zayne took off. No idea where he went.” Maddox scratched his chin, must’ve scratched it a few times, if the red stripes across his skin were anything to go by. “I know he didn’t mean to say what he said, but, damn … some sad shit going down. This place could really use some positive vibes, know what I’m sayin’?”

“I’ve got his cell phone. Fuck.” Gavin ran his hands through his hair. “Keep watch on Ferno. Hate to keep you playing babysitter, but I don’t trust him. Wish I knew what it’d take to get him back from the hell he makes for himself. As for Zayne … if I hear anything, I’ll keep you posted.”

“Where you goin’, Bro?”

“Something I have to take care of. I got a tip on Denya.”

“Need someone to go with you?”

“No. I’ll be fine.” Gavin pointed a finger. “If anything goes down here, get hold of me.”

“Will do.” He patted Gavin on the back. “Hope we find that girl. Be a shame for something to happen to your woman’s baby sister.”

Gavin’s jaw ticced with the effort of not outwardly confessing his feelings of having failed Sabelle. “I’ll find her.”

***

Gavin parked the Mercedes in front of the hellhole called Gypsy’s. Yeah, it’d stick out like a sore thumb against all the bikes, beaten down trucks and rusted old kickers on their last leg. He made a mental note to buy a piece of shit that ran like a champ, just for jobs like that one.

He checked his weapons. Daggers strapped at either hip and just inside his boot. Whatever fighting he planned to do would have to be up close and personal, since he hadn’t bothered to strap a gun. Though, he had made a point to add a few more chains to his attire and opted for a black button-down shirt to go with his leathers. Not his usual style, but it’d help him look less business, like some kind of rock-star reject—something Zayne would’ve pulled off much better.

Zayne. Wherever the hell his brother had gone was a worry he couldn’t preoccupy himself with yet. He had to make things right. Find Denya.

Climbing from the Mercedes, Gavin sucked in a breath.
This is going to go one of two ways.

A bouncer stood on watch at the front entrance. Big guy. Probably six and a half feet, with too many tattoos and a beard that made him resemble a ZZ Top roadie.

As Gavin approached, he snarled, likely cursing Gavin’s attire. Hell, even Gavin couldn’t argue. It didn’t suit him well.

Gavin kept on, into the small and outdated bar. Mold assaulted his nose, as he looked around, taking note of the rockers, bikers, and thugs packing the place. Nowhere in the crowd did he find the redhead. Maybe she’d decided to go high class—in which case, bad call on Gavin’s part for wasting time at the hellhole.

He strolled up to the bar and signaled the middle-aged bartender. “I’m looking for a redhead. Jessica.”

After a onceover, the bartender rolled his eyes from beneath his stringy hair. “By appointment only, asshole.”

As he turned to walk away, Gavin leaned across the bar and grabbed his nape. “Consider me a scheduled case. Where the fuck is she?”

Eyes wide and shoulders stiff, he peered past Gavin, like he needed approval to answer. “She … don’t come in here too often.” His gaze landed back on Gavin. “State your business.”

Gavin reached inside his pocket and nabbed a small vial containing pure black liquid. Noxerum. Doctor Drechler, a long-time physician to the Brothers who specialized in Wrath physiology, had given it to him for Zeke, to help him sleep. “I’ve got some Noxerum for sale.”

“Pure? Or did you dilute the shit?”

Gavin snarled like he gave a damn, as the question would’ve insulted any real dealer of the stuff. “What do you think?”

He sniffed and, after another glance beyond Gavin, gave a nod. A quick check over his shoulder showed two bouncers standing by. Gavin hadn’t yet placed what species of demon, but definitely one of the more formidable. Sure to add a little excitement to the escape plan.

“Up the staircase.” Baldy nodded and pointed a finger, directing him across the bar. On his hand was the raptorzhus tattoo. “Room two-C. Knock first, eh? She might be with a client.”

Client? Gavin must’ve done a poor job hiding his disgust, judging by the grin spreading across the guy’s face.

Through the crowd, Gavin strode toward the staircase, suspicious stares following him. He climbed the steps, throwing glances over his shoulder to make sure Tweedle Cock & Balls stayed put. He’d have to fight them at some point, but first, he wanted to make sure he’d finished business with Jessica.

Gavin found the door and gave a light push. Unlocked. And quiet. Too quiet. Quiet usually suggested death or expectation. He slipped past the small kitchen, toward what he’d guessed was the only bedroom in the place.

Lying across the bed in a black lace teddy, Jessica blew plumes of smoke into the air, showing no awareness of her visitor.

“Leave your clothes at the door.”

Or maybe she was aware.

Dagger drawn, Gavin stepped fully into the room, and she crawled up from her elbows into a sitting position against the headboard.

A look of shock softened into a smile. “My, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve touched myself to this fantasy.” She licked her lips, eyeing Gavin’s clothes. “Little hardcore for your taste, but I like it.”

“Where is she?”

Another drag, and Jessica smiled. “What makes you think I have her?”

“What makes you think I’d believe you, if you told me you didn’t?”

“At this point, she’s already been barcoded and processed. She could be on any cargo transit, to any country in the world.”

Gavin cursed and lurched forward.

“Ah!”

At her warning, he came to a halt.

“Whether you realize it, or not, every move is being closely calculated by monitors. Every male you saw downstairs has been trained to protect me.” She took another drag, the glint of her diamond wedding band catching the dim light through the curtains.