Star Crossed (14 page)

Stefan transported into his brother’s den from the
Vultair
, anxious to see Krista.

Nothing had gone right today. The assassin hadn’t made the move they thought he would. Stefan was still in the dark and still a target. Where the hell to go now was a mystery. He was tired of hitting that damn brick wall.

Glancing around, he noticed the pensive frown on Mikayla’s face. She bit at her nails and Stefan immediately went on edge. Mikayla never bit her nails. Turning his stare toward Sidious, his anxiety worsened at his brother’s worried expression. Sidious wouldn’t even look him in the eye.

After further study of the room he noticed his mother and father, both standing by the fireplace. His mother stepped forward and placed her hand on his arm in support.

“Stefan, sweetheart, you should sit down.”

“Why?” he demanded. His gaze whipped around the room again, immediately noticing the absence of Krista. “Where’s Krista?” His heart slammed in his chest. He knew now why they were all here. Why Mikayla was biting her nails.

“Carlone has her.” Sidious stared at his desk, a muscle in his cheek working furiously. “We just heard from him.”

“What?” Regret and anger slammed through him with a force he couldn’t control, and he lunged for his brother. Sidious didn’t budge, but Damon and Taron stepped forward, each grabbing an arm. “You son of a bitch! You were supposed to be watching her. You promised me she would be protected!”

Sidious appeared crestfallen. Guilt contorted his face. “Stefan I’m sorry…” Mikayla stepped forward, coming between him and his brother, the man he most wanted to strangle right now with his bare hands. He strained against the two men who

held him fast. “Calm down, Stefan,” Damon snapped. “This isn’t going to help matters.”

“Stefan, listen.” Mikayla placed her hands against his chest, her eyes pleading. “She left the house without telling anyone. She didn’t believe she was in danger. She just wanted time to herself. To think. I found the note right before we heard from Carlone.” Stefan sighed. “I’m fine. Let me go.”

Both men released their holds, but reluctantly. As soon as he was free, Stefan stepped forward and punched Sidious hard in the face. His head snapped to the left, but he remained upright.

“Damn it, Stefan,” Damon yelled.

Sidious raised a hand, silencing him. “Let it go.” His eyes bored into him, and Stefan waited for the retaliation but none came. “I deserved it, but hit me again and I will hit you back.”

“Fair enough,” Stefan snarled, his hands fisting at his sides. God, he wanted to hit him again, but he knew a brawl wouldn’t do anything to get Krista back.

“All right, that’s enough.” Taron stepped between the two of them, a hand on each chest holding them back. “This won’t solve anything and you know it. Did Carlone say anything other than that he had her?”

Sidious shook his head, sadness in his eyes. “No. He also didn’t keep the channel open long enough for us to trace it.”

“Son of a bitch.” Stefan raked a hand through his hair and walked to the window.

“So we’re just supposed to sit here and do nothing?”

“He said he would be back in contact with us.”

Stefan shook his head, tears burning the back of his eyes. The thought of losing Krista was more than he could bear. He’d never loved anyone in his life like he did her.

“I can’t just sit here and wait.”

“What are you going to do, Stefan?” His mother came up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder, the other on his biceps. “Run around the galaxy blind? You have no idea where to even start.”

“I have to do something.”

“I know, sweetheart, but please think this through. Don’t do anything stupid. I know you love her, and she loves you. The two of you are meant to be and we’ll find her. I promise, we’ll find her.”

Stefan placed his hand over his mother’s and squeezed. He hoped she was right.

Going on without Krista was not something he wanted to contemplate.

* * * * *

Devlin stood at the window in his office, looking out over the floor of his bar. He’d had the window especially made so that he could see what was happening on the floor without anyone knowing it was there. He felt more in control of things when he could see what was happening.

Since losing Skylar, he’d made sure he knew everything that was going on around him. He refused to be caught unaware again. With a sigh, he thought about the beautiful woman he’d loved so much. She hadn’t deserved what happened to her and if it hadn’t been for Taron he’d have died right along with her. Sometimes he wished he had.

With a shake of his head, he brushed his thoughts aside. There was a time and place for thoughts of his beloved Sky. He still dreamed of her every night, still relived her death and his inability to save her. But right now he needed to focus. Taron and Stefan needed him and he wouldn’t let them down.

As he watched the floor, he noticed a man come in and take a seat at the bar. There was something about him that looked familiar. When the man turned toward the hidden window Devlin noticed the scarring on the side of his neck and face. Burn scars.

Narrowing his eyes, it dawned on him who he was. That was the man that Taron was looking for.

Turning away from the window, he walked over to his desk and opened a communications channel to Deago.

It didn’t take Taron long to answer. “Hey Dev. What’s up?”

“The man that you’ve been looking for is here,” Devlin replied, getting right to the point.

“Carlone is there?”

“He’s sitting at my bar as we speak. Do you want me to hold him here?”

“No,” Taron said quickly. “He has Stefan’s girlfriend. I need to know where he goes from there.”

Devlin nodded. “I’ll stay on him when he leaves here. Call me on the secure com when you arrive.”

“Will do.”

Closing the channel, Devlin left the office and went downstairs. He wanted to be able to stay as close to this man as he could. Silently, he held his hand up, telling his bouncers not to approach him. He took a seat in the corner of the room, keeping his eyes on Carlone. When Carlone left the bar, Devlin wouldn’t be far behind.

* * * * *

Carlone sat at the bar waiting for the bartender to get his order. He’d ordered four bottles of Veenori Keenar, a drink similar to Earth whiskey, only a lot more potent. He had dropped the woman off at the shack he had in the foothills of the mountains to the north of the city. Locking her in one of the back rooms, he made certain that she couldn’t get away.

She still hadn’t come to before he left. That was fine. He wasn’t in any hurry. Stefan had no idea where he was and he planned on taking his sweet time before telling him.

Maybe even have a little fun with his woman before he arrived. That thought made him

smile. It had been along time since he’d had a good fuck and the beautiful blonde was exactly what the doctor ordered.

Carlone had every intention of making that son of a bitch senator pay for what he had done. Stefan had taken everything away from him. Now he would take everything away from Stefan, starting with the woman.

* * * * *

Mikayla stood on the veranda staring out toward the lake, her arms wrapped around her stomach. Sidious hated seeing her like that. He knew she was worried about her friend and he’d have given anything to help her.

Walking up behind her, he slid his arms around her waist, pulling her against him.

He placed a kiss on the top of her head and inhaled her jasmine scent. Sidious could well imagine what Stefan was going through. If he loved Krista anywhere near as much as he loved Mikayla, his brother would be dying inside.

Mikayla leaned into him and he tightened his hold. “How’s Stefan holding up?” she asked.

“As well as can be expected.”

“What do you think the chances are that she’s still alive?” Sidious sighed. He wouldn’t lie to her. “I don’t know. I can only hope Carlone hasn’t done anything to her yet.”

Her lips began to tremble. He turned her to face him and wiped a tear from her cheek. “I’ll do everything I can, baby. I promise.” She nodded. “I know.”

“Sidious, let’s go.”

Sidious turned to see Taron and Stefan in the doorway. “Go where?”

“We just heard from Devlin.” Stefan checked the charge on his gun and placed it in the back of his pants. “Carlone is on Veenori.”

“Any sign of Krista?” Mikayla asked.

Taron shook his head. “No. He just saw Carlone, but he’s going to tail him and we’re meeting him two miles west of the Veenori mines. It should be far enough outside the city to not attract attention.”

Damon came outside as well, a weapon in his hands. All three men frowned.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Sidious demanded.

“With you.”

Sidious stepped forward and shook his head. “No.”

“Excuse me?”

“Someone needs to stay here.”

“He’s right, Dad,” Stefan agreed.

“So leave the old man behind, is that it?” Damon snapped.

Taron snorted. “That’s not it and you know it.”

“Dad, please. We need to think of the women. The three of us can handle this. Four if you count Devlin.”

Damon relented with a sigh. “You’re right.” His troubled gaze met Sidious’. “If he has any brains at all, he’ll be prepared for you.” Sidious nodded in agreement. “I know.”

Damon stepped closer, lowering his voice. “Watch out for your brother. He’s not thinking clearly.”

Sidious placed his hand on his father’s shoulder. Damon had always counted on him and Taron to watch out for Stefan. Despite the fact Stefan was the oldest, he was also the one out of all of them that would run off half-cocked and do something without thinking it through. “I’ll take care of him.”

Turning to Mikayla, Sidious took her hand in his. She didn’t beg him not to go, just squeezed his fingers and smiled her support. “Please be careful.” He grinned. “I’m always careful.”

Leaning down, he placed a soft kiss on her lips. “I love you,” he whispered.

“I love you.”

With one final kiss to her forehead, he nodded to Taron and the three transported to the
Vultair
.

* * * * *

Krista felt the pounding in her head before anything else. Raising her hands, she realized immediately that they were tied together.
What in the world
, she thought as she slowly opened her eyes and looked at her bound hands. Then, in a flash, it all came back to her.

The scared man that came to her on Deago, the threat against Stefan and then being dragged in the alley and thrown against the wall. After that she didn’t remember anything.

Sitting up on the bed, she looked around the small room. There was no window, only a single door and a bed. The walls were made out of rough wood, like an old country cabin would be. The floors were rough wood as well, with no carpet or rug to soften them.

Walking over to the door, she wiggled the handle and then let out a sigh when she realized it was locked. She should have known whoever took her wouldn’t be stupid enough to leave the door open.

“Hello?” She beat against the door with her bound fists. “Let me out!” When no one answered she leaned her forehead against the rough wood. “Is anyone out there?” Still no one answered.

She stood still and listened for any movement from the other side. Unfortunately she didn’t hear a thing. Only the sound of her own heartbeat.

Making her way back to the bed, she placed her head in her hands. It still hurt terribly, and she squeezed her eyes closed to try and ease off the throbbing. She was terrified. Not just for herself but for Stefan as well.

Please don’t let Stefan do something stupid
.

Silently she waited for the man who had kidnapped her to make an appearance.

* * * * *

Taron, Sidious and Stefan arrived on Veenori to meet with Devlin. They parked the small runabout ship they flew to the surface at the exact coordinates Devlin had given them.

After about thirty minutes, Stefan couldn’t take the confinement of the ship anymore and decided to go outside to get some fresh air. As he paced back and forth along the length of the ship he kept an eye on the desert horizon for any sign of Devlin.

The heat on this planet was unbearable. The wind blew dry sand in his face and he swiped at it in aggravation. He certainly wasn’t a patient man and the waiting was driving him nuts, as well as making him extremely short-tempered. He tried everything to keep from thinking about what might be happening to Krista. And he refused to even consider that she might already be dead.

If she were, he’d kill Carlone. There wouldn’t be a planet anywhere he could hide.

He’d find him and make him suffer the worst death imaginable. Raising his head, he noticed a speeder approaching in the distance. Looking through the binoculars he held in his hand, he verified it was who he thought it was. Devlin. He hit the side of the ship to alert the others and impatiently waited for the approaching speeder to come to a stop.

“Do you know where he is?” Stefan asked as soon as Devlin turned off the motor.

The two others had gathered around as well, having come outside when they heard Stefan’s knock.

“Stefan, listen to me. You have to relax.”

“I can’t relax, Devlin,” Stefan replied angrily. “We have to get her back.”

“We will get her back, but don’t jump the gun and make the same mistake I did.

Trust me on this.”

With a sigh, Stefan relented. “You’re right.” He ran his hand through his hair, brushing it away from his face. He had forgotten until just then about Skylar. She had been the love of Devlin’s life and for years Dev blamed himself for her death. He always said if he had thought things through better and not acted out of anger she might still be here.

Devlin turned to Taron. “He’s in a small, run-down cabin to the north of the city, not far from the mines. I set a monitoring transmitter so we’ll know if he leaves it.”