The Royal Flush (Knights of the Darkness Chronicles(Book Three)) (13 page)

“Ha, ha, ha,” Elise said sarcastically. “As you said, my feet are often sore, as are my ankles. I’m experiencing the most dreadful and ongoing morning, noon and night sickness. I can barely endure it.” She was obviously disgusted by certain aspects of her pregnancy. “It’s horrible, the cravings, the hunger.” She shook her head, “I don’t like it... being pregnant. I can’t wait until it is all over and I have my babies in my arms.”

Sergio put on his shoes. Devin stood in the doorway waiting silently.

“Have you decided on names?” Natasha asked.

Elise looked at her and smiled sweetly.

“Indeed... I have. If we have
girls, we have decided to call one

and I think you would approve; Annette-Naté Giovanni.” She paused to watch the unmistakable joy spread across her friend’s face.

Natasha’s smile grew wider when she realized Elise and Sergio were going to name their daug
hter after her best friend. She was overjoyed by the news.

Elise continued. “And the other; Angelina. If we have two boys, we have decided to name them Angelo-Caesar Giovanni and Cicero-Danté Giovanni. What do you think?” She knew full well what Natasha’s response would be, but she wanted to hear it with her own ears.

“What do I think? I love the names. I feel so honored,” Natasha held her right hand over her chest. “I mean, jeez, I hope you have two boys and two girls just so those names are put to use.”

Elise threw up her hands in protest.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, calm down there. Never wish a litter on anyone,” she said jokingly as she shook her head.

Although she joked with Natasha, she really didn’t know if she could handle more than two children. Secretly, she was very nervous about the pregnancy. Sergio had been most wonderful and supportive in convincing her that she would make a perfect mother. But she was still concerned; she didn’t want to fail at one of the most important roles of her life.

“Well, I for one hope it’s quadruplets,” Sergio replied. His Italian accent resonating through his deep voice making him sound all the more alluring. He walked closer to her and growled low in her ear causing her to smile.

Once ready, they gathered their keys and headed towards Xander’s mansion. Natasha sat in the back seat of Sergio’s car and gave directions to him as he drove the speed limit on the expressway.

“You know normally Sergio, you would have been doing about eighty–five or ninety on this expressway, this is such a shock,” Natasha teased. Devin and Elise chuckled.

“What’s that supposed to mean, what are you getting at?” Sergio asked his accent thickening.

“All I’m saying is; you’re driving the speed limit and it’s not like you. Driving fifty-five miles per hour must be killing you. Are you going to be okay, do you need some counseling or something? You know, driving this slow must be a traumatic experience for you.” Natasha chuckled as she egged Sergio on.

“You’re really enjoying yourself back there aren’t ya? Well, if you must know... yes. But I need to take caution around Elise, she can bounce back if we have an accident, the babies might not be as resilient,” Sergio said.

Natasha sensed Sergio's seriousness and decided not to joke anymore. She knew that he loved Elise, more than he had loved anyone else in his life. And now, he was going start a family with her. She assumed that, to Sergio, Elise was this precious gem that needed protection at all times and at any cost. The thought made her smile. She sat in the backseat of the car and daydreamed about her own two lovers. She missed them and wanted them with her at this very moment.

She looked over at Devin, who was silent as he looked out the window and seemed to be in deep thought. She wondered if he was happy with John. To her, they made a good couple. But, the truth being that Devin was a shape-shifter and John was a vampire meant one would have to deal with the other not being around... or at least not in human form every so often. She imagined that was difficult to deal with at times. Natasha thought on her own relationship. She had taken Darian inside of her and decided to commit herself to the both of them. Even now, she ached where Darian had been and the dull pain reminded her of that commitment and she was content. It was a good commitment.

Natasha wondered what her parents really felt about her two lovers. She honestly thought that her parents were happy for her, but concerned... always concerned. Sometimes she felt smothered by her parents. Being their only child, it was hard for her parents to let her go. She once joked to her mother on the reason why she was so over protective and nervous about her growing up and exploring new things was because her mother made so many innocent mistakes in her own past.

Natasha would never forget, once, when her mother told her about the time she was held up at gun point by a mugger. Her mother told her that she was so angry at the mugger that she didn’t feel threatened by the gun. As a matter of fact, she was so angry that he had tried to rob her, that she challenged the mugger. The mugger must have thought her mother to be insane, because her mother wasn’t robbed and was still alive and unharmed to tell the tale.

Natasha remembered joking with her mother, saying: “That’s the reason why you’re a worry bug. ‘Don’t do this, don’t go there, look out. Stop! Go! Wait here. Hold it!’ You are making up for all the times you were supposed to worry, but didn’t and now you’re projecting them on me... well breathe back.”

Even though they both laughed, it was true as far as Natasha was concerned. Her parents loved her, she didn’t doubt that, she just hoped they would grow to accept and welcome her lovers. She hoped they understood just how fortunate they made her feel.

Sergio pulled the car in front of Xander’s huge white-brick mansion and they all climbed out. Natasha hoped that Warren had been able to reach Xander to tell him they were coming. She knew that the supernaturals had their own set of rules they must all follow or suffer great consequences. She had no idea what the consequences would be for a shape-shifter coming to another’s home uninvited, and she didn’t want to find out. Natasha pushed the doorbell and someone she recognized opened the door, although she didn’t know his name. She had seen him the night before when Xander invited her over. He was average looking, not handsome, but not an eyesore either. She was actually surprised to meet a supernatural that wasn’t sinfully gorgeous.

She smiled. “Hello,
my name is

”

“Natasha. I know who you are. Come on in, Xander’s expecting you,” the man said in a deep, raspy voice.

They followed him into the huge room where she had visited the last time she was there. Once they entered, they looked around at all the
other shape-shifters in the room. Xander was sitting in the same chair he had occupied the night before. He rose gracefully and began walking towards them. Again, Natasha marveled at his sexy and commanding presence. Indulging a forbidden fantasy, she gazed into his sparkling silver eyes, imagining the expression on his face when he’d reach the highest point of ecstasy. Her face began to blush, Xavier would have made fun of her and she of him, considering they would have been thinking the same thing.

“Welcome to my home,” Xander approached Elise, smiling as he took her hand into his, placing his other hand over hers in a gentle touch. “Is there anything that I can get for you?”

“No, that won’t be necessary. Thank you for having us over,” Elise said.

“No need to thank me, we have mutual concerns. Please have a seat,” Xander said, gesturing towards a comfortable chair.

Elise’s expression brightened slightly as she made her way over to the chair. A look of relief flashed across her face as she settled into the plush chair.

“Please, everyone make yourselves comfortable,” Xander said then he walked back towards his chair, sitting down. He crossed one leg over the other, resting his hands in his lap.

Natasha, Sergio and Devin each took a seat before Xander began speaking.

“I am told that you want to share information. Unfortunately, I must admit that I do not have very much to share,” Xander confessed.

“Perhaps we can brain storm. I’m willing to bet that we both share the same amount of information. What confuses me is; how did these kidnapers know about us. Are they like us? And what do they want with our members?” Elise presented her questions.

“Indeed, I have wondered about that from the moment we discovered Nicole missing. I have seen this in the past and, as always, I do not rule out humans,” Xander said.

Elise nodded in agreement.

“You think that these asshole kidnapers are keeping our members for some sort of illegal trade?” Sergio asked unexpectedly.

Xander nodded slowly. “That is one of my thoughts. It happened four months ago when the combined forces of a rogue wolf Pack and nefarious humans tried to open a black market trade on supernatural blood and only lord knows what else.”

“First thing we need to do is find out who could be doing this and why. Natasha has had visions and because of her, we know that they’re both alive. But we know nothing else,” Elise said. “Do you have any contacts that might be able to shine some light on this situation?”

Xander sat in the chair shaking his head. “I have sent my people out to search the surrounding suburbs and the city but we have been unsuccessful,” he said reflectively. “One of my own is a detective for the S.U.I.T., he’s checking to see if any leads arise.”

“Do you suspect it might be the Russian cartel? I mean, we’re not exactly sure that we wiped them out completely,” Sergio stated.

“No, I don’t think so. At least, I’d hope not. But I’m glad you mentioned them. We shouldn’t omit them as a possible threat,” Xander replied.

“We did kick their asses. You think this could be their form of revenge?” Adrian asked.

“Once again, I don’t know. But it would be wise for us to consider any remaining members as possible enemies,” Xander said.

Adrian nodded, agreeing with his father.

“Maybe Darian can help, I’m sure he knows someone who might know someone,” Natasha suggested tentatively. All eyes turned to her when she spoke which made her nervous.

“Do you think he would help?” Xander asked. “I don’t mean to offend

I know that he’s dear to you. However, I have been in this city for over eighty years and I have known of Darian for that long. This situation really does not concern him, and that is how he may view it.”

“Don’t worry I’m not insulted. Darian can be a bit
indifferent, but I’m sure he will help you. There is one thing that I know, he is honorable. You helped him once, he would want to return the favor... I’m sure,” Natasha said, hoping she was right.

Tatiana chuckled as she entered the room. “Are you?” she asked Natasha. “It seems that you are not certain of his true nature. However, if you wouldn’t mind asking for his services in this matter, I’m sure I speak for us all when I say we’d appreciate it.”

Natasha nodded, she thought about what Tatiana said as she watched the Pack Matron walked towards her husband, sitting gently on the arm of his chair. She assumed that the two of them never had any doubts about the other. She also believed that Darian would help them, of this she was certain.

“Then it’s settled. We’ll continue to gather whatever information we can, but we must hurry. The
Lunar
is a few nights from tonight. I have no idea what these kidnapers have in mind, but my instinct tells me that whatever they have planned, the
Lunar
night will have a hand in it,” Xander concluded.

They all agreed. Sergio helped Elise rise from the chair and they left the mansion. While driving back to Elise’s mansion, Natasha’s cell phone began ringing.

She yelped in surprise. The shifters turned to look at her.

“Are you okay?” Devin asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine, just... you know, with everything going on, my nerves are a little jittery,” she replied then answered her cell phone. “Hello?”

“Natasha, it’s me,” Darian said with a pause. “We have a problem and I need you.”

Natasha’s heart plunged into her stomach. For a minute she wanted to scream in frustration. There was just too much going on. “Yeah, I’m on my way,” she said softly before clicking off her cell phone.

In the car, Sergio gazed at her through the review mirror. “I take it by your troubled expression that it wasn’t good news.”

“I’m sure you heard,” Natasha replied.

“Sergio nodded. “Yeah, I did. What do you think is the problem?”

“I have no idea, whatever the case, it doesn’t sound good.” Natasha frowned. “Sergio, do you mind taking me there first.”

“No problem. I was actually going to ask if you wanted me to do just that,” Sergio said then changed directions towards Darian’s mansion.

They arrived at the front door an hour later. Natasha looked at her watch, the time was nine o’ clock. This day went by faster than she had expected. The sun had set and the horizon was multicolored with shades of deep purple and blue. Billy answered the door when she knocked and let them inside.

“I’ll be right back as soon as I find out what’s going on, why don’t you make yourselves comfortable. The living room is over there,” Natasha said to her companions. They walked towards the living room as she headed towards Darian’s bedroom. She opened the door slightly, peeking inside and saw Darian from behind as he pulled on a tan, ribbed, v-neck shirt. She gazed at his tapered waist, at his strong back, at the muscles moving beneath his skin and pure lust flashed through her mind, demanding satisfaction. With great effort, she tossed the lusty thoughts aside, remaining focused.