Stained (26 page)

“No, Thorn can take me.”

“Your way, dude, whatever you want.” Scettico walked away then, supervising the crime scene. “Wait a sec, Thorn!” he yelled. Thorn and Sé were walking out the door.

“Yeah,” Thorn said, turning causing a flash of protest from her own bruises.

“How did you know where Sé was?”

“Caleb called me. He wanted me, too. He was taunting me. Playing a game. He’s a sick fuck.” Thorn walked back to Sé and put her hand around his waist and helped him outside.

Raven flew ahead to Thorn’s bike. Sé gratefully snugged up to Thorn’s back, wrapped his arms around her as if he’d never let go, and she drove him to the hospital.

Sé had to flash his badge in the ER to keep them from calling the police over his injuries. He said he’d been injured in the line of duty and he just wanted to be stitched up if he needed it. It turned out he needed quite a few stitches. While they were working on Sé, Thorn went up to see Uncle.

“Uncle, are you awake?”

“Always for you, my dearest. Are you safe?”

“Yes, Uncle,” Thorn said, with a small smile. “Caleb kidnapped Sé and tortured him.” Tears ran down her face as her terror and guilt caught up with her again. “I tracked them and took Caleb down. They’re stitching Sé up downstairs. If it hadn’t been for Muirin, Uncle, Caleb would have killed us both.” Thorn squeezed the bridge of her nose. She composed herself and met her uncle’s horrified eyes. He pulled her close and held her like he’d comforted her when she was a child.

“Are you ready to go back home?” Thorn said, pulling back finally, using a tissue from the bedside table to blow her nose. “I think we could use the rest.”

“Ach, child, I’m more than ready. I’ve already talked to the doctors about flying so I could do my physical therapy at home. I’ll have to have some accommodations but I can do it. As soon as you’re ready.”

“I’ll talk to Sé tonight and I think we can leave in a day or two. I’ll buy the tickets and get everything set up with your doctors. I love you, Uncle.”

“I love you, niece. Go be with your man now, he needs you.”

The doctor was just finishing up with a pale Sé. He was hooked up to an IV.

“Looks like I’ll have some scars, Leannán,” Sé said. Rubbing his tired face. It was a familiar gesture and it touched something in Thorn.

“Scars add character,” Thorn said, with a small smile. The doctor gave her an approving smile.

“He’s a very lucky guy, believe it or not. Some of those cuts were very close to major blood vessels.” Sé met Thorn’s eyes. The doctor had no idea.

“I’ll call a cab and follow you on the bike.”

The ER nurse found scrubs for Sé to wear home. They expedited the release paperwork while Sé finished with his meds. When the cab came, Thorn flinched when she saw how stiffly he got in. The doctor prescribed pain killers and she told Sé she would stop by the pharmacy to pick them up on the way home.

When she walked in the door, she found him drinking some herbal tea at the table. He had changed into his pajama pants and a tee shirt. He looked haggard but managed a warm smile when he saw her.

“Sé, dearest, take some of this, it’s the pain medication. It will ease the pain and then let’s get you into bed.”

“Only if you’ll get in with me,” he said.

“He is afraid, witchling.”

It was so out of character. Thorn’s anger burned deep inside her. “Of course, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be,” she assured him. She walked over and gave him a kiss on the forehead and handed him two pills. After he swallowed them she helped him to the bed.

“I’m going to work a healing spell on you too. It will speed up the process.”

“Thank you, Leannán.” Sé sighed heavily. He seemed to be waiting for her to say that. Magick was part of his childhood, after all.

Thorn whispered the healing spell and Sé’s muscles relaxed. He started to drift off. Thorn slipped into a silk gown and crawled into bed with him. She held him close to her and whispered, “I love you,” but he was already asleep.

Sleep didn’t come for Thorn. She held Sé like the fragile man he was at the moment. She was sure he would recover but it had cost him, and for that Thorn was angrier than she had ever been. Caleb had cost so many people their lives. He had callously wiped them away. He was insane and he was still alive. She feared she should have killed him.

Thorn thanked the Goddess. The police had him now. Being confined to a tiny cell, not able to see the sun and moon, is torture to a witch. Thorn smiled at the thought of it happening to Caleb.

Sé moaned in his sleep and Thorn held him tighter, brushing his hair from his forehead, murmuring healing words until he quieted. She let herself weep, then she clamped down on her feelings. She would be strong for him until he could recover.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Smoke of air and fire and earth, cleanse and bless this home and hearth. Drive away all harm and fear, only good may dwell in here.

Sé slept through the evening and until the next morning. Thorn held him the whole time. When he got up, he asked for some water and more pain medicine. Once it took effect, he was up and moving, some of his stiffness wore off. Every once in a while, Thorn would catch him staring vacantly off in the distance.

She made him coffee and breakfast. They ate and talked about their trip to Ireland. Thorn got her cell phone out and called Gérard.

“I met up with Caleb yesterday,” Thorn sighed.

“Did he find you?” Gérard asked, alarmed.

“He kidnapped Sé.” Thorn looked around for Sé, not wanting to talk about it in front of him. “He tortured him, Gérard. By the time I found him, Caleb had really worked him over.” Against her will her voice cracked.

“I’m so sorry, Thorn. What happened to Caleb?” Gérard asked, in his soothing southern accent.

Thorn exhaled shakily. “I knocked him out and contained him with a binding spell. The police came for him and have him in custody.”

“Good.”

“I need you to do something for me, if you are willing,” she asked him.

“It depends on the favor,” Gérard said warily.

“I want you to come back to work for me.”

“It would be my honor, but is there a store to work in?” he asked gently.

“Well, that’s where the favor comes in. I will pay you, but I’d like you to oversee the repairs to the upstairs and to the shop. I would like you to make sure that everything gets back up and running, that everyone gets paid until Stained is operational.”

“That’s a lot of trust you have in me, Thorn.”

“My mamó and I feel you’re worthy of our trust,” Thorn said, reminding him of their intimate connection.

“I will gladly help you, Thorn. You need to call the other employees and explain to them though. Otherwise, they will think I am crazy.” He laughed in a rich baritone voice.

“Will do. Thanks, Gérard. I need to do that right now. I’ll be leaving for Ireland in the next day or so. Come over to Sé’s and pick up the keys, and I’ll tell you how you can pay for the bills while I’m gone.” Thorn brushed her hair back off her forehead, feeling much better. One burden lifted from her shoulders.

She called Gwynn and Reese and asked how they were feeling and told them that she would keep paying them until Stained was up and running. She told them Gérard was coming back and would be overseeing the repairs. They were shocked at first, but ultimately happy to have him back. Thorn then called Michael and Isaiah and told them the same news. She told everyone that she was taking her uncle back to Ireland and would be taking a small vacation at the same time.

When Thorn was done calling her employees she called the hospital and talked to Uncle’s doctor, who gave permission for them to leave the next day. He wanted physical therapy set up for Charles in Ireland so he could start immediately. Thorn assured him they would do that. She hung up and called Uncle’s secretary and had her set up the physical therapy. Having completed all her phone calls she then moved to Sé’s computer.

She set up her banking, transferring enough money to her business account to pay her employees and for the repairs. She’d talk to Gérard about filing the insurance paperwork in her absence. That would help.

Next, she booked three seats on Aer Lingus for them. She would have to go and fetch Uncle and get him some new clothes. Sé’s couch was a fold-out and Uncle would be comfortable there for the night. Thorn and Uncle’s passports were tucked away with her Book of Shadows so she had them handy. Now to see what Sé was up to.

Sé stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows in his living room. He had his phone in his hand, his shoulders were slumped, and he was staring out at nothing. Thorn came up behind him and wrapped her arms around him.

“Mmmm,” Sé said. “I still can’t believe how lucky I am to have you with me. I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

Sé sighed. “When the patrol units got to the warehouse, Caleb was still unconscious. They searched him and found the bag of skin. They found blood all over the room I was in.” He shivered involuntarily. “They went to cuff him and he woke up. He fired off some kind of explosion that put two guys in the hospital and killed another officer.”

“Oh, Sé, I’m so sorry. Does that mean he got away?”

“Yeah. The bastard got away. But he knows you can beat him now, Thorn. I think you’re safe.” Sé looked at her, hoping for reassurance. She wished she could guarantee she could control Caleb but she knew Sé would want the truth between them.

“For the moment,” she said. “He’s going to be depleted, his powers have been diminished but they will return. He’s chased me across continents, Sé. I don’t think he will just give up.” She searched his face. A grim but determined expression settled there. “I know I can stand on my own and that I have backup.” She drew her finger down his cheek and he closed his eyes.

“Thorn, I think I’m going to retire.”

“What?”

Sé opened his eyes and looked at her, focused on her.

“I can be a private investigator. I’m tired of the violence. This last time, with Caleb, was too much.” Thorn closed her eyes and tears began to fall. She felt responsible for this. She was responsible for Caleb breaking this strong man.

“Shhh, Leannán, don’t cry. I’m a philosopher, remember?” he murmured softly, as he gently rubbed the tears away. “This is something I’ve tossed around for a long time. I’m just ready now.”

“I feel responsible for this.” Thorn rubbed circles on his palm with her thumb. “I got you involved in all of this.”

“No, Thorn. It was my job to begin with. And even if it hadn’t been you, I would have gotten involved.” Sé said soberly.

“So you become a PI.”

“I become a PI. My parents bought me this condo. I figure I could sell it and find something cheaper. Use the extra money to start the business.”

“If you can wait until my apartment is ready, you can move in with me, if you want,” Thorn said, hesitantly.

“I didn’t want to ask, but I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, Leannán. I love you. I want to spend my life with you.” Sé bent his head and captured her bottom lip gently between his lips. She sighed and reached to put her arms around his neck. He ran his hand through her thick ebony hair and pulled her closer, deepening their kiss.

When they broke apart, Thorn’s lips were swollen. She led Sé over to the couch so he could rest.

“I’ve booked three seats to Ireland. We just have to spring Uncle Charles today.” Sé smiled.

“I think they’ll let us. If not, he’ll give them hell,” Sé said. He put his leg up on the coffee table and winced.

“I have Gérard taking care of repairs and I’ve made allowances to pay everyone until they can return to work. It shouldn’t take long. It’s just windows and paint, a few counters. Upstairs will take longer. We’ll have to pick out a new mattress, new furniture, a new bed,” Thorn grinned, caressing his arm.

“We can use my furniture,” Sé said.

“I didn’t think of that. There’s a lot to do when we get home. When we get to Ireland, I need to check on my house there, it’s been years.”

“One step at a time, Leannán, we’ll get there.”

Acknowledgements

This book was not written in a vacuum. I had many supporters along the way. My family was there to pick up the pieces behind me as I wrote. Friends were quick to read my work, in particular Reina Williams, author extraordinaire. My critique group read chapter after chapter and agonized over the details with me, Angela Francis, Tricia Linden and Karysa Faire, I owe you many thanks, ladies. Susan O’Hara, my comma queen, deserves big thanks—any mistakes are mine. I want to shout out to my fellow Sisters in Crime for their support and the knowledge I’ve gathered from them as well to the San Francisco Area Romance Writers of America. A special thank you to Professor Gloom who was critical as a consultant, you know who you are. I took creative license with your detailed information. My mother, Marik Berghs, an amazing author in her own right, helped me with editing, formatting, and cover art. Without her, this book and I would have been lost. And finally to my chief cook and bottle washer, best friend, and light o’my life, my husband, Ron—you got my back!