The Guardian (Mended Souls Book 1) (14 page)

T
racy crawled
from the ditch and froze, not believing what her blurry eyes were seeing. She blinked hard and tried to focus on the scene playing out in front of her. Scott stood a few feet away facing the man who’d chased them through the woods. A gun was pointed at his head and Dustin dangled from under the man’s arm. The poor kid was on his toes, stretched as if on a rack, his chubby fingers clawing at the forearm around his neck. Scott’s phone lay on the side of the trail, the flashlight casting an eerie glow over the landscape. Trees rocked back and forth as though bearing witness to the unfolding events, and the wind and rain seemed to decide now was a good time to kick up the melodrama.

Her head felt like someone had taken a sledgehammer to it, but even that wasn’t enough to explain what appeared to be the corporeal image of Lucas Carmichael, complete with a magnificent set of pigeon-gray wings, standing between the two men. A radiance emanated from the form, the rays shooting toward the heavens. Angry words she couldn’t make out for the ringing in her ears were spoken, then suddenly the gun went off in an explosion of smoke and light. Scott dropped, blood soaking his jeans.

Tracy screamed again, her heart competing with the reverberations of the blast.

“Scott,” she cried. “Oh my God, Scott.”

She struggled to her feet and hobbled to his side, the sobs tearing her chest. The bullet had ripped through the meaty part of his thigh. The sulfur scent of the gunshot blending with the metallic odor of fresh blood turning her stomach inside out. Her teeth clattered and her hands trembled so hard she was scared she’d add to his pain, but she had to stanch the wound so she buckled down and did what needed to be done.

“You shouldn’t be here,” he gasped. “It’s too dangerous.”

“Never mind me,” she answered. “You need help.”

He lay on the gravel, the cords in his neck pulled taut with agony. She glanced over her shoulder at the wings of the angel and tugged her shirt over her head. Shivering in her bra, she applied it to the injury and cringed at Scott’s deep moan of agony, tears making it hard to see.

“I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry,” she whispered.

“Is he going to make it?” Lucas asked, his voice startling her with its normalcy.

She looked up into a set of worried eyes and acknowledged the bond between the two men was strong. “He needs proper medical care. I’m no doctor.”

Lucas gave a sharp nod, then returned his attention to the man he called Ray.

“Let the boy go, he’s not part of what is between us.”

Ray’s voice squeaked, and Tracy almost felt sorry for the guy. Except that he’d shot the man she loved and deserved whatever the angel had in store for him.

“I let him go, then what? You going to let me go?” he whined.

“What do you think?” Lucas drawled. “What I don’t understand is why you didn’t just come to us if you needed help. We were your friends.”

The past tense didn’t go unnoticed. Ray snorted. “
Friends
. I
did
come to you, you son-of-a-bitch, and you laughed in my face. Thought it was some huge joke. I needed you, man, and you weren’t there,” he mumbled. “You weren’t there.”

Lucas’ hands turned white on the other man’s shoulders. “So you had me killed? All for the sake of some money? And what about the people I hit? Did you stop for one selfish second and give them a thought, you asshole?”

Dustin cried out and Tracy whirled just in time to see Ray go flying backward as though propelled from a cannon.

She opened her arms and Dustin ran into them, burying his head into her shoulder. Poor kid, he’d been through so much. They all had.

Lucas followed after Ray and stood over his crumpled body. “Get up, you bastard. Get up and accept your fate.”

Ray crab-walked backward, fear turning his face into a grotesque mask. “Leave me alone, you monster.”

Lucas’ chuckle was harsh and vindictive. His wings arched. “Takes one to know one, old friend.” He held out his hand. “C’mon, get up.”

Dustin squirmed his way loose and stared in awe at the angel. “Do you know my daddy?” he asked, his voice husky from Ray’s abuse.

Lucas froze. His wings stretched and quivered, seeming to have a life of their own. The dark feathers picked up a light from within, touched with moon-dust at the tips. It was the most beautiful thing Tracy had ever seen.

“Lucas,” Scott begged. “Let him be. He’s not worth it.”

He shifted, trying to sit up, and Tracy hurried to help, scooting to the side and bracing him with her shoulder. His weight bore her forward and she could feel the dampness of blood under her fingers from his side. He needed help, and he needed it soon.

“Dustin, honey, bring me that cell phone, will you please?”

“Stay right there, kid. You’re not going anywhere.” Ray had risen behind Lucas and held the gun pointed at the boy.

Lucas spun, knocking the gun from Ray’s hand in an impressive kick that sent the weapon flying into the brush.

“You’re starting to piss me off,” he growled, and grabbed him by the collar, forcing Ray to his knees. “If I were you, I’d start praying. They don’t take kindly to child abusers where you’re going.”

He looked at Scott and grinned. Tracy could see the boys they had been in that expression. Trouble, pure trouble.

“Okay kid, you can do like the pretty lady asked now. I got this piece of sh… dirt, under control,” he said.

Dustin ran over to the fading light of the phone and brought it back to Tracy. She glanced at Lucas, then dialed emergency.

“We need help. A man’s been shot.”

“Take it easy, ma’am,” the dispatcher soothed. “Can you tell me your name and where you are located? We’ll have someone there soon to help.”

It only took a few moments, but it felt like a lifetime. Tracy explained the details as best she could, all the while keeping a worried eye on Scott’s pasty face. When she got off the line, she leaned over and placed her lips to his, and was relieved when they softened and moved against hers.

“I love you,” she whispered.

His eyes crinkled at the edge and he smiled. “About damn time.”

L
ucas frowned
at Ray’s prone body. “Why’d you do it, Ray?” He stared down at the shell of a man he’d known for half his life, when the truth was, he hadn’t known him at all.

Ray sat with his back to the trunk of a slender spruce, his knees bent and hands dangling between them. His attention remained focused on Scott and his woman. He shook his head as they kissed.

“I didn’t have a choice.” He glanced up and then away. “I’d gotten in with the wrong group of… friends, and they played hardball. It was either get them their money, or kiss my ass goodbye.”

“So you decided, what? Pick one of us off and the other would fold?” Lucas said conversationally, while inside the volcano bubbled.

“No,” Ray barked. “It wasn’t like that. I thought I could just teach you a lesson. I didn’t expect you to go and die on me.” He dropped his legs, and then shifted them again, agitated.

“And what about the woman?” Lucas asked.

Ray’s gaze flashed fearfully to Scott and his girl. “What woman?”

Lucas folded his arms and stared.

Ray looked up belligerently. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Really?” Lucas crooked his brow. “’Cus I just read your mind. Are you sure you don’t want to change your story? Restitution begins with the truth, my friend.”

“Quit your preachin’, it’s too late to change what I’ve done.”

Ray had made some serious mistakes, there was no denying that. Lucas had been shocked by what happened in his case, but horrified when he saw the replay of Ray deliberately hurting that dog, then killing the homeless man, and finally the ME working Lucas and Natalya’s death. What happened to the kind and generous person they’d met all those years ago?

“I don’t know what the future holds in store for you, but if you want any kind of chance at redeeming your soul, you need to make reparation.”

He decided to let the other man stew it over for a while. “Stay put. I’m going to check on Scott. You better hope to hell he’s going to be okay, or nothing’s going to save your ass.”

Turning away, Lucas stopped to grab the gun and remove temptation, then he started toward Scott but hesitated when he saw the kid shivering and staring into the forest.

“You okay?” He wasn’t comfortable around kids in the first place, and with this one, it was even harder.

“Yeah,” he said, his attention fixed into the distance.

Okay, that went well
.

Lucas took a couple steps, swore under his breath, and turned back.
Practice what you preach, asshole.

“I do know your dad,” he blurted when Dustin looked at him. “You asked me that earlier and I never answered.”

Dustin’s eyes lit up and then turned angry. “Where is he? Why isn’t he here? Doesn’t he even care about us anymore?” His voice climbed, little chest heaving like a set of bellows. Tears formed on the ends of his lashes and dripped down his face.

Lucas felt like the slime on the bottom of a pond. “Of course he cares. More than anything.”

He crouched down and met the boy’s distraught gaze. “Your dad misses you so bad. If he knew you were here right now, nothing could keep him away.”

He squeezed the child’s arm and stood. “Running away won’t solve your problems, kid. Your dad needs you to be a big boy and take care of your family now.” He hesitated a moment, not sure what else he could say to help this family he’d wronged so badly. “Can you do that?”

Dustin looked down at his feet, then squared his shoulders and slowly nodded. “Yes, sir.” He looked up with tear-bright eyes. “Can you tell my dad I love him?”

It was Lucas’ turn to glance away. He swallowed the baseball in his throat and dipped his chin. “Yeah, kid. I’ll do that.”

They both stared into the forest for a moment, then Lucas clapped him lightly on the back, checked to make sure Ray was where he’d left him, and continued on to Scott.

“How you holding up?” He asked, and noticed the clasped hands of his friend and the woman doc.

Scott grinned, though it came off as more of a grimace as he shifted his leg to a more comfortable position. “Well, you know. A day in the park.” He laughed, then held his side from the resulting pain.

Lucas didn’t like the obvious signs of shock, but had to admit the woman had done a good job of patching him up. “Help should be here soon.” He turned his gaze on the doc. “I’m going to have to disappear.” He held out the gun, butt first. “Can you handle one of these?”

She looked at it like it was a snake, then reached out with trembling, bloodstained fingers and wrapped her hand around the handle. Lucas let go and she almost dropped it, but then she recovered and set it in her lap, her gaze fearful but determined. Hell of a woman.

He refocused on Scott, hating the fact there wasn’t more he could do. “I won’t be far. You need me, call. You got that?”

Scott looked as though there were things he wanted to say. He glanced at the others and nodded. “I miss you, bro.”

Aw, shit.

Lucas coughed to cover his emotions, his chest one gigantic ache, and unfolded his wings.

“Me too,” he muttered, then took flight, leaving his heart behind him.

T
he beam
from dozens of flashlights cut through the woods not long after, heralding the arrival of emergency services. Tracy pointed the police in Ray’s direction and was more than happy to turn over the unwieldy gun, then stood by wringing her hands while the paramedics checked Scott over and prepared him for transport. She’d seen dozens of bodies in her years of work and never been as unsettled as she was now.

“How is he?” she asked when they had him loaded on a gurney and an intravenous started.

The female paramedic looked familiar and Tracy realized where she’d seen her; Jenny had brought her to their book club group one night.

“He’s going to be fine. A little stiff and sore for awhile, but nothing he can’t handle.” She smiled her reassurance, then turned back to the patient. “Hang on, we’ll have you out of here soon.”

Scott nodded, his gaze fuzzy now that the painkillers were kicking in. His head flopped sideways so that he could see her. “I’m sorry, baby. All my fault.”

Tracy hurried forward, worried he was going to tip himself off the stretcher. She grasped his hand, careful of the tubes, and held it to her breast. “Don’t. It’s no more your fault than it is mine. Just let the medicine work. We’ll talk later, okay?”

His head did a slow roll. “So many unnecessary deaths.”

Hank, Lucas, Scott’s sister, Natalya. The man being led away in cuffs had a lot to account for. Tears threatened, but she blinked them away. Crying could wait until later when she was alone.

The paramedic tucked a blanket around Scott’s body. “We need to go.”

Tracy nodded and leaned in to give Scott a lingering kiss. “I love you,” she whispered.

His gaze softened. “Say it again.”

Her chest tightened. She felt like she was having a panic attack, but then he squeezed her fingers and raised them to his lips and she was lost.

“I love you so very much,” she said loudly and clearly, not giving a damn who heard her this time.

He raised his hand to the back of her head and pulled her close. “You and me, babe. It’s going to be great.” His mouth was warm and mobile and she closed her eyes the better to take in the exquisite touch.

The other paramedic cleared his throat. “We’d better leave. The police are waiting.”

Tracy reluctantly lifted her head. “I’ll be right behind you.”

Scott’s brows lowered, but there wasn’t much choice. The trail was too narrow for anything more than single file. They moved out and Tracy went to follow, then thought of Dustin.

She glanced around and found him looking small and scared by the edge of the trail, a police officer close by. Scott’s coat dangled off his shoulders and gave him a lost waif look with the sleeves dangling to his knees.

“You ready to go home? I bet your mom’s going to be happy to see you.” She smiled and held out her hand.

He gazed up at her, but didn’t move, his eyes worried. “Am I going to be in trouble?”

Tracy’s heart tugged for the poor kid. It wasn’t fair. In one ill-fated moment he’d gone from being a child in a happy, healthy family to a young man tasked with picking up the pieces of their lives. It was a huge responsibility. And one Tracy planned to be a part of.

She leaned over and gave him a swift hug, grimacing at the bruising already occurring around his neck. “I don’t really see that happening, but I promise to be there with you to help explain, okay?” They may have only just met, but the events of the last few hours had built a bond she hoped would last a lifetime.

Cold fingers wrapped around hers, the jacket bunched up his arm. “I’m ready.”

A stream of light broke through the clouds and lit the path before them.

M
ike and Lucas
floated in silence above the scene playing out far below. Lucas felt a complex mix of gratitude and loss as Scott disappeared from view carried on a stretcher and followed by Ray in cuffs, a police officer on either side gripping his arms. He ached to be down there with his best friend. It was almost like losing a limb knowing they might never talk again. And Ray… the betrayal cut deep. They had trusted him and loved him like a father, and he’d repaid that with robbery and death. If not for Ray, he would still have a life.

He glanced at the hostile man by his side. They all would.

“Where were you?” he asked. “Your kid was in trouble and you were no where to be found.” He half hoped Mike would take another shot at him. The tension was so thick between them already, something had to break.

Mike’s gaze remained fixed on his son as he talked to the woman, then took her hand and followed the others down the trail. When everyone was gone and the forest was silent, he turned and faced Lucas.

“I went back to the Transition House. Do you want to know why?”

Lucas stiffened. There was something in the other man’s expression that warned him he wasn’t going to like where this conversation was heading.

“What did you do?” There was no reason for him to go back to the cabin. The only one there was… Natalya.

Lucas leaped forward, his hand wrapping around Mike’s neck. “Where is she? What have you done, you son-of-a-bitch?”

Mike made no effort to protect himself. He just looked at Lucas over the grip around his throat and sneered, “You think you know pain and loss? Try losing a child.”

Lucas loosened his hold and Mike reared backward, his wings ghostly in the night sky. “That’s right, asshole. It wasn’t enough that you took me away from my family. You also caused the death of my unborn child in that accident.”

He veered away, his back rigid.

Lucas cursed Ray to hell. What a fricking mess. He rubbed the back of his neck. “Look, man, I’m sorry.”

Mike’s laugh was harsh as he swung around. “Not yet,” he said, cryptically. “But you’re going to be.”

He took wing, spiraling upward. His final words, when they floated down, stopped Lucas’ heart.

“An eye for an eye, my brother. You took what’s mine. Now I have what’s yours.”