What the Heart Takes (44 page)

“You mean I was destined to marry the most powerful Seeker.”

“Greatness feeds upon greatness. She would be nothing without you.”

“And I would be nothing without her.” This conversation was going nowhere, which needed to change. Now. “Why did you ask me here? If it’s to insult my wife, you shouldn’t have wasted my time or yours. I won’t stand here and listen to it. State your purpose or I’m walking out that door.”

His dad crossed his arms over his chest. One hand rose to his chin, rubbing it back and forth as though he contemplated his answer. “Let’s just say, I’m here for
negotiations
.”

Dylan splayed his hands up and then out. They slapped against his sides a second later. He raked his fingers through his hair, avoiding the urge to shake the answer from his father. “What type of negotiations?”

Dark eyes that mirrored his remained void of every emotion except hate. “For your wife’s life.”

A blaring horn from a passing train drowned the string of curse words that ripped from Dylan’s mouth. He waited until the sound faded in the distance and then cleared his throat. “Heaven’s life is
not
up for negotiation. If this is your choice of topics, we are done here.”

He started to step away until his dad shot off another question. “Even if what I have to offer keeps her safe for the rest of her life?”

Was this a joke, or did his dad think he’d actually trust him? “Like you’ll ever stop trying to kill her.”

“I will, Dylan. I’ll make sure Heaven is safe for the rest of her life.” There was a catch. There was always a catch when it came to his father, which meant he’d learn what it was any second. “All you have to do is leave her and join me.”

And there it was.

Dylan pivoted on his foot, facing his dad once more. Lights flickered above them as the passing train sent vibrations across the floor. To his father’s right, the old cooler shimmied, its metal casing creaking with each tremor the train caused. It made the water inside ripple, mimicking the frustration that rippled in Dylan’s soul.

“You’re crazy,” he grumbled. “Have you not been listening to anything I’ve said?”

“I’ve heard everything you’ve said, son, but listen to what I’m saying. If you walk away from Heaven and come with me, I’ll make sure none of The Fallen go near her again. She’ll be safe and alive.”

“
She’ll be miserable
.” His voice echoed through the rafters, “but then I guess that’s what you want.”

“I want my son to be with me. I want you to learn your true abilities and be the powerful Seeker you were meant to be.”

The lights returned to a dim glow as Dylan stepped forward, gritting his teeth. “I was meant to be with Heaven.”

Why couldn’t his father get that through his thick skull? Maybe because he’d completely flipped his lid. He was insane. There was no other excuse. Sane people didn’t threaten another person’s life, least of all family.

His dad didn’t see Heaven as family. He hated her because she represented the one time he didn’t get what he wanted, and what he wanted was Anna Lewis.

“I hope your silence means you’re considering my offer.” The arrogant tone of his dad’s voice matched the one shimmering in his eyes. He patted Dylan’s shoulder until Dylan brushed him off.

“Don’t touch me,” he growled, backing away.

“Relax, son. I know what’s troubling you. You’re worried about how she will deal with you leaving. Trust me when I say she’ll be fine. Her Keeper will help her forget all about you. He’ll see to her needs. All of them.”

Images flashed through Dylan’s mind—images of Heaven lying beneath Layne, her lips, as well as her body, accepting his. The gentle rocks…her soft cries…the pinch of her face as she—

The water cooler slammed into the wall once Dylan pushed it. As the plastic portion leaned against the corner, the bottom cracked enough for water to begin dripping on the floor.

Pointing his finger at the crushed metal, he glared at his father and said, “The next time you talk about my wife, you’re going to look like that cooler.”

“I’m just stating facts, son. I knew your mother wasn’t setting you straight. You know she’s partial to Keepers, don’t you? She was with hers. Speaking of which,” the malevolent spark returned to his father’s eyes, “have you met him yet?”

“I know Spencer’s her Keeper, and I’m glad she has him. She deserved someone who would love her, because you sure as hell didn’t. Heaven
is
loved—by
me
. No one will change that.”

Silence claimed the dusty air as his dad stared at him. He finally grunted and shook his head. “So you’d rather see her dead than give her up? That’s not love, Dylan. That’s an obsession.”

“You should know about those, seeing as how you were obsessed with your Seeker.”

“Yes, Dylan, I was, which is how I know Heaven is going to hurt you. There’s nothing you can do about it if you stay with her.”

His dad’s attention shifted to the damaged water cooler. A smile hinted at the corner of his mouth, though Dylan didn’t see what could amuse him. Did his dad not realize that he wouldn’t think twice about smashing his fist in his face?

When he turned his dark eyes back to Dylan, he patted his chest with his hand and stepped away from the wall. “If you come with me… I could teach you so many things, things your mother would never teach you. You’ll be powerful, Dylan. You can have anything you want, any woman you want. You’d live a life of luxury.”

“I already have the woman I want. She’s the only one I’ll ever want. If keeping her means I have to be powerless or live in poverty, then so be it. You might as well give up on this twisted idea of yours. I’ll never follow your path. I’d take my last breath first.”

“You won’t be the one taking their last breath.”

Dylan lunged forward, clipping his dad in the jaw. A sense of satisfaction pulsed through him when his dad stumbled into the wall. It was the perfect time to seize the moment, as well as his father’s neck. He did both, slamming his dad back into the wall when he tried to step away.

“Don’t threaten my wife!”

Rage shot from him, lighting up his body the way a flash of light lit up darkness. The charge of his energy vibrated, in his heart, in his soul, in the air around him. One firm squeeze and Heaven’s troubles would be over. She wouldn’t have to worry about his father’s threats anymore.

His father struggled to get loose. He gripped Dylan’s arm, tugging as best as he could to break his hold. Dylan didn’t budge, but then, neither did his father. “I won’t stand by and watch you throw your life away when you could be so much more. You’re my child, my only child.”

“You know what you need, Dad? You need to go through your little black book of whores and find one to knock up. Find another child to focus on.”

His dad sputtered when he squeezed his neck again. Spit flew from his mouth as he replied, “Who’s to say I haven’t?”

The thought of his dad having other kids made Dylan ill. He regretted his words, hoping like hell his dad didn’t have someone knocked up. He’d never want an innocent child to go through what he had, or worse, his father brainwashing that child to turn to the dark path.

“You would do something that vile. I regret that I just wished your insanity on an innocent life.”

“Well, be glad you don’t have kids yet. I’m sure they’d love to spend some time with their grandpa Nate. I could teach them how to really use their gifts.”

Dylan leaned closer, keeping his dad pressed to the wall behind him. “If you ever come near my children, I’ll show you pain like you’ve never known. You’ll pray for death before I’m finished with you.”

Laughter bubbled in his dad’s throat before it turned into choking. He struggled to catch his breath, finally doing so a moment later. “Why are you so defensive, son? Is Heaven
with child
?”

“Don’t worry about my wife. Don’t even think about her. You come anywhere near her and I’ll end you.”

Another round of laughter shook his dad’s chest. “Your threats are laughable at best.”

“It’s not a threat,” Dylan growled, tightening his hand once more. “It’s a promise.”

Nothing else was said. Nothing else needed to be, because they’d reached an impasse. He gave his father one more glare—one long glare—as he backed away from the wall he had him pressed against.

It was time to go. If he stayed here, things would get worse. He wouldn’t be able to control his temper. No one got under his skin like his dad, not even Layne, and he’d kissed Heaven in front of him.

As he turned to walk away, the air in his lungs caught. He tried to suck in a breath, but no air would move in or out. His hands went to his neck when pressure built around it, pressure that felt like fingers squeezing. Yet none were there. No physical ones at least.

He spun around, meeting his father’s squinted eyes. A smile teased the corner of his lips. It wasn’t until his eyes narrowed more and the pressure built again that Dylan realized what was happening. His dad was actually doing it. He was using his abilities against him, was using his telekinesis to choke Dylan the same way he’d choked Heaven at their engagement party.

What rationality Dylan had left snapped like a twig. The lights above began flickering, just as they had when he and his dad first entered the building. It produced enough light for him to see his dad’s face. The smug smile was still there, but it wouldn’t be for long. If he got his way, it would never return.

Dylan swung—as hard and as fast as he could. His fist connected with his father’s jaw, knocking him backward. He went in for another blow, but his father pushed back with his fist and mind. The pressure formed in Dylan’s neck again as his dad’s fist smashed into his cheek.

Fire exploded under his skin, spreading its way across his face. He staggered back, nearly losing his balance when he stumbled over some pieces of ceiling that fell long ago. It only angered Dylan more.

Lunging toward his dad, he thrust his hand forward, clenching his father by the throat. He drew back his arm, delivering another punch to his father’s face. His dad answered with a blow to his, and so their violent dance continued.

Fists formed. Arms swung. Skin swelled and split with every collision. The cold wall greeted Dylan’s back when his dad slammed him into it. He gripped his dad’s shirt in his hands, tugging and twisting until he spun him around. The wall creaked and groaned when he pushed his father into it this time, busting the drywall as he did. White chunks of rock fell over his dad’s shoulders, leaving a cloud of dust to settle on his shirt

Coughing ensued from both, but Dylan didn’t hesitate on continuing his assault. He grabbed his dad’s throat again. The cocky look that twinkled in his father’s eyes had been replaced with fear, cold, consuming fear. They started to bulge. His movements grew frantic as he dug at Dylan’s fingers. No matter how much he tried, his dad couldn’t pry them loose. He squeezed a little harder to remind him of that fact.

Disregard played through his father’s eyes, replacing the fear. He didn’t seem to care that his face was beat red, that it wouldn’t take long to turn blue, or that Dylan was fine with the thought of killing him. He worked his lips together, spewing his insanity once more.

“She’s poison, Dylan. I won’t stop until she’s out of your life. I won’t stop until she’s dead.”

“And I won’t stop until you are.”

His fingers sunk into the sides of his dad’s neck as he lifted him up. The scrapes and gashes that covered his face oozed blood. His eyes, growing more vacant by the second, stared into Dylan’s.

There was no pity left in him for his father. The world would be a better place without him in it. Heaven would be safe, his daughter would safe, and all his problems would be gone. Ending his dad’s life would be the answer to everything.

His dad’s body shook as he began to cough, sending splatters of blood onto his lips and his chin. The metallic scent gave Dylan a sense of gratification. He squeezed tighter, feeling his dad’s windpipe under his fingers. One, sturdy squeeze would shatter it in to pieces.

The thought made his mouth twitch upward. He wanted his dad to suffer, to lie in torment as his life flashed before his eyes. Then darkness could overtake him, could claim him to the abyss of nothingness forever.

“What’s the matter, son? Are you too much of a coward to finish me?”

It was the final snapping point. The light above flickered back to life, burning brighter by the second. A loud buzzing rang through the air, and then one by one, the bulbs burst. Glass shattered above, the broken pieces raining down on them.

Dylan held his father at arm’s length, the very essence of his soul slipping away. But it wasn’t enough. It needed to be more. He needed to be broken, body and soul, when he left this world.

And with that single thought, Dylan delivered the final blow.

His father’s face spun to the side. Blood sprayed through the air, any sign of consciousness ceasing to exist. His eyes rolled back, then his body grew limp.

Dylan noticed the beat of his heart change. What once thumped rapidly under his palm grew weaker by the second. Anticipation built within him, anticipation to bring this all to an end.

He tightened his hand once more, picking his dad up off the ground and slamming him back to it. A cracking sound followed when his head hit the floor.

Silence fell over the building. The only sound was the heavy breaths leaving Dylan’s mouth. He stared at the ground, stared at the form of the man lying upon it. Then darkness consumed the building.

A moment later, it consumed Dylan as well.

Afterword

Dear Reader,

Thank you for reading
What the Heart Takes.
I must say that writing Dylan, Heaven, and Layne’s story was a roller coaster ride for me. I hope the story took you on the same adventure that I took in writing it.

If you follow me on Facebook then you know that Soulmate Series Book Four will be releasing summer of 2014. Make sure to watch the
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or follow
my personal author account
for updates.