Encore (Descendants of Ra: Book 4) Page 20

  I trusted her. Trusted her. And she does this. WHY? WHY!

  She took her fury out on the letter first. Ripping it into a thousand pieces didn’t quench her pain. The bedroom walls suffered next. She punched holes into the sheetrock until nothing was left except pink insulation and exposed wiring.

  A creak sounded. Ridley forced her eyes opened. When did I close them? A pair of steel-toed boots came into view. When did I fall? She bolted to her feet and attacked with a flurry of blows and kicks, all blocked.

  He didn’t have to just stand there and take it. Yet that’s exactly what EJ did. She wanted a fight, and he wouldn’t give it to her. She whipped away, searching for something, anything to destroy and appease anguish burning inside.

  She punched a windowpane, slicing open a four-inch gash in her forearm. The pain danced up her arm and distracted her from the anguish searing her heart. She reared back her other fist to smash another pane, when arms wrapped around her waist and dragged her back against an unyielding chest.

  “No!” She head butted him and earned a curse.

  “Stop. You’re bleeding.”

  She didn’t care. Another headbutt. EJ anticipated her move and spun her away from him. He circled her, hands up, palms open.

  “Come on, Candy Cane. Let me help you.”

  “I don’t need your help. Don’t want it.”

  “Look at your arm.” He pointed.

  Doing that was a waste of time. “Don’t you get it? This wound is nothing. I’d have to slice every vein and keep them open while they drain, and maybe that would kill me. For a little while.”

  Tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick.

  She wiped her arm against her middle. The blood smeared, revealing pink skin. “Nothing can kill me. Nothing can save me.” She swung at him, missing by a mile, and didn’t get another chance. EJ invaded her personal space. He grabbed her by the hips, picked her up, and pinned her between the doorframe and his hard body.

  “Get off!” She struggled, furious being caged.

  “Calm down,” he whispered in her ear. “I’m not going to let you hurt yourself.”

  “Get off!” She sobbed partly due to his unexpected presence, mostly due to the rage bleeding off.

  Slowly, he eased her to her feet and backed away as if she were a dangerous animal.

  “Why are you here?” she huffed.

  “Because you’re here.” EJ’s voice was as steady as his gaze.

  His statement shouldn’t have made the weight on her chest lighter, yet it did. “How did you find me?”

  “I staked the place out. Wasn’t hard finding the address. Being the holidays, I figured you’d end up here sooner rather than later. I’m sorry they left without telling you, Ridley.”

  Her eyes widened and sparked with hope. She moved closer, now into his personal space, and rested a hand on his arm. “How long were you staking out the place? Did you see—”

  “Where they went?” He nodded. “I placed a tracker on the truck. They’re in Michigan, a small town outside of Detroit. I have the address. If you wish, we can leave right now.”

  The thought tempted her. Josie wasn’t lost to her. The burning pain shifting to a dull ache. She could breathe again. “Thank you. I never imagined Marilyn would steal Josie away. Guess that’s a good thing. I probably would’ve killed her and taken Josie if I’d known.”

  She shook her head then let it drop to her chest. She seemed to curl into herself. “Like that would’ve been a bright idea ’cause Josie would’ve taken one glimpse at me and said, ‘Mommy!’” Her voice broke apart at the last word.

  Ridley scooped Josie’s picture off the floor and carefully placed it in her coat pocket. “What really hurts, what I have the hardest time accepting… Marilyn is right. I may have done exactly what she feared.” A shudder ran through her, and then her spine straightened, her shoulders squared.

  “I hate her for being the mother I can’t be. But I thank her for loving Josie as much as I do. I did the right thing when I chose her to be my daughter’s mother.” Ridley dried her eyes on the sleeve of her coat.

  He took her hand and stroked her sore knuckles. “I’ll help you find her later.”

  A heavy sigh left her. When he said things like that, it made her want what she couldn’t have. “Have you forgotten? I don’t have later.”

  “Sorry.” He squeezed her fingers.

  She didn’t want his apology, and that made her ache all over again. Why was everything in her life unattainable? She extricated her hand from his. “I need to go.”

  He blocked her path. “Where?”

  Back to the rundown motel she’d called home for the last three days. “Not your concern.”

  She sidestepped him, but he shifted into her path again. “Get out of my way, EJ.”

  “I’m staying at a cabin, upstate. You can have the bedroom.”

  She threw up her hands. “I can’t go upstate. Crisis here, if you haven’t noticed! I have th-things I-I need to do.” Like what? Every avenue ended in a dead end.

  His heavy hand touched her shoulder; with the other, he cupped her cheek. “I know. You have lots you need to do. I just want to give you a place to rest. For however long you need.”

  His offer stunned her. “Rest? In a few days, I’ll have all the rest I need.” She could’ve knocked his hands away and stormed out of the room, yet she stayed.

  “Let me help you.” His tone had a desperate edge that echoed within her.

  “What I need, you can’t help with.” Her voice mimicked him. She needed what was in the Book, and that was gone. The Sacred Dagger might have the answer, but one second she sensed Daniel, the next he was gone, another hopeless avenue. If she could get the Scroll translated... but that was hopeless, too.

  Well…Maybe not.

  Ridley eyed EJ with cold calculation. That was her intent—to shut down the emotions surging in her heart. But what she saw on his face, the concern and fierce determination to help her, made her devious heart fracture. She couldn’t do it. Couldn’t use him again. Manipulate him again. Turn him into an enemy again.

  But for Josie, she had to ask.

  “There’s a way you can help.” She bit her lip knowing he’d never go along with her plan. “Though, you’re not gonna like it.”

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  EJ hated the idea. This had to be the worst bad idea in the history of bad ideas, but what choice did he have? A child’s life was on the line. He didn’t need to be a father to understand the determination of a parent with a dying child because he’d do anything to save Josie and Ridley.

  Anything.

  Including terrorizing one child to save another.

  You’re not going to terrorize her. You will gently ask for her help. Beg her to let them speak to the goddess inside her. And pray she didn’t run screaming again.

  “Do you think they’ll help me?” Ridley asked for the fourth time.

  You? No. “If they can, they’ll help us.” Doubtful.

  He exited the car and Ridley met him in front of the house. Her foot tapped, and she alternated between folding her arms and balling her fists. He took her trembling fingers in his. Her short nails dug into the back of his hand as he waited for her to calm. Not once did she pull away. Instead, she leaned against him and shared her warmth.

  “Ready?” He hadn’t let her go.

  “Yeah.” Flat-voiced as if already defeated. “Let’s get this over with.”

  They entered RockGate through the main entrance.

  “Whoa. So this is how the upper crust lives. Can’t say my accommodations in the dungeon had the same opulence.” She stopped to stare at the multi-strand teardrop chandler in the center of the foyer and the huge Christmas tree beneath. Then her gaze floated to the marble columns and the grand staircase. “I knew RockGate would be magnificent, but whoa.”

  He didn’t remember the trailer home, being hungry, or his drug addict parents. What he knew about his early life came from Avery. He didn�
�t see the opulence. To him, RockGate had always been his home. The people living beneath its roof, family. Yeah, Roman and Avery were hard-asses; however, the love between everyone under RockGate’s roof was tangible. Had presence. And that’s why, when all else failed, he could always come home.

  Right now, home was suspiciously quiet. Hector should have made an appearance by now. It wasn’t like him to miss an opportunity to greet a guest, even if that person had briefly resided in one of the holding cells.

  “Where is everyone?” Ridley whispered, her foot tapping.

  “Don’t know.” Christmas night was usually a hub of drinks, games, and general fun. He moved the edge of his coat aside for easy access to his weapons.

  Voices filtered from upstairs. EJ moved toward the stairs with Ridley close behind. By the second landing, his tension eased. Stella and Hector’s voices competed with each other as they directed the staff in the unoccupied bedrooms at the opposite end of the hallway. Some staff carried mattresses and bedding to the room while others carried bedframes. It was a little late in the evening to redecorate, but what did he know?

  He cleared his throat as he walked down the hallway toward Stella and Hector.

  “EJ.” The welcome on Stella’s face wavered when she spotted Ridley.

  “Evening. Can I speak to you in private?” he asked.

  Her gaze flicked between him and Ridley even as she nodded. The question in her gray eyes needed an answer. “Sure. Hector, I’ll be right back.”

  “No rush, Madame. The staff and I have everything well in hand.”

  They followed Stella to the library at the end of the hallway. The two-story room smelled of polish and aged vellum. She took a seat in one of the plush armchairs. Rather than tower over her, EJ sat, and tugged Ridley to the empty space beside him on the loveseat.

  “What’s going on, EJ?” All serious, no play. And no acknowledgment of Ridley.

  Her intense scrutiny reminded him of the first time they’d met, right after she’d dismembered Alamut. He held out his hand to Ridley, and she gave him the Scroll. “This is the Scroll of Heka, created by the Egyptian Goddess of Magic. We’re hoping there’s a spell, a clue in the Scroll that will help Ridley.”

  He waited for her to ask about the curse and wasn’t surprised when she didn’t. The holding cells were bugged. His conversation with Ridley had already been dissected and shared, apparently with significant others, too.

  Carefully, Stella took the Scroll and unraveled the delicate papyrus on the coffee table. “It’s beautiful, but I can’t read this.”

  “Actually, we didn’t think you would be able to…but maybe Nu can.”

  Stella tossed the Scroll aside and leaped to her feet. “No.” She growled low in her throat.

  Ridley tried to stand. EJ gripped her thigh, squeezed enough to keep her in her seat. He wouldn’t let this turn into a confrontation.

  “Ember has been traumatized enough, and I will not put her through any more. She is terrified of you!”

  “I know that. I’m not asking to be the one who speaks to her.” EJ spoke calmly, no attitude, no arrogance. In this, neither would get him far.

  “Good, because you’re not.” Her hand slashed the air with each word. “Or her.”

  “I’m asking you to take the Scroll to her,” EJ said.

  “Absolutely not!” exploded from Stella. Her cheeks flushed crimson as her hands balled and her stance widened.

  Ridley knocked EJ’s hand away and stood. “We’re not asking for ourselves. Believe me, I understand how much you want to protect your sister but—”

  “Shut up. I don’t want to hear a single word out of your damn mouth. You helped Khuket enslave everyone at the Order and EJ. If you hadn’t helped her, he never would’ve drugged and kidnapped Ember.”

  “It’s for my daughter! To save her life!”

  “I don’t care,” Stella snarled.

  Shock and fury mingled on Ridley’s face. EJ leaped between the women, expecting Ridley to lunge for Stella’s throat. Though Ridley vibrated with anger, she didn’t attack. She stood her ground, unbowed, and sobbed. “Please. She’s only eight. She deserves to live.”

  Stella’s stony gaze softened and her bottom lip quivered. That didn’t stop her from folding her arms and drawing herself up. “Ember deserved to live, too. But that wasn’t your concern, was it? I’m not going to jeopardize my sister to save your child.”

  “I’ll do it,” a small voice said.

  Peering through the slats of the railing at the top of the spiral staircase, crouched Ember.

  Stella ran to the stairs. “You’re supposed to be in bed.”

  “I wanted a book.” Ember shuffled her way down, her blue and white Elsa nightgown fluttered around her.

  Stella met her at the bottom. “I’ll take you back to your room.”

  EJ held his breath as Ember took furtive peeks at him.

  “But I want to help,” the child mumbled.

  “No.” Stella dragged her toward the exit.

  “I want to help the little girl,” Ember’s chin jutted, a mimic of her sister.

  Ridley darted into their path. “Josie. Her name is Josie.”

  Stella released Ember and faced Ridley. “Move.”

  Tears rolled down Ridley’s cheeks. “Hate me. Not her. She’s all I have.”

  Ember eased closer to the Scroll, and EJ. He froze, afraid of doing anything to scare the child. She touched the artifact and traced her fingers over the lettering.

  “I’m so sorry for hurting you, Ember. I-I didn’t have my free will. If I had, I would never… I would’ve protected you. You know that, right?” She had to know that.

  Her head bobbed, sending her dark hair flying. “Stella explained it to me.”

  The library door opened, and Roman entered. His hard gaze swept over the room, settled on the women for a split second, then landed on EJ. “Explain?”

  “I’m helping EJ,” Ember answered before anyone else could reply.

  Roman strolled over to Ember with Stella close on his heels and peered down at the Scroll. “Helping him with what?” his voice pleasant as he glared at EJ.

  “It belonged to the Goddess of Magic. We’re hoping there is something in there that can break Ridley’s curse,” EJ answered.

  “He wants Nu to read it,” Ember whispered.

  Roman’s gaze hammered EJ. “Time for bed, Ember.” He scooped her up and gave her a hug and a kiss, then set her back on her feet.

  “I told her the same thing.” Stella took Ember by the shoulders and turned the child toward the exit.

  “Okay,” she grumbled but halted and glanced back at EJ. “I wish I could help you, but the goddess doesn’t talk to me anymore. I think she’s mad I made her stay away.”

  “How did you make her stay away?” Ridley asked.

  “Don’t answer—” Stella said.

  “I made her swear to go away. Even a goddess can’t break a swear.” Ember waved as Stella ushered her out the door.

  “Give me a reason not to remove your head from your shoulders.” Preternaturally still, Roman’s voice throbbed with anger.

  “It’s not his fault. Blame me. Not him.” Ridley moved closer to EJ as if to protect him from Roman’s wrath.

  “Are you still under her spell?” Roman didn’t spare Ridley a glance.

  Define spell. “No.”

  “Then why did you bring her here? To Ember!” Roman’s low voice held more threat than a raving tirade.

  “I asked him to. He did it for me.” Ridley stood next to EJ. Her fingers brushed his, but he didn’t reach for them. If things went south—he was certain they were on a bullet train heading that way—he’d need both hands-free.

  Not to kill Roman. It would not come to that. He didn’t rule out an ass-kicking.

  “Is that true?” Roman’s voice vibrated with leashed power.

  “Yeah. It’s true. We need Nu’s help.”

  “We?” Roman said. The word sounded like a
slow hiss coming from a coiled snake.

  Now, EJ took Ridley’s hand and silenced her budding protest with a firm squeeze. “We.” His tone was heavy with conviction.

  “Leave.”

  That one word opened a hole in EJ’s chest. “Kicking me out, Roman?” He asked just to be certain.

  “You can’t be with her and the family.”

  “I’ll go. You stay.” Ridley pulled away, but he held fast.

  EJ ignored the ache in his chest. “I don’t have a reason to stay. RockGate is no longer my home.”

  With her hand still in his, EJ stormed out of the library. He marched down the length of the hallway, the carpet not diluting his heavy footsteps. His intention was to get the hell out of Dodge before he burned the bitch down.

  A spatial distortion warped the air seconds before a vortex opened in the alcove separating the west wing from the east wing. Women streamed through the portal.

  “W-what are they doing here?” Ridley stuttered and skidded to a halt.

  A few were familiar, but he couldn’t place the silent women streaming past him like a flock of sheep. “Who are they?”

  “They’re from the Order,” she whispered and tugged on his hand. “We should go.”

  He didn’t budge. “Why are they here?” he said more to himself.

  “Don’t know. Let’s just go.” She yanked him toward the stairs as Reign stepped from the vortex and Roman came up behind them.

  “Why are the women from the Order here?” EJ asked Reign.

  “An informant of Quin’s warned of an investigation into the Order. One of the family members was not as discreet as they should have been. The authorities will be there in the morning.”

  “Nothing that is your concern, since you are leaving,” Roman stated.

  He was leaving, but first, “Why are they still zombies? Why hasn’t Avery freed them?”

  “He doesn’t know how. Now leave.” Roman pointed to the stairs.

  It’s one thing to leave under your own skin, another to be thrown out. They didn’t want him. Fine. A-Okay.

  Not.

  Fuck you was a hundred-pound weight on his tongue. “The first time was enough.”