Courting Darkness (41 page)

Pat couldn’t believe his luck. Finally, after all this time, she’d finally returned—and not a moment too soon it would seem. He wasn’t sure who the guy picking a fight with him at the bar was, but if that steely glint in those ice cold eyes was any clue, that bastard was dangerous and for serious. His warning to leave off Olivia would have been well heeded were Pat left with any other choice.

As it was, the stranger’s wrath paled in comparison to his roommate’s. And after a month of waiting and planning, he was more than willing to get this over with and seize the opportunity to start a new life.

Looks like Gahn had been right after all. As Pat rolled past Olivia’s house, the dark-haired beauty stood on the sidewalk near the porch. Her parents’ shouts of joy could be heard over his bass banging out
Ludacris’
Yous a Hoe.

They hugged and kissed her, fawning all over her as they ushered her toward the house. The Patriot backed out of the driveway, brake lights flashing as the SUV halted, waiting for him to pass. Taking the first right, Pat left the development and headed home to inform his roomie to pack his shit. Olivia was back and it was time to finish this.

Exhaustion riddled Olivia’s bones, fatigue seeping into every aching muscle, and yet she could not sleep. Not even the comfort of her childhood home, or the coziness of her bed, could bring her the rest she so desperately sought.

Rolling over, Olivia was greeted with the glowing 1:15 on her alarm clock. Abandoning all hope of getting any sleep, she threw back the covers and climbed out of bed. Wrapping a blanket around her shoulders to ward off a chill, she walked over to the window and stared out to the yard below. Spotting the bench swing, a smile tugged at her lips as she remembered the night she’d sat out there with Liam until she’d fallen asleep in his arms. She thought of the mornings she’d wakened to find him sitting out there keeping vigilant watch over her.

How she wished he was out there right now. Morning couldn’t come soon enough. She feared sleep would continue to elude her until she was back in her angel’s arms and assured all was well.

Being careful to avoid the creaky floorboards and risk waking her parents, she quietly snuck downstairs and out the front door. The dew-damp grass was cool against her bare feet, and she tightened the blanket around her shoulders to ward off a chill as she sat in the swing.

Pushing it into a slow rock, she tucked her feet beneath her and sat silently, mulling over the last several hours. The much overdue talk she’d had with her parents had gone better than she’d expected. After the initial shock had worn off at discovering Liam was an angel, she proceeded to tell them about her “gift” and the danger possessing an ability to see other dimensions had placed her in. She told them about the accident when she was a child that had killed her original guardian, and she explained how Liam had come to assume her guardianship.

She reminisced about those early years when her parents were convinced she was going crazy because she was obsessed with her invisible friend. They laughed some and they cried a lot—especially when she told them about Max, the fallen angel sent to kill her. Even now, she shivered to think about how many times he’d come so close.

She could see the hurt on their faces that she’d kept these secrets from them all these years, and looking back, her decision to do so had been wrong. She should have trusted them to believe her, known they would have understood, and leaned on them during those painful years of Liam’s absence. Perhaps then she would not have made the mistake of getting involved with Mitch and he would probably still be alive.

Her parents certainly wouldn’t have pushed her so strongly to move on with her life. But now, she was ready to do just that—more than anything, she wanted to start a new life with Liam. And knowing she could have that life, and no longer need to hide the truth from her parents, from the two people she loved most in this world, was a heavy burden lifted that gave her hope and joy in anticipating a future with Liam. Admittedly, they had a long road ahead, but she had no doubt they would make it as long as they were together.

Unfortunately, Olivia wasn’t taking into consideration the potholes and detours this road would have. Had she known she was quickly approaching one such sinkhole, she would have most assuredly braked and swerved. She didn’t hear the approaching footsteps until it was too late. A mere second passed before the prickle of alarm raced up her spine, alerting her she was no longer alone. Without warning, a moist cloth clamped over her face and a hand gripped the back of her head, holding her tightly as she flailed for freedom. The chains of the swing rattled and squeaked, crying out in the protest she could not. The sweet smell of solvent burned her lungs as terror gripped her heart. A muffled scream tore her throat, winding down as blackness swiftly consumed her.

It was still early. Dawn had barely birthed a new day, but Liam was anxious to get back to Olivia. He considered racing into her room and bypassing the whole knock on the door and face her parents sort of thing. But out of respect for them, and in the spirit of new beginnings, he knew he’d have to face them sooner or later. Taking his own advice and hoping things had gone well for her last night, he stepped up to the porch and knocked on the door. The anticipatory ripple of unease needling up his spine surprised him. He didn’t fear man or beast, but the thought of facing her parents was decidedly uncomfortable as he stood there waiting for someone to answer the door.

It wasn’t so much for his benefit that he sought their acceptance as for Olivia’s. He knew how much her parents meant to her, and if they refused to accept him, accept their relationship, it would tear her apart having to choose between them. All he wanted was her safety and happiness, both of which he would do anything to secure—including humbling himself to seek out Tate and request him to return to her guardianship.

Admittedly, the idea of another warrior taking his place galled him. But without his connection to her, she was vulnerable, and he refused to place his pride above her safety. Tate had agreed to her guardianship under the stipulation he be bound to her. Without that connection, he was no more equipped to care for her than Liam. A point he could not refute, but sat no less ill with. Liam left things with his friend, agreeing to speak with Olivia and do what he could to convince her to accept Tate’s guardianship. Like it or not, it was for the best, and this was just one of the sacrifices he was going to have to learn to live with if he wanted a life with her as his mate.

When no one answered the door, he knocked again, this time a little louder. The muffled hustle of footsteps pattered down the stairs and a moment later, the front door flew open. Kim stood on the other side, clad in a light blue housecoat. The woman looked up to greet him with more uncertainty than welcome.

“I realize it is early, and I apologize if I’ve disturbed you, but I promised Olivia—”

The tension melted from Kim’s lovely face as recognition flashed in her eyes. “Come in,” she welcomed. Stepping to the side, she closed the door behind him. Before he could say another word, she threw her arms around him. “I can’t tell you how grateful I am for everything you’ve done for my daughter. I…we…we didn’t know.”

He returned her embrace and then took a step back. Her smile reminded him of Olivia’s. “I’m glad she’s finally told you the truth. I love your daughter very much.”

“She loves you, too, Liam. She’s loved you so much, it broke her father’s and my heart to see her so miserable without you. Had we known the truth—”

He held up his hand, stopping her, and placed it on the woman’s shoulder. “There isn’t a need to apologize. You don’t owe me any explanations. You’ve always loved and cared for Olivia, and for that, I am eternally grateful. If it’s all right with you, I’d like to see her now.”

Kim nodded, moisture glistening in her eyes. “Oh, of course. She’s in her room.”

He headed for the stairs posthaste. Being away from Olivia for even this short time had been harder than he cared to admit. After so much time spent apart, he wanted nothing more than to just be with her. Taking the steps two at a time, he quickly reached the second floor and took a sharp right. Her bedroom door was closed. He paused a moment, uncertain if he wanted to chance waking her by knocking. She’d been utterly exhausted yesterday, the transition back had been every bit as taxing on her as he feared. Perhaps he should go back downstairs and wait for her, rather than risk arousing her so early.

He turned to leave, but his feet refused to obey. His desire to see her, to hold her, even as she slept, was nigh overwhelming. Carefully, so as not to disturb her, Liam opened the door and stepped inside. His heart stopped. A surge of dread jolted it back to life, sending it thundering in his chest as his gaze fell on the empty bed, covers haphazardly tossed aside. Olivia was gone.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Well, speak of the devil—or at least that’s what Liam looked like, striding across the park, eyes flashing amethyst fire. Unease melded with anticipation, his pulse quickening at the discovery Olivia was back, at the thought of seeing her again…

Before the surly angel could get within striking distance, he growled, “Where is she?” His malevolent stride quickly ate up the grassy ground, promising his wrath would be swift and merciless.

Haden stood from the park bench and tossed the remainder of his coffee onto the grass. Schooling his features to the apathetic mask he so often wore, Haden turned to face his rival. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Where is who?”

Even as he asked the question, a rush of dread struck his heart at the answer he knew was coming. Too late, he sought to steel himself against the urge to give a fuck, telling himself Olivia belonged to Liam. She was his problem, not Haden’s. But even as he tried to convince himself of the lie, his soul knew a dread he hadn’t felt in centuries.

“Who do you think?” Liam barked viciously.

Shit…
“Do you think if I actually had Olivia, I’d be drinking coffee in the goddamn park?” Each word spewed from his mouth, louder than the last, until he yelled his contempt at the angel. “How in the fuck did you lose her?” He snarled the accusation, struggling unsuccessfully to temper his own rage.

“I didn’t lose her, asshole. She was with her parents for the night. When I returned for her this morning, she was gone. After all the shit you’ve pulled, do you honestly expect me to take you at your word?”

How was that possible? He’d spent the night staring at a burnt orange Charger parked in that prick’s driveway. The damn thing hadn’t moved, so how in the hell had he gotten to Olivia? Anxious to be rid of the angel so he could hunt the bastard down, Haden gave Liam a negligent shrug and drawled with feigned disinterest, “Well, as you can plainly see, I don’t have her, so I fail to see how this further concerns me.”

Haden turned to leave, but a heavy hand gripped his shoulder, stopping him. “I need your help.” The confession verily grated from the angel’s lips.

Haden gave pause, arching a brow in interest. “Really? And how’s that?” He could see the war raging in the angel, feel his seething contempt. How it must have burned his tongue like acid to admit his need of Haden. That he would come here and even confess such a thing bore witness to the angel’s devotion to the female, and the level of desperation he must be feeling at discovering Haden was not his biggest concern.

“You know I’m not bonded to Olivia anymore, so I can’t feel her emotions or sense her presence. But I know that you can. You’ve been hunting her longer than I care to consider. If you truly have not done this, then I need you to bring me to her.”

Haden would be lying if he said he didn’t enjoy having the upper hand, even as his conscience railed at him to quit bantering with Liam and go find Olivia before it was too late—before she fell into Gahn’s hands.

“What is it to me? Why should I care if she lives or dies?” Haden challenged arrogantly, a breath away from bartering Olivia’s life for the stone. Liam would have no choice but to surrender to save her.