Unforgiven (Wanderers #3) (55 page)

I still couldn’t wrap my mind around it. I looked at
her trying not to be sick and when I looked at her face, I could
tell. “You really like him, don’t you?”

She didn’t answer me, but I knew. This was a whole
new complication I wasn’t ready for. “Please don’t tell anyone
about any of this. No one knows, not even Sienna. Please Ella,
promise me.” I nodded as she pulled on my arm and put me in
position for the dance we had been practicing for all week. I
caught sight of Lucas standing at the end of the line. He smiled at
me and I had to look the other way.

“O.M.G did you guys catch sight of the two new
hotties over there by the refreshments,” Sienna gushed.

I craned my head to look, but it was hard to tell who
was who when everyone was wearing a mask. Granted the mask only
covered our eyes, but it was enough to hide anyone with the way we
were all dressed up. “I don’t know who you’re talking about?” I
said.

“Duh, the babe with the killer blue eyes and the
black hair,” she said like I should have known.

“You just described Roman.”

“Honey, this boy is no Roman. Just the way he stands,
his presence, his essence. This guy is a man not a boy. Oh and his
friend. Hello muscles from Brussels. He almost looks like the dudes
bodyguard.”

I froze and looked at Josie. “You don’t think…no, it
can’t be.”

Her eyes went wide. “I’m going to go check.”

“I coming with you,” I began as the music started.
Roman was before me, hands out, and ready to go. I had no choice
now but to dance. As we spun around the room my eyes searched
everywhere. I found Josie by the refreshment stand and she was
shaking her head no, indicating that our suspicions were wrong.

I let out sigh of relief and tried to enjoy myself
again just as we switched partners. I was now with Brennen and he
was a better dancer than I thought. “You know, you’re pretty light
on your feet,” I teased.

“It’s a wolf thing,” he joked.

“You enjoying your new school?”

“I am now,” he smiled, making me feel a little
uncomfortable
. Seriously? Why am I a magnet for guys?
Most
girls would love the attention, but not me. Maybe because every guy
I’d been with, trouble always seemed to follow. Sensing my unease,
Brennen looked at me worried he said something wrong. “I’m sorry. I
didn’t mean…you must think I’m the biggest ass.”

“No,” I said quickly.

“I wasn’t hitting on you. I would never try to go
after someone who was taken. I mean you’re beautiful and if you
weren’t taken it would be a different story,” he rambled.

“Oh,” I blushed.

“Okay I’m going to shut up now.” I smiled at him. I
never felt uncomfortable around Brennen and dancing with him now I
felt almost protected, relaxed.

“Do you have a girlfriend back home?”

“I did, but it didn’t work out. I’m okay with
it.”

“If you’re interested I have some very cute single
friends.”

“Thanks,” he laughed. “But I think I’m okay for
now.”

Just as we were about to switch partners again,
Brennen stiffened. His eyes burned a bright yellow, making the
hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Lucas had swooped in to take
Brennen’s spot as my next partner. “So we meet again,” he said with
a smirk. I looked over my shoulder at Brennen. His eyes were still
bright yellow and fixed on Lucas. I couldn’t shake this feeling
that something wasn’t right. “Hey, you okay?”

I turned my attention back to Lucas. “Yeah,
sorry.”

“You know I was just kidding earlier. I hope I didn’t
offend you?”

“No. I can hold my own,” I said, trying to make a
point.

Lucas looked at me as if he accepted the challenge.
“So I’ve noticed,” he smiled, making my stomach feel queasy. I was
thankful that we didn’t keep the same partner for long. I didn’t
know how much longer I could keep my composure with him.

The music swiftly changed and we were once again
rearranged into a new position standing across from our partners.
Arms up and palms out, we took two steps forward, and then one
back. Following in a diagonal line moving on to the next person and
gliding smoothly in a circle. The only thing touching was our
palms.

This continued all the way down the line until we
came full circle. The music had switched again, but it was not the
traditional music we practiced to. Not skipping a beat, everyone
continued with the dance despite the change, except me.

The song, I recognized it. I knew it all too well. It
caused me to miss a step. Fumbling, I was pulled back into the line
by a stranger, a remarkably familiar stranger.

I was no longer dancing with the rest of my
classmates. He spun me away from the group. I looked up into the
eyes of the man who had swept me off my feet. His eyes burned with
a love that ate a hole in my heart. He led me around the dance
floor as if we had done this a thousand times and being in his arms
it felt like I had.

I knew now everyone had stopped and was watching us,
but I was too mesmerized by the deep, dark blue of his eyes. His
eyes, his hair, his smell, the way he held me, and the way he
whisked me across the dance floor I knew. “Am I dreaming?”

He shook his head no as our song stopped.
“I love you la mia bella
stella.”

And before I could stop him, he leaned down, and
kissed me.

I was so lost in the moment I thought I was dreaming,
until I heard Roman growl. I pulled back from Tristan’s embrace
just as Roman slugged him in the face. He hit him so hard he fell
to the ground and skidded back a few feet. “What are you doing?” I
yelled.

“What am I doing? What are you doing?” he
snapped.

“I didn’t do anything,” I said defensively. “He
kissed me.”

Roman grabbed me possessively, wrapping his arm
around my waist tight. “You have a lot of nerve,” he said to
Tristan. “Stand up you coward. Show yourself,” he demanded.

Tristan smiled his cocky smile as he stood up and
dusted himself off. He walked over and stood face to face with
Roman. You could smell the testosterone pouring out of them.
Brennen and Justin came to stand by Roman’s side. Billy, I figured,
was the one to stand by Tristan. His temper was rising at the sight
of Josie on another man’s arm.

And then there was me, who stood in the center of it
all.

My heart was pounding a million miles per minute.
Everything was silent. The only thing you could hear was the
pounding pulses in anticipation of what was going to happen next. I
took a step forward in between them. “Let’s just stop,” I said,
pleading with Roman not to fight.

Roman looked down at me almost sad and then his eyes
filled with rage again as Tristan started to laugh. I turned to
glare at him. “Well, of all the people you could have picked I
never would have expected him,” he said, ripping off his mask.

Roman went rigid. I could feel the heat coming off of
him and heard a crackle. I took a step back and grabbed his hand
trying to calm him. Tristan looked down at our link fingers, hurt
crossed his face. “What are you doing here?” Roman growled.

“I came to take back what is mine,” Tristan said,
looking right at me.

“You always want what you can’t have,” Roman
spat.

“Who says I can’t have her?” he was just toying with
him now.

“I say. Leave, you’re not welcome here. And tell your
bastard father to leave us alone,” Roman growled.

“Wait, you know each other?” I said, looking back and
forth between them. Roman tore off his mask and looked at Tristan
disgusted.

I gasped.

I couldn’t believe I’d never seen it before, but now
that they were both here, right in front of me.

“He’s my brother,” Tristan said, confirming my
disbelief. I shook my head not wanting to believe it.

“Oh snap,” Josie said.

“More like, oh shit,” Cameron whispered to her.

“This has got to be a joke,” I said, laughing
deliriously.

“This is not a joke. Ella, I made a mistake.” Tristan
looked at Cameron quickly and then back to me. I looked at her
questioningly for a second before Tristan brought my attention back
to him. “I thought I was doing the right thing. I was convinced I
was, but I was wrong. I came back Ella, for you.” He reached for me
but I pulled away.

“Whoa, whoa, this is the guy. This is the asshole you
cheated on me with?” Roman glared. He took a step away from me. My
heart felt like it was going to explode.

“Clearly Ella has a thing for the damaged. Why else
would she date you,” Tristan spat back.

Roman snapped and took a step forward to punch
Tristan again, but I butted in. “Stop!” I yelled. “Enough!” They
both turned to look at me, waiting for an answer. As if I was to
choose right there and then. The way they were both looking at me,
I couldn’t take it. I took a few steps back. I couldn’t take all
the eyes on me. I felt like a trapped animal. “I can’t do this
right now,” I said, running out of the hall. I heard several voices
calling my name, but I just kept running.

I ran so hard and so fast I hadn’t even noticed I ran
in the direction of the maze until I got to the entrance. Not
wanting to be found and hoping to get lost. I entered the maze and
found my way to the center. When I reached the fountain, I fell on
my knees, and covered my face as I balled my eyes out.

How could I have been so stupid? How could I have not
known they were brothers? All the signs were there; Deirdre telling
me either of her grandsons would be happy. The hair, the eyes, the
same cocky smile. How did I not recognize Roman in the picture?
Because Tristan had told me it was his cousin and I believed
him.

Not only was I too dumb to figure it out, but now the
whole school knew too.

I leaned on the edge of the fountain and laid my head
down on my arms to rest.

“And here we meet again. You just can’t stay away,
can you?”

My back stiffened at the sound of his voice. I turned
my head around slowly. “Jack.”

“Ella, Ella, Ella. I am growing tiresome of this
game. Although I do have to say you make it so easy for me,” he
smiled wickedly. “I have to say thank you, too,” he clapped. “I
really did enjoy the show. I mean really, the look on your face
when Tristan told you Roman was his brother, priceless.”

I turned my body around to face my attacker. “Ah-uh,
I’d stay down if I were you,” he threatened. I felt the need to
comply, only because I was weaponless. I knew I would have to stay
put until I came up with a plan of attack.

“Come on Ella, I guess you really are that dumb. A
blind man would have known those two were brothers,” he
laughed.

“Did you just come here to insult me? Because I’m
really not in the mood,” I glared.

“The insults are just a bonus. I only came for the
show.” I watched him take a few steps to the left. He walked
casually, like it was just a stroll down the street. “You should
have seen Tristan’s face when I told him that your Roman was in
fact his brother Roman.” He shook his head smiling. “I guess he
just had to see for himself. The only girl he loved left him for
his baby brother.” He walked closer to me and bent down in front of
me. I tried to put up my shield but nothing happened. The alcohol,
I thought. It had to be the alcohol I drank and that was why my
powers weren’t working.

“Talk about a punch in the nuts. You really know how
to break hearts, don’t you?” He was so close I could attack, but
from this advantage it would be sloppy and Jack was smarter than
that. I had to keep him talking.

“How did you even get in here?” I asked, thinking
they really needed to work on their security.

“I guess I can tell you since I’m going to kill you
anyways.” He stood up and started pacing again. “I picked up a
nifty little trick while I was in Ireland – some gypsy with the
ability to use glamour’s. It’s a shame she couldn’t stick around,
but she was just so damn tasty,” he smirked. “They’re a nasty mess
to clean up too. I prefer not to kill Romanians. They have a foul
habit of cursing their victim’s attacker so better safe than
sorry,” he shrugged like it was nothing. “All this talk of killing
is making me hungry. So how about we just get to it.” He stopped
and turned to me, ready to attack.

I narrowed my eyes at him wanting to be sick. “What
makes you think this time you’ll succeed? I mean really Jack,
haven’t you heard three strikes and you’re out?” I needed to stall,
hoping I could send a message to Dean to get help. Even with the
alcohol, I knew I could get through to Dean. Blood was thicker than
any magical power.

“You can’t project from here,” Jack said. “It’s
protected by magic. So none of those little tricks.” He wagged his
finger at me.

“But how’d you even?” I asked shocked. Jack didn’t
have that kind of power.

“My little spies…and yes, they’re everywhere. I know
you can read minds, project thoughts, move things, heal, and even
that sweet shield you have. Not to mention all the powers you have
yet to receive. I know it all and that is why I had one of my
little witch friends cast a spell to block your powers.”

“What are you talking about? I don’t have any more
powers.”

“Not yet,” he corrected, holding up a finger. “That
little gypsy was more useful than I thought. When I threatened her
daughter she sang like a bird, giving me all sorts of good
information.”

I bit my tongue to keep from letting him get to me.
Despite what he said, I still tried to get to Dean. I had broken
through Mackenzie’s spell so it was worth a shot. “How do you plan
to get my powers if I’m dead?”

“Sweet little gypsy woman. She was so useful in more
ways than one. According to legend, you can kill a vampire and
still obtain their powers with a spell.”