What the Heart Takes (14 page)

Layne raised his hands in surrender and took a few steps back. Nicholas did the same. He joined Anna near the bay window, pulling her into an embrace while shaking his head.

Dylan’s apology caught in his throat. It was an empty phrase that did nothing but satisfy a person’s ego. Words wouldn’t make up for the hurt he’d cause his wife or his child. No wonder the baby was shielding Heaven.

The warmth of his mother’s hand heated his shoulder again as she squeezed it. He met her gaze, swallowing hard when he noticed slanted eyes and tight lips. “What is wrong with you two? When you left for Jamaica, you were patching up your friendship and working together for Heaven. Now you’re at each other’s throats. Why?”

He wondered if his friend would blame this on him. Maybe he was at fault, at least partially. Layne was too, but he’d never admit it. Doing so would reveal whatever he felt for Heaven.

As if he knew Dylan’s thoughts, Layne walked away, shaking his head. He moved back to the sliding door, pressing his head against the glass. “If you want answers, Delia, ask your son.”

Perfect. It was the exact response Dylan expected. He knew Layne would lay the blame at his feet. His friend had never taken responsibility for his actions. Why would this time be any different?

Dylan refused to participate in his own persecution. He’d give his mom a general explanation. Layne would do good to leave it at that, unless he wanted to share what was happening inside of his head.

“We’re all going through a lot of different emotions right now, Mom. How could we not when every minute we worry about Heaven’s safety? Tense situations cause friction. You know that.”

“Oh, I know a lot of things, Dylan, more than what you think. The thing that bothers me most is that you both know Heaven doesn’t need more stress. The pregnancy is stressful enough. She’s already having contractions, isn’t she?”

He flashed his eyes to Nicholas and Anna then back to his mom as he nodded. “They’ve grown more frequent since we left Jamaica. I was hoping the dream or the trip had caused the increase, but after hearing what Nicholas said, I realize it’s us.”

“In a way, it is. You’re both stressing Heaven, which is causing the baby to go into protective mode. The baby isn’t strong enough to keep a constant shield. That’s why your connection with Heaven fluctuates. Every time the baby uses its powers, it goes into distress, which causes the contractions.”

His cheeks began to cool, like all the blood had drained to his feet. Any complication Heaven had was because of him. She sensed his emotions best, and the ones he’d focused on lately had taken their toll.

Moving back to the couch, he plopped down on the oversized cushions, sinking inside them. Too bad they couldn’t swallow him. He’d like to disappear from the room and stressful conversation, but he needed his mother’s help. Without it, he’d ruin everything.

“God, Mom, I’m screwing this up. Tell me how to fix it. If she goes into preterm labor…” he swallowed hard, unable to finish the sentence. “I can’t lose them.”

Casual steps brought her to the cushion beside him. She motioned for Layne to sit in the chair she once occupied. He flashed Dylan a questionable look, but in the end, he gave in and made his way to the chair.

“If you guys want to fix things, the first thing you have to do is stop the arguing. It’s not getting you anywhere.” Her eyes flitted between his and Layne’s, finally stopping on his again. “Second, you need to focus on the dream. There’s an impending battle ahead of you that you need to prepare for. That’s why the baby showed you the vision. But the dream brings an additional warning for each of you.” Her emerald eyes landed on Layne first. “For you, it warns that you’re not ready to protect Heaven. Not until you have your abilities in check. You have what it takes to keep her safe, but you’re out of sync. It’s time to let go of your fears. Quit resisting your connection with Heaven and embrace your birthright as her Keeper.”

Layne stared at her for a good ten seconds, twitching his mouth before he gave her a curt nod. Even though the message was intended for his friend, Dylan sensed she’d stressed the words for his benefit.

She turned to face him, crossing her arms at her chest. Her brows dipped lower as she studied his face. “For you, my son, it proves that you need to grow up. There are some things you can’t control. It’s time to be a man, and more importantly, a husband and father. I know what’s bothering you, but it’s ruining your happiness. Let. It. Go.”

Each word she uttered stung his pride. He wanted to be a good husband and father, everything his dad wasn’t. Right now, he was failing at the former. It was
his
issues causing the problems, issues like his guilt over breaking her heart, twice.

The ordeal with Susan had been a misunderstanding. Walking out before the wedding was a different story. Both had endangered Heaven’s life, which led to more issues—his failure to protect her with his abilities. It made him feel insignificant, even less of a man. The kiss she shared with Layne only added to that.

Releasing a sigh, he rubbed his hands over his face, avoiding the inevitable. He had to put his pride away and convince Layne to stay. Each silent second they spent wasted precious time—time he could be using to check on his wife.

He pulled his hands from his face and looked his friend in the eye. This couldn’t wait any longer. “I know things are strained between us, but we have to put Heaven first. She needs you to be here. I say we stick with Anna’s original suggestion and stay in the cottage. It will keep Heaven safe and you from leaving.”

Layne dropped his eyes to his hands as he worked them together. “I appreciate the offer, but it still doesn’t fix my Faith issue. I can’t stay here.”

Dylan readied an objection, but a series of high-pitched rings echoed through the air. The sound came from Anna’s direction, which explained why Nicholas was looking down at her hand. She fished it around the pocket of her robe, pulling out her cell phone.

It met her ear a second later as she replied, “Hello?” The caller had enough time to respond when she turned to Nicholas and gazed up. “Yes, this is she.”

Silence claimed the room except for her cordial exchanges with the caller. Dylan assumed it was a friend. He’d almost turned back to his mother, but something flashed through Anna’s eyes, something that resembled fear.

“Was anyone there?”

The seconds crept by as Dylan waited, impatiently, for her to finish the call. After all the tension with Layne, his nerves were beyond frayed. He needed sleep. They all did, especially Heaven. Instead, she was dealing with her sister.

Though the constant hum of their connection remained, it fell void of emotional energy. Normally that meant one thing. The baby was shielding Heaven. If what his mother said were true, the contractions wouldn’t be far behind. He needed to get to his wife.

Gripping the arm of the chair, he started to stand, but Nicholas motioned him to stop. The knot in his stomach urged him to listen to his father-in-law. He checked on Layne again, hoping he could gain his friend’s attention. They needed to come to an agreement on where he would stay. Yet Layne continued watching Anna. He sat at the edge of the cushion, shaking his leg with such force, his entire body jiggled.

Anna’s voice filled the air once more. She thanked the person for calling, promising to keep in touch. Her eyes remained on the phone as the call ended.

“Hey,” Nicholas spoke in comforting words while pulling her close, “Are you okay?”

“I, uh…”

Her hair clung to the robe as she shook her head. She peered up at him then turned toward Dylan. Every ounce of concern in her voice transferred to her face, especially her eyes. They danced between his and Layne’s, finally stopping on Layne’s.

“I think you’ll reconsider leaving after you hear what I have to say.” She tucked the phone inside her robe, averting her eyes from everyone in the room. “That was our friend, Shawn, from Jamaica.”

The name struck a familiar chord in Dylan’s mind. “Are you talking about the guy who flew us back to Florida?”

She wrapped her arms around her chest, nodding in conformation. “When he returned from Miami, he went to double-check the locks at the cottage…but there was nothing to check.”

Layne’s brows scrunched together as he shot Dylan a quick glance. He started to say something, but turned back to Anna instead. “What do you mean there was nothing to check?”

The room fell silent once more. Each passing second increased the questions in Dylan’s mind. Just when he thought his patience had run out, Anna raised her eyes to Layne and whispered, “The cottage was blown to pieces.”

CHAPTER 10

The front of Heaven’s thighs ached as she topped the final step. Each labored breath made her nostrils burn from the cold air she inhaled. It had been months since she moved as fast as she had across the yard. Every anger-filled step pushed her to move quicker, though Dylan’s soul begged her to stop. He’d given up on his vocal pleas, knowing the vibrations he sent through their connection would have a bigger impact on her heart.

And they did.

Guilt washed over her to know her decision brought him this much anguish. The tug of his soul grew harder to ignore. The way it circled hers, pulling and releasing, stinging then soothing. She did her best to reassure him she was fine, but the calming pulse she sent had little effect. Even as he retreated back to the house, he fought the urge to join her on her mission.

God love him, he meant well. She knew that, but she couldn’t let this go. She had to confront the person responsible for the chaos erupting around her. Chaos that began building the last time she confronted the bitter creature on the other side of the door. Getting Faith to talk to her would be hard enough. At least, getting her to tell the truth. She wouldn’t be open, let alone be honest, if she had an audience.

Faith always had a knack for causing trouble, even from a distance. Nothing about her had changed through the years, including the apartment. It’s where she sought refuge, just like Heaven did in the cottage. Unfortunately for her sister, the safe haven she loved so much was about to become a verbal war zone. If not for the tiny nudges against her navel, she’d give her sister more than an ass chewing.

She gripped the handle to the screen door, but couldn’t open it. Not until her heart quit beating against her chest. If she went through the door in this state of mind, she wouldn’t get the answers she came to get. The stress she caused herself and Dylan would be for nothing.

A crisp breath of air filled her lungs once more, burning its way through her chest as she held it. Its piney scent helped clear her mind of the scene she’d just walked away from, and the one she was about to enter. She couldn’t think about Dylan, Layne, or the drama between them when she needed her energy to read her sister.

Releasing her breath, she pulled on the screen door, fighting against the resistance of the spring. Her fingers curled around the knob, giving it a slight twist. Maybe if she came barreling through the door, she’d catch Faith off guard. Then Heaven could sense whatever mischief brought her home.

Frustration seared her cheeks when the knob barely moved an inch. Faith had locked the door. Great. Guess the element of surprise wouldn’t be on her side. She’d have to rely on her abilities to see through her sister’s bullshit.

Four raps echoed in the air once her knuckles connected with the wood. As loud as it sounded to her, she doubted Faith would hear her knocking, not at five-thirty. Her sister wasn’t an early morning type of girl. She’d sleep ‘til noon if given the chance, but she wouldn’t get that lucky today.

Heaven leaned closer to the door, listening for something that would signify she’d knocked loud enough. Each beat of her heart made it difficult to hear anything. She couldn’t help it. Her frayed nerves competed with the vibrations of energy spinning around her—anger-fueled energy that belonged to her husband and her Keeper.

Why couldn’t they get along for five minutes? She didn’t have time for their childishness. It was this type of behavior that had her standing at the door, waiting for what would be the worst argument that she and Faith ever shared, an argument that was undeniably closer than she wanted.

A series of thumps resonated from the front side of the apartment, the exact location of the largest bedroom. She jerked away from the locked door, focusing on the blinds that covered the window. It wouldn’t be long before Faith’s voice filled the air, most likely full of sarcasm.

The sound of footsteps increased in volume and frequency, as if Faith were scurrying to the front of the house. Perhaps her sister was expecting someone, or she had company. It was hard to say with Faith. Heaven would know the difference when she met her sister’s eyes, which would be any second. Yep, any second now…maybe just a few more…or an additional few…or…

Silence reclaimed the air, short of the whistles and chirps in the distance. The first song of the morning came by way of a cardinal, not far from where Heaven stood. A quick twist of her head brought the driveway into view, as well as the bird. She spotted the handsome male with his bright red feathers and black face. He sat atop an azalea bush near her mother’s car.

As much as she enjoyed hearing his sweet song, she had more pressing issues. Like dealing with the she-devil on the other side of the door. And she was definitely on the other side. Her car was parked directly in front of their mother’s. No wonder Heaven hadn’t noticed it when they arrived.

Clicking drew her attention back to the door as it cracked open a couple of inches.  Jade-colored eyes stared at her before the brows above them knitted. “You have
got
to be kidding me.”

And there it was. The same, annoying voice that Heaven would recognize in a crowd of thousands. One that sent shivers down her spine, like nails on a chalkboard. She’d rather hear the nails.

“What’s the matter, Faith? Were you expecting someone else?”

“Hardly,” she grumbled through the crack. Her eyes darted past Heaven’s face, contradicting the lie she told. A cool breeze blew against the door, opening it another inch, but the chain above the handle stopped it. Faith curled her fingers around the edge, as if she didn’t trust the lock to hold. She gazed at it, then back to Heaven, replying, “What the hell are you doing here?”