Part 24 (1/2)

A Jaguar sure as h.e.l.l wasn't as nimble along the rutted mountain roads as the four-wheel-drive Jeep had been, but Rene figured it wasn't his G.o.dd.a.m.n transmission or suspension to worry about f.u.c.king up, so he made do. He drove around the basin of Emerald Bay, then cut up into the hills, past the locked gate that marked the perimeter of his property, and from there, deep into the lush pine-covered slopes.

For three days now, they'd topped the news all around Lake Tahoe. A historic landmark like Vikingsholm had pretty reliable security systems in place, and between Monica Davenant tossing Tessa through an upstairs window and Brandon battering one in on the ground floor, alarms aplenty had apparently been sounded. Rene was frankly astonished that Brandon had managed to get Tessa out of the house and both of them clear of the area before the police had arrived. What had probably started out as nothing more than a simple vandalism investigation had quickly s.h.i.+fted to full-blown murder with the grisly discovery of Monica's body.

Rene listened as a local morning radio personality recapped viewers with all of the gory details as he pulled the Jaguar to a halt beside his vacant watch house.

”...and I have a friend down at the local precinct who tells me-hand to G.o.d here, gang-that this dead woman's got one of those carved dragon crossbeams sticking out of her head. I'm not kidding. Someone rammed one of those big old things-have you seen them over there at Vikingsholm?-clear through this lady's skull. Now I don't know about you, but in my book, that's some weird sh-”

Rene turned off the engine, killing the radio. As he got out of the car, he paused, looking over his shoulder into the trees. He felt inexplicably like he was being watched. It was a sensation he'd come to expect from this place; usually it was a comforting, welcome sort-like he was home, he'd told Tessa, and that had been the honest to Christ's truth-but it felt different that morning.

The air felt heavy and still to him, the pervasive cold seeping through the insulating layer of his down coat and permeating clear down to his bones.

He mounted the stairs leading up to the wraparound porch and fished his keys from his pocket. Before unlocking the door or stepping foot into the house, he unlatched several of the window padlocks and propped open the shutters, sending a spill of pale sunlight across the interior floor. There was no promise of making love to Tessa that morning to distract him from his claustrophobia, and he needed to be at the top of his game for what was about to come.

He could see Martin Davenant inside, still bound to the post and gagged; he squinted, baring his teeth in a grimace around the washcloth in his mouth at the sudden, blinding glare.

”Bon jour,” Rene said, opening the front door and walking inside.

Martin didn't say anything. He glared at Rene from over the edge of his gag, keeping his teeth clenched deeply into the fabric. The scratches on his face had all but healed, but there was still dried blood crusted around his nostrils, caked on his upper lip and the corners of his mouth. When Rene leaned over, jerking it sharply, freeing the washcloth from his mouth, he turned his head to the side, gulping and gagging loudly for breath.

”You...you son of a b.i.t.c.h...” he spat at Rene. ”What are you?” Without Tessa there, he could clearly sense Rene now, the Brethren component of his nature without mistaking it for hers. ”Who are you, you...you b.a.s.t.a.r.d f.u.c.k?”

”I'm the guy with your ledger, s.h.i.+t for brains.” Rene pulled the little leather-bound volume out from the inside pocket of his coat, waggled it just beneath Martin's nose, then tossed it on the floor.

He had Martin Davenant's attention now, whole and undivided, and he smirked, shaking his fingertip at the other man. ”I know what all of that is, mon ami. You've been a naughty boy, helping yourself off the top of the till all of these years. It sure would be a shame if Tessa's granddaddy found out what you've been up to, no? Especially since from what I understand, Augustus n.o.ble isn't the sort of man one crosses...unless of course you like the idea of being introduced headfirst to your own a.s.s.”

Martin cut his eyes to the ledger, then back to Rene. He took a moment to wheeze some more for breath, then wisely decided not to play dumb. ”What do you want?” he asked in a croak.

Rene smiled, reaching beneath his coat again, pulling out the Sig Sauer from the waistband of his jeans. Martin's eyes widened at the sight of the pistol and he shrank against the pole, suddenly, frantically twisting his hands against his bonds.

Rene dropped him a wink. ”I thought you'd never ask.”

Chapter Twenty-nine.

Someone knocked loudly enough at the door to rouse Tessa from a sound and dreamless sleep. ”Rene?” she called, her voice hoa.r.s.e and sleepy. She looked around the empty room, bewildered. ”Rene? Are you here?”

The knocking continued and Tessa stumbled to her feet. Rene was apparently gone, his clothes along with him, and she frowned as she pulled on a T-s.h.i.+rt and wiggled her way into her jeans.

She opened the door and found Brandon on the stoop. ”Hey,” she said with a smile, tucking her disheveled hair behind her ears.

”Good morning.”

What are you doing out of bed? Brandon's eyes had widened in alarm and he reached for her as she stepped aside, letting him into the room. You shouldn't be on your feet. You need to be resting! Where's Rene?

She shrugged. ”I'm not sure. He was here earlier. Maybe he went to get some breakfast.”

Rene had told her that Brandon and Lina had taken turns coming to check on her over the last few days. Tessa had been touched by their concern, moved by Brandon's obvious guilt and shame over her attack, and the fact she'd nearly lost the baby. Blaming himself for even those things furthest from his control was just a part of her twin's gentle nature.

He shouldn't have left you alone. Brandon tried to steer her toward the bed and she laughed, ducking away from him.

”Of course he should have. I'm fine, Brandon. Jesus, you're as bad as he is!”

Fine, huh? he asked, because when she twisted to sidestep out of his reach, she'd felt a slight shudder of pain that had made her wince visibly.”Mostly fine, then.” She touched her stomach, feeling that comforting glow of the baby's mind and her smile widened. ”I'm really, really good, in fact.”

When he c.o.c.ked his head and brow in tandem, curious, she blushed. ”I think it's a boy. I mean, I'm pretty sure it's a boy. I can really feel it now. It's like Rene's blood made it stronger-made both of us stronger somehow.” She rubbed her tummy again. ”It's a little boy.”

Brandon's face lit up and he smiled broadly. Holy s.h.i.+t, Tessa! he exclaimed. That's fantastic! Congratulations!

He moved to hug her, then hesitated, his expression growing uncertain. She laughed. ”I'm not going to break, Brandon,” she said, stepping against him, wrapping her arms around his neck. He relaxed against her, returning the embrace, holding her snugly.

I thought I lost you, he whispered in her mind, and when she stepped back, she saw his dark eyes glistening with tears. He averted his gaze to the floor. I just...when I saw all of that blood...realized what had happened, I just...I thought...

Don't cry, Tessa said as a tear rolled down his cheek. She felt her own throat constrict, her eyes suddenly sting. Oh, Brandon, you're going to make me cry, too. Stop it.

He glanced up, his eyes still swimming and she hugged him again, even more fiercely. It's all my fault, he said, clinging to her.

No, it's not, she said.

He trembled. I was so scared, Tessa. I...I thought I lost you.

I'm fine, Brandon, she said to him. I promise. Please don't cry. As she stroked her hand against his hair, she thought of all the years she'd lost with him, four long years trapped in Martin Davenant's house, years in which the twins had each been tormented in their own ways, suffered their own abuses-suffering that had only been compounded because they hadn't had each other to turn to for comfort or support. You'll never lose me again, Brandon, she thought. I promise that, too.

She drew away from him and he reached into the hip pocket of his jeans. He sniffled, his brows furrowed slightly as he struggled to compose himself. Here, he said, pulling his hand out, his fingers folded into a fist as he offered something to her. With his free hand, he swatted at his face, wiping away tears. I...I thought you'd like to have this.

Curious, she looked down as he opened his hand. To her surprise, she saw the green sapphire pendant resting in the basin of his palm, the filigree gold chain coiled beneath it in a small pile.

Monica Davenant had it around her neck, he said. I found it before we left Vikingsholm, when I checked to make sure she was dead.

When Tessa didn't immediately move to take the necklace, instead gazing at it for a long, uncertain moment, his brows lifted.

Tessa, come on. Don't let one stupid, s.h.i.+tty memory from me spoil all of the countless wonderful ones you have of Grandmother Eleanor. I don't know how she felt or what she meant that day, but I know that I love you, even if she didn't. So let this pendant stand for that, if nothing else. He smiled feebly. That's got to be worth something, doesn't it?

She looked into his dark eyes, nearly mirror images of her own, and couldn't help but smile. ”It's worth a lot, Brandon,” she said, slipping the necklace from his hand. She dropped him a wink, then mouthed the words olive oil, making him laugh. ”That makes it priceless, in fact.”

Chapter Thirty.

Little more than an hour later, Brandon opened his motel room door, his eyes flying wide when he saw Rene leaning heavily against the door frame.

Jesus! What happened? the younger man exclaimed.”Je suis bien,” Rene said as Brandon got an arm around his middle and led him, stumbling and dizzy, into the room. ”I'm all right, pet.i.t.”

That's bulls.h.i.+t, Rene-you're bleeding! Brandon eased him down into an armchair and squatted beside him, visibly stricken. He reached for Rene, the shallow but messy laceration that cleaved a crooked path from his left temple to his cheekbone. What happened?

Rene shook his head. ”Nothing I didn't bring on myself,” he said, squinting against the sting of blood in his eye. Brandon stood, rus.h.i.+ng to the sink vanity and soaking a washcloth under the cold tap. ”I did something really f.u.c.king stupid, pet.i.t. And I need you to help me fix it.”