Finding Abigail (16 page)

“I promise, baby. I’m reformed.”

“Uh-huh. We’ll just have to make sure.”

“Oh, really, how are you going to do that?”

“Well, I was thinking along the lines of a blowjob that will make you forget everything else.”

The car swerved, and Abby laughed. “Don’t do that to me when I’m driving, Abigail.”

“Sorry.”

“No you’re not.”

“True.”

“Shit!” Tyler yelled as he slammed on the brakes.

Abby braced herself as he pulled to a stop, and she looked out the window.

Aeneas stood in the middle of the road, a smile on his face.

Visions of what he’d done to her assaulted her. The scars that still lined her body burned in protest, and her heartbeat sped.

“Stay in the car, Abigail,” Tyler said as he got out.

“What? No, don’t do this. I can help you.”

He leaned over and kissed her hard. “I can’t think if you’re in danger, okay? Stay here and get in the driver’s seat so you can drive away if you need to.”

“Not without you.”

“Please, Abigail.”

“Fine, but if you get hurt, I’m going to kick your ass. He’s not worth it, Tyler.”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too. Be careful.”

She climbed into the driver’s seat and watched as the love of her life walked toward Aeneas. She rolled down the window so she could hear.

“What you are doing, Aeneas? You lost? Go home,” Tyler said calmly. More calmly than she would have spoken.

“I see you’re still with her. For now.”

“Forever, if I have any say in it.”

Forever?
She’d have to put that aside for now.

“I haven’t lost yet. I’ll just have to change my plans.”

“Just leave us. You can’t win.”

“I didn’t get to keep my Dido, so you can’t keep your Abigail.”

“Dido?” Tyler asked, echoing Abigail’s thoughts.

“My love. She was the first of Cupid’s follies. The first to be struck by an arrow. Because of that, she’s gone. Why can’t you understand that?”

All of this because Dido, the woman Aeneas had loved, was gone? But what did that mean? Had she died? Had she left him? What did this have to do with Cupid? They’d looked up the history, but they’d never thought, even with the rare name, it had been the same person. Plus, it hadn’t made sense to them that Aeneas’s vengeance would last so long. There were way too many questions and not enough answers. She gripped the steering wheel. 

Come on, Tyler, don’t do anything stupid
.

Like get out of the freaking car when a crazy man stood outside.

“The histories said that you left Dido,” Tyler said, and Abby winced.

Antagonizing the man is not the best thing to do, Tyler
.

“The histories have it wrong,” Aeneas spat. “I didn’t leave her. Not really. She died because of Cupid.”

Unable to watch anymore, Abby got out of the car, ignoring Tyler’s scowl.

“I’m sorry, Aeneas, that she died. She must have loved you,” she said, taking a guess.

“Of course she did! We were in love before the first strike of an arrow. But Cupid had to ruin it all. All that magic was too much for her and she couldn’t stay with me. And because of that pain, I was doomed to roam the earth without her for eternity. But at least I’m not human…or a cupid.”

“I’m sorry you lost her.”

“She killed herself because of Cupid and his magic. But, I won’t let her die in vain. Watch yourselves because I’ll find a way to make you lose everything you want.”

With that, he shot forward, faster than she would have thought possible, threw Tyler across the hood of the SUV and Tyler landed with a grunt, and had Abby in his hands by the neck.

She struggled in his hold, the harpy in her coming out, her talons scraping against his skin.

“I won’t kill you, not now, but be warned: I will make you, your man, and all the other cupids pay.” He squeezed harder, and black spots formed behind her eyes. He dropped her, and she fell to her knees, a sharp pain radiating through her legs.

Before she could open her eyes, he was gone and Tyler was by her side.

“Abigail? Baby? Talk to me.”

“I’m fine,” she croaked out.

“Why did you get out of the car?” he asked as he got them in the SUV and on their way to Jackson’s.

“I didn’t want you to stand alone.”

“I’m never alone, not anymore.”

“He’s not done with us, is he?” she asked as they pulled up to Jackson’s. Even though Apneas had already said that very thing, she needed to hear it from Tyler.

“No, so I don’t want you to go out alone.”

“You’re not allowed to either.” She held up her hand. “Don’t pull that tough guy crap.”

“Fine, but we’ll find a way to stop him.”

“I could use that drink now.”

“Good, because Jackson is staring at us from the porch and looks angry. You’d think this was an actual event, not just a get-together. My brother is a bit crazy about being late.”

“What’s new about that?” she asked as Tyler laughed.

It was good to see him laugh because she knew it wasn’t over with Aeneas. Not by a long shot.

Chapter 12

“We’re going to have to figure out how to take care of this guy,” Jackson said as he took another drink of his beer.

Tyler nodded and did the same. “He’s seriously crazy, Jacks.”

“All of this because of a woman that he left?” Brayden asked, a frown on his face.

Tyler nodded. “I remember reading something about Dido and Aeneas and how they were the first couple Cupid introduced through his arrow. But I never thought it was the same Aeneas. I didn’t think he could live that long. But I should have considering how old Santa is.”

“The man wants to deny cupids love because he left the one he loved and changed his mind?” Jackson said as he scowled. “He’s an idiot.”

“Tell it like it is, Jacks,” Brayden drawled. “Well, we can’t let you and Abby out of our sights. There’s no way we’re letting the two of you alone.”

“I can take care of Abigail,” Tyler said, even as the doubt crept in. 

He’d seen the way Aeneas had taken over in a matter of moments. Tyler hadn’t even had time to figure out how to use his new cupid strength to defend himself, let alone Abigail. Cupids shouldn’t have needed strength to do their job, but Tyler liked the extra perk anyway. He’d watched from the hood of the SUV, trying to get up, as Abigail clawed at Aeneas with her talons, yet he couldn’t break free of his hold.

They’d have to find a way, other than brute strength, to defeat the man. There was no way they could live the rest of their lives on guard, always afraid of where to turn because of a crazy man with a death wish. He wanted to raise babies with his Abigail and watch them grow up safe and sound. He wanted to grow old with Abigail and live long and happy lives together.

They wouldn’t be able to do that with Aeneas around.

And, yes, before all this, all those thoughts would have sent him into a crazy spin of bachelor attitude, but not anymore.

He wanted Abigail in his life forever.

As soon as they took care of Aeneas, he’d ask her to marry him. 

They might have been together only a couple weeks, but their relationship was different. They’d loved each other for years, yet Tyler hadn’t known it. The feelings the he had were those of years of love, not just the moments he felt now. He didn’t want to waste any more time.

He just had to make sure they would be safe first.

Easier said than done.

“Tyler?” Jackson asked. “Are you listening?”

He shook his head to clear his thoughts. There would be more than enough time to think of his future with Abigail once they found a way to stop Aeneas.

“Sorry, no, I wasn’t,” he finally said. “What were you saying?”

Jackson raised a brow but didn’t comment on Tyler’s lack of attention. Sometimes his brother was a little too much like a parent.

“We were just trying to plan how to keep you safe. Any thoughts?”

Tyler let out a breath. “Sorry again. And I’m not sure. I know we don’t want Abigail to be alone; that’s a given.”

“Of course,” Brayden said. “I don’t think any of us should be alone either. Just in case he tries to go after more of the family.”

“Okay, we need to call Ally then and let her know.”

Brayden’s eyes stormed over when they mentioned Ally’s name. “I already thought that. I’ll go to her place and let her know.”

“And drive alone?” Jackson asked.

“You can come with me if you want, but I don’t want her alone with the kids.”

How on earth did Brayden not know he was in love with the woman?

“Okay,” Jackson said and stood up. “The rest of you guys can stay here for a while. We’ll call and then figure out what to do for the future. At least for now though, I’d like to keep everyone safe in groups.”

“Are you okay to drive?” Tyler asked.

Both brothers nodded.

“Only had half of mine,” Brayden said. He gave Tyler a brief hug and walked out, Jackson following behind.

Aeneas had them all worried; yet there was nothing Tyler could think of to stop the man, or whatever he was.

“Tyler?” Abigail asked as she sat beside him on the couch.

“I’m fine. Brayden and Jackson just left to take care of Ally and the kids.”

She bit her lip and leaned into him. “We put them in danger, didn’t we?”

He hugged her tight and kissed her temple. “No, never think that. Aeneas is the one who did. Not you. Not me.”

“But if it weren’t for us…”

“No, stop it.” He gripped her chin and forced her gaze to his. “Aeneas is the one who left Dido and lost her. She killed herself. Cupid didn’t kill her.”

She cupped his cheek and tilted her head. “I know that. Cupid’s magic,
your
magic, isn’t the reason these things happen. Your magic is love, not pain. You don’t force people to fall for each other. You just take down that internal barrier. You can’t do wrong with your magic, Ty.”

Some of the tension eased out of his shoulders at her words. “How on earth did you know what I was thinking before I even realized it?”

“Because I know you. You’re worried that you’ll somehow cause something like this in the future. You care about people, Tyler, even when the curse was on you. You’re the sheriff. You take care of everyone you can. You don’t want to think about the idea that you could somehow hurt someone with your powers.”

Yes, he’d been worried, but he’d never voiced it. Even though he knew that Aeneas was the one who had caused everything, there was still that lingering doubt.

“I just don’t want to cause that same pain.”

“You can’t, Tyler. Aeneas left Dido for his own reasons, but Cupid had nothing to do with it. Just because the arrow takes away that barrier doesn’t mean they’ll be together forever. Not that I know a lot about them, but I do know that relationships take work. They’re not just happiness and rainbows. They take time, effort, energy, and everything in between.”

“I’m not the best person at relationships either, you know.”

“I do know. That’s why we’re going to work hard together at it. We don’t just get to leave when things get tough.”

He touched his forehead to hers. “We need to beat him.”

“I know. But how?”

“We can’t win against his strength. I don’t know how to use mine all the time. I’m not reliable.”

“And I don’t even know what I have yet. I mean it looks like only a temper and talons. Not that much help in the long run.”

He kissed her nose and inhaled her sweet rose scent. “Then we’ll find another way.”

“How?” she asked again.

“Okay, what do we have that can hurt him?”

“What about your arrows?”

He shook his head. “No, that won’t do it. It only finds the one that he loves, right? Well, Dido is long since gone.”

Arrows…

“What about
his
arrows?” he asked as an idea formed in his mind.

“What do you mean?” Abigail asked, even as her eyes widened as her thoughts seemed to be similar to his own.

“His arrows. They take away the one thing that makes a person themselves. They took our possibilities.” He growled at that and tugged her closer, needed to feel her warmth. “And when he hit you with it, he tried to take your kindness. But I think he made a mistake there since you’re stronger than he is.”

She grinned. “I’m not the same person I was, but I can control my anger if I think of you. But what would hitting him with his own arrow do?”

“I don’t know exactly. But it might help. What makes him,
him
?”

“His anger? His loss? His immortality? Pretty much everything.”

He nodded. “Any of those would work. Maybe it will take away something to make it easier for us to take him down and keep you safe.”

“How are we going to get them though?”

“Well, he always has them on him. He has to. They’re a part of him.”

“He’s more like a cupid than he wants to admit.”

“Maybe it will turn him into a cupid. Though with the way he likes to cause pain, I’m not sure I want him to have anything to do with love.”

Anger coursed through him at the memory of Abigail in the dark room, blood surrounding her as she writhed in pain.

Oh, he’d kill the man if he could just for that.

“I’m okay,” she whispered. “Stop thinking of what happened.”

Easier said than done.

“You first,” he said as he watched the shadows in her eyes dance. 

“We’re not going to figure it out right now. Let’s just rest so we have the energy to take him,” she said as she laid her head on his chest.

He caressed her thigh through her tight jeans and sighed. There wasn’t a way to make everything better with just a wish. They had no idea where Aeneas lived or stayed when he was in town. The only thing they could do was prepare to take him down with his own arrow when the time came. 

With Jackson and Brayden at Ally’s to protect her and the kids, Tyler felt somewhat better. That left him, Justin, and Matt to stay with Rina, Abigail, and Jordan. Though Justin and Rina have a connection in which they could use magic, he didn’t know if it would be enough to take down Aeneas. And Jordan could use her magic to protect what she could.