Nolan's Evolution (44 page)

Nolan’s eyes went to hers and she saw the instant softening. It gave her butterflies in her tummy knowing she could affect him this way.

“You said you would trust me,” she whispered.

“Aelan, I do,” he whispered back, stepping nearer and taking her arms in his hands. More than anything!”

She smiled up at him. “Then please don’t make a scene! I am trying to be discreet! This show of bravado is not helping.” She settled both hands on his chest and stood on tiptoe to kiss the underside of his jaw. “I love you and I understand the fear you feel for me, but I will be okay.”

Nolan sighed, and leaned his back against the wall. “I’m sorry.” He began rubbing the back of his neck. “I should learn by now that you are as stubborn as the day is long!” He shook his head.

She smiled and took David’s hand again. “Lucky neck,” she teased as they passed.

His frowny face was on strong. “Stubborn woman!”

She giggled at this.

“I don’t want you alone…”

“Maxim is coming with me,” she announced to her two protectors. “So trust him as well!” She hurried her way down a hall. The entourage followed her, which made her feel safe. She led the way to the only room that their conversation would be safe.

Once she David and Maxim were safely inside, she blew out a breath of relief.

“Okay, spill it David! Everything! I have to know what happens! What was the plan?”

David slumped onto a stool and shook his head. “I don’t even know where to start, Rain!” He ran a hand through his hair. “I was left out of most of it. I knew they intended on extorting Nolan’s gift. Richard was obsessed with it. Emmanuel fairly salivated with the idea of the power it would provide. He spoke many times about finally getting it over on Isaac. I have no idea what that meant. Isaac seemed fair and good to Emmanuel, always.”

Raina’s brow furrowed. “There has to be more to the story. And why did they decide to include you?”

David shrugged. “They just thought my presence would be the cherry on top! I swear I didn’t know they were going to kidnap you! If I had, I would have bowed out…or tried. You know I had no choice!”

She cut him with a glare. “You made your choice years ago, David”

Her words cut him.

“So, they took me. Why didn’t you tell Nolan? Why didn’t you contact Isaac?”

He ran a hand over his face. “Do you know what it would cost me to turn on one of Our Sovereignty? If I didn’t have absolute proof? I had no idea where you were. I was only supposed to come in at the end if things fell through. I was supposed to rile him up…get Nolan angry so that he got in trouble and would have to stand trial too!”

She crossed her arms. “And you agreed to do that part. Why?”

He raised his brow. “After what I found out between the two of you, I was only too happy! Like I said, I was jealous and wanted to make Nolan pay! I wanted to take away from him what I felt should have been mine!”

“I’m not yours.” Her blues flashed angrily.

He dropped his head in his hands. “You were at one time!”

Raina set her hands on her hips. “That was long ago!”

David laughed bitterly. “And now you are his?”

“Yes,” she answered without hesitation. “I have never wanted anyone else or loved anyone else.”

David held a hand to his chest. “Ouch,” he murmured.

Raina rolled her eyes and went to him. “You will not make he feel guilty for this David! Not after what you have done!”

“I was an idiot.”

“We’ve been over this,” she agreed, stepping up to him and setting a hand on his shoulder. “Now focus. We need your help. If Our Sovereignty…the right ones knew who was involved and how…”

He reflexively reached out to wrap an arm around her waist. He pulled her close. He buried his head against her stomach.

Raina held her hand up to Maxim as he ran forward. She allowed David the comfort of the hug. She even offered her own comfort by wrapping her arms around him. She sighed and fought the nostalgia. The familiarity of his touch brought up and memories…memories that had been far beyond painful before Nolan.

“You must help us, David,” she said softly.

He squeezed her tighter. “How?”

“You have to speak to Joseph. He can present what is necessary to Our Sovereignty.”

“That would be my death sentence.”

She shook her head. “They will take care of you. We have absolute proof now. I am testifying!” She worried at the wisdom of giving him this information.

“I don’t know if I can,” he sighed.

She tenderly brushed his blonde hair with her fingers. “You can. I believe some of my old David is in there. My David would never stand by and let such things happen.” 

He laughed harshly. “I messed up Rain! I really messed up by letting you go!” His arms became a vice about her.

“David,” she whispered. “We can’t change this! You can only do what you can do to make this right!”

“Take me back,” he murmured. “Forgive me and take me back!”

She brushed her fingers through his hair again. She felt him tremble. “We are done, David. There is no going back from this!”

He tilted his face up, so close to hers now. “There’s nothing there? Nothing left?”

She shook her head. “Can’t you see how I love Nolan?”

He silenced her as his hand gripped the back of her neck and he pulled her down to kiss her.

Raina froze. There was no familiarity in his kiss. There was no spark. She pushed at his shoulders.

David kissed her with tenderness, but he could feel her lack of response. He pulled against her pushing hands and then he felt Maxim’s massive hand on the back of his neck as he pulled him away from her. He also felt the slam of the wall behind his back…his breath coming out in and ooff sound.

Raina held her hand to her mouth.

David saw the horrification in her eyes. “It’s just not the same is it? My lips don’t feel like Nolan’s do they?”

Raina turned from him, not liking the angry edge in his voice. He was beyond emotional, and she wasn’t sure if she’d be able to get to him now.

"As angry as I am a right now, I still want good for you. You need to break away from Richard. You need to be yourself. You have all of this life left ahead of you."

"I don't have you," he sighed. "So what's the point?"

Raina neared him again without fear. She saw Maxim's arms flex with tension still pressing his captive to the wall.

"That's no excuse." Her blue eyes flashed at him in anger. "Be a man, David. Make up for what you did do. I promise you would have my utmost respect if you did."

He shook his head. "Do you know what Richard would do to me? I'm in too deep Rain!"

She shook her head at him. "This is pointless Maxim. Let's go."

Maxim's hands fell from David and David slumped to the ground.

“We say nothing to Nolan or Thanatos of this,” Raina said softly to the big man.

Maxim nodded. He glanced at the man crumpled on the floor.

They left him just like that.

Chapter 17 Worth It

              “Do you feel it was worth it? Talking to David?”

Raina glanced up, as Jonathan neared her. She was sitting on a bench in the back of Joseph’s yard. Maxim was only yards away, watching over her. She had needed away from the house; away from her immortals. Jonathan was welcome though. She felt the same comforting kindness that his grandfather provided.

“Yes,” she said softly, as he took the seat next to her.

He grinned and drew in a deep breath. “Raina and her optimism,” he chuckled. “It is why so many love you.”

She smiled back. “If you are going to do something…you should do it full out!”

His warm brown eyes met hers. “Richard, my dad, was locked away in a room today. Two immortal guards are outside the door. Two are inside the room. Time for social liberties are up for him. No more dinner with Our Sovereignty. No more freedom for him.”

Raina chewed her lip. “I was certain he would try something to get out of it! He was so adamant about not going down.”

Jonathan nodded and then shook his head. “I wish we could speak freely.” He sat back and crossed his arms. “I know why he tried nothing…why he is going along. He thinks he is untouchable.”

Raina lifted her brow. Emmanuel! Richard felt that Emmanuel would pardon him. They really believed she hadn’t said anything? That she had not remembered Emmanuel’s presence in her little cell? Now she too wanted to speak freely! They didn’t believe she knew about his involvement. This so worked in their favor.

Jonathan saw by the light in her eyes that the message was received.

“When do I speak to Isaac?” she whispered.

He held a finger to his lips. He was right, the less they said, the better.

“I was just talking to Nolan,” he changed the subject. “Actually, I was listening in on his thoughts, since he wants to act like a hard ass and not talk. He is trying to be so strong for you!”

Raina’s tummy did a free fall.

“He’s very concerned over you.”

“What’s new?” she laughed.

He grinned.

“Is he concerned I have feelings for David still?”

Jonathan laughed, and shook his head. “He is over that. He’s just concerned over your new independence.”

This made Raina laugh. “He is the one who wanted me to have it!”

“He doesn’t want you to move beyond the realm of his protection, by striking out on your own.” Jonathan shrugged.

“At the chance of him overhearing this, I will embarrass myself.” She stared down at her hands. “I’ve been trying to be independent so that he would not tire of having to protect me.” She smiled. “I will always depend on his protection.” She drew in a deep breath. “But I can stand on my own two feet, on my own, when it is necessary. I am not the frail flower I use to be.”

Jonathan nodded, agreeing with her statement.

Her heart missed a beat when she saw Nolan coming out the back door. She had needed time alone, but the sight of him changed that need.

Jonathan chuckled. “Well, our visit, I see, will be cut short. I do want to leave you with this; someone took your advice. My grandfather had a visitor this afternoon. I was asked to draw a contract.”

Raina looked at him in surprise. “No!”

“Yes.”

She couldn’t help her impulse to hug him. “Thank you, Jonathan! I needed to hear that!”

He squeezed her back, gently and then turned to the approaching Nolan. “Afternoon,” he greeted, getting to his feet. He gave Nolan a nod and clapped his shoulder with his hand.

Nolan nodded his own greeting.

“I’ll be heading back in,” Jonathan continued. He started away from the two.

“Jonathan,” Nolan called. There was a growl in his voice.

Jonathan looked back with amusement. His gift allowed him to know the words that were ready to pass Nolan’s lips.

“Stay out of my head.”

Jonathan laughed, turned, and shook his head. “Then stop pushing me out, my friend!” He started to whistle, as he walked away, throwing a fair well glance to Maxim.

Nolan chuckled and sat next to his Raina. “Are you avoiding me?” His silver eyes turned on her.

Raina lost her voice for a moment. She simply stared back.

“Was I too intense this morning? My reaction?”

She shook her head. “I expected you to be upset with my decision. I knew you would understand eventually.”

He leaned back in the bench and let his shoulder rest against hers. “Did you expect my jealousy?”

Raina could smell the fresh scent of him. He had just showered. “Did you go work out?”

He grinned. “I had to get my frustration out somehow. I couldn’t take it out on David or I’d be in trouble. I couldn’t take it out on Thanatos, he’s on my side. And I couldn’t take it out on you…or with you because I’m trying to behave while at my friend’s house…and so many witnesses.” His eyes darkened a smidge.

Raina blushed.

“Such a lovely shade of pink.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek, tenderly.

Raina leaned into his shoulder. “Tomorrow is the day then?”

He nodded. “There are witnesses showing up and those who are going to go before Our Sovereignty too. Since Richard will be on trial, they decided to get the other issues out of the way too. It’s going to be a busy day. A long day,” he sighed. “Boring day.” He reached for her hand and threaded his fingers through hers. “You have a meeting at six. I spoke to…” He stopped before he could reveal the name. His fingers tipped her chin and he looked into her eyes and mouthed. ISSAC. “Are you ready for that?”

She nodded.

“I’m hoping that will mean little involvement for you.”

Raina saw the protectiveness in his eyes. “As long as you are here. I’m okay.”