Tainted Legacy (YA Paranormal Romance) (16 page)

But now he found himself using it for a different reason. He was curious about her. He was constantly being surprised by her. Like tonight, he hadn’t meant to reveal anything about his family but the open concern and, as Ava admitted, actual caring caused him to open up in a way that he’d never felt compelled to before. With each admission that tumbled from his mouth he expected her emotions to slam him with contempt or condescension but all he felt was an intense desire to understand.

He had never, in his life, felt what it was like to have someone care for him before, let alone known what it was like to have someone desire to understand him.

Of course he hadn’t gone so far as to tell her the truth. He hadn’t lied, for once, but Ava would not have been able to handle the entire truth. If she knew what his father was, what
he
was, he was sure that he’d feel more than contempt. He would fully expect her to loath and fear him.

“Did you finally make a mess of things then?” Rafe asked. He was cutting through a hunk of ham, slicing off a piece for a sandwich.

“What does Father want with Ava?” Gabe demanded.

Rafe looked up at Gabe with carefully blank eyes.

“You do know,” Gabe realized. He had doubted Rafe knew much more than he did. Their father was secretive beyond measure. His gut twisted with the knowledge that Rafe had been enlightened when he hadn’t. “What is it?”

“I’ve got no idea,” his brother casually replied as he began to slice off a piece of tomato.

“You’re lying.”

“If you need to know, ask Father.”

“Father isn’t here. I’m asking
you
. Ava’s only seventeen. She’s not even out of high school yet. What could she possibly have that he would be interested in?
She has no company, no money, no...Is it Daniel St. Clair? Is Father using Ava to get close to him? Is he planning on infiltrating the church?” Gabe stepped closer to Rafe. Anyone else would’ve been intimidated. Rafe stood his ground, his eyes burning with as mu Kng iltrch hatred as Gabe’s.

“I said…ask Father. I will not break his trust by telling you what you do not need to know.  Obviously, he only trusted one of us with this information. It wasn’t you.”

Gabe lunged across the counter, grabbing Rafe’s wrist and twisting it until it cracked like a snapping tree branch. “
Tell me what he’s going to do with her
!”   

Rafe’s body heaved as he turned on Gabe, slamming him onto the cold kitchen tile. “Don’t you ever forget which one of us is stronger, little brother. When I give you an answer, you listen.” He ground his knee into the base of Gabe’s spine as he plunged the knife he’d been wielding into his back

Chapter 11

“Dinner was excellent, Ava, thank you,” her mom said with a smile. “I had no idea I would get out of work so late. I appreciate you throwing it together on such short notice.”

“N Nng ilimeo problem,” Ava told her. “I was already done walking Hercules so I didn’t have anything else to do.” She enjoyed cooking. If she had to choose a household chore to take over, making dinner would always be her preference.

“It was very good,” her dad agreed as he rose from the table, taking his plate to the sink to rinse it. “I hate to run off but I promised Charles Henderson I’d stop in after dinner. Marianne isn’t doing well.”

The Hendersons were longtime parishioners. First belonging to Ava’s grandfather’s parish and then moving to her father’s when the antiquated church closed its doors. Marianne had been battling pancreatic cancer for a while now. Charles and her grandfather had been friends and she had fond memories of them together. She adored Marianne and often stopped by to visit with the couple after school.

“Wait a sec,” Ava requested as she leapt up from her place at the table. “I made them a pineapple upside down cake since I was in here making dinner anyway. Charles bought both of the ones I made at the last church fundraiser. He told me they were almost as good as Marianne’s,” Ava said with a playful smirk. She took a covered platter from the counter and handed it to her dad. “I was going to bring it over to them tomorrow but since you’re visiting tonight, tell them I’ll stop in one afternoon next week.”

“Thanks, sweetheart, I’m sure they’ll appreciate it,” Daniel said as he leaned over and kissed Ava on the forehead. “I shouldn’t be gone too long,” he told his wife as he departed from the kitchen.

“So how did the cat turn out?” Ava asked her mom.

Leah worked as a veterinary technician for the animal clinic in town. She had called Ava to let her know she was running late because someone’s cat had jumped off their second story deck, breaking its leg. The owner had called, frantic, just as they were closing. Of course, these types of emergencies were never planned but could always be expected. They waited for her to arrive so they could fix the little guy up.

“It was a pretty nasty break,” she said with a grimace. “A compound fracture of both the ulna and radius. The cat took it pretty well but I thought his owner was going to pass out in the lobby. It was pretty touch and go for a minute. I had to have her sit with her head between her knees. Then when she saw the bill, I thought she was going to have to sit with her head between her knees again.”

“I suppose I shouldn’t laugh at that?” Ava asked as her lips twitched anyway. She started rinsing off the dinner dishes.

“No, you shouldn’t,” Leah agreed with a slight smile of her own. “So what are you girls doing tonight?” she asked Grier who was loading the dishwasher.

Grier turned to Ava.

“A movie for sure,” Ava told her mother.

They were going on their group, well, not date exactly. Their group outing. Ava had suggested to Molly that they all go see a movie. She thought per Se tgoihaps the less social interaction the evening involved, the better. At least the first time Gabe met Grier. Ava hoped they would get along fine but with Grier, she was never sure.

“Gabe’s picking us up and we’re meeting Julia, Molly and Oliver at the theater. I’m not sure if we’ll do anything after that or not.”

“That sounds like fun. I hope you have a good time,” Leah told them with sincerity. She smiled encouragingly at Grier who only nodded.

“What are you going to do?” Ava asked her mom. “You’ll have the house to yourself for a while.”

“Oh, the usual I suppose. A few loads of laundry since it doesn’t wash itself.” Her mother sighed with mock annoyance.

“I did the laundry,” Grier told her. “You should read a book.”

“Thank you, Grier,” Leah said as she gave her a sideways hug that she did not return. “That was really sweet of you. I’ve had one sitting on my dresser that I just haven’t been able to get around to opening.”

“I know,” Grier told her. “It’s why I did the laundry.”

“Oh,” Leah said as she glanced out the window. “I believe the silver car that just pulled up belongs to Gabe. You can leave the rest of the dishes.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Ava said then turned to her sister. “Grier, I forgot my jacket in my bedroom. Can you get the door while I run up to grab it?”

Grier nodded and Ava darted out of the kitchen. She swiped her jacket off of her bedroom floor as the doorbell rang. She listened for Grier’s footsteps. She thought she heard the door open but nothing more. She walked to the top of the stairs and peered down into the foyer.

Grier was standing in the doorway, blocking it. She frowned as she stared up at Gabe, neither greeting him nor inviting him in. Ava watched from the top of the stairs. She had wanted to see how Gabe reacted to her sister. However, her sister was the one she was immediately frustrated with. Ava huffed out an agitated sigh. She had wanted for Gabe and Grier to get along but if Gabe didn’t care much for Grier after such a cold greeting, Ava would hardly blame him.

“I’m Gabe,” he finally said after the excessively drawn out, awkward silence. Ava couldn’t see Gabe from where she stood but she could only imagine he was getting annoyed.

“I know,” Grier replied to his introduction.

When she did not elaborate, he tried again.  “I’m here to see Ava.” 

Grier simply nodded.

“Grier!” Ava exclaimed as she bounded down the stairs. “Let the poor guy in!”

Grier stepped back, allowing Gabe to enter. He gave her a wary look, sidestepping her as Ava came up to him and slid an arm around his waist.

“Grier, that was rude,” Ava gently reminded her. At some point in her life she was going to need to pick up on the standard social graces, including inviting someone in.

“It’s fine,” Gabe said. He seemed to regain his composure and he flashed Grier a charming smile. She scowled back. “You’re coming with us tonight, right?” he asked.

“I am,” Grier said. The simple words came out sounding like a challenge.

“Good,” Gabe told her which only caused her scowl to deepen.

“Oh, for heaven’s sakes Grier,” Ava said quietly. “Put a smile on your face and grab a jacket.”

Grier grabbed the jacket but left the smile behind. Leah poked her head out of the kitchen to greet Gabe and to tell them to have a good time.

And to be careful.

Grier nodded solemnly.

The trio walked to Gabe’s car with Grier eyeing it suspiciously.

“I would like to walk,” she decided.

“Why?” Ava demanded. 

“It’s only a few blocks away,” Grier reminded her.

“I know that,” she gently told Grier. “But it sort of defeats the purpose of doing something as a group if you go off on your own.”

“I would still rather walk,” Grier stubbornly replied.

“Alright,” Ava sighed. “We’ll see you in a few minutes.”

She watched Grier set off down the street and then Ava and Gabe got in the car.

“I’m sorry about that,” she told him. “She always gets a little cranky when I start dating someone. I don’t think she likes change very much.”

“It’s okay,” he assured her. “It seems like she’s just watching out for you.” He paused. “She’s definitely a unique individual. I’ve never met anyone quite like her before.”

“I know, right?” Ava said with a slightly embarrassed laugh. “I’m really sorry she didn’t let you in. Sometimes I just don’t understand where she’s coming from.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Gabe assured her.

They passed Grier on the way to the theater but found Molly and Oliver waiting Siven="inside the doors. Molly introduced Gabe and Oliver to each other and the two of them got in line for tickets.

“No Grier?” Molly asked Ava. “Did you get Julia’s message?”

“Grier’s coming,” Ava explained. “She decided to walk. What’s up with Julia?”

“She isn’t coming. Her Mom got called in to work. The sitter couldn’t come so Julia had to watch Austin. She said she tried to call you but your phone wasn’t on,” Molly explained. “You know, in case Grier didn’t want to come.”

“I had it up in my bedroom charging while I took Hercules out. I had a busy night and forgot to turn it back on,” Ava told her knowing Grier did not care if Julia was along or not.