Turbulence (7 page)

He stopped Barney and his stream of logic right there. “This
is all unfortunate and I feel for the victims and their loved ones, but what
you’re saying does not mean it was a Jhetan. Just last week one of my own was
brutally murdered. You should be looking at the humans. Read a newspaper to see
how much you all kill. And if it was one of the Jhetans, I’m not responsible for
those I don’t know about. Take it up with them, not me. Can I go now?”

A knowing smile played on Copeland’s thin lips. He slapped
another photograph on the desk. “No you can’t go. Look at this picture and tell
us we’re wrong. This person was seen near one of the crime scenes.”

Greyson glanced at the photo then brought it closer. He
nearly choked on the oxygen sucked into his lungs. The picture was grainy like
a shot from a surveillance camera. But he made out a male walking on a street.
His face was turned toward the camera, a strange inhuman glow in his eyes. With
him was a young woman. Possibly one of the victims. That wasn’t the strangest
part.

The male was Nile.

Copeland must have seen the shock wash over him. He said,
“You know him? He’s Jhetan?”

Greyson couldn’t even drudge up a smart remark. His voice
sounded as rough as sandpaper when he answered. “Yeah. He’s Jhetan. He’s not
one of mine. He was, but he was taken by Department X last year. We assumed he
was dead. When was this taken?”

“A couple weeks ago,” Barney responded.

Greyson sat back in the chair. This was impossible, but
there it was. Nile was alive. Others they’d written off probably were as well.
He needed to speak with Dex.

“Where’s Dex?” he asked. When he looked at Copeland and
Barney, their faces were serious, distressed even.

“He’s discussing the same thing with other agents,” Copeland
said distractedly. “Are you sure this man was abducted by Department X? You
haven’t seen him since then?”

“Positive. Department X is involved.”

“Looks that way, doesn’t it?”

Well, this just sucked.

----

Philip O’Day stared out of the tinted window from the
backseat of a Town Car. Not that there was much to see with the storm wreaking
havoc outside. A strong gust of wind shook the car as rain pelted the windows,
smudging his view of his surroundings.

Although the weather was in a state of rage, O’Day felt
calmer by the minute. Things were falling into place just as he wanted them to.
The Jhetan colony was once again in an uproar over the loss of one of its own
and Homeland Security was probably just as clueless as to what was occurring as
it had been years ago when Department X was operating as its own entity right
under its nose.

Soon there would be nothing standing in his way to having
this world in his hands. The Jhetans would one day fall under his thumb,
obeying his every word. Human citizens of the world would cower in fear and
look to him to save them, to make this world secure once again. He would own everyone.

The car slowed to a stop. Not long after, his door opened,
an umbrella poised overhead to shield him from the rain. He barely cast a
glance at the big male escorting him inside the building that served as
Department X’s center of operations. Ever since the Jhetans destroyed their
facility in Nevada, they operated from a base in Iowa, which worked out in
their favor. It was less than an hour’s drive from the place in Nebraska that
many Jhetans called home.

At first, O’Day’s identity was kept a secret from everyone
within Department X except those in positions of authority. When he finally
revealed himself, there was initial rebellion. Swift deaths to the
troublemakers and promises to do worse to anyone else that had a problem with
him silenced all further resistance. Now none questioned him. All respected
him.

O’Day dismissed his escort and walked into the training
room. This was his source of pride. No, not the training room. The people
within it. When the help of the exceptionally intelligent and lethal Larsen, he
was finally able to create his soldiers. They were faster, stronger, better
equipped than anything ever seen on this planet. Humans were able to break the
genetic strongholds the human body placed upon it. Jhetans became enhanced
versions of themselves. Every soldier was trained by military personnel and top
notch martial artists that he personally scouted out to work within the unit.
He accepted nothing but the best.

A smile coasted across O’Day’s lips. He watched in amusement
as two of his hulking soldiers attacked each other and went for blood. They
wouldn’t kill one another, but death wasn’t always the worse that could happen
to a person.

When the skirmish came to an end and the losing man was left
with one of his arms dangling uselessly at his side, O’Day nodded in approval
at the winner. The male’s eyes flashed black. The other man would heal. They
all healed at a rapid rate.

With dedicated soldiers trained to kill, to heed O’Day’s
every word, there was no way his plans would not come to fruition. No one could
stop the ball that was rolling. Before long, he would have all the power he so
desired. He would be this world’s rightful ruler.

----

Greyson looked around the small room that resembled a prison
cell more than a guest room. The thin bed, table, and television the only
furnishings. He knew he was being watched. A camera in the smoke detector on
the ceiling. Another in the vent on the wall. The walk-bys every thirty minutes
by a Homeland Security agent. You would have thought Greyson was the threat,
not Department X. Those bastards.

Greyson was ready to unleash every ounce of whoop ass he had
within him. Department X was ruining lives, taking lives and it was going to
stop once and for all. He swore that to himself.

He made himself more comfortable on the bed and grabbed the
phone attached to the bedside table. His cell phone had yet to be returned to
him, but he didn’t need it since he remembered the number he was dialing. It
used to be his before he gave it away.

“Hello?” The soft, sweet voice on the other end once again made
him grin so wide his jaws ached. Good thing no one was there to see him. He
would lose all of his cool points.

Greyson cleared his throat. “Avalon. It’s me.”

“Greyson? I didn’t recognize the phone number.”

“You wouldn’t. I’m calling on a different phone.”

“Should I save this number in my cell, sir?” she asked.

“No.”

“Oh.”

When there was nothing but awkward silence on the line he
said, “Were you asleep?”

“No. I was reading.”

“One of your romance novels?” He had yet to give her the one
he bought. Honestly, he was nervous. Greyson didn’t usually get nervous. Giving
a woman a gift was a big step for him. No matter how small and inexpensive the
gift was.

 “Yes.” He heard the smile in her voice. “It’s really good.”

“Oh yeah? Tell me about it.”

She did. Greyson didn’t think it sounded that good, but the
joy he heard while she gave him a synopsis made him want to hear about every
book she’d ever read. He would listen for hours, days if it made her happy.

“Sounds interesting,” he lied when she finished.

 “You’re just saying that, aren’t you?” Avalon was more
perceptive than he gave her credit for. He’d have to remember that.

“Yeah.”

She laughed. It sounded like the sweetest melody he’d ever
listened to. “Are you okay? How was your day?”

No one ever cared how Greyson was or what responsibilities
his day consisted of. It surprised him how good it felt for someone to ask, not
that he was going to tell Avalon. No need to frighten her with the gory
details. “I’m good. I learned some unexpected information that I would have rather
not. But it won’t be a problem for much longer if I have anything to do with
it,” he answered. “I wish I were home.”

“How long are you going to be gone?”

“Why? Do you miss me?”

“Just wondering,” Avalon responded after a slight pause.
“That’s all.”

“Uh huh. Sure,” he teased.

“It’s true.”

Greyson hoped it wasn’t true. He wanted her wishing him
home. It felt satisfying to think of someone awaiting his return. “What did you
do today? Besides household chores.” If he knew Avalon, she probably worked her
little self ragged.

“Well, Lily and I watched television and made cookies. It
was fun. She said it reminded her of what she used to do with her sister.”
Avalon paused. He could feel her hesitancy to say more through the phone.

Greyson sat up straighter in bed. “What? What happened,
Avalon? You can tell me.”

“I didn’t know about her sister. I knew Lily had a twin
because of the pictures around the house, but I didn’t know more until today.
Then what you all went through with Department X. I’m so sorry.”

No. Avalon would not have known about that unless someone
told her. She’d been in Chicago, homeless at that time. He found himself
wishing he knew her for longer than he did.

“There’s nothing for you to be sorry about, Lonnie Girl,”
Greyson told her. It was in the past.

She sighed. “I know. You all went through so much, sir.”

“So have you. But we persevere. That’s what Jhetans do. And
Avalon?”

“Yes?”

“Stop calling me
sir
. I think we’re past that. Don’t
you?”

If he were there with her, Greyson imagined Avalon’s cheeks
flaming red. Her pale skin gave away her embarrassment and nervousness easily.
It was cute. “I suppose you’re right. Greyson.”

“I am right. Ninety-nine percent of the time I am,” he
joked.

“Oddly enough, I believe you. You still did not answer my
question. When are you coming back?”

He shrugged then remembered she couldn’t see it. “Maybe
tomorrow. Maybe not. There was a new development, so I really don’t know.”

“Oh. Okay. Well, it was nice of you to call. I didn’t think
you actually would.”

“I’m a man of my word.” How else would people follow him if
he were not trustworthy? His father always said that a man’s word meant
everything.

 “Thanks for calling,” she stated. “I have to go now.”

“Avalon. Wait.” Greyson couldn’t believe he was about to do
this, but he was. He blew out a deep breath of air from his tightening lungs.
“When I get back, would you like to go out some time? Like a date?”

The silence on the phone lasted so long that Greyson thought
she’d hung up. “Avalon? You there?”

“Yes. Yes, I’m here. Um, I don’t think going out would be
appropriate. Whatever it is that we are doing has to stop. I’m sorry if I gave
you the wrong impression. I… Good night, sir.”

The dial tone in his ear was the telltale sign that he’d
been hung up on. Greyson was left holding the phone and staring at it as if he
could will Avalon to change her answer.

He was not altogether sure what just occurred between them.
Things were going so well. Greyson thought maybe… Oh, hell. He didn’t know what
he thought. What he did know was that Avalon rejected him. Damn if it didn’t
bruise his ego.

Chapter 7

“Calm down, Avalon. It’s just a date.”

She couldn’t calm down because it
was
a date. She
paced in Lily and Dex’s bedroom. It was big, decorated with warm browns and
beiges. It felt lived in and comfortable. Not like Greyson’s no-frills bedroom.

“You’re acting like you’ve never been on one before,” Lily
said and sat cross legged on top of the bed. When Avalon momentarily hesitated
in her pacing, Lily’s eyes widened. “Oh my gosh. You’ve never been on a date
before?”

“No. So you can see why I’m nervous. What if I say the wrong
thing or he doesn’t like me?”

“Ross is a nice guy. He’ll like you. Talking to him is easy.
He and I became friends almost instantly. He’s the likeable sort. You’ll see.”

Because Avalon trusted Lily, she calmed down a bit but not
entirely. Maybe she should have taken a swig out of the bottle of amber liquor
she found under Greyson’s bed when she cleaned his room earlier. Instead, she’d
tossed it into the trashcan. She wasn’t fond of his love for it.

“Lily, you here?” someone yelled from downstairs.

“I’m in my bedroom,” Lily called out. She looked at Avalon,
an apology in her gray eyes. “I hope you don’t mind that I invited my friend
Noris over. She had the day off from work and I thought having another woman
here to get you ready would be fun. But be prepared. Noris is very blunt.”

Since she’d never done anything like this before, Avalon
didn’t mind. Another person to calm her jitters might help.

A dark haired woman walked into the room. Avalon saw her
around the colony but didn’t know her. Behind her, a little girl in pigtails
shuffled in carrying a doll under her arm. She ran to Lily, jumping on the bed.

“Lily!”

“How are you, Emmie? How is school?”

“It’s fun. I have lots of friends.”

“I bet you do.” Lily looked over at Avalon. “This is Noris
and Emmie. Emmie is Noris’s daughter.”

Because her emotions were all over the place, Avalon didn’t
trust herself to touch them and not get sucked into a vision. She smiled. “Nice
to meet you both.”

“Emmie,” Noris said. “Would you like to go down to the
entertainment room?”

“Can I play Pac-Man?” the child asked.

“Sure can, little one,” Lily answered. “I think another
arcade game came in earlier this week. I’m not sure what it is, though. Go
check it out.”

Emmie hopped off the bed with her doll and ran out of the
room since kids tended to do nothing at a slow pace. It was precious.

Noris made herself comfortable on the bed. “So, Avalon. Are
you ready?”

“Not at all.”

She laughed. “You should have a good time. Dates are fun. If
the guy is normal, that is. I went out with a human not too long ago and had to
excuse myself to the bathroom. Let’s just say, showing your date you can sniff
spaghetti up your nose is a deal breaker.”

“He did not do that,” Lily said, laughing.

“Oh. He did.”

“You don’t think that will happen on my date, do you?” Ross
seemed okay the one time they met, but she’d only been around him for a few
minutes.

“Ross is about as normal and as nice as they come,” Noris remarked.
“Your date should be a piece of cake. Though it is interesting that you’re
going out with him.”

“Why?”

“Well, because he—” Lily gave Noris a stern look. Something
passed between them that Avalon was unable to decipher. Noris cleared her
throat. “Because I can picture you with Greyson. That’s all.”

Avalon nearly died right then and there. What would make
Noris say that? Avalon spent the entire day trying to forget the vulnerability
in Greyson’s voice when he asked her out yesterday. She panicked and told him
no. He would break her heart and Avalon didn’t think she would be able to
withstand it.

Lily snorted. “Avalon and Greyson? You must have hit your
head, Noris. Those two are complete opposites. Greyson likes…” She searched for
the word to use.

“Bitches who look like supermodels,” Noris supplied. She
shrugged at Avalon’s shocked expression. She was blunt indeed.

“Well, yeah. Someone like Nyah, not Avalon. Avalon is too
good for Greyson.”

“Which is exactly why she would be perfect for him. Greyson
needs someone soft and caring. Anyway, if Avalon was a few inches taller,
dressed like a prostitute and had a nasty attitude, she probably would be his
type.”

The conversation hit too close to home for Avalon to do more
than listen as the women continued to discuss her love life. What they were
saying only confirmed that Greyson couldn’t really like her. She wasn’t his
type.

If she agreed to go out with him, she would live to regret
it. After he had his way with her, she would be left an empty shell of herself.

----

“Good luck. Tell me how it goes when you get back.” Lily
waved from the driver’s seat of her sports car. She offered to drop Avalon off
at the restaurant instead of her riding along with Ross.

“Okay. Thank you.”

“No problem. Have fun.” She sped off before Avalon could
change her mind. Again.

Earlier Lily and Noris had turned Avalon into their own
little doll, dressing her up, doing her hair and makeup. It was actually quite
nice. It felt good to be pampered for a change.

Although Avalon was initially offended that Lily thought her
dresses weren’t up to par, the denim skirt and royal blue blouse actually
looked decent on her. She felt a bit undressed with so much of her legs
showing, but Avalon was willing to step out of her comfort zone for a night.

Instead of the braided bun she usually kept her hair in, it
fell in soft waves down to her waist. Her eyes were rimmed in black eyeliner,
making the blue of her eyes stand out. Her lips were glossed pink.

Avalon took a deep breath and pulled open the door to the
restaurant. Noise assaulted her ears upon entering. It was crowded, with a line
of people waiting to be seated. She wasn’t sure where Ross was or whether he
was even here yet. So she walked up to the hostess who informed her that he was
waiting for her.

He was seated at a booth. Through the dim lighting of the
restaurant, she noticed how attractive he was, something she did not get an
opportunity to see on their brief midnight stroll. His blonde hair was cut
short highlighting a strong face with velvet brown eyes and an easy smile. He
stood up.

The hostess left her menu on the table and walked away while
Avalon slid into the other side of the booth. Now that she was here, that the
date was finally happening, she wasn’t so nervous anymore.

Ross took his seat again. “Avalon. How are you?”

“I’m good. You?”

“Great. You look amazing.” He gestured to her.

“Thanks. So do you.”

Ross chuckled. “That’s nice of you to say, but I look like
this just about every day.” He wore a fitted black shirt that hugged his
muscular torso and black army fatigue pants.

“That doesn’t mean you don’t look great,” she said. He
looked a thousand times better than most men she’d laid eyes on. “I hope I
didn’t keep you waiting long.”

“No. I’ve just been looking over the menu. I’ve never been
here before. Have you?”

She shook her head. Admittedly, she hadn’t explored the town
very much. Forest Hills was still relatively new to her. She picked up the menu
and perused the selections. There was so much to choose from, so much so that she
couldn’t decide. Greyson would be proud that she was considering so much.

“Do you know what you’d like?” Ross asked, still glancing
over his menu.

She smiled in embarrassment. “I see a few things actually.”

“Get them all.”

“Oh no. I couldn’t.”

“Why not?” His golden brows pinched together in question.

“I could never eat it all in one sitting.” It would be a
waste of perfectly good food.

“That’s what doggy bags are for. I don’t have much free time
to spend money. Might as well spend it stuffing our faces, don’t you think?”

Avalon knew this date would go just fine. She liked Ross
already. The waiter came to take their orders. Avalon felt a bit guilty about
ordering so much but felt a strange excitement about it all. This experience
was so new to her that it was…fun.

Ross took a sip of his iced tea. “I should probably
apologize for Lily forcing this date on you.”

“I should be apologizing. I’m sure you have plenty other
women you’d rather be with.”

He made a face. “Lily has been trying to set me up for a
while. So no, there are no other women. I feel honored to be here with you,
Avalon.”

She lowered her eyes to hide how bashful his flattery made
her. “Thanks. I don’t have much experience with this whole dating thing.”

“Neither do I. Calling it a date adds too much pressure
anyway. How about we say we’re two individuals trying to get to know each
other?”

“Like friends?”

“Exactly. Like friends. If it goes farther, that’s great. If
it doesn’t, we’ll still be friends.” Avalon liked the sound of that. It took
weight off her shoulders.

Their meals finally arrived. Three plates were dumped in
front of Avalon compared to Ross’s one and she felt like a complete pig. But
that didn’t stop her from sampling all of the dishes. Everything was so
delicious that she was pretty sure she moaned a few times.

As their night went on, conversation flowed wonderfully.
They talked about all sorts of things: their lives on Jheta, their jobs,
hobbies.

She learned he was good friends with Lily. From the way his
eyes lit up every time he said her name, Avalon guessed his feelings ran deeper
than friendship, which was odd seeing as she was mated to Dex. Ross would
probably be heartbroken when he found out Lily and Dex were expecting a child.

Avalon couldn’t lie to herself anymore and say that she felt
nothing for Greyson. She wanted him more than she should. Both she and Ross
lusted after people they could never have. No wonder they were getting along so
great.

“Are you done?” Ross asked her.

Avalon couldn’t eat another bite. She already felt like
she’d burst. “You might have to roll me out of here.”

He laughed. It was a deep, pleasant sound. “And here I was
thinking you wanted dessert. The waiter will bring some boxes to take home your
leftovers.”

After they finished up at the restaurant, Ross helped her
into his big gray pick-up truck. When he started it up, the engine roared to
life like a wildcat.

She ran her hand along the polished dashboard. “This vehicle
suits you. You’re a strong male. I could never drive something like this.”

He gave her a sidelong glance. “You don’t think you’re
strong.”

“Look at me.” Greyson constantly tried to fatten her up.

“Strength is not always a physical thing. But I could do
something about that. How would you like to take some self-defense classes? I
can get Amelia to train you. She’s tougher than most of the guys.”

“Would she do it?” Amelia looked scary, like she ate people
for breakfast.

“Of course. It’s nothing but a word.”

“Then, yes. I would like that.” It would give her more
confidence and make her feel stronger mentally and physically. “I had a nice
time tonight, Ross. Lily will be pleased.”

“Yeah. She probably will.”

They rode the rest of the way home in silence, but it was
relaxing and thoughtful. No pressure.

Not much time later, Ross was pulling up to the cabin she
shared with her grandmother.

“Let me help you out,” Ross said and reached for his door
handle.

She waved him off. “No need. I’m fine.”

“You sure?”

“Positive.”

He gave her a mesmerizing smile. Though they were just
friends, Avalon felt her heart skip a beat. “Maybe we can do this another
time,” he said. “I enjoyed myself. Haven’t gone out in a while.”

“Sure. Let me know when you’re available.”

“I will.”

“Have a nice evening, Ross.”

“Good night, Avalon.”

She grabbed her bag of leftovers and jumped down from the
truck. The cool night air made her shiver and hustle over to the cabin, her
keys in hand. She waved a final time at Ross. He waved back and drove away.

“Dating my brother?”

Avalon yelped, dropping her keys. Greyson stepped out of the
shadows and bent down to pick them up. She had not seen him, had not known he
was even here. He was supposed to be out of town.

Greyson did not bother giving her the keys. He crossed his
arms over his chest, his expression as dark as the sky above them. It darkened
further as his gaze traveled the length of her body. She felt even more exposed
than she had before.

“Greyson, what are you doing here?” Her blood raced through
her veins, pulse elevated. “You scared me.”

He grunted. “You might have seen me if you had not been so
googly eyed over my brother.”

“Your brother? I don’t know your brother.” She knew he had
one but never met him.

“You just got out of his car.”

Avalon’s eyes bugged in shock. “Ross?”

“Yeah. Ross.”

During dinner Ross mentioned having a brother, but he didn’t
go into detail about him or mention his name. No one else clued her in to their
relation either. Now that Avalon thought about it, she saw the similarities in
their appearances, the golden looks and strong features. She couldn’t believe she
didn’t make the connection sooner.

“How long have you two been hooking up?” Cold air blasted
from his body, blowing her hair and causing goose bumps on her arms.

“We’re not hooking up. What’s wrong with you?” Greyson was a
hard man, but he never acted this way with her before.

His brows knit together, eyes narrowed. “What’s wrong with
me? Maybe I don’t like being lied to.”

“I have never lied to you.” She didn’t have a reason to.