gasped,
pressing a hand over her heart. “How did you do that?”
“I don’t know.
I am in between worlds. I guess he can speak to me. He hasn’t
crossed over yet. He’s trapped in the void.”
“Why?” A wave
of heartache deluged her again. To think that Raef was not at peace
burned her soul.
Von closed his
eyes and those long black lashes touched his high cheekbones. “Your
boyfriend is unable to move on until the score is settled.”
“Why would he
talk to you? He knows you walk in darkness.”
“Like I said
all is not as it seems.”
“You’re making
this up.”
“Believe what
you want. I might be a lot of things but I’m not a liar.” He kicked
his bike into gear. “Raef said something about a horse, your
mother’s horse? He said Paloma carries the key.” Von revved his
bike. The engine growled as he prepared to ride.
“Wait!”
He stopped and
half-turned his head. “What?”
“Maybe we should talk.” She knew without a doubt that nobody could
know about her mother’s mare. Even Raef hadn’t known, as she’d not
told him during their visit to Celestial Village. This had to be
the sign she needed to move forward. For reasons she failed to
understand, Raef chose to communicate with Von. Maybe because
he’s immortal and the only connection available, either way, I have
to follow this lead. “Can you give me a ride back to his
house?”
“Hop on.”
She swung her
leg over the back and settled her butt into the passenger seat of
his Softail. Von’s unexpected connection to Raef brought a strange
sense of comfort. If Raef trusted him enough to send a message,
then maybe there was still hope for Von’s soul. Maybe he can be
saved. She wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head
against his back, trying to reach into his soul and touch whatever
part of him had touched Raef. Tears stung her cheeks as the wind
whipped her hair around her face. They flew down the highway at a
high rate of speed. The pleasing scent of leather from his jacket
combined with his natural masculine aura swirled around her and
eased some of the grief. She began to find uncanny comfort in his
presence.
They rumbled
into the drive of Raef’s home as the moon peaked in the sky. She
slid off the back and drew a deep breath. “I don’t know if I can do
this.” Her motorcycle appeared untouched and the house was dark and
quiet. It didn’t look like anyone had been around since the medics
had taken Raef.
She stopped at
the edge of the sidewalk and thought surely that the place would be
crawling with cops. Where’s the yellow tape? Why isn’t anyone
here? Something doesn’t feel right. Of course it doesn’t feel
right. None of this is right! Raef has been killed. None of this
makes sense. Where are the cops?
“Do you want me
to stick around?” He cut the engine.
Eerie quiet
surrounded her. “Strangely…yes. Will you come inside with me?”
He parked his
bike and dismounted. She’d forgotten how tall and impressive he was
until just now.
He looked down
into her eyes. “Yeah.”
They walked
toward the house slowly with her leading the way. The door was
unlocked so she pushed it open. The pungent stench of stale blood
made her wince. She glanced at the floor and saw Raef’s blood still
there.
Von cast a
guarded look around. “There’s a strange aura in this house.”
“What do you
mean?”
“Something
powerful.” He shrugged as if to rid an uninvited chill. “Innocent
blood.”
She studied him
briefly then shifted her attention back to the floor. “I have to
clean this up.” In robotic manner, she went to the kitchen and
retrieved cleanser and paper towels, then knelt in the foyer and
began scrubbing. “So much blood…Raef’s blood.” She started to cry
again, then sat back on her knees and sobbed uncontrollably. “This
is wrong. This should not have happened. Why did Coop do this?”
“Hey…” Von
knelt beside her, wrapping strong arms around her. “He’s not a
pressing a hand over her heart. “How did you do that?”
“I don’t know.
I am in between worlds. I guess he can speak to me. He hasn’t
crossed over yet. He’s trapped in the void.”
“Why?” A wave
of heartache deluged her again. To think that Raef was not at peace
burned her soul.
Von closed his
eyes and those long black lashes touched his high cheekbones. “Your
boyfriend is unable to move on until the score is settled.”
“Why would he
talk to you? He knows you walk in darkness.”
“Like I said
all is not as it seems.”
“You’re making
this up.”
“Believe what
you want. I might be a lot of things but I’m not a liar.” He kicked
his bike into gear. “Raef said something about a horse, your
mother’s horse? He said Paloma carries the key.” Von revved his
bike. The engine growled as he prepared to ride.
“Wait!”
He stopped and
half-turned his head. “What?”
“Maybe we should talk.” She knew without a doubt that nobody could
know about her mother’s mare. Even Raef hadn’t known, as she’d not
told him during their visit to Celestial Village. This had to be
the sign she needed to move forward. For reasons she failed to
understand, Raef chose to communicate with Von. Maybe because
he’s immortal and the only connection available, either way, I have
to follow this lead. “Can you give me a ride back to his
house?”
“Hop on.”
She swung her
leg over the back and settled her butt into the passenger seat of
his Softail. Von’s unexpected connection to Raef brought a strange
sense of comfort. If Raef trusted him enough to send a message,
then maybe there was still hope for Von’s soul. Maybe he can be
saved. She wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head
against his back, trying to reach into his soul and touch whatever
part of him had touched Raef. Tears stung her cheeks as the wind
whipped her hair around her face. They flew down the highway at a
high rate of speed. The pleasing scent of leather from his jacket
combined with his natural masculine aura swirled around her and
eased some of the grief. She began to find uncanny comfort in his
presence.
They rumbled
into the drive of Raef’s home as the moon peaked in the sky. She
slid off the back and drew a deep breath. “I don’t know if I can do
this.” Her motorcycle appeared untouched and the house was dark and
quiet. It didn’t look like anyone had been around since the medics
had taken Raef.
She stopped at
the edge of the sidewalk and thought surely that the place would be
crawling with cops. Where’s the yellow tape? Why isn’t anyone
here? Something doesn’t feel right. Of course it doesn’t feel
right. None of this is right! Raef has been killed. None of this
makes sense. Where are the cops?
“Do you want me
to stick around?” He cut the engine.
Eerie quiet
surrounded her. “Strangely…yes. Will you come inside with me?”
He parked his
bike and dismounted. She’d forgotten how tall and impressive he was
until just now.
He looked down
into her eyes. “Yeah.”
They walked
toward the house slowly with her leading the way. The door was
unlocked so she pushed it open. The pungent stench of stale blood
made her wince. She glanced at the floor and saw Raef’s blood still
there.
Von cast a
guarded look around. “There’s a strange aura in this house.”
“What do you
mean?”
“Something
powerful.” He shrugged as if to rid an uninvited chill. “Innocent
blood.”
She studied him
briefly then shifted her attention back to the floor. “I have to
clean this up.” In robotic manner, she went to the kitchen and
retrieved cleanser and paper towels, then knelt in the foyer and
began scrubbing. “So much blood…Raef’s blood.” She started to cry
again, then sat back on her knees and sobbed uncontrollably. “This
is wrong. This should not have happened. Why did Coop do this?”
“Hey…” Von
knelt beside her, wrapping strong arms around her. “He’s not a
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