Sweet Reckoning (The Sweet Trilogy #3)(29)

Crap.

“I know,” I said. “She’s an old friend, like me. We’re going to try and calm him, okay? Why don’t you go home and rest. Give him a little time to digest everything.”

The gates began to swing open, and the car inched forward.

“No!” Michelle screamed. “Something’s going on! I’m going in!”

“Go to your car,” I silently urged her with my angelic will.

She ran to her car, prepared to follow us in. When she realized the gate wasn’t going to stay open long enough, she ran back but was too late. She was left crying at the closed gate, even angrier than before.

“She’s gone mad,” Kaidan said without humor. He sped up the driveway and parked directly in front of the doors. The three of us jumped out, but the door was locked.

Kaidan banged with this fist. We waited. He banged again. “Open up, idiot! This is bloody stupid!”

After what seemed like forever, the door opened, and the three of us gaped. Blake wore only low-slung basketball shorts and the hardest expression I’d ever seen. Then his sights slipped down the long driveway to where Michelle stood holding on to the gate, bawling. His green badge grew.

“Stop that,” I said. “She’s really hurting, Blake.”

A vicious giggle sounded from behind him, and Ginger strode up wearing just Blake’s shirt, which stopped at her midthigh. Her badge was circling. The two of them appeared wild, lost to their natures of envy and cheating, and probably high on the rebellion of being together after holding back so long.

Ginger rested her elbow on Blake’s shoulder and fluffed her bedhead. Blake reached an arm around her waist.

Marna stepped up. “It’s time to go, Gin.”

Ginger kept her arm around Blake’s neck, giving her sister a stare. “You’re one to talk. I seem to recall that line not working on you. I’m quite fine where I am, thanks.”

“Like hell,” Kaidan murmured, pushing past them. Marna and I followed him into the immaculate stone-tiled foyer, and Kai slammed the door, turning on the couple. “Have whisperers seen you together?”

“Course not.” Blake sounded smug.

Marna and I let out our breaths.

“You’re bleedin’ lucky!” Kai said.

“Back off, brah.” Blake dropped his arm from Ginger to step up to Kaidan. “What, you’re the only one who can be with your girl?”

“The Dukes were at their summit when we were together. This is sheer madness!”

“Guys,” I said, moving closer. But they were too fired up.

“Why do you care?” Ginger spat at Kai.

“Because we’re this close, Gin.” Kaidan held his finger and thumb an inch apart. “This close to fulfilling the prophecy, and the two of you are likely to get yourselves killed!”

Marna’s hand went to her mouth next to me, silent tears streaming down her cheeks.

“As if you care!” Ginger yelled. “You only give a shite about yourself. You want everyone to be willing to sacrifice themselves so you can finally be with your precious Anna. Well, I’m not waiting around anymore. I’m taking what I want from this damned life while I can!”

Ginger and Kaidan were inches apart, both angry as they shouted.

“It’s about all of us, not just me and Anna!”

“Oh, right!”

Kaidan grasped her small shoulders, and when he touched her they both seemed to soften. “I don’t want you dead, Gin.”

Her eyes watered. “I’ve nothing to live for now, don’t you see? She’ll be gone. My sister is dying! And Blake will be married off to that cow. I’d rather be dead.”

Kaidan wrapped his arms around her just as she broke into choking sobs, her knees buckling.

Marna started crying, too, and I took her hand.

Kaidan held Ginger up, stroking her hair like a big brother, and I could see the understanding and concern born from sharing a childhood together.

Marna stepped to them, and Kaidan reached out, pulling her into the embrace. Blake and I made eye contact and nodded, moving together to the next room so the three of them could talk. We sat on the leather sofa. Blake leaned back, pressing his fists to his eyes.

“Damn,” he whispered. “Everything is so messed up.”

That was an understatement. I had no words. When Kai and the twins came back in, the five of us sat there in sad silence. Every moment we were together brought more danger. We all knew it, yet it was hard to force ourselves apart.

Kaidan’s phone rang, and we all froze. His tan face paled as he looked at the screen and held it out for us to see.

Pharzuph.

The four of us held our breath and listened as he answered.

“I assume you took care of the girl then?” Pharzuph asked in his silky accented English.

“Of course, Father. She wasn’t a virgin anyhow.”

“Interesting.” There was a long, expectant pause. “The spirit I sent to oversee the operation has been sent back to the pit of hell, never to return to earth. Do you know why?”

Kaidan’s eyes darted to mine. “No, Father.”

“Because he admitted he did not stay to see your mission through to the end. He says the two of you persuaded him to leave.”

“Bollocks!” Kaidan stood. “That disgusting wanker was distracting. It’s hard enough to try and bang a Neph without a spirit interfering.”