Iszak (The Dragon's Mate Book 2), page 12
Her father was so deep in denial about Kevin that he wouldn’t believe anything she told him this guy said anyway.
“My father just wants him found. I’ll keep whatever Kevin was doing between you and me if that will make you feel better.”
“He broke into his girlfriend’s house. Well ex girlfriend.”
That was it? “I talked to his ex and I know that he broke into her house. It was a big part of the reason that he was arrested.”
Julia shifted in her chair, preparing to get out of here. Clearly this was a waste of time if he was going to tell her stuff she already knew.
“Did that silly bitch tell you that he broke in again after he got out of jail?”
“No, she didn’t.” Lyssa had been quite emphatic that she hadn’t seen Kevin since he was arrested. Maybe he’d gone in there and she hadn't realized it? “Maybe she wasn’t home when he broke in the second time.”
“Oh, she was there.” He took a sip of his coffee, and Julia wondered how he could be so positive.
“And how do you know?”
“I was watching the house for him, and I called him when she got home that day.” Julia eased back from him a little and he must have seen something in her face because he was quick to defend himself. “Kevin only went there to talk to her. He wanted her to come back to him, she just needed to see that she was meant to be with him. If you want to know what happened to your brother, she knows.”
“How can you be so sure? She seemed like a nice woman to me, and frankly knowing my brother the way I do, I don’t blame her for being afraid of him and wanting him away from her. I know what my brother is capable of.”
“She might be a nice woman, but I’m not sure the same can be said for the guy she hooked up with. I’m thinking he made your brother disappear. Kevin had a crazy theory about him, which I don’t believe. I do believe that dude is dangerous, he tried to kill me when he came to give Kevin a warning.”
“He tried to kill you?” What had her brother gotten himself tangled up in? Good for Lyssa for finding a man willing to stand up for her and protect her, but knowing Kevin, Julia was sure he hadn’t liked that at all.
“Yeah. The dude showed up at the crack of dawn, pounding on Kevin’s door. I tried to chase him off and he grabbed me by the throat. Then his eyes were all fucked up, but I had done some drugs so I’m sure that was just a hallucination on my part. I’ve seen some pretty crazy shit when I’ve been high.”
So this guy wasn’t exactly reliable. Even if Lyssa’s new boyfriend showed up to put the fear of God into Kevin, it didn’t mean that he had anything to do with her brother’s disappearance. She was still in favor of the Kevin skipping bail angle, but it would be interesting to hear what Kevin had thought.
“What was my brother’s theory about him?” She had a feeling she knew, since Kevin towed the Robillard family line harder then the rest of them combined. It was why he was their father’s favorite. Still, it would be interesting to hear what this guy had to say about it.
“This is going to sound crazy, but Kevin swears that this guy was a dragon. I think his brain was a little messed up about that kind of stuff, sort of like the guy on the corner who thinks he’s Jesus. Still, I could have sworn that the dudes eyes were on fire, but like I said, I was off my head on drugs at the time.”
Julia paused with her nearly empty cup of coffee halfway to her lips, and her pulse fluttered for a second. “You saw his eyes burst into flames?”
What kind of drugs had he been taking? How could Kevin think that flaming eyeballs were a sign that the new boyfriend was a dragon?
“His eyes weren’t on fire, the colored part turned from gray to what looked like flames, like he has some kind of weird contacts in his eyes. Like I said, I was on drugs that morning, so who the hell knows what I really saw. I do think he has something to do with Kevin going missing. He warned Kevin to stay away from her or he’d regret it. And Kevin up and disappeared right after he talks to his ex when he broke into her house.” The guy looked at the watch on his wrist, and then back at her. “I gotta go, but I have a spare key to Kevin’s place. I think it's best if you have it, since you’re family.”
He reached into the pocket of his jeans and pulled the key out. He set it on the table and slid it over to her. Julia scooped it up and put it safely in the side pocket of her purse. Going through Kevin’s apartment was next on her to do list, but it wasn’t going to be today. She had enough information to digest as it was.
“Thanks. I’ll poke around his apartment and see if I can find a clue that might tell me where he might have gone.”
“I’m telling you that he didn’t go anywhere. I’m pretty sure that dude killed him but if you want to go through Kevin’s place I’m not going to stop you. I’ve told you what I know, so my part is done.”
Kevin’s friend stood, downed the last of his coffee and threw the cup in the trash on his way out the door. Julia gathered her things as she thought about what he’d told her. She didn’t know what to think. She’d had a feeling that Lyssa was hiding something, but she would need more information than the word of a druggie to make any sort of accusation. Perhaps Lyssa hadn’t been that forthcoming because she wanted to forget about Kevin. And if Julia was in her place, she didn’t think she’d be that honest with the family of a man who harassed and stalked her.
Julia pulled her coat tighter around her as she walked out of the coffee shop. She was going to keep what she’d learned to herself for the time being. Her father would insist that a man with literal fire in his eyes was a sure sign of a dragon, but Kevin’s friend had admitted that he was on drugs at the time. She was less inclined to believe something as fantastical as dragons when the more likely explanation was that Kevin had broken into Lyssa’s house and skipped town afterward to avoid jail.
Her steps were hurried as she trudged through the snow on the way back to Iszak’s apartment. The closer she got to getting back to him, the further the Kevin problem retreated from her mind. Whatever she found out about her brother, she knew that leaving town and going back to her job seemed like a less desirable option than staying here.
Her steps slowed for a moment. When she’d broached the subject of staying earlier, Iszak had seemed hesitant about it? She thought that maybe this was just a fling for him. If that was the case, she'd better prepare herself for their inevitable goodbye. But it wasn’t time for her to leave yet, and her pace picked up again. She still had two days with him and she wasn’t going to waste them out here in the cold when she could be in a nice, warm bed with him.
After his brother left, Iszak paced the apartment as he waited for Julia to return. Was Andor right? Was he making a mistake by getting tangled up with Julia. He no longer fooled himself into thinking that she was here for any other reason than that he wanted her. He could see now that he’d been doomed from the moment that she’d turned those incredible eyes on him when he’d tapped on the window of her car.
The notion that he could seduce her while remaining immune to her charms had been a foolish one. He’d lost himself to the flames of his desire for her, and now he was in danger of getting burned. Would it be possible for her to see past what he was, what she’d been taught to hate her whole life, to see the man he truly was inside?
He didn’t know what the answer was, and he knew he was taking a great risk by keeping her here so he could find out. But the thought of letting her go, of risking surrendering himself to his curse, was abhorrent to him. He was now committed to the path he’d started down when he’d offered her a place to stay during the worst snow storm of the year. He could only hope that she could find it within herself to love a dragon.
Where was she? It seemed like she’d been gone for quite a while, and he was about to put his coat and boots on to go look for her when he heard the knob to the apartment turn. He’d neglected to lock it after Andor had left, and to his relief Julia walked in the door. She saw him standing in front of her and a smile spread across her face that took his breath away. As soon as she was in the room with him, his doubts melted away.
“You won’t believe what happened while I was out.” She shrugged out of her coat and hung it on the hook by the door.
“What happened?” He came forward and took her cold hands in his. He brought them to his lips, hoping that whatever she had to tell him would go by quickly so he could get down to the business of making her love him.
“I ran into Kevin’s neighbor while I was out.”
“That’s a strange coincidence.”
“I know. I have a feeling that he’s been following me. I got the distinct feeling of being watched when I talked to Kevin’s ex girlfriend. Hopefully now that’s he’s told me what he knows and done what he feels he had to do, I won’t see him again. He’s kinda creepy.”
She pulled her hands from his and walked into the living room. His brows drew together in a scowl at the thought of someone stalking her. He was doing a rather shitty job of protecting her if someone had followed her and been given the opportunity to get close to her. What he wanted to know was what this man had told her.
“What did he have to say about your brother? Did he have any theories about what he thought happened?”
A strange look crossed her face, and Iszak knew that whatever the neighbor had told her she would not share it with him. “He's not exactly reliable. He did give me some insight into my brother’s deranged thinking. Do you know that the first thing he did when he got out on bail was break into Lyssa’s house? What an idiot. I’m not sure why Lyssa would lie to me about that, but I suppose it doesn’t matter. If I was her I wouldn’t be that forthcoming with any member of Kevin’s family either.”
Relief went through that she wasn’t going to look any deeper into Lyssa’s deception. He was certain the truth about what happened to her brother would eventually come out, but hopefully not before she was in love with him and accepted him for what he was. Surely then she would see that his brother had no choice but to kill Kevin.
“So what are you thinking? Do you think that Kevin left town to avoid going back to jail?” He mentally crossed his fingers that this was still her working theory, that the neighbor had not said anything to her that might tip her off to the existence of dragons.
“I think that is more than likely what happened. Especially now that I know that he broke into Lyssa’s house when he got out. He had to know that this would result in more charges being laid against him. Kevin has a healthy sense of self-preservation and a selfish streak a mile wide. I’m sure he thought disappearing would be the best way to save his own skin, and he wouldn't have any compunction about leaving my father holding the bag. I’ll know for sure tomorrow. I have this.” She reached into the pocket of her jeans and pulled out a key. “Kevin’s neighbor gave me the key to his apartment. I’m going to go and look around.”
Iszak fought to keep his face neutral as his heart gave a heavy thud. She had the key to Kevin’s apartment? His mind raced over the possibility that there might be something in her brother’s apartment that might incriminate Andor, and by extension, him.
“Are you going to go there tonight?” Thankfully his voice came out in a casual tone, and he made sure that none of the thoughts racing through his head showed in his face. “Do you want me to come with you? If that neighbor is still watching you I don’t know if it would be a good idea for you to go there alone.”
And if he went with her, maybe there was a way he could get to any incriminating evidence that might be in there.
A look crossed her face and she hugged her arms around herself as she shivered. “That won’t be necessary. I doubt I’ll see that guy again, I got the distinct impression that he was only looking for me to say his peace. And I’m done running around town tonight. I think I’m going to wait until tomorrow, actually. I’ve been out in the cold enough for one day.”
She walked up to him and put her arms around his waist. He reached to caress her face as his mind raced to think of a solution to the dilemma that he was in. There was no way he could keep her from going to Kevin’s apartment, there was no plausible reason that he could think of that would explain why she shouldn’t. But how was he going to make sure there was nothing in Kevin’s apartment that pointed to Andor?
“Why don’t I draw you a bath so you can warm up?” A plan was forming in his head but he could not put it into place with her standing here.
“That’s sweet.” She tilted her head back to look at him and he leaned forward to press a kiss on her lips. He could feel the cold on her skin, and he told himself that he was thinking of her when he’d made the suggestion. Just because it would serve dual purposes to have her in the tub didn’t mean that he wasn't thinking of her too.
He let her go and went to the bathroom to prepare a bath for her. When she came in with her robe in her hand he could see on her face that she was touched by the nice gesture. Guilt went through him and he shoved it away ruthlessly.
This was no time to waver. While Julia was growing to be an important part of his life, he had a duty to protect his brother. Andor and Lyssa were his family, and he’d already proven by seducing Julia in the first place, that he was prepared to do anything to make sure that they stayed safe. He ignored the stirring of desire inside him as she disrobed and slipped into the tub.
“Are you going to join me?” The water lapped over her and he could see her nipples peeking through it. He was so tempted to climb in behind and hold her to him, but he’d suggested she take a bath for a reason.
“I’m going to let you relax and enjoy the water. Call me if you need anything.” He looked at her for a long moment as she relaxed back and closed her eyes. She didn't seem offended by his refusal to join her, and his mouth tightened as he turned around. He better get down to what he needed to do before the water got cold and she got out. He couldn’t stand here staring at her all day.
He closed the bathroom door behind him when he left the room. He wanted to take no chances that she would overhear the call he was about to make. He walked into the bedroom and closed that door too. His phone was on the bedside table and he picked it up, putting in the number to the house. Thankfully Rickman answered on the second ring and he could avoid going another round with his brother.
“I need you do so something for me. I need you to got to Lyssa’s ex boyfriend’s apartment, and I want you to make sure there is nothing in there that can point his sister to the fact that Andor is responsible for her brother’s disappearance.”
There was a long silence on the other end of the phone. “You want me to break and enter?”
“Yes.” Iszak was aware of the need to keep his voice down, but he needed to make it clear to Rickman that this was something that was imperative that he do. “If there is anything in that apartment that points to Andor as her brother’s killer what do you think is going to happen? She may not kill him but I know that her father will. Do I need to remind you of your duty to this family as our minion?”
Iszak had never been a stickler to the whole minion thing with Rickman, not like Andor was. But it was imperative that Rickman realized the seriousness of their situation.
“Okay. I’ll go now and make sure there is nothing there. If there is I’ll do my best to get rid of it. But if I get caught and spend my days in jail being someone’s bitch, I’m going to blame you.”
“If the Robillard family finds out that you're a dragon’s minion, you won’t have to worry about being anyone’s bitch. So my advice to you is don’t get caught.”
Iszak ended the call before Rickman could say anything else, and as he put the phone back on the table by the bed, he shoved aside his uneasiness over the deception he was perpetrating against Julia. Thus far what they had together was being built on a foundation of lies, and if he wasn’t careful it was all going to blow up in his face. But he was torn between the need to be honest with her, to let her know exactly what she was getting into with him and the need to protect his brother.
There was no way at this juncture that Julia would understand that Andor had been acting in self-defense. He needed to buy them all some time, to allow her time to see that he and his brother were not the dangerous creatures that he was certain she’d been raised to believe. He would not hide what happened to Kevin forever, just until he was certain that the knowledge of what happened to him would not break the fragile bond developing between them.
12
As Julia got out of the tub and dried off, she knew that once she went to Kevin’s apartment she would have her answer about his disappearance. She was certain that all the evidence would point to Kevin skipping bail after breaking into his ex girlfriend's house. Her father might want to believe that there was something more nefarious behind it, but he would have to accept that there were no dragons in this day and age. If they had existed centuries ago, she was certain that they’d almost certainly gone extinct. And it was going to take a lot more than the obsessed conviction of her father and something seen by a man who was clearly on drugs to convince her otherwise.
She pulled her robe on over her nude body and went to the door of the bathroom. She hesitated with her hand on the knob. She knew one thing for certain, once she had confirmation about what happened to Kevin, she didn’t want to go back to Lowell Falls. She wanted to stay here in Waldron Valley, to see where the feelings churning inside her for Iszak would take her.
He didn’t want her to make a rash decision, to do something she would regret, but she knew that this was not something she would regret. She’d been heading for a change in her life. There had been a feeling lately that she needed to take charge of her life if she wanted it to go in the direction she wanted. She knew that she wanted to get away from her father and his obsessions, that she wanted to do more with her life then burn through a serious of temporary jobs.
