Chapter 9

Sterling - Chapter 9

"I would like to have you notarize something for me." The bank manager said he'd do anything for him, and gave him his condolences as well. "Thank you. I don't know what I'm going to do without her in my life."

Isaac looked over at Trent as he sat in the little lobby area. Isaac had asked him to bring him here, but had not explained. It was something that he felt strongly about, and he couldn't think of a better family to make it work. Isaac looked at the banker again.

"I'm sure you've heard about my wife and brother." He nodded. "I'm sorry. I've completely lost the memory of your name. I know I should know it, but I've been under so much stress of late."

"That's all right, Isaac. My name is Gavin Music. Your family and mine go to church together as well." He nodded and apologized again. "No need for that. I can't even imagine how much you're going through right now."

"Yes. I'm afraid that it's not over yet, either. I want to...I would like for you to witness and notarize a letter I've written. It's a will of sorts. You have an attorney on staff, correct?" He nodded and told him he'd help. "I don't want anyone to know what I've written here until.... My brother, he's very slick. I worry that he'll be able to get free, and I want to make sure my wishes are seen to. Not only for my gallery, but everything."

"Yes, of course. I can help you with that. Just show me what you want done." He handed him the letter of sorts that he'd written out. Gavin looked up at him once or twice but didn't comment. "I can help you with this, Isaac. No worries there."

"You think it's the right thing to do?" He told him it was the perfect thing to do. "I'm so happy to hear you say that. I've worried, you know. And with my insurance, it should help with any bills I might leave behind. I thank you for this."

They went through the paperwork that would change his will. There was a great deal for him to have to disperse too. After a few more minutes, he was able to withdraw enough money to take care of any business that might happen at the gallery tonight. He wasn't worried about Sterling not making any sales. The man was going to be huge after this evening.

Trent took him to the printer next. This morning he'd learned from Sterling that he was going to tell people he was the artist. It had taken him no time at all to come up with a nice picture of the man to add to fliers, and once he had, the printing company was more than glad to add it. He showed them to Trent and asked his opinion.

"They're wonderful. I can't believe that art you have there, it's from him. I mean, we all knew he was talented, but to see them there, it was mind-blowing." Isaac was feeling human again and told him that he'd been surprised by it as well. "He took a few art lessons when he was a kid. When there was an art show at the school, he'd win that hands down. But to see this, work from his soul, it makes me want to find him and give him a hug. Not to mention, kill that woman again."

"When Jasmine called me about them, I would have taken the paintings just because she'd asked so nicely. Your family and mine have been friends for more years than I could tell you. But once I saw them, the few that he brought me, I must tell you, I was so excited I wanted to buy them myself. Sterling is that good." Trent looked like a proud brother, and he was sure that he was. "Sterling is going to be quite famous after this, if not already. Mr. Millview has a great many influential friends, and he will open the door for him in a great many places that I could only hope for him."

"I knew that he was working some of his stress out by painting. My sister-in-law, Noelle, she took him on a couple of buying trips for antiques with her, and noticed that he had picked up some paints and things. She got him a few canvases, as well as some more supplies, and he was happy. For the first time in a very long time." Isaac said he was very shy about his work. "I think that has more to do with what the story is behind the paintings than the actual art of them. He was in a bad place when that thing came to him. I think, had he had his way, he would have ended his life."

"I'm to understand that you're immortal." He said that the entire family was. "I'm not sure that I'd like that. It might have.... Well, I'm not sure that I would want to go on like this. I know that I have my son, but my wife.... Well, she was everything to me. The reason I'm the man I am."

"I'm sure your wife would have told you to hang around for your son." He nodded and looked out the side window. "We'll all be there for you, Isaac. You know that, don't you? And I'm sure that once things are taken care of, you'll feel better about life. You have a wonderful little boy in Benson."

He was grateful for Trent not telling him that she was in a better place. Or any of the other drivel that people were saying. Like she'd not suffered, or that he was lucky that she'd hidden their son away. He knew that they meant well, all of them, but he was in pain, and their words of comfort seemed so useless to him. His heart was broken, and he didn't think it would ever mend after this.

The ride to the gallery wasn't long, but when they got there, he took a walk around the place to make sure things were just so. He had an assistant that was going to help tonight…Isaac had already decided to be there, but not on the floor. He wasn't sure that he could handle people talking to him any more than he could messing up the showing for a soon-to-be-great artist. Trent walked with him, but didn't comment on the way things were until they were back in the car.

"He's going to shit with those prices." Isaac laughed, the first one in what seemed like years. "I think Sterl has it in his head that they're going to go for a couple of hundred apiece, and a lot less for the smaller ones. You think anyone will want them at those prices?"

"Three of the smaller ones are sold already. Redemption sold as well, but I think we're going to have a bidding war on the one called Death. Honestly, I don't think he's going to have any trouble selling out tonight, or any other showing he has. He's that good." Trent nodded. "He told me that he has a lot of ideas, nightmarish ideas, for a few more paintings, and I told him I'd take them for him. I'm betting by the middle of next year, if not sooner, he's going to be making arrangements to go around the world with his art."

"I know that since meeting Marty, he's been sleeping better. Not perfectly, he told me, but well enough to function now." Isaac said he liked her as well. "So does my family. Even my grandma thinks she's a hoot. All of the women in this family are so grateful for having Sterl almost back to normal, and we have Marty to thank for a great deal of that. I think she's been good for all of us. I know that Noelle and her have become best friends. Not that they exclude Joe or Chloe, but I think the two of them have a great deal more in common."

"Yes, I can see that. Noelle, however, is fragile, while Marty is harder, more to the point. Perhaps you might find a shift in their personalities a little. Where they begin to take on more of the other." Trent said he thought that would be good as well. "I think so as well. You're all, the entire pack of you, good people."

The gallery was as ready as it would ever be. Going back out to the car, he asked if they could make one more stop. That he wanted to go and see his brother. Just once. Trent, of course, said he would be there for him.

The jail wasn't all that busy. He supposed in a town this small they'd have slow days. He knew that Chloe, another Calhoun, had taken over the running of the department when the FBI had come in and made some serious arrests. Anastasia, a warrior fae, had been instrumental in making that happen. And from what he could see and had heard from others, Chloe was doing a great job of it.

"There's a camera on him at all times." He nodded when she briefed him. "Also, don't get close to the doors. He can hurt you if you do. And please don't get into an argument with him. Not for his sake, but for yours. He'll say whatever he wants to in order to make you think he's innocent in all this. Okay? He'll also.... Well, he seems to think that all of this is your fault. It's not…none of us believe that, but he'll say it."

"All right. Yes. Thank you." She nodded and then hugged him. Isaac held her to him tightly, glad for the support. Trent asked if he wanted him to go in with him. "I don't think so. I mean, I might need you there, but I'd like to do this on my own. I will more than likely regret it, but I need this. Closure, I guess."

Making his way down the short hall, he saw his brother. Robert was complaining about something that he couldn't understand, but his anger was palpable. As he approached the doorway, keeping his distance, he looked at Robert and was amazed at the change in him over such a short time.

His hair was untidy. The orange and green striped jumpsuit he had on didn't do anything for his appearance. There was an air of stench around him that made Isaac think that he'd not bathed or even washed up since he'd been here. And the food that looked as if it had been tossed against the walls didn't improve anything. It was nasty, from the cell to the man behind bars.

When he finally noticed him, Robert stood up. He was dirtier than Isaac thought. There were scraps of food in his beard, stains down the front of him. And his hands, usually so clean and manicured, looked as if he'd been playing in mud. Isaac decided not to look at them again, not liking where his mind went as to what it might be. Keeping his distance, Isaac asked him how he was faring.

"Like you care. Why haven't you gotten back to me? I've sent you messages through these people here. Or are they not telling you about them." Isaac told him he'd gotten them. "Then why am I still in this cell? Isaac, you must get me out of here. I can't stand this. Four days is quite long enough for you to have figured out that whatever lesson you were trying to make me learn is not going to work."

"Too bad. You've only been here one whole day and half of a second, Robert, not four. And I'm not going to help you other than to watch you during your trial. You killed my wife." Robert rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Why did you do that, Robert? She did nothing to you."

"I want you to at least give me the name of our family attorney. If you're not going to help me, then I want him to do it. I'm pretty sure that you have him on retainer or something." He said that he did but he wasn't going to help. "Why the fuck not? I need a good attorney to get me out of this mess you've put me in."

"I put you in? I don't think so, Robert. You did this all on your own. And he can't help you because he's helping me." He asked if he'd been arrested too. "No. He's helping me take you to court for the murder of my wife."

"I don't understand why you get the good attorney. Just find yourself someone else. Or better yet, just drop this whole thing and tell them that you don't want me to go to jail. I'm not suited for jail. Then when I get out, you can hire me back. I know you must do that for tax purposes, but if I don't show up, you can still pay me. That way, there won't be whores in the gallery. Also, I need for you to double my salary. If I can't have the women coming to me there, then I'll have to pay them to come to me at my home. I can't afford that on the little you pay me." Isaac couldn't believe he'd just said that. "Are you listening to me? Perhaps you should be writing this down. I know how you like lists."

"I'm not going to hire you back. Are you insane? I fired you because you brought ladies of the night into my gallery. You stole things from other artists as well as the staff, and you fucking killed my wife. And on top of that, had you found my son, you would have murdered him as well." Robert said that he hadn't killed his son, and that should count for something. "Is that supposed to justify this? That since you couldn't find him, you shouldn't be in trouble for any of it?"

"Yes. Christ, you act like this is the end of the world for you. Have you even noticed where I am? What I'm wearing? I think of the two of us, I'm much worse off. And you should see what they're feeding me. Damn it, Isaac, get me out of here. I have shit to do." Isaac just stared at him. "I need for you to get on the stick, and this time when I'm working for you, I want a contract. That way we won't have to go through this again."

"Are you going to kill me, Robert?" He wasn't sure that he was going to answer him. He stared at him for several seconds before he nodded. "If I were to get you out of here, have the charges dropped, you'd still try your best to kill me."

"Isaac, you have to see that you've brought this all on yourself. I mean, look at what you've put me through. I've been arrested for no reason. Hunted like a common criminal. There are things that I've been accused of that just aren't true." Isaac asked him what that might be. "They're saying that I went to the house to murder your wife. I didn't. I went there to murder you, and get some money. She wouldn't give me your kid so that I could hold him up to make you pay me what I wanted. That officer tried to tell me it was kidnapping, when I know better. The kid is my nephew, not some stranger. They said that I also robbed you. All I took was a few things to tide me over until I killed you."

Isaac had enough. He couldn't stand there and listen to his own flesh and blood justify his actions. And to have his mind so set on things being done for him, without consequences for any of it, was deplorable. As he made his way out of the area, he heard his brother asking him when he was going to be freed. It was all he could do to make it to the bathroom and throw up. Isaac was sickened by it all.

~*~

Sterling was doing great. Marty watched him talk to people about what had driven him to make such wonderful pictures, and they were awed by his candid story about what had inspired him. Several people had gone away shaking their heads, saying that they'd known Sterling all his life and were amazed that so much talent had been hidden. Marty went to him when he had no one to talk to for a moment.

"How you holding up?" She snagged them a plate of goodies when the waiter walked by, and watched him wolf down several before speaking. "I guess you have your appetite back."

"Yes, and I'm doing well, I think. The biggest relief I have is that I've not puked on anyone yet, and I've remembered my name each time I'm asked." He kissed her. "It was touch and go there for a minute when Mr. Garber, my science teacher in high school, asked me if any of the pictures were from my time in his class. It took me just a little too long, I think, in answering him. But he thought it was funny, so all's well now."

"They're all sold." He stopped chewing and gave her a blank look. "Did you hear me? All the paintings are sold. Well, two aren't actually sold yet there's a bidding war for them. Quite a bit too. I never—"

He put his hand over her mouth and told her to hush. Marty couldn't help but grin behind his hand. He was positively green right now. And adorable with the cookie crumbs still on his mouth.

"I don't want to know." She nodded. "Okay, I do want to know, but I don't too. I'm having fun. Knowing this sort of makes me queasy. Just tell me, ‘Sterling, you're doing well.' Okay?" He removed his hand slowly, as if he were afraid she was going to tell him more about the bidding war.

"Sterling, you're doing well." He nodded and wrapped his arm around her waist as they made their way to another part of the gallery. "Mr. Millview wants to talk to you, by the way. He said he has a question about one of the paintings."

"He's a nice man." She agreed with him. "I'm worried about Isaac. Did you know that he's here and hasn't left his office since he arriving this evening?"

"I knew he was here, but no, not about the office. Trent said that he went to see his brother this afternoon. I guess it didn't go well." Sterling shook his head. "The poor man. He's lost so much in such a short amount of time. Even though his brother is still alive, in a way he has lost him as well."

They found Mr. Millview, Donald he asked them to call him, and Sterling talked about the painting he was standing in front of. Mercy, the name of this one, was a single painting but larger than most of them. It was of the demon, Richard. Half of Richard was the demon, his tail wrapped around his feet. A single long horn was on the right side of his head. His body was blistered and looking red, and his eyes seemed to be molten hot.

The left side was of a man. A very good looking one. A nice suit, shoes that were covering his hooved feet. He was smiling too, his other eye a blue so clear it looked like he was sightless. And at his feet was the blackened earth, a dagger lying on it. Marty shivered when she thought of what Sterling had gone through during this bleakest part of his life.

She looked at Sterling when he pulled her closer. Marty realized that while lost in the horror of the painting, she'd missed the entire conversation. When she looked at Donald, he winked at her as he continued to speak to Sterling.

"So, we have a deal then? You'll help me out with this?" Sterling squeezed her tighter and she was sure that he was nervous about making a commitment, whatever it might be.

"Yes. I think I can do that. So long as what we agreed on can be accomplished." Donald said that he could do that. "You will talk to Isaac? He's my manager, but I do look forward to hearing from both of you soon."

The two of them shook hands and Sterling pulled her away. When she asked him what was going on, he told her to wait. Just wait. As soon as they were outside, around to the side of the gallery, he pressed her against the wall and kissed her hard.

"He wants me to come to his place of business and paint a mural. Strip for me." He was tearing at her clothing, and she had to smack his hands away so that she'd have something to wear. "Hurry."

"But you'll explain." He nodded and started to pull off his own clothing. "Are you going to be like this every time you get good news? Not that I'm complaining, but you—"

"Marty, I'm trying hard to hold onto my wolf so that he doesn't scare the humans. Take off your clothing and let him have you. You're in heat." It took her befuddled mind several seconds to figure out what he was telling her. "Hurry."

She pulled her dress up and over her head, unmindful of the cold. As soon as she was naked, the wolf took him and then her. She cried out when his beast brought her to peak so quickly, and held onto the wall as he made her come over and over. When he licked her thigh, her body tensed up. The bite, like none he'd given her before, brought her over the edge and blurred her vison as well as making her weak.

"I love you." Sterling picked her up, slammed his cock into her, and fucked her hard against the wall. There was no build up, not that any was needed, but she came, screaming out his name and her love for him.

Even as she climaxed numerous times, she needed more. All of him. And when he bit her throat, growling loudly when he did, she came so hard that she fainted from it.

Waking up after what was only seconds, Marty held onto Sterling. He was still breathing hard, his heart pounding too if the pulse at his throat was any indication. When he lifted his head and looked down at her, she fell in love with him all over again. She kissed him gently on the mouth, then laid her head on his shoulder.

"They're going to miss you." He told her that he didn't care. "I don't either, but I thought I should say something. What the hell came over you? Not that I'm complaining, but damn, that was intense."

"I.... You're in heat. I know that I should have talked to you first, but once my wolf realized it, there seemed to be nothing stopping him from taking you." He pulled back enough to look down at her. "Are you all right with having a child this soon? I mean, I'm nearly positive that you are already, but is that okay?"

"Yes, very much so. But I don't want to say anything just yet to your family. I mean, I'd like it to be ours for a while." He laughed and told her that his family would know. "The smell thing, right?"

"Yes, the smell thing. You're so wonderful, Marty. I had no idea what I expected before you came into my life, but I also can't think what it would have been like had you not come along and made me whole again." He kissed her once more, then helped her stand on her own two feet. "I've been meaning to tell you something Alta told me today. In addition to you having this magic, our children will have it as well, and we're marked by the demon so that others of his kind cannot harm us."

"Good to know." She thought of her dress that was now lying in the snow, and wondered what she was going to do now. But instead of worrying about it, she pulled it back over her head and was astonished when it became as lovely as it had been before this. "You think my hair will change too?"

In the end, she simply pulled it back into a ponytail and then twisted it up. It wasn't as beautiful as it had been, but it would pass. They entered the gallery hand in hand and much more relaxed. Trent was waiting for them at the lobby entrance, and she had a feeling that it wasn't to congratulate his brother on a job well done. He looked intense.

"There's a problem." Sterling asked him what it was. "Well, it's about Robert. He just killed a cop that was bringing him dinner and took his gun. They think he's on his way here."

"We need to have someone watching over Isaac." Trent said it was done. "Christ, this guy is really out to fuck up my day. We need to take care of this today, Trent."

"I agree, and we will, once and for all." They made their way into the gallery. Sterl noticed that there were sold signs on all the work as he passed, but for now, he wanted to save his friend. As soon as he entered the office where Isaac had been, he knew immediately that he was gone.