22. Jax

Jax

I 'm loitering in Dad's office when I see a photo I haven't really noticed before, but today, it draws me to a stop, my whole body jolts hard, trembling.

"Dad?"

"Yeah?"

"Who is that?" I point to the photo, unable to take my eyes off it.

"That's Mason's father, Martin, and his twin brother, Andrew."

"Martin had a twin?"

"He did. They didn't see each other much. They were as different as night and day, even in colouring. Martin was sunny and blonde, with hazel eyes. Like Mason. But Andrew had dark hair, green eyes, and he was really serious."

"Did he," I clear my throat, "did Andrew have a son?"

"Yes, one son. Terrance. The boy died a few years back, and Andrew followed him less than a year later. Mason was devastated. He'd grown close with Andrew after Terrance's mother took off with the boy."

The threads of fate feel like they are tightening around me. I stare at the photo, absorbing the image of the older version of Terrance. Our families were friends. We're connected. He's connected.

Cousins.

My eyes widen, and the photo is all I can see .

Terrance and Mason are cousins. They have a deep connection, a blood connection, and a goal, to save me.

My mind races. But if you need a blood relative, that means Louis must have a family member still alive. Maybe a brother or a cousin. Someone here is alive. The thought blows my mind. No, not alive. Louis stole their body, they were dying.

I need to see hospital records.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, I just think I knew his son," I say absently, reaching out to touch the glass.

"You met Terrance?"

I nod my head. "I did."

"What was he like?" Dad asks curiously.

"He was like…Mason. He was a good man, Dad."

"I'm glad you met him, then. Wow, look at the time. I've got to get to bed."

I burst into laughter, swinging around to look at Dad, who is rocking back on his heels, his hands clasped behind him. A wicked grin on his lips.

"Hint, hint, nudge, nudge," I chuckle despite myself.

Eddie laughs. "Give an old man a break. I need my beauty sleep. I'm normally in bed hours ago."

"You're not old."

He scoffs and gives me a one-armed hug. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Night, Dad. I love you."

"I love you, too, Jackie. More than anything."

I linger there, absorbing the warmth of him and feeling that indescribable feeling of safety that this man always manages to evoke.

I go back to the room with the photos where I had that moment with Stevie. I ignore the table, the china, and all the pretty art. Past all the gold and shimmery things that steal the eye. I go straight to the photos and look at what I hadn't seen earlier. There are two boys around the same age playing on my father's front lawn with two twins, one gold, and one dark, hugging each other.

I've seen this photo so many times, it never meant anything to me before. But now I'm looking at Andrew and Martin and the two boys, Mason and Terrance. Here. Before my mother died. Terrance was here.

I go out to the garden and pace around. I need to tell them, but how, I don't even know where they are. What are my options? I can try to go to places they might go again. I throw myself down on the swing and rock there until movement catches my eye.

I stand up and move to the deep end of the garden. All my senses are alert as I tense, ready to run. I push into the bushes and find Rafe standing there.

"RAFAEL!"

I throw myself into his arms and bury my face in his neck. "Oh, god, you're okay." I pull away and stare at him. "Are Dane and Gideon?"

"Oh, no. They're fine." Rafe kisses me hard. "I'm sorry, I know we agreed not to see each other, but I had to tell you-"

"I'm shocked," Gideon says from behind us. "Completely shocked."

I whirl and throw myself into his arms, hugging him hard. "Where's Dane?"

Gideon and Rafe exchange guilty looks. Disappointment presses on me, but then I hear the shifting of shrubs. I look around and spot Dane fighting with the wild roses. And I don't know why seeing him triggers the tears, but suddenly, I'm wrapped in his arms, sniffling into his neck.

"Hey, baby, it's okay," Dane murmurs. "What's wrong? "

"Descario and Wayland think I'm murdering people. Sparrow wants daily updates on Louis, and I found the connection."

Dane pulls back. "Those bastards! Wait, what? What are you talking about? What connection?"

I wipe my nose and turn to look at Gideon. "Your father's name was Andrew. He had a brother?"

"Yeah, a twin. Martin. What about it?"

"He had a son…"

Gideon's eyes open wide. "No way! My cousin? It never even occurred to me that this Mason was Uncle Martin's son. I didn't have anything to do with that side of the family. There are no photos. I spent so long trying to find my dad, I never even tried hunting for Uncle Martin. I'd forgotten about him, to be honest."

Dane and Rafe stare at Gideon. "It's a blood connection," Rafe says.

I give him a knowing smile. "See, I knew you were the smart one. Blood connection."

"Means we're looking for someone related to him. That narrows our pool of suspects. A lot," Dane says calmly, but in the dark, I see a glint of excitement in his eye.

"Yes!"

"But they're all dead," Dane says.

"We must have missed someone," Rafe and I say together.

Gideon and Dane stare at us. "But who?" They ask at the same time. It's so comedic that I burst into laughter.

"I don't know. But it's something."

Rafe grips my hands in his. "Listen, we have news."

Dane looks at me and grimaces. "I went to see Leroy. We spoke to several souls. It would appear that they are being drawn to the energy and deaths that are happening in Hurricane. There are lots of warnings about blood flowing and appetites growing. He's coming into himself. That kinda stuff. Mostly nonsense. "

I let out a breath that takes my warmth with it.

"Also, there's no security footage of Louis breaking into our home, but we're guessing that he's been in our home before and did it during that time period while we were out. Or Jacob or River betrayed us," Gideon says darkly. "I checked with everyone around us. It's all wiped."

My eyes widen, and I shake my head. "No. It's not them. It can't be."

Rafael closes his eyes, and I watch him intently, afraid of what he's about to say. "Jacob's house is trashed, and he's nowhere to be seen."

I let out an inarticulate cry.

Gideon wraps me in his arms and rocks me. "It's okay. We're going to sort this out," he murmurs.

I look at them each in turn. Rafe's lips tilt in that sexy smile that I love so much. Dane stares at me with an intensity that makes my resolve weaken, and Gideon's scent is all around me. Mason is gone. All I can see is him now. "I can keep him distracted. Run wild here, make as much noise as I can to draw his eye."

Gideon scowls. "I hate that idea."

"Me, too," Dane says.

"But it will give you time to find the blood relative. Ask the ghosts. Whoever it was must have died. He might still be here."

Gideon growls and grabs my hair, kissing me deeply. I cling to him until he stumbles back, letting me go. I reach up and touch my lips.

"Every time you freak out, I'm going to kiss you like that until you calm down," he growls.

"That's not dissuading."

Gideon winks and flashes me a smile.

"Can you guys come with me quickly?" I ask. I have an idea, and they might be able to help me .

I lead the way out of the hedges and down the drive. Gideon motions to a car parked in the neighbour's yard. We all climb in, but I lean low in my seat, leaning against Danes' ribs.

"Have you found somewhere to stay?"

Dane smiles. "Of course. You worried about us?"

"I'm always worried about you."

Dane runs his hands down my side, grazing my boob. I shiver and press closer.

"Dane," I say breathlessly.

He reaches down, sliding his hand up my top and grasping my breast. I arch into his hand and tilt my face up to his. He kisses me and pulls away, touches our lips together again.

"Dane," I moan.

Gideon swears and makes a sudden turn that throws me into Dane. He grumbles at Gideon and then reaches into my pants, sliding two fingers into me, curling them deep before pulling them out. I watch, my mouth parting, as he lifts his finger to his mouth and sucks them clean.

We get to the lookout, and Gideon parks. He gets out of the car, walks around to the back, and opens the door.

"Out."

Dane licks my neck and then pushes me up and gets out of the car. Gideon grabs me and pushes up against the car, bending me over the trunk. He yanks my pants down and drops to his knees. I let out a keening shout as he buries his face in my pussy. Dane hops up beside me and urges me to stand. He pulls off my top and bra and starts tugging on my nipples.

"So hot," Dane murmurs. I gasp and cry out as Gideon's enthusiastic devouring of my cunt threatens to bring me to my knees.

Rafe circles around and stands beside Gideon.

"You want more?"

"Yes," I stutter .

"You sure?"

"Please," I scream.

Rafael slides wet fingers down my crease, pressing against the ring of flesh, pushing until his finger penetrates and then pulls back. He works his finger in and out until he can slide two fingers into me.

My body tightens, unable to fight the pleasure. I crash through the waves of almost painful ecstasy, shuddering as Gideon continues to eat me.

Gideon pulls back and stands up. I hear the sound of a zipper opening and then his cock is there, pressing into my pussy, the blunt head penetrating just a little, stretching me but not giving me what I need. He pauses, panting, and then with his hands gripping my hips to hold me still, he drives up into me.

He pumps into me, harder and harder, until he stiffens. I feel the hot jets of his cum squirt inside me.

He pulls out and turns to me so he can kiss me hard. I find myself even more dazed with arousal when I taste myself on his lips.

Gideon staggers back, and Dane advances on me. He and Rafe have a silent conversation, and then Rafe pushes me to my knees. Dane stands in front of me, his cock already leaking pre-cum. I lower myself around him, and take his cock in my mouth, swallowing him as deep as I can in one quick move.

Dane gasps. I suck hard when I feel Rafael line himself up. When he pushes into me, I have to pull back. I lick around the tip of his cock and jerk my hand up and down.

Rafael pounds into me from behind. With each thrust, he pushes me down onto Dane's cock. At one point, he even reaches out and pushes my head down, encouraging me to take him deeper.

Dane grips my hair, his head falls back, he pumps into me, out of control, and explodes onto my tongue. I swallow while I clench around Rafe. As soon as Dane moves out of the way, Rafe grips my hips. He leans over me and kisses up my neck.

"I need you."

"Have me."

"I can't hold back, I need to make you mine."

"Rafe," I say with a moan, "do what you need to do."

Rafe growls, and then he seizes my throat in one hand and pulls himself up into me, pushing deeper and deeper. His thrusts are measured but hard. It's like he's trying to make sure that I've got him imprinted all inside me.

I can't find it in me to object. In fact, I kinda of love it.

My whines spur him on. I throw my head back, arching, not caring about the rock digging into my knee or the cold. All that matters is the man fucking me. He reaches around and strokes my clit. He strokes over it again and again until I'm thrown over that crest of pleasure and I'm clamping down on him. My body's wracked with shudders as my climax drags me into a near black out.

Rafael leans over me, half holding me up, his hand still around my throat. "I love you. And you're mine. I don't care what anyone says, you're mine," Rafael snarls. "I've never, ever wanted anything like I've wanted you, and now that you're mine, I'm never giving you up!" Rafael roars as he slams into me over and over until he stiffens, he growls again, even louder in my ear, but his fingers don't squeeze, he doesn't hurt me.

He collapses over me and then sits back, pulling me with him.

I twist until I can kiss him. "I love you, too."

He groans as he pulls out of me, and Dane comes with a cloth and wipes me down. I stand up with Gideon's help and get dressed.

The four of us stand by the back of the car. Dane opens his arms, and I slip into them, leaning into his warmth .

"We're going to be okay, aren't we?" I ask sadly.

Gideon reaches out and grips my chin. "We're going to be more than okay. We're going to bury your ex and live happily ever after."

I laugh softly. "Always confident, Gideon."

Gideon stiffens, and his expression softens. "Maybe I believe in destiny."

My thoughts about fate come back to me, but I don't mention them.

"All right, where are we taking you before we have to drop you home?" Rafe asks.

"Hospital. I want to know if anyone died or was in a coma when Louis died."

The three of them stare at me. I don't even need to look at Dane. I can feel his gaze.

"The brains of the operation, ladies and gentlemen," Rafe says with a laugh.