Midnight Sacrifice (32 page)

He spasmed and sprawled, limp, on top of her. She lay still under his body, his skin damp with sweat, his heart thundering in her ear. His shoulder blocked her nose, and his weight on her rib cage kept her lungs from inflating.

She tapped his shoulder and wheezed, “I can’t breathe.”

He slid off of her. “Oh, sorry.”

“God, you’re gorgeous.” He plucked a wet twig from her hair. A leaf followed.

The chuckle in her throat nearly choked her.

“I’m serious.” His eyes brightened, and his mouth shifted into the wicked grin that had first melted her bones.

“Shut up and kiss me.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

As he did, it dawned on her that, though he wasn’t the first man she’d ever desired, he was the only one she also enjoyed all the time. She wanted him, sure. But she also really, really liked him. She wanted to do more than sleep with him again. She wanted to eat and talk and hang out with him, too. Waking up in the morning next to that sexy grin would be a nice bonus.

A gust of wind sneaked under the rock and whipped up embers in the fire. Raindrops hit her skin, the cold a sharp contrast to the heat of Danny’s skin. He pulled the cover higher up on her shoulders.

“We have another hour. Do you have another condom?”

“I do.” Danny nuzzled her neck. “I like to be prepared.”

“Like a good boy scout.”

“Honey, I was never a boy scout.”

Mandy chuckled, but guilt intruded on the moment. What would happen if he discovered the truth about her and Nathan?

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Boston, December 1975

“Can you eat something, Nathan?” Dad asked from the doorway. His face had thinned since Mom had gotten sick. The skin on his cheeks was slack as melting wax sliding toward the floor.

Nathan shook his head. His empty belly protested with a painful squeeze, but he couldn’t eat.

Dad nodded. He understood. “Do you want me to stay?”

Yes.
His throat closed off the words. He didn’t want either. He wanted it all to go away. His eyes were wet and a tear rolled down his cheek.

“It’s OK.” Dad blew out a breath. Helplessness lingered, palpable in the air along with the foul odor that filled the hospital’s halls.

Nathan’s face heated as the tears flowed. Men didn’t cry, so why couldn’t he stop?

“I’ll give you some time alone with her.” Dad stuffed his hands in his pockets. “I’ll be just outside if you need me.” He ducked into the hall.

The room was gray and dreary, from the speckled floor to the plastic chairs. Nathan pulled his knees to his chest to relieve the stiffness in his back. He turned sideways and rested his forehead on the cool sheets of his mother’s bed. His eyelids were heavy as bricks, but he couldn’t let them close.

For the first time in nearly a year, his mother’s body was still. The doctor said she was in a coma, but Nathan thought she looked peaceful, like she was finally resting.

Nathan squeezed her hand. She didn’t respond. There was no sign she was even aware he was there.

Fear balled up in his empty belly. She was hanging on just for him. He was sure of it. If he fell asleep, she’d die.

Dad wouldn’t say it, but Nathan knew that was what was going to happen. It was on the doctor’s face. Every time he stepped into the room it was like he was surprised she was still breathing.

“It’s the only hope.” Uncle Aaron’s whisper carried from the hallway.

“Aaron, stop talking like this. Gwen would be appalled. You should be horrified at what you’re suggesting.” His dad’s voice shook.

“Without it, she won’t last the night.”

“She won’t last the night with or without your barbaric ritual. I won’t let you do it. Gwen would never forgive herself.”

“You don’t understand, Robert.” His uncle’s voice thickened with anger.

“Oh, I understand perfectly. Get out, Aaron.”

There was a thud, and the wooden crucifix on the wall over the bed trembled. “She’s my sister. You can’t stop me from saving her.”

“Take your hands off me. You’re crazy. I should report you to the police.” Dad’s voice was thin and strained.

Nathan’s heart zoomed. He tightened his grip on his mother’s limp hand, then eased off, afraid he’d hurt her.

“Don’t make threats like that, Robert. Your God may ask you to sit back and accept what he’s dished out. But mine—and your wife’s—they call for action. That’s Celtic blood that runs through Gwen’s veins. It demands to be heard.”

Dad didn’t respond, and Uncle Aaron’s voice dropped.

“You’ll pay for your decision to let my sister die. Her death is on your head. I will not forget it, Robert.”

Thunder rumbled in the distance. Nathan killed the headlights and drove into the parking area behind the old inn. He parked next to the detached garage. Mandy’s car wasn’t in the lot. A blanket of unease settled on his shoulders.

Getting out of the vehicle, he scanned the rear of the house. All the windows were dark and quiet, as they should be an hour before dawn. He stole across the backyard and rounded the corner. Mandy’s window was on the side of the house. Standing on his toes, he peered in. The blinds weren’t drawn. The bed was directly across from the window, the white sheets and comforter undisturbed. No dark head rested upon the pillow.

Mandy wasn’t there. Where could she be?

Who could she be with?

Anger hazed his vision red. He raised his hand, ready to smash the window in search of his May Queen. Wait. Think. He clenched a trembling fist.

What should he do?

He raised his fingers to his temples, where the constant ache in his head blurred his thoughts. He needed a new plan.

He’d come here to collect his queen, to prepare her for their new life together. He had to have her. No one else would do.

So he needed another way to get her.

His gaze shifted to the next window. Was that Mandy’s beloved brother’s room?

Enthusiasm for his new idea propelled him to the back porch. He stopped. His gifts. They were missing. He suppressed his rage and stalked back across the lawn to the garage. On the side of the little building, he lifted the lids to the garbage cans. Not there. At least she didn’t throw them away.

He tried the side door to the garage. Unlocked. A sign for sure. He found his offerings against the wall. Perhaps she’d put them there to shelter them from the storm. The thought warmed
him. Mandy cared. She’d protected the items he’d given her. Nothing else mattered. The details of their future together could be worked out later.

He picked up the heavy cauldron and carried it back to the porch, then secured the rowan branch above the door once again. Better.

As in his original plan, he cut a circle of glass from the door. Reaching inside, he flipped the dead bolt and slipped into the kitchen. His ears strained for sound. A second of silence was followed by a soft
woof
on the other side of a wooden door.

Since when did Mandy have a dog?

Nails scratched on wood, the sound boring into his brain. No. No. No. He pressed his palms to his ears. Tonight’s mission depended upon quiet. The dog must be silenced.

He lunged for the knob and shoved the door inward. A yellow lab burst through, hackles raised. Was that Jed’s prize bitch, Honey? The dog stood splay-legged in front of him, tail low, growling but unsure of what to do.

Nathan reached into his pocket and withdrew a piece of last night’s supper, skewered rabbit and fresh dandelion greens. He’d been prepared to take shelter in case another storm arrived. He held out a bit of meat.

The dog shuffled forward, sniffing. Her tail swayed in a faint wag as she licked the treat from his fingers. Labradors were retrievers, not guard dogs. Relief coursed through him. Thank the gods! Plan B could continue. He was far too tired to come up with a plan C.

The door opened again. Nathan’s hopes rose. Mandy! Perhaps she’d fallen asleep on the sofa.

A shadow fell across the tile floor. No. It wasn’t Mandy. Even in the dark, he could see the shape was much too large. Mandy’s brother, Bill, shuffled in. His hand swiped the wall, turning on
the overhead lights. Dressed in gray sweatpants and an oversize hoodie, he rubbed sleep-heavy eyes with both fists like a child. When he lowered his hands, surprise registered. “What are you doing here?”

“I’ve come to get you.” Because there was no better way to ensure Mandy’s cooperation.

“Why?” Bill stepped back. “Mandy said I’m supposed to stay here.”

“I know. She sent me to get you.” Nathan smiled. His facial muscles strained with the effort, as if they had atrophied from little use.

“Mandy said you did something bad.” Bill’s jaw jutted. His eyes narrowed in suspicion. “And Jed said you hurt her.”

“I did.” Nathan tried to look ashamed. “And I’m very sorry. We all make mistakes. But I’m going to make it up to her by helping her now.”

“Where is she?”

Ah, love was such an easy emotion to manipulate.

“She fell and hurt her ankle. She needs you, Bill.”

“She fell? In the woods?” Bill shuffled his feet. His blond brows furrowed with concentration.

Rushing Bill wouldn’t swing his decision in Nathan’s favor, but guests slept upstairs, and Bill’s mother could hear them at any moment. Even ill, she was not a person to be crossed, particularly when it came to protecting her children. Nathan wondered if she was strong enough to lift and fire her shotgun.

“OK, but I have to tell Mom where I’m going.”

“Mandy told me your mother has been sick,” Nathan lied. His assistant had told him about Mae’s heart attack. “This would probably upset her. That wouldn’t be good for her recovery, would it?”

“I guess not.” Bill gave the dog a pat on the head. “You stay here, Honey. Take care of Mom.”

Bill dropped into a kitchen chair to tie his sneakers. Nathan waited, anxiety roiling into white water in his head. His heartbeat thudded, simultaneously loud and thin. His mind wasn’t the only part of his body degenerating.

Tomorrow night it would all be over.

Nathan led Bill out the door like Willy Wonka, but he’d do what was necessary to make his plan work. No one was as important as Evan. Following his uncle’s example, Nathan would save him or die trying.

He opened the sedan’s passenger door for Bill.

Mandy would be upset that her brother had been chosen, but it was her punishment from the gods for not being ready for Nathan when he came for her.

Everyone had to pay a price.

Everyone had to make sacrifices.

Danny stared out into the still-dark forest. Behind him, Mandy slept in their sleeping bag nest. A cool breeze stirred the fire, and trees dripped with fresh rain. He checked his watch. The rain had stopped, and the last rumble of thunder had passed thirty minutes ago. He hadn’t seen lightning in an hour.

He leaned back and nudged Mandy’s shoulder. She jumped.

“Sorry.” He stroked the smooth skin of her back. “The storm passed. I thought you’d want to get moving.”