My Soul Laid Bare: Book 4 (The Soul Keeper Series) Read online

  My Soul Laid Bare

  Melissa Solis

  Contents

  My Soul Laid Bare

  Prologue

  Chapter 1 ~ The Ride ~

  Chapter 2 ~Lost and Found~

  Chapter 3 ~Valentine’s Day Massacre~

  Chapter 4 ~ Sam’s Story ~

  Chapter 5 ~ The Phone Call ~

  Chapter 6 ~ Amazing Grace ~

  Chapter 7 ~ Betrothed ~

  Chapter 8 ~ Choices ~

  Chapter 9 ~ Something Blue ~

  Chapter 10 ~ Discoveries ~

  Chapter 11 ~ Barren ~

  Chapter 12 ~Gift Horse ~

  Chapter 13 ~ Good Things Come ~

  Chapter 14 ~ Reaction ~

  Chapter 15 ~ Danger Waits ~

  Chapter 16 ~ Saved ~

  Chapter 17 ~ Small Miracles ~

  Chapter 18 ~ Homecoming ~

  Chapter 19 ~ Full Circle~

  Chapter 20 ~ Lost ~

  Chapter 21 ~ Daddy’s Home ~

  ~ Epilogue ~

  Acknowledgements

  Copyright © 2014

  Melissa Solis

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, distributed, stored in, or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, without express permission of the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The characters and story lines are created from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  Cover Image Copyright © Conrado, 2012

  Used under license from Shutterstock.com

  Cover Design by Andrew Solis

  Prologue

  At the end of our life, what we have are countless memories. This is the only thing we may take with us. Our memories appear like snap shots, moments caught in time. Mostly you take the good memories with you, but there are a few which no matter how hard you try and leave behind, follow with you. After all, they too are what made you who you are. We all make mistakes, some are irreversible. They may inevitably cost us everything. This is the ante we pay for a life well spent and I like to think I was always, “All In.”

  This is my life in snap shots: the good, the bad, and the not so pretty.

  ~ Brennen

  Chapter 1 ~ The Ride ~

  A somber note hangs in the winter air like a body in the noose, swinging back and forth until the rope breaks. That's what my life holds promises of - death and destruction, one heart at a time.

  Malphas is free to hunt me like prey, unleashed by my careless hand like a rabid dog in a room full of toddlers. I know it was wrong to free him, but it was the lesser of two evils. We made a deal with the devil that might as well cost us our lives. Well– my life, since Elijah's beautiful head is as immortal as outer space is infinite. When we turned Malphas loose, Sam's mark was to be lifted. His mark allowed a demon to take up temporary residence in his body like it was some damn FEMA trailer.

  Elijah, the love of my life, the extraordinary man that lovingly held me all night back in Amorous, is now incredulously rooting for the other man. He studies me from across the room as if my face holds the secrets of the world.

  Sam saunters into the room looking utterly confused, his hands are piled on top of his head as if he needed to somehow keep it attached. At least now his head is safe and off limits for good. The only other condition I made was for Malphas to agree to Sam and his family being off limits. He agreed a little too easily if you ask me. I know it's only because Sam was never the prize. Elijah and I are the ones he wants to exact his revenge on. Elijah has been fouling up Malphas' orders to extinguish my life since I was born.

  Elijah doesn't show a hint of fear even though Malphas has had us both under his boot multiple times in the last few months. His confidence astounds me and part of me wonders if I've only seen a glimpse of what he's capable of. The thought of Elijah's strength cinches my stomach in a tight knot as I fantasize about him from across the room.

  “What happened? I don't remember anything.” Sam's voice is still hoarse. I imagine having two fallen angels locked in a battle to the death inside one’s body would have some ramifications. It almost killed Sam. But had Elijah not intervened, Malphas would have killed him anyway.

  Now I have to feed Sam yet another lie. It seems to be par for the course these days. I'm beginning to think lying may be one of my special gifts. Maybe I'll make a great politician after all.

  “You don't remember? Well you did have a lot to drink,” I mention with my head cocked.

  “I did? I never get drunk. What was I drinking? Jet fuel?” He rubs his temples again.

  I point to the empty Jose Quervo bottle on the counter, hoping he doesn't smell the fact that I dumped the bottle down the drain only moments ago. He walks over to the counter and examines the bottle, probably trying to force a memory to come. But it will never come, my sweet Sam, because you didn't drink a drop last night. Your innocent soul was battered and bruised from the inside out, and I pray you’re still the same despite it.

  He makes his way back to me, and uninvited images of his rage last night fly through my mind in rapid succession causing a tear to roll down my cheek and my body to visibly tremble. I turn away from him and wipe it away with my shoulder. Elijah's jaw clenches. He hates seeing me in any kind of pain, and I know I'd be in his arms right now if Sam wasn't here.

  “Sorry man. It's my fault,” Elijah offers. He can't lie, and I guess technically he didn't. It is Elijah's fault Sam feels like ass right now.

  Sam plops down on the arm chair, and I breathe a sigh of relief. I'm not ready to be near him anytime soon. Just since he's walked into the room, my body has wanted to curl itself into a protective ball, the fetal position. It’s how they found me in the wreckage of the plane crash when I was only ten years old. Hundreds died that day, and somehow Elijah kept me from sustaining even one bruise.

  I can feel his love emanating from across the room ready to protect me from fiery crashes or a single tear. At least I hope he still feels this way. His comment when we arrived back from Amorous has thrown me for a loop. He said he would help me find a way to make things right with Sam. I don't know why he would offer to help another man love me. I'm stupefied and wondering why he's not fighting tooth and nail to claim our love exclusively for himself. I'd be selfish that way if the tables were reversed.

  The thought of Elijah sharing an intimate moment with any other female makes my blood boil; not that he ever has or ever will. From what I can gather, I'm the only human who's ever brought these feelings about in him. I haven't had the nerve to ask him about his own kind yet, but I hope one day soon we can have such a discussion. He knows me inside and out, not in the literal sexual innuendo way, unfortunately. Although I hope to rectify that situation one day in the very near future. I just wish I could find a way around his moral compass that's set to be firmly against pre-marital relations– cemented in stone really. However, he’s as immoveable as the rock of Gibraltar.

  Sam shifts in my direction. “I'm the one who should be apologizing. I ruined your birthday. I am so sorry babe.” He gets up and goes to hug me. The mere thought of his hands on me sends me bounding up the flight of stairs two at a time.

  I hear Elijah call to him and tell him to let me go. I go up another flight to the catwalk outside, and the January wind blasts its icy breath right through me as soon as I open the door. I wrap my plush robe around me, but it does little to keep out the cold.

 
I welcome the freezing air; maybe it will numb the pain. If I'd have left well enough alone, Sam would be going back to Texas in a few days, and I could break up with him, never having to relive the moment again. Why is Elijah suddenly on his side? Did my mother give him some sort of mission like before when Elijah had to help me win Sam back for the sake of his destiny? God I hope not. I'm so sick of the In-Between using my love life like the net on their Ping-Pong table.

  The ocean is unsteady, waves crashing into each other chaotically without reason. Somewhere out there, an unseen storm is readying itself, churning up the ocean like a witch brewing a potion in her cauldron. I notice the palm tree which accessorized my living room and managed to litter Sam's body with glass just two days ago has been replanted. It now waves brazenly in the wind like an unsavory flag.

  I already miss the others, Jesson most of all. He was such a good friend to me in the short time I'd been around him. He was always able to cheer me up, even when I was furious at him. The door to the catwalk cracks open allowing some heat to linger out. Elijah's cobalt eyes appear in the crack sinking my heart further down into the depths of love I feel for him. I could easily fall into their immeasurable abyss and never come back out.

  “Sam's gone for a little while. I told him you needed some space. Why don't you come inside and get warm?” He holds his hand out, and I slip mine inside. I could never refuse him. “Your hands are like ice. Come here.” He unties my robe and slips his heated arms inside pulling me into his chest. He buries his cheek against my neck, and warmth washes over me along with his delicious scent. His hot skin practically burns against mine. Not that I mind the fiery touch of this man on any given occasion.

  “You’re afraid of him now?”

  I nod. The thought of Sam coming back soon flips my stomach over and runs a current through my veins.

  “But you know Sam would never hurt you physically. Sam doesn't even like to pretend-wrestle with his little sisters. His mark is gone, and he will never hurt you again.”

  With his every word, a new tear falls down my cheek. “Why are you suddenly on his side?” I say pushing his body off of me and backing away when it doesn't move. “You don't want me for yourself anymore?” Why else would he be defending a man that just left me beaten and bruised only hours ago Earth time?

  It wasn't Sam that did that. It was Malphas. Quit blaming the poor boy. Great– my subconscious is even defending him.

  Elijah's eyes turn up in agony like I just shoved a spear through his heart. “No, of course that's not true. I was only trying to be supportive. Back in Amorous, you said you could forgive him. I'd ship the kid off to Egypt if you wanted me to. But I also don't want to win your heart by default. Maybe not right now, but you will end up moving on from this. I know you.” He says the last sentence slowly in a calm clear voice that reinforces how long he’s been with me. “You’re the strongest person I've ever met. When you do choose me, it will be for the pure reason of love and nothing else.”

  My body slumps with defeat. Part of me wishes Nehemiah could steal the memory of that night, just the one from my mind. Maybe then I could look at Sam like the kind gentle man he really is. Maybe then I could trust him again. I quickly shake the idea from my head; the thought of Nehemiah anywhere near my precious memories has me running in the opposite direction.

  “I'm not as strong as you think I am… not this time Elijah.”

  What happened to the Elijah that wasn't afraid to just take what he wanted? He scans me trying to decipher the right thing to say, no doubt. I appear to be doing the same to him. Neither of us says anything, and my shoulders slump slightly as my gaze rolls to the floor.

  He notices and pulls me into one of his comforting embraces. “Get dressed. We're going for a walk.” He squeezes me once more and leaves me. I stand there dumbfounded that he just told me, not asked, what to do. There’s the man I know.

  I head back to my room, and the sight of my warm cozy bed is inviting. I hesitate a moment before fishing an oversized sweatshirt out of the closet and pulling on a pair of jeans. I slip my feet into a pair of faux-fur lined boots and pull a cap over my head. “Go for a walk,” I mutter to myself. It's thirty degrees out, and the air is damp enough to be mistaken for gazpacho, making it feel like Antarctica in a freak snow storm.

  I find Elijah at the bar in the kitchen. His eyes light up when he sees me round the corner. He takes my hand and kisses me on the cheek. I eye the grey sky as if it has the potential to turn me into a Popsicle in seconds.

  “I'll keep you warm. Don't worry.”

  He helps me into my coat and holds the back door open. The beach…? That will be even colder. He takes my hand up and leads me down to the shore. Heat radiates from his hand and up my arm, and I wonder how he is doing that.

  “Do you want to end things with him?”

  “I don't know. I'm scared, but he doesn't know that. He has no clue what he did to me.”

  “You told him the truth once before.”

  “We're too far gone for the truth, Elijah.”

  “You're probably right; he'd have you committed.”

  “Let's just make it through this week. It's something I am going to have to work out in my own head.”

  “The pier is open today for the New Year’s Day celebration.” He points to a carnival in the distance.

  Every year Sandbridge has fireworks on New Year’s Eve over the water. The next day, they put on a carnival and a formal dance. It's a small affair designed to bring some tourist back to town in the off season.

  “If I can get rid of Sam tonight, do you want to go to the dance?”

  “That depends. How do you plan on disposing of the boyfriend?”

  He laughs, “Already getting your sense of humor back, I see. I promise. It will be painless.”

  His eyes light up at the possibility of another date, and I nod in his direction. Elijah pulls out his wallet and buys a roll of tickets for the carnival along with two tickets to the dance. The fair grounds are already beginning to fill. I think the whole town must have shown up. I've never been to any town event before, so I only recognize a few people, mostly my grandmother's friends.

  “Have you ever been on the Ferris wheel?” I ask.

  “No, do you want to go?”

  “Come on. It's fun.” I tug his hand toward the ride. We make our way through the crowd of people dressed in every bit of winter clothing they own. Elijah pays the operator, and we sit side by side in a bright red car. The lap bar goes down, but his arms secure around me insuring I’m not going anywhere. We only rise up a few feet to allow the boarding of the next passenger, and I’m afraid this ride is not as impressive as I made it out to be. Maybe I should have stuck us on the Zipper, AKA the Stomach Flipper, instead.

  Elijah and I finally sit perched atop the Atlantic. For someone who can fly around on his own accord, I'm sure this is less than amusing. While I gaze out over the boundless ocean, Elijah's gaze never leaves my face. When I finally turn to him, he melts into me. He puts a hand behind each ear to keep me still as he brings his lips to mine like a lighthouse guiding home a stray ship. The wheel makes a full revolution before we come up for air.

  That night Elijah tells Sam that I'm still not ready to see him yet. Sam agrees to crash at the home of one of his old swim team buddy's. He feels guilty just thinking he got drunk on my birthday. I imagine how dark he'd be if he knew the real truth.

  I have no idea what to wear tonight on what feels like the first real date in public with Elijah. I emerge from the bathroom with my hair done up in a messy but elegant side bun of sorts. I comb through my closet and find my lack of evening wear to be a real problem. I doubt I'll see anyone from school down here, but with my luck, I will.

  “How about something like… this?” Elijah says with a hanger wagging from his index finger. A beautiful antique gold dress sparkles under the light as if it had flecks of diamonds in it. It's short and strapless with a fluffy organza skirt.

  “I love it. H
ow do you have such good taste in fashion? And how...” I trail off finally remembering I'm only wearing a towel, and he is looking as sexy as I've ever seen him in an Armani navy blue suite, perfectly tailored to his body. His face is clean shaven, and his hair shines under a layer of product. Elijah is as polished as a diamond. Forget the dress. I'm ready to drop the towel. I blush just thinking about it. For a brief moment, I imagine the look that would spread over his features, the way he would explore me with his eyes.

  And we're waiting, we're waiting, my subconscious sings obnoxiously.

  “I saw you eyeing it on page forty two of your prom magazine last year. So I picked it up for you,” he says like it was nothing. My head ticks back.

  “That's cool, but did Cartier deliver my diamonds yet?” I tease, but secretly wonder to what extent he and the other Keepers can fabricate things out of thin air. When I met him, he drove a cool classic Mustang. Elena brought me home a Porsche that could buy half of this house. He raises his brow and holds out his hand over mine. His eyes are lit up with inner light reminiscent of ancient blue glacier. They twinkle like he’s got a secret he can’t keep. I open my palm, and a sparkling necklace pools in my hand. An emerald tear drop encased in a wreath of diamonds hangs from the delicate gold chain. His dimples are firing like they’re about to launch rockets from their deep wells. It makes my stomach cinch, and I try hard to keep it together and not bounce on him like a lioness grabbing a quick meal.

  “It's so pretty.” He takes it from my hand and puts it on my neck. His feather soft touch sends waves of butterflies swirling around inside of me. He lands a kiss on my neck, and it increases the flutters tenfold. I give a soft sigh. Elijah waits outside my door while I change. When I open my door, he comes around and takes me all in.

  “You are stunning. Your beauty outshines every precious gem, because your heart is made of pure gold.”

  “Thank you.”

  We enter the small ball room of the only place in town that has one, the old McNally mansion. I've heard about this place, but I've never been inside. The place was taken over by the socialites of Sandbridge. They restored the Civil War era estate to its original glory. A beautiful chandelier dripping with crystals hangs high in the center of the room. White paneled walls sit under gold damask wallpaper, making the place feel even more luxurious.