Deep Within Me

protect him from Carreon’s men and to make certain they don’t follow him on his way back here.”

Jacob spoke above the clan’s murmurs. “I can go.”

“No.” Zeke wasn’t going to lose his brother either. If Carreon’s men murdered Jacob and disposed of his body, there would be no chance for reanimation. “Not you.”

None of the other men agreed to make the run.

Diaz grew more agitated. “I told you, I know how to avoid them. I’ll be careful. I can go alone.”

“You don’t have to,” Kele said. “I’ll go.”

The men stared at her. Isabel looked uneasy. Jacob spoke first. “No, that’s crazy.”

“Especially since we can really trust her,” Paul said, heavy sarcasm lacing his words. “Considering what she’s already done.”

“That’s enough,” Zeke said. “Kele proved herself in battle. We don’t bring it up again, got it?”

Again, his men nodded.

Kele pulled her attention from Isabel and glimpsed at Jacob, making it seem a guilty pleasure she had no right to indulge in. She’d pinned all of her hopes on a man who’d never been able to give her what she’d wanted and needed. Zeke thought he saw her expression softening with love that she’d never be free of. Before he could be certain, her features hardened in resolve, as though she needed to make things right.

“It makes sense for me to go,” she said. “If anything happens, I’m the only one the clan won’t miss.”

“Don’t say that,” Jacob snapped.

“Why?” She gave him a sad smile, determined yet defeated. “It’s true.”

He pushed out of his chair and strode to the other side of the room, putting distance between them.

In the past, Kele would have followed. She would have tried to entice, and if that hadn’t worked, she would have begged.

Today, she remained seated. A changed woman. Beaten finally.

Zeke spoke as kindly as he could. “You’ll have to plan this out. No one’s leaving here until I have a full report on what’s going down.”

“We can work on that now,” Kele said to Diaz.

“After we bring Pedro here, you’ll heal him?” he asked Liz.

She nodded. “Of course.”

“We’ll take care of the boy,” Zeke said to Diaz, knowing he’d only allow Dr. Munez to do so.

As though Liz had read his thoughts, she said, “I’ll take care of him.”

Zeke grabbed her arm. “Jacob.”

His brother looked over. Zeke gestured for him to follow them.

“Zeke.” Isabel stood. “I need to speak with you.”

“Not now,” he murmured, his tone respectful yet firm. “Later. I give you my word.”

He brought Liz into the hall. As they went down it, she murmured, “Will Isabel agitate the others into doing something?”

“No. She’s a good woman. She’s just worried about everyone.”

“You should have let me leave.”

Zeke gripped her arm more tightly.

Liz sighed. “I never wanted to come between you and your clan.”

“You’re not. You won’t. Just do as I say and everything will be all right.”

“You mean, like with my gift? I’m going to prove you wrong about that. You’ll see.”

That was what worried Zeke. She’d insist on healing Pedro or someone else, draining her life force, leaving him. Unless he chained her to their bed, he couldn’t stop her. She’d find a way to convince him he was wrong, when he wasn’t, which left only two other alternatives.

Have her father continue to pour his life force into her, not knowing if it would work or eventually be too much. Or have him and Jacob return some of the healing gift she’d given them when she’d seen to their injuries. Zeke hoped what they returned to her would be far less risky than the force of her father’s power.

“Where are you taking me?” Liz asked.

Zeke shook his head, not trusting himself to answer.

She looked over her shoulder at Jacob who was a few steps behind them. “Where?”

He didn’t comment either.

Zeke led her through the countless halls she’d come down, then to the lower level, stopping finally at his bedroom.

“You’re going to keep me prisoner here?” she asked.

He brought her inside. Jacob followed. “Close the door,” Zeke ordered.

His brother did.

Liz looked from the door to Jacob, and finally to him. “What’s going on?”

“Take off your clothes,” Zeke said.

Chapter Ten

Liz didn’t move, not understanding Zeke’s intent. Apparently, Jacob didn’t either.

He stared at his brother, his face betraying his confusion and surprise. So different from days before when Jacob would have delighted in her nudity and would have demanded his right to mount her first.

Liz noticed how he avoided looking at her now.

Jacob went to Zeke and spoke quietly. “What are you doing?”

Zeke’s expression grew pained, perhaps from sorrow, jealousy or a mixture of the two. He spoke on a sigh. “She needs both of us.”

Liz shook her head. “What are you talking about?”

“You refuse to stop healing,” Zeke accused. He approached so quickly, Liz stepped back without thinking. Zeke loomed over her, his masculinity heightened by his anger. “Nothing your father or I say makes a difference, does it?”

Liz rested her hand on his chest. His heart drummed fiercely, further betraying his frustration and worry. “How can I stop what I was born to do when someone’s life is at risk?”

“What about your own?” he countered.

“If anything happens to me, my father can—”

“No, he can’t,” Zeke interrupted. “He doesn’t know what his power will do. I might lose you forever.” He grabbed her arms and pulled her into him, burying his face in her hair. Anguish laced his words. “Don’t you know that would kill me? Don’t you fucking care?”

Oh Zeke. Liz wrapped her arms around him, resting her cheek against his shoulder. As she spoke, her breath puffed against his tee. “How can you even think that? I’m doing this for you. What if you’re injured?” She moaned at the thought and held him even tighter. “What if you’re killed? Do you think I could stand by and do nothing? Do you actually believe I’d want to save myself?”

Swearing beneath his breath, Zeke hugged her so hard Liz could scarcely breathe. Then, as if he’d made a decision he released her and stepped back. His eyes were shiny.

Jacob stood to the side, looking lost.

Zeke cleared his throat, then said, “When you healed me and Jacob, you poured your life force into us. I don’t know how your gift works. I wish to fuck I did. But I’ve been thinking that the part of you we have inside of us—what allowed us to heal—can hopefully be returned to you. It can somehow undo what the reanimation changed.”

“What?” Jacob blurted.

“It’s all we have,” Zeke said to his brother. “What if her father’s gift stops working on her? What if it’s too strong and does more damage than good? They’re related— so sharing the same genetic material might also be a problem. I don’t know for certain. And I sure as hell don’t want to risk finding out that her father’s healing power killed Liz without any possibility of him bringing her back. We have to do this.”

Clearly bewildered, Jacob shook his head. “Do what?”