Chapter Twenty

Sabrina couldn’t stop shaking. Her baby brother had been an Unholy. How could that have happened? Sure, they were separated when they were younger, but he had to know he could come to her when he got out of the Army instead of turning to the man in charge of the monsters. “I failed him. ”

“You didn’t even know he was home. Let’s listen to what Dante found out. ”

“If you’ll look closely at the drawing, Connor was able to see where they were in his vision. ”

Deacon picked the paper back up and studied it. Sure enough, there was a building in the background with distinct markings on it. “You think this is where Craven is treating the Unholy? ”

“I know it is. As soon as Connor showed it to me, I snapped a picture of it and sent it to Remy. He showed it to Evan who confirmed that was where he and the others were taken. I’ve already spoken to Rafael and Frey. Frey is gathering a team to do recon so they can pick up Craven and rescue the child. ”

“What about Jerrick? ” Sabrina asked. “I don’t want him harmed. ”

“Now that you’ve identified him as your brother, I’ll ask Julian to distribute the photo to all Clan phones. He’ll be detained but not harmed. We may have to take him to the Pen for safe keeping, same as Evan, because by now, Drago has to know more than one of his men are missing, ” Deacon said.

“How are you going to find him, though? He’s been hanging around the hospital and my house, not this place, ” Sabrina said, pointing to the drawing. Dante looked at Deacon, and something passed between them. “What is it? ” she asked.

“Brother? ” Deacon said.

Isabelle came around the coffee table and sat down next to Sabrina. “We needed you to identify the drawing before we told you what has happened. Jerrick’s already been found. Sabrina, it’s not good. He was found earlier by some of the Gargoyles who were patrolling. Normally, when they find Unholy who’ve been injured, they take them to the Pen where Dante or I see to them, but with Jerrick being Reborn, they reached out to my father. Jonas has Jerrick in a private wing of the hospital. ”

“Jonas? I thought your father was Joseph. ” Sabrina knew Deacon had told her that.

“You didn’t tell her? ” Isabelle asked Deacon.

“No. I was going to let Jonas tell her himself. ”

“Tell me what? You know what? It doesn’t matter. I need to get to the hospital and see my brother. ” Sabrina stood from the sofa and headed for the door.

“We’ll be right behind you, ” Isabelle said.

Sabrina jogged to the truck, but somehow, Deacon got there before she did and had the door open for her. “How did you do that? ” she asked when he was seated next to her.

“Shifter speed. We have exceptional eyesight and hearing as well. About Joseph. His real name is Jonas Montague. To remain in New Atlanta for so long, he had to reinvent himself. ”

“Jonas Montague? As in the scientist who cloned the world’s first baby? The man who brought the world to its knees, Jonas Montague? ”

“The one and only, but the apocalypse wasn’t his fault. A cult who calls themselves the Ministry took credit for that. Jonas is a genius. He came up with prosthetic masks for those who need to hang around a city far longer than their looks allow. The man you know – Joseph Mooneyham – is really a nine-hundred-plus-year-old Gargoyle. When he isn’t posing as Joseph, Jonas looks as young as I do. ”

Sabrina didn’t respond. Her thoughts volleyed between that new information about her boss and the fact that her baby brother was in the hospital. Why hadn’t she asked Isabelle about his injuries? She said it wasn’t good, but how not good was it? Was he critical? In a coma?

What felt like hours later, Deacon parked at the back of the hospital where he led Sabrina into the hallway leading to the morgue. “Why are we going this way? ”

“This is where Jonas will have your brother. ”

Sabrina had never ventured to this level of the building. She never had reason to. After meandering down several corridors, they reached a section of the hospital that appeared abandoned. Deacon knocked on a door, and a few seconds later, Joseph opened it, only sticking his head out. “Dante called ahead. Sabrina, your brother’s in bad shape, but with time, he should make a full recovery. ” He held the door open. It was only then she noticed Dante, Isabelle, and Connor were behind them.

She didn’t understand why they were allowing the child to come along, but she wasn’t his parent. Her only concern was Jerrick.

“I need to see him. ”

“Of course. Right this way. ”

As she followed her boss, she tried to imagine what the older man looked like without his mask. It had to be the work of a genius, because she’d known him for years, and she’d never seen him look any way other than he did now.

The room he led them to was set up like any other patient room with the exception of two large men standing guard. She recognized both from having been in Mr. Holt’s room, but they’d never been introduced. As Sabrina reached them, they both placed a fist over their hearts and bowed their heads. “On my honor, ” they said in unison.

Deacon shook both their hands before escorting Sabrina inside. When she caught sight of Jerrick, her knees threatened to give out, but Deacon was there to support her. Her brother wasn’t hooked up to any type of life support nor did he have an IV attached. His face and arms were marred with deep gashes. “Why isn’t he hooked up? ” Sabrina asked.

“All his wounds are external. He took one hell of a beating, but Mason and Jasper got to him before any internal damage was done. ”

“Then why isn’t he awake? ” Sabrina stepped up to the bed and placed her hand on the only patch of skin not split open.

“I gave him a strong sedative to keep him still. ” It was then she noticed he was strapped down. “Until Dante called, I didn’t know he was your brother. The straps were necessary for his safety as well as mine. As soon as he awakens and you assure him he’s safe, we will remove his bindings. ”

“Thank you, Joseph. Or should I say Jonas? ”

Her boss gave her a sheepish smile. “Down here, Jonas is fine, but around those who aren’t aware of my true identity, I’m afraid Joseph is necessary. ”

“I understand, ” she responded, her eyes still on her brother. “Oh, Jerrick, I’m so sorry, ” she whispered as tears streamed down her face. Deacon stepped behind her, wrapping his arms around her. She leaned against his body for comfort.

When Connor stepped up to the other side of the bed, Sabrina narrowed her eyes at the boy, wondering again why he was there. He placed his small hand on Jerrick’s arm and closed his eyes. The boy smiled when he looked at Sabrina. “He started to bring you dandelions, but he figured you would prefer something prettier like roses. ” Sabrina gasped.

Connor returned to his parents who were standing by the door. If Deacon hadn’t already told her the child had special abilities, she would worry his words had been a trick of sorts.

“I take it that means something to you? ” Deacon asked against her cheek.

Sabrina nodded. “He would pick dandelions whenever he found them and give them to me. He never saw them as weeds. Just pretty flowers growing wild and free. ”

“Bree…” Jerrick’s voice was weak, and his eyes were closed, but it was the best sound Sabrina had heard in a long time.

“I’m here Jerrick. I’m right here. ”

Deacon’s hands tightened around her waist, and he stepped away from the bed, taking Sabrina with him.

“What are you doing? ” she hissed over her shoulder.

“Until he’s fully awake, we don’t know how he’s going to react. ”

“He would never hurt me. ” Sabrina struggled to get loose, but Deacon tightened his grip. “Let go of me. ”

“Pretty Lady, I just—”

“I said let go! ”

“Let her go! ” Jerrick yelled, struggling against his restraints. All of a sudden, the room was filled with Gargoyles. Fangs and claws bared. Sabrina felt a whoosh behind her, and when she turned, Deacon had unfurled his wings. The next thing she knew, she was cocooned within the wings, her face smashed against Deacon’s broad chest.

“Deacon, if you don’t release me right this second, we’re finished! ” Sabrina stumbled backwards at being released so abruptly. She glared at Deacon before turning to check on her brother. “Stop it! Jerrick! ”

“Bree? ” Jerrick stopped fighting against the Gargoyles and settled back against the pillow.

“I’m here, ” she cried, rushing to the side of the bed. She placed her hand on his marred cheek as gently as possible. “Oh, Jerrick. What did they do to you? ”

“Nothing I didn’t deserve, ” he whispered.

“No. You didn’t deserve this. You were trying to help. Weren’t you? Get these restraints off him. Now. ”

Tears welled up in her brother’s eyes as he nodded. “Yes, but it was too little too late. I couldn’t save the boy. ”

“What do you mean? I thought you wanted us to help him. ” When none of the others moved to undo the bands strapped across his body, Sabrina began releasing them herself. Deacon stepped up beside Sabrina, but when he placed his hand on her shoulder, she shrugged it off. They were going to talk about his high-handedness later.

“I’ll release him, ” Deacon said.

Sabrina moved over, giving Deacon room to work. As he released the straps, he asked Jerrick, “Did something happen to the child? ”

“While I was getting my ass handed to me, I heard one of Drago’s men yelling orders about the boy and Craven. I’m sure they’re gone by now. I’m sorry. Bree, I should have just come to you, but I couldn’t face you. I was so ashamed. ”

“Hey, you have nothing to be ashamed of. Yes, you could have come to me instead of leaving clues, but you were trying to help in your own way. This isn’t your fault. None of it is. Why don’t you let me give you something for pain, and you get some rest? I’ll be right here when you wake up. ”

Jerrick shook his head. “I don’t need anything. But what’s going to happen to me now? Am I going to jail? ”

“No. ” Sabrina leveled a gaze at Deacon. She remembered what he said about taking Jerrick to the Pen to keep him safe.

“Once you’re stable, we may need to keep you somewhere safe while we figure out how to get Drago off your back. I had mentioned keeping you at the penitentiary but not locked in a cell. It’s the safest place for you for the time being. ”

“We’ll figure out something else. I promise, ” Sabrina said, overriding Deacon’s decision. She felt him bristle at her side, but she didn’t care. If she had to, she would use all her savings and find somewhere far away to take her baby brother. She wouldn’t fail him again.

“Deacon, may I speak to you outside? ” Dante asked. Deacon inclined his head and followed the ME out the door. Isabelle and the others went with them, leaving Sabrina alone with Jerrick. She didn’t have to be psychic to know they were discussing the situation without her.

“Bree, it’s okay. If they want to take me to the Pen, that’s fine. I’m sure the accommodations will be better than what I’m used to. ”

“No. I will take you home with me. Deacon’s friend promised to upgrade the security, so I’m sure we’ll be safe there. ”

“I won’t put you in danger. I would say you have no idea what I’m up against, but seeing as you’re surrounded by Gargoyles, I guess you do. You mind telling me why you’re with him? ”

“I’m his mate. ” Sabrina pulled the chair closer to the bed and sat down, taking her brother’s hand in hers. “One of my patients is the caretaker for one of their kind, and I met Deacon through him. It all sounded ridiculous at first, but seeing is believing. What about you? How did you end up…? ” Sabrina couldn’t bring herself to say the words.

“Unholy? I was medically released from the Army. Shrapnel from a bomb tore me apart. The doctors put me back together best they could, but I was no longer able to serve in the same capacity I did before. I was lost, Bree. The army had been my whole life, and when I got back stateside, I felt like a loser. I was approached by a man named Gordon Flanagan who promised I could still be of use even if the US government thought otherwise. He offered me a job and a place to live. When I went in for a physical, I was given a shot that was supposed to be some type of immunization in case I’d brought something back with me. It didn’t make sense, because I’d spent the last three months in a military hospital. ”

Jerrick tried to push himself up, but he struggled with his injuries. Sabrina jumped up to help, and carefully, she helped him to sit up, propping pillows behind his head. When he leaned back, he blew out a shaky breath.

“Let me get you something for pain. You need to rest, and when you wake up, you can tell me the rest. ” Sabrina had heard all she could stomach for the moment. She knew what her brother had endured was going to break her heart more than it already was. Besides that, she needed to have a chat with Deacon.

“Yeah, okay. I’m sorry, Bree. So sorry. ”

Sabrina bent over and kissed his forehead. “None of that. I’ve already told you, you have nothing to be sorry for. We’re going to figure this out, I promise. ”

Jerrick nodded, and Sabrina went to find Jonas. When she reached the door, Deacon’s words stopped her from stepping into the hallway. “He’s a threat, and I’m not going to let him get in the way of having my mate. ”

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