Page 12 of The Last To Know (Hallowed Halls Series #2)

T he video of the house came back online, but it was too late. They’d defused his little presents and had searched the entire house.

“You shouldn’t have placed the bombs there. What if they trace them back to you?” Mentor’s anger seared through his brain. He’d messed up. Wanted to do something on his own to impress his mentor and failed miserably as always.

“I’m sorry. You’re right.” But he didn’t regret what he’d done to Salcedo, family or not. He deserved everything he got. He’d gone off script by selling those prescription drugs to thugs. He’d put everything at risk.

“Did you leave anything that can be traced back to us?” Mentor’s displeasure was clear in the succinct way he spoke.

He thought carefully. He’d worked hard to gain Mentor’s respect. He couldn’t fail him.

“No, nothing.”

“Not even the explosives?” The question reverberated in his head.

He’d been careful. Used items from his home that could be bought anywhere. There would be no tracing it to him. “No, not even the explosives.”

Mentor wasn’t convinced. “It’s time for our next immortal.”

He whirled toward Mentor. “I thought she was next.” He’d picked out the perfect woman to be part of their family .

“You’re not ready to pick yet. I have someone in mind.” Mentor stared at the screen as they watched the federal agents and other law enforcement agents combing through Salcedo’s home.

“Who is she?” He had to admit, the thought of searching for his next family member was exciting. The woman he’d found would be perfect despite Mentor’s objection. She was smart and pretty like Tiffany. He regretted not being able to spend more time with Tiffany. He’d enjoyed their chats. Perhaps he’d be allowed to keep the next beauty longer. Perhaps he wouldn’t listen to Mentor’s incessant jabbering.

“I have chosen the perfect one. A doctor.” Mentor’s voice softened. “She will make a wonderful addition to our family. She’s clever and intelligent. This will be your greatest challenge. We’ll see if you are worthy to be my apprentice after the way you messed up with my ballerina.” Mentor smiled nastily.

Soon, Mentor lost interest, probably reliving his glory days.

Now was the perfect time to watch the one he had chosen. She would prove challenging, but he’d fought too hard to get to this point. He wouldn’t let Mentor change his mind.

He smiled at her pretty face. Flawless caramel-colored skin. Raven hair. Almond eyes. Breathtaking. Much better than Mentor’s choice, whom he felt no connection to at all.

His chosen one was responsible for deciding the guilty and the innocent, much like he did. He thought about the stimulating conversations they’d have before she became immortal.

◆◆◆

Hannah stared up at the sky as the weather continued to deteriorate with the fading day. ERT had arrived shortly after the medical examiner left with Harold Salcedo’s body.

“We might as well return to the hotel and get some rest,” Jack told his team. “It will be hours before ERT has any answers, and I have a feeling this is going to be a long process to unravel what’s really going on here.

Hannah claimed her place behind Cooper in the SUV. She closed her eyes. The endless hours were taking their toll. She grabbed her water and as discreetly as possible took her medicine. When she looked up, she noticed Cooper watching her in the rearview mirror. Like it or not, she’d have to tell him the truth soon.

Once they arrived at the hotel, Hannah gathered her bag and room key and prepared to go to her room until Jack asked to speak to her before she headed upstairs. She dreaded what would come.

“Everything okay?” Cooper asked when he noticed the exchange. “You don’t look so good.”

Hannah flinched at his unknowing insult. “I’m fine. You should get some sleep.”

“I don’t think I can. Too much going round in my head. If you want to talk once you’re finished with the boss, I’m in 208.”

She forced a smile and watched him leave before finding Jack and Megan in one of the smaller conference rooms.

“I’m okay,” she said as soon as she’d entered the room.

Both Jack and Megan looked up.

“Are you sure?” Megan obviously had seen what Cooper had.

“I’m positive. I’m pacing myself. I’m taking my meds. I’m okay.”

Megan glanced to her husband. “We’re only concerned about your health, Hannah. You told us how hard it was when Ellie died. And you just got over the flu.”

“I realize that, but I’m doing better. Today hasn’t been all that stressful.” Not exactly the truth but she wouldn’t tell them the exhaustion that weighed down her limbs.

Megan touched her arm. “Promise you’ll let us know if you need a break. You are too important as a friend and to the team to let anything happen to you.”

Hannah smiled. “Thank you. And I promise I will.” She gave both her friends a hug and then left.

Once she reached her room, Hannah placed her bag on the bed and sat down beside it. She checked her phone again. No further disturbances at her home. She typed a short message to her neighbor to check on the place as soon as possible then grabbed her nightgown and showered.

The warmth of the water eased some of the weariness from her body. She couldn’t get the case out of her head. How was Salcedo involved? Obviously, there was someone else calling the shots.

Her phone beeped. Bert.

Checked the house. No signs of anyone tampering with the place. I saw the rock you mentioned. Strange. Looks like you may have a secret admirer. Probably some neighborhood kid.

If only it were so.

She thanked him.

You have my heart.

She could almost dismiss the earlier note left on her kitchen table. But this. There was no denying someone who knew about her transplant was targeting her.

Hannah stretched out on the bed and closed her eyes. Rest would put some of her anxieties at ease.

◆◆◆

He’d broken her nose. Broken bones in her hand when she’d dared try to defend herself. As she stared at the bloodied woman in the mirror, one truth became clear. He’d eventually kill her. Each time he beat her, he swore he’d change. But he hadn’t. Whenever she did something to set him off, she watched as the monster took over and the sweet man she’d married disappeared. It was as if with each beating her sweetheart was vanishing a little more, and the monster was claiming more control.

She couldn’t turn to her family. She’d put them in danger by doing so. Her friend from the church helped her, but she was almost certain the monster had followed them. He’d never mentioned it, but she was sure he’d been there. If so, then her friend would suffer her fate. She couldn’t let that happen. But could she do what must be done? She touched her broken face, tears streaming down from her eyes. Could she stand up to the monster once and for all and bring him down?

◆◆◆

Hannah’s eyes shot open. Tears soaking her face. She knew it was just a dream, and yet she couldn’t help it. Hannah went to the mirror. No bruises. No swollen face. Just the hauntings of a nightmare she didn’t understand.

Suddenly, the walls closed in and the thought of being alone rehashing that dream didn’t appeal. If she reached out to Zeke, he’d have a million questions she didn’t want to answer.

Hannah scrolled to Cooper’s number.

Want to get something to eat?

The hotel had a small restaurant inside. Hopefully, it would still be open. She dressed quickly and did her best to remove all traces of her tears when a knock at her door had her smiling. She crossed the room and opened it to find Cooper waiting.

“Couldn’t sleep?” he asked.

“Not really. Too much going on in my head.” Not exactly the truth. Hannah grabbed her bag and key card, and they started down the stairs.

“I get that.” He tried the restaurant door. It opened freely. Cooper held it for her.

Hannah was happy to see none of her team was dining.

The hostess came to seat them. “The storm has diminished our kitchen staff, but we will try and accommodate your choices.”

“Thanks.” Hannah picked up her menu. She could feel Cooper’s eyes on her. She didn’t want to do it. Yet she owed it to him.

In the end she ordered a salad while Cooper settled for a burger and fries so loaded with grease that it would make her doctor cringe.

He glanced around the restaurant before homing in on her. “What’s going on, Hannah? Why the sudden change toward me? And don’t tell me it’s my imagination, because I know it isn’t.”

She sipped her water and tried to find the right words.

The strain on her face must have grabbed his attention. “Hannah? What is it?” he prompted when she still hesitated.

She blew out a weary sigh. “I’ve never told anyone this before. Megan and Jack know because, well, they came to my house and saw how sick I was.”

Cooper gripped his glass tight. “You had the flu.”

She shook her head. “It’s more than that. Something happened to me when I was twelve.”

“You’re scaring me,” he said. “Just tell me.”

Hannah swallowed and then laid it out for him. “I had a heart transplant.” She chanced a quick look his way, but Cooper seemed incapable of speaking for a second.

“Y-you had a heart transplant? Why didn’t you tell me before now? We were close. We . . .” The pain in his voice confirmed she’d hurt him again. Truth be told, she’d hurt a lot of people.

She hadn’t told him before because she didn’t want to have him look at her the way he was right now. Or have him treat her differently.

“I’d been sick most of my life. My heart just gave out when I was twelve. I was rushed to the hospital and remained in a coma until a donor was found.”

Cooper couldn’t seem to grasp what she said. “We shared so much about our lives and our pasts. You should have told me about this.”

“Why? You didn’t tell me about your father.”

“That’s different.” He bit back the rest of what he’d been about to say when the waitress brought their food.

“How?” she asked once the waitress was out of earshot. “You lived through something you didn’t want anyone to know about. You didn’t want to be judged by your past. How is it different?”

He appeared to struggle to gain control over his anger.

She leaned forward. “I didn’t tell you because it was a part of my life I wanted to forget. Do you have any idea how hard it was growing up and knowing I was different from the other kids? My own mother used work to distance herself.”

His expression softened, and he reached for her hand. “Hannah.”

Hannah’s mouth twisted bitterly. “She believed God was punishing her for something. She never said what. Anyway, she kind of checked out of my life after the transplant. My father left when I was still in the hospital because he couldn’t deal with the strict regimen that I’d have to adhere to for the rest of my life.”

“I’m so sorry, Hannah. I’ve no right to judge you. You’re right. I didn’t share things with you either.”

She smiled sadly. “I guess we both kept secrets.”

“But what does what happened to you in the past have to do with us?” He didn’t understand. That made her sadder.

She tried to pull her hand free.

“No, Hannah. Don’t. Tell me. There’s something else, isn’t there?”

“Yes, there is. I was sick with the flu recently, but I also lost my friend.” Her voice broke. Just talking about Ellie’s death reminded Hannah that she’d lost one of her biggest allies.

“She and I met in a support group for transplant patients. We were both young when we received our hearts. We practically grew up together.”

“What happened to her?” he asked, his attention on her face.

“Her heart happened to her. She developed an infection, and they couldn’t control it. She died a week after being admitted to the hospital. I didn’t even get to say goodbye.”

Hannah fought back tears. She didn’t realize Cooper had claimed the seat beside her until he tugged her into his arms and leaned his head against hers. “I’m so sorry. That must have been heartbreaking.”

Just for a moment, she let herself be comforted by him then she pulled away and scrubbed her hands over her cheeks.

“Cooper, the average lifespan of a transplant patient is a little under ten years. Ellie lost her battle at seventeen.” She turned her head his way. “I’ve had my transplant for nineteen years.”

He tried to hide his reaction and couldn’t. “But that doesn’t have to be you, Hannah.”

She couldn’t let him continue. “There’s a very real chance it will be. I have to be realistic, Cooper. I could die.” She choked the words out. “Zeke is family. I can’t ask anyone else to go through this with me.”

“You can’t shut your life off like that. You aren’t living it to the fullest if you do. I care about you, Hannah. I-l—”

She couldn’t let him say the words. “I’m sorry, Cooper. I just can’t. I care about you as well. Too much to let you watch me die.” She touched his face, wishing for. . . “It wouldn’t work. Don’t you see? We’d constantly be expecting the end. You’d regret your decision soon, and so would I. We can be friends. I want that, I need you in my life. But you have to let us go. We can’t be, Cooper. Get on with your life. Be happy. Don’t let your father’s sins become yours. Fall in love.”

He slowly rose. “I already have. I love you, Hannah. I’ll always love you. Only you. But I can’t make it work between us by myself. It’s up to you. If you change your mind, you let me know.” And just like that, with those words ringing in her ears, Cooper left her alone with the heartbreaking truth.

He loved her.