Splendid Shadows (Book 2) The Beautiful Darkness Series

Chapter Twenty-Two-Jade

Hello, Lovelies, 

Thank you so much for reading Splendid Shadows. I really hope you are enjoying it.  I really appreciate everyone who has given this series and any of my other books a chance.  I don't think you can understand how immense my gratitude is.  

I do hope you enjoy this book.  If you do, please consider voting and commenting.  I adore you all. 

-XXXX Amanda 

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I stood on the top floor, glancing out the window, my stomach churning as I worried for Macon. I pulled Noah close to me, kissing his forehead as he slept, then moved to the basinet putting him inside.

"This place where Calvin's men are...You're sure they don't know Macon and the others are coming?" I turned to Urban and then, Abel, searching for any indication that something could go wrong.

Abel's lips widened into a grin. "You seriously underestimate us, Jade."

Gia rolled her eyes, "Abel, she hasn't been in this life as long as we have. She will be more prone to ask questions that we already know the answer to. I know it's past your sensitivity level, but give the girl a break."

"Did you learn that in one of those psychology classes you're taking at the University?" He sneered, making me wonder why he seemed so angry with her.

"No." Gia stepped toward him with her brows raised. "It's just an observation made by years of witnessing instances of insensitivity."

His mouth dropped open but I could see a flash of pain cross his face. He turned from her, uncomfortable silence blanketed the room. I glanced at Urban, hoping for an answer as to why Gia and Abel seemed to adore each other one moment and throwing insults the next.

Urban's brows drew together, then sighed. "Alright, kiddos. Stop fighting or I'll have to make you stand at opposite sides of the sandbox."

Abel chuckled, turning toward him. "Don't act like the mature one here."

"That's the thing. You should be fucking terrified if I am the one who is your voice of reason." Urban grinned. "I don't make good decisions but if you're making worse ones...That's bad."

Gia giggled. "This is true. We should stop."

I glanced between them. "It's probably just because we're all nervous."

"I wish it was because they were nervous, sweetheart but it's not." Urban rolled his eyes. "They're always like this."

Abel shook his head and glanced at his watch. "Look at the time. We should feel a rumble right about now."

As he spoke, the world shook. Noah cried from his bassinet as Gia picked him up, falling on the bed on her back while cradling him to her chest. Urban pulled me against him as the ground beneath my feet began to shake, pulling me to the floor so I wouldn't fall.

"Stay here." He curved his body over me, protecting me from anything that could fall.

Finally, the rumbling stopped, leaving only the sound of Noah's cries and the blaring of car alarms echoing through the night.

Urban raised his head, allowing me to see beyond him. I glanced toward Noah. "Is he okay?"

Gia nodded. "Just scared. He'll be okay."

"Is everyone else okay?" I glanced around the room.

Abel had a cut on his forehead. "Don't worry, angel. I was just clipped by falling debris. It's just a scratch."

"What do we do now?" I asked, glancing at the window, taking in the darkened sky.

Gia gave me a sad smile as she sat up, holding Noah securely against her chest. "The only thing we can do. We wait."

I swallowed as my stomach churned, experiencing the worst torture as I waited to find out if Macon was okay.

***********

I stood up, my stomach churning. I stumbled toward the door with Urban right behind me.

"Where are you going?" he asked, gently grabbing my arm.

"I need water. I feel nauseous." I held my stomach, blinking up at him.

"I'll go with you." He frowned as he continued to hold my arm. "It looks like you're a little unsteady."

I nodded, glancing at Gia. "Will you take care of Noah for a few minutes?"

"Of course." She smiled. "You know they are okay, right?"

I nodded even though I wouldn't know that until they arrived home and I saw that they were safe.

We turned and walked out the door. We walked into the kitchen, finding the cabinet doors open. Some of the dishes had fallen on the counters below.

Urban picked up the cup and filled it with water before handing it to me. I sipped it as I turned putting the things back in the cabinet. My hand curled around the vial of Anthony's knock out drug.

I was about to put it back on the shelf when a sound behind me made me pause, slipping it into my pocket before I turned. Wicked green eyes moved over me and I didn't have to ask who he was. I knew. Calvin.

My eyes lowered to the crumpled form at his feet. "Urban." I whispered his name but he didn't move as blood puddled beneath his head.

"That's your friend's name?" He laughed but it grated through my head, making me wince.

I swallowed as he stepped over him, toward me. I glanced around the kitchen, looking for a way out. Calvin narrowed his eyes.

"If you run, I'll shoot him and then, I'll go upstairs and finish the others off including that sweet little baby I've heard so much about." I frowned, wondering who had told him.

He grinned. "That old man I killed at the reservation was more than useful for information."

My bottom lip trembled. "I'll go with you...Just don't go near him."

Calvin smiled, his eyes sweeping over me. "You have the same dark eyes as Jo."

"I'm not Jo though." I held onto the small hope that it would matter.

He stepped forward and grabbed my forearm hard enough to bruise. "It doesn't matter. You will be."

I swallowed over the bile threatening to cause me to vomit. How could he expect me to be someone I wasn't. As I raised my eyes to his, I realized how. He was fucking insane.

He pulled me out of the house, the air causing me to shiver. He glanced at me, his eyes moving over me again.

"I can't wait to get you alone." My stomach turned again and I couldn't hold back the vomit as I heaved all over the sidewalk.

"We don't have time for this shit." He narrowed his eyes as I wiped my mouth before pulling me to a car and pulling me inside with him. He glanced at the driver, a young man who glanced at me with sad brown eyes before starting the car and driving me away from everyone I loved. I closed my eyes, hoping what I had learned from Antony would be enough.