The Unleashing

“You haven’t gotten a headache from reading runes in decades.”

  “How bad is this?” Stieg asked.

  Rolf lifted his head. “It ain’t good.”

  “It wants in,” a soft voice said, and that’s when Vig realized that Jacinda hadn’t left with the others.

  Stieg, his eyes wide, mouthed, I thought she left.

  So did I!

  “It wants in and it’s not going to stop until it gets in.”

  Vig walked over to Jace. She was still sitting by that tree, holding on to Kera’s foster puppy. Vig had the feeling Kera would not be getting that puppy back . . . ever. But she would be helping to take care of it.

  Vig crouched by Jace, smiled at her. “What’s trying to get in, Jace?”

  “An ancient power. A very old god that is very pissed off. And if we don’t work together, and stop it . . . it’ll lay waste to everything.”

  The silence that followed Jace’s proclamation was brutal, but then she suddenly jumped up, startling them.

  “Okay. ’Night, guys!” She waved and walked off with her new dog.

  “She never speaks,” Rolf said, “but when she does, she’s absolutely horrifying.”

  “What do you dudes expect?” Stieg asked around a yawn, heading back to the main house. “She’s a Crow.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Erin knew as soon as she walked into the Bird House kitchen the next morning that trouble was afoot, as her grandmother used to say.

  She’d just spent the last thirty minutes bringing Tessa up to speed about what had happened the night before with the Ravens and Protectors. Tee had immediately committed to dealing with Chloe, keeping her distracted.

  “Trust me,” she’d said. “Our neighbor has Chloe’s complete attention now that she’s suing Giant Strides and Chloe specifically.”

  “She is?”

  “She had her served at the gym. Chloe’s head almost exploded off her body. And now she wants to countersue, so she wants me to deal with that P.I.”

  “He’s still in the hospital, right?”

  “Yeah. Will be for a while. His face was crushed in the fall and he’s now in a medically induced coma. So I’ll need you to handle this and the Crows. I do have one question, though.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Why did Ormi Bentsen want Kera to go along with them to see this cave?”

  “Honestly? I think he just wanted to see her reaction. See if she glowed red or something, proving she’s somehow pure evil sent to start Ragnarok.”

  “Well . . . did she?”

  “Did she what?”

  “Glow red?”

  That was when Erin had walked away. She just didn’t have patience for ridiculous questions.

  But it didn’t seem like things in the kitchen were any better. One Crow, Sherri, was crying, six—including Annalisa—were trying to calm her down, and Yardley was ordering everyone to “calm down! We can fix this! Calm down!”

  Erin turned away, about to get as far away from the kitchen as possible because she wasn’t about to involve herself in this drama. But Yardley grabbed hold of Erin first and held tight.

  “Oh, thank God! We need your help.”

  “Forget it.”

  Erin hadn’t even moved yet but Yardley yanked her closer. “You have to help.”

  “No, I don’t. I have to pay taxes and die again. Those are my only life requirements.”

  “Erin. Please.”

  The sliding glass door opened and a smiling Jace walked in with that goofy-looking dog she’d picked up the night before.

  “Morning!” she greeted, shocking everyone in the room.

  Maybe Kera did have a way of finding the right dog to fit a traumatized person because Jace had barely spoken three sentences together in the time she’d been a Crow. No one even knew how she’d died because she wouldn’t discuss it . . . or anything else. Erin had just recently found out that Jace had once been married. And Erin had the feeling it was that marriage that had led to Jace being the way she was. But since she wouldn’t talk about it, Erin had no way of knowing if her guess was right.

  Holding the puppy in one arm, Jace pulled down a bowl from a cabinet and filled it with water. She then placed both the dog and the bowl on the counter so he could drink.

  “Anyone know where Brodie is?” Jace asked. “I . . . I want to introduce her to Lev.”

  “Lev?”

  “Short for Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy. Tolstoy’s real name.”

  “Of course,” Erin replied. Because who wouldn’t name a funny-looking puppy after a depressing Russian author?

  Jace looked at her sister-Crows. “What’s . . . what’s wrong?”

  Yardley cringed. “Sherri lost Brodie.”

  “I didn’t lose her!” a sobbing Sherri yelled. “She bolted.”

  “You dropped her leash?” Erin asked.

  “No.” She held up the leather collar Kera had purchased for her dog to replace the fancy one with crystals that all the other Crows kept going on about. The only difference now was that Kera’s sensible collar was torn in half.

  “Shit, you lost that woman’s dog?” Erin demanded “She’s going to lose her mind.”

  “I didn’t!”

  “Do you have any idea how attached she is to that pit bull?”

  “You have to keep her busy while we look for Brodie,” Yardley ordered Erin.

  “Just tell her you lost the dog.”

  “She’ll never trust us with Brodie again.”

  “Maybe because she shouldn’t.”

  “That’s not fair!” Sherri argued.

  “Erin, just do this.”

  They heard Kera calling for Brodie somewhere in the house.

  Yardley gasped. “Oh God. She’s coming!”

  “I’m not getting involved in this, King.” Erin said, shaking her head. “Forget it.”

  “You have to help. You’re a Crow.”

  “Which makes me smart and aloof.”

  Yardley stomped her little superstar foot. “Erin.”

  “Brodie,” Kera called out again, seconds before walking into the kitchen. “Come here, baby.”

  Yardley jerked her head toward the swinging door that led into the dining room, and one of the Crows grabbed a still sobbing Sherri and shoved her through to the other room.

  Yardley plastered on a bright smile just as Kera walked in.

  “Hey, guys.”

  “Hey, Kera!” they all said, way too happily. Erin said nothing. She didn’t smile either. Kera would see through that shit in a nanosecond.

  The former Marine stopped, eyes narrowing. “What’s going on?”

  Yardley moved right to Kera’s side and said, “Kera, I heard you’re planning to start a nonprofit charity.”

  “Oh. Yeah, I am. Actually, I’m just thinking about it right now. I mean . . . Vig suggested it, and it might be a good idea but—”

  “Well, of course, it’s a good idea. Hell, it’s a great idea!”

  “It is?”

  “Absolutely! And you know what? I plan to donate some money to your wonderful new organization.”

  “Oh, that’s not necessary.”

  “In fact, I have a brilliant idea! Why don’t you come with me to the studio today and raise some money?”

  “Oh no.” Kera shook her head. “I’m not ready for any of that. At all. I mean, at this point, it’s just an idea. I’m sure there are legal things I have to do and the IRS . . .”

  “Kera, you can’t let that stop you. You have to help your fellow soldiers! They need dogs now! Not later.”

  “Yeah, but—”

  “And you know who can help you?”

  Erin started to walk to the door to leave as quickly as possible, but Yardley yanked her back by the hair.

  “Owww!”

  Yardley put her arm around Erin’s throat in a mini-chokehold, her chin resting on Erin’s shoulder like they were old buddies.

  “This girl. Erin can help you.”

  “Help
me do what?”

  “Help you come to the studio today and raise some money for your new charity. The soldiers need you, Kera.”

  “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. I’m not remotely prepared.”

  “You have to go today.”

  “I do?”

  “I’m just going to this studio today. To do a commercial. In a couple of weeks, I’ll be in Nova Scotia on a location shoot.”

  “What do you do about being Crow?” Kera suddenly asked. “What I mean is, how do you do your jobs when you’re on location shoots?”

  “I work with the local Crows. Nova Scotia has its own Crows.”

  “Oh. Okay.”

  “So you’ll come!”

  “Actually, I meant, ‘Oh, okay . . . Nova Scotia has its own Crows.’ I really don’t think I’m ready to—”

  “Of course you’re ready! Isn’t she ready, Erin?”

  “I’m not—”

  Yardley cut off Erin’s words by digging her forearm into her throat.

  “See? Even Erin thinks you should.”

  “Really? Because it sounded like she doesn’t think—”

  “Great! We’re all going! My car is waiting outside. Let’s go!”

  Kera looked down at herself. She was in a pair of denim shorts, Led Zeppelin T-shirt, and burgundy Converse sneakers.

  “Uh . . . I don’t think I’m dressed for—”

  “You look great! Come on! I don’t want to be late.”

  With one arm still around Erin’s throat and her other hand gripping Kera’s bicep, Yardley led-dragged both women out of the kitchen, through the hall, and to the front door, where the town car waited outside.

  Kera really didn’t know what was happening, but she was trying something new today. She was trying to just let things happen. Just trust the Crows. Even when they were acting really strange. Like now.

  Because they were acting really strange right now.

  Yardley released her grip on Erin, but Erin took that moment to try to walk off, so Yardley grabbed her back and released Kera. All this so she could open the front door.

  She grabbed the handle, pulled the door open, and tried to shove Erin through it.

  But a beautiful woman standing at the front door, her hand raised as if to knock, squealed dramatically and stumbled back on ridiculously high heels, almost falling on her perfect ass.

  Yardley pressed her hand to her chest and took a breath. “Jesus, Brianna! What are you doing here?”

  “I’m . . . I’m here to see . . . Chloe. For Betty.”

  “Oh. Of course. I’ll get her.” Yardley leaned back so that she could look past the door while yelling, “Chloeeeeeeeeeeeee!”

  “Why are you yelling?” Chloe asked from a few inches away, startling Yardley and Brianna all over again.

  “Don’t sneak up on me!”

  “I didn’t.” Chloe studied Yardley. “What is wrong with you?”

  “Nothing. Nothing at all.”

  “You’re acting like something’s wrong. What are you hiding?”

  “Nothing!”

  Yardley pushed Kera aside, grabbed Brianna, and dragged her into the house, shoving her at Chloe. “Here! Brianna’s here to see you.”

  “Yes. I know.” Chloe looked Yardley over again. “You’re acting so weird,” she muttered before leading Brianna to her office.

  “Oh,” Kera said. “I need my backpack.”

  “What?”

  “My backpack.” And Yardley’s eyes narrowed on Kera as if she thought she was lying. “It has my wallet . . . gum . . . emergency tampons.”

  “You’re on your period?”

  “No. Hence the title emergency tampons. You know . . . for surprises. Although I’m a little uncomfortable with this discussion.”

  Yardley briefly closed her eyes. “Of course,” she said, sounding much calmer. “Of course. I’ll get your bag.”

  “You don’t have to—”

  “I’ll get your bag,” she growled between clenched teeth.

  “Okay.” Kera gestured to Erin. “And I think you’re choking her out.”

  “What?” Yardley looked down at Erin and gasped. “Oh! Sorry, gorgeous!”

  Yardley let Erin go and the redhead glared up at the superstar, her hand against her throat. “I need my wallet,” she spit out.

  “I’ll get that, too. You guys go out to the car. Both of you. And I’ll be right there.” Yardley suddenly wrapped them both in a hug. “I love you guys!”

  Yeah. This was definitely weirder than usual.

  Jace was petting Lev and thinking about getting him some kind of tracker so she could find him if he ever got lost when Yardley came running back in.

  Panting, she rested her hands against the back of a kitchen chair and looked over the Crows still in the kitchen. She pointed at Annalisa. “Do me a favor, get Erin’s wallet and the new girl’s backpack. In their rooms.”

  Annalisa rushed off and Yardley looked at the Crows who remained. “Jace!”

  Jace turned, surprised to have Yardley call out to her.

  “You,” Yardley said, pointing at Jace. “You find that dog.”

  “Me?”

  “Yes. The others will help. Just find her. Okay?”

  “I . . . I can’t—”

  “Please.” Yardley stepped in close and said low, “I know you’ll make it happen. I know you’ll bring her back before Kera gets home again. Just find Brodie.”

  “Okay. Okay.”

  “Great.” Yardley caught the wallet and backpack that Annalisa tossed to her. “And you have my number, right? Call me. Or text. Whatever. Just let me know what’s going on.”

  She ran to the door. “Love you guys!”

  The other Crows stared at Jace, which made her feel nothing but uncomfortable and horrified.

  Even worse . . . the other Crows had the same expression.

  Kera opened the small refrigerator in the stretch town car, checked out the bar. So this was what being rich was about. A stocked bar and a jar of honey-roasted almonds.

  Popping a couple of almonds into her mouth, Kera glanced at Erin. “Should I ask what’s going on?”

  “No.”

  “Okay. Almond?”

  Yardley stepped into the limo, tossing Erin her wallet and handing over Kera’s backpack. She knocked on the window separating them from the driver and they began moving.

  “So a dog rescue that will also help vets,” Yardley said.

  “Well, I’ll probably use dogs from local rescues and match them to vets looking for companion animals.”

  “That sounds really wonderful.”

  “I just want to help these guys, ya know? They were there for me; now I want to be there for them.”

  Yardley’s smile was so wide and bright, Kera immediately understood why she made five mil a picture.

  “It’s wonderful to see that you’ve found something you’re passionate about. And that’s why I’m going to help you get started.”

  “I still don’t know if this is the right time for me to—”

  “Da-da-da-da-da,” the superstar cut in. “I have to remember my lines today to sell a car in Japan. So I can’t have your obsessive negativity in my head.”

  “I don’t think I’m being obsess—”

  “Would you just trust me? I’m your sister-Crow and you can always trust me.”

  “Unless it involves drinking,” Erin stated.

  “Are you still holding that against me?” Yardley demanded.

  “We all are.”

  “Something you should tell me?” Kera asked. “You know, as my mentor?”

  “All I’ll say is, never trust this woman when liquor’s involved.”

  “That’s so unfair.”

  “You’ll wake up in some Beverly Hills hotel room,” Erin went on, “with your panties around a supermodel’s neck and no memory of the night before except for that tattoo right above your ass that says ‘it’s an exit, not an entry’ with an exclamation point.”

&
nbsp; “Huh.” Kera scratched the tip of her nose. “Male or female supermodel?”

  Erin shook her head. “You’ll realize that in the end, considering everything else that happened that night . . . it won’t matter.”

  With everyone staring at her like that, Jace was moments from bolting for the door and freedom. But that’s when Lev gave a little bark and peed on the counter.

  “Oh my gosh!” Jace snatched Lev off the counter and rushed him outside. He ran off, still peeing, got about ten feet from Jace, stopped peeing, and plopped down. He was asleep in seconds. He was so adorable; she already couldn’t imagine her life without the little guy.

  And she knew that was exactly how Kera felt about Brodie.

  Jace picked up her sleeping puppy and walked back into the house. Annalisa had already sprayed Lysol on the counter and cleaned up any evidence that Lev had peed there. Sherri had moved back into the kitchen so she could sob at the kitchen table, and the others were getting her water and rubbing her shoulders, trying to calm her down.

  The Crow sisterhood. And Jace was part of that. They needed her, so she’d do what she had to in order to help. Even if the very idea of it made her want to panic-pee on the counter like Lev.

  Jace licked her lips and forced herself to say, “We should search the neighborhood for Brodie.”

  “Okay.”

  “We . . . we should all go.” She gestured to the Crows in the room. “We can split up. Cover more ground. Everyone, make sure you have your cell phones so we can . . . uh . . . keep in contact. Okay?”

  Annalisa nodded. “Sounds like a good plan. But let’s keep it among this group only. If Chloe and the other Crows find out, it’ll get back to Kera and she’ll flip her shit over this.”

  “If we find the dog before she gets home,” Jace pointed out, “then we won’t have to worry about that. Okay?”

  They all nodded and Annalisa motioned to the Crows. “Let’s go, guys.”

  As the others went to get their bags or change clothes, Jace walked over to a hiccupping Sherri. “You stay here in case Brodie comes back.”

  “Okay.”

  Jace carefully placed a sleeping Lev on the table in front of Sherri. “And you’ll watch over Lev for me.”

  Sherri lifted her tearstained face. “You trust me with your puppy?”