What Lies Beneath

It only took me a few seconds to figure out what I was sleeping on. I didn't even have to open my eyes. My face was on Landon's shoulder, and my hand on his chest. Worse than that, my leg was hooked around him as if I was trying to claim

him in the night. I don't even remember falling asleep. Let alone falling asleep on him.

Landon was sleeping too. I loved seeing him like that. In the midst of all the weirdness that this was, I enjoyed that. The peace on his face. The strange youthful effect that sleep had on him.

I gently untangled myself from him and sat up. I blinked until the world wasn't blurry anymore. I lingered too long, because Landon woke up before I could get off the bed.

"Um, good morning," I said, just to say something.

He took a second to figure out what happened. Once he did, he sat right up. "Are we in your room?"

I nodded.

He rubbed his eyes. "Sorry. I didn't mean to pass out. You fell asleep, and I was going to leave. I don't know what happened." "It's fine..."

He shifted on the bed before he looked me over. Then he reached over and pulled my strap up and over my shoulder. "Careful."

I moved off the bed as gracefully as I could. "I'm gonna shower. Then we can talk about what we're going to do today."

I stayed in the shower much longer than I needed to. The shampoo soaked into my hair until I couldn't smell anything but cherries. I stepped out and took my time drying off too, making sure my hair was totally dry. I threw on a white dress that I'd thought twice about wearing. It wasn't low-cut by very much, but it was kind of short. It went to the middle of my thighs. I guess that'll do. It covers the bruises.

I walked out of the bathroom and started packing my things. I didn't have a place for my knife, so I had to keep it in my bra along with my cell phone. Better than pockets sometimes. I don't know why I even still carry the phone. Jaxon was the only one to ever call me. I was still holding out hope that it would ring, and he would be on the other end.

Everything was packed away nicely in my bag, and I decided I'd earned some junk food. We had a little stored in the car, but I hid some of my favorites in my bag. I had a box of strawberry snack cakes, and I shamelessly ate three packages. Maybe I shouldn't have skipped dinner last night.

Landon came into my room just after I finished throwing away the evidence. "You have a plan, darling?"

"I do. Three hours from here, in the Portland area, is a house owned by a man in the ledger. Danny Rivers." I gave him the address and the city from the picture in my mind. "What do you think?"

"I think it's a start. We can break into his house and see what we can find."

"Sounds fun."

We loaded up the van and drove to get a proper drive-thru breakfast. I was hardly hungry, but I ate anyway. I drank a huge soda, not caring that it was six in the morning. I was an adult, pretty much. I could do that kind of stuff.

We were on the road, making progress, before the work-traffic hit. We were near Portland now, and it showed. It wasn't so bad, but it got annoying when it slowed us down. Landon played my iPod through the speakers and ridiculed me for my music taste.

"The Music Man soundtrack is wonderful," I said defensively.

"I didn't say it wasn't. I said that it was cliché that you liked it so much."

I looked over at him as we slowed for traffic. "Jax had me watch the movie because he thought it was something we needed to see. He didn't know I was going to love it so much. But I got obsessed with it. I was only six. I had a crush on Marion."

"Marion?" He grinned like the Cheshire Cat.

"Six," I repeated. "I didn't wanna screw her. I just liked her a lot. She was pretty and liked books. Anyway, Jax indulged me. Got me pictures to put up in my room. When I still had one. We watched it on my birthdays. This year too. On my computer." The two days before my life ended.

The traffic lightened, and the car moved again.

Landon looked ahead. "You moved a lot?"

"Almost every six months when I was little, after my parents died. Since I was about fourteen, we've mostly just traveled. I haven't had a bed of my own in four years." I didn't think I'd noticed until right then.

"Is there a reason? Is it because of what happened with those men that broke in?"

"I think so. I never really got an explanation. He would just up and decide we were going. He always made it sound like an adventure."

Landon's face was thoughtful. "Do you resent him for it?"

"No. He just wanted me safe. If he lost me, then it would be over." Like it was for me. "I'm like his daughter. At least that's been the dynamic between us since our parents died."

"At least he means well."

"He does."

There was silence for ten minutes. Out of nowhere, Landon asked, "How did your parents die?"

My blood felt cold as it moved through me. My head filled with pictures, my nose with the scent of blood. My voice was stuck in my throat. "Um, I thought you didn't wanna know me." There was more quiet for a few moments. "Good point."

The rest of the ride was silent. We weren't far from the house. Once we got close enough, Landon parked the car within walking distance. When we did walk, I kept waiting for him to take my hand for more of that blending-in stuff. He didn't do it, and I felt disappointed.

We were in a neighborhood that looked far too innocent. Like it was trying to be unassuming. The houses all looked the same. Not a thing out of place. Benches were everywhere, but not a soul in sight. It reminded me of one of those old bomb-testing towns.

"I'm officially creeped out," I stated.

Landon stopped moving and looked around. "That makes two of us, sweetheart."

I found the house we were looking for. There was a Jag in the driveway.

"Damn. He's home." I sighed.

"It's fairly early. Maybe he just hasn't left yet. We can wait it out. Let's give it some time and see what happens."

We waited on a bench at the end of the street. It was around the corner, but the house and the car were visible from where we were. Landon and I sat sideways, facing each other and keeping an eye on the car.

"What the fuck are we supposed to do for an hour?"

He shrugged. "No one's around. I'd be more than happy to fool around with you."

"Nice try, old man." Silly thought. If he went for it, I wasn't sure how long it would be before I pushed him away. Or if I would.

"Well, do you have a better idea?"

Not really. And I kinda liked his. "How about we just wait for the guy."

"You are more than welcome to sit on my lap while we do so."

I crossed my legs and glared at him. "I'm good."

"I wonder." His eyes looked at me from top to bottom, and the bastard made me blush. My whole face felt like it was on fire.

I looked in the direction of the house, mostly to not look at Landon. The only sound around us was from the birds that finally woke up. I couldn't see any, but I heard them singing above us. Once in a while, a tree branch would shake. I had to guess they were moving. It felt like they knew something that we didn't.

My head was resting on my hand when my eyes started closing. I wasn't keeping track of how long we were out here, but I was hoping Landon was. It was just so quiet and so warm. Sleep was calling to me, but I fought it the best I could. I was staring at the house for so long that the sudden movement threw me into a panic.

"There he is," Landon said as the man walked out.

It wasn't until he paused that I got worried. "What the hell is he doing?"

The man was looking at the ground but facing us. I couldn't make out what he was seeing, but it was holding his attention.

"No clue."

My words came out quickly. "What if he sees us? What if he calls people to come and kill us? Or tells someone to kill my brother. We can't let him see our faces! Quick, do something!"

Landon looked like he was about to say something, but he never got the chance. I got on his lap, straddling him. He looked at me, trying to figure out what I was doing. Again, I cut that off quickly. I tilted his head up and laid my lips over his. For whatever reason, he went with it, gently working his lips against mine.

My eyes were open and on the man we were stalking. He was still standing there, but he turned and started moving over to his car. I watched him click the key fob and with a flash of lights the car unlocked.

My focus was pulled when I felt Landon slide his hands up my thighs and to my ass, where he decided to keep them. Then his tongue was in my mouth, and I couldn't remember what we were doing here. How we'd gotten into this position. My hands found his shoulders, and I held on as if I would drown if I didn't. My eyes closed.

He slowly dragged his tongue along mine. I either moaned or whimpered, I couldn't tell. He was hardly moving, but it was enough to make me feel like I was going to die. Was he doing this to torture me?

He was warmer than I thought he would be. It could be because we'd been out in the sun for so long. It was hurting him, killing him. But it made him feel as warm as I was.

He pulled back, and I made a helpless sound of loss. He moved his hands up to my back and pulled me against his chest, leaning close to my ear. "Is he gone?"

He? Who the fuck was he- oh yeah... the whole reason we were here. The reason I'd kissed Landon in the first place.

I forced my eyes open and looked up. The man's car was driving away from the house, in the opposite direction of us. His taillights vanished after he crested the hill. "Yeah," I panted.

He loosened his hold on me, and I forced myself back. "Then we can get into the house." He waited a few moments. "You'll need to get off of me first."

Dammit. "Sorry." I dismounted and straightened out my dress when I stood. My cheeks were flushed, and I was burning all over. He seemed... totally fine. Great. That made me feel awesome about myself.

He started walking, and I timidly went behind him. I didn't try to walk beside him, because I felt like I couldn't even look at him.

There were a lot of things that we could have done to not be seen. Duck, walk away, turn forward. But no. My first instinct had been to kiss him, and I knew that wasn't just panic.

We got to the front door, and I was forced to catch up to Landon. We tried the door, but it was locked. Safe to assume it would have been, but you had to check. He searched every nook and cranny around the front porch until he finally found a key wedged under a rock. Better than breaking something.

We entered the house, and it was dreadfully empty. Just the basics that a man that lived alone would have. No warmth whatsoever.

"Where do we start?" I asked. "Bedroom?"

"Sure."

That room was just as empty as the rest of the place. No family pictures and no sign of life. Everything was clean and in an orderly fashion. The closet was open, showing the hanging shirts, all organized by color. How sad.

The bed was perfectly made. Landon brushed me while looking at the nightstand next to it. He crouched down and started opening drawers. I caught myself staring at the bed, half hoping that Landon would shove me down on it so we could finish what I'd accidentally started.

Wait. Screw half. I wasn't half hoping. I was just hoping. I wanted it, and I hadn't realized just how much until right then.

I had feelings for him. Actual feelings other than annoyance and occasional dislike. It was to the point where thinking about him leaving in a week was almost kind of sad. I'd never see him again, and he was entertaining at the very least. He would just be someone that had breezed into my life, just to breeze right out again. That was what my whole life felt like. Nothing permanent or meaningful. I didn't even feel solid.

"You all right, kid?"

I blinked and looked away from the bed to Landon. He was still going through the drawer, but his gaze was on me. "I'm fine," I lied. I was not all right. My brother was gone, and soon Landon would be gone too. As alone as I felt before, this was a new kind of pain. I didn't know how I was going to deal with it.

Landon stood. "Well there was nothing important in there. Help me look, would you?"

I started digging through the closet. There was nothing, just like the nightstand.

I found Landon in the living room. I didn't approach. I just stayed at the doorframe. "Are you finished here?"

"I guess I am. I checked all the rooms, there is nothing here to help us." He sighed, tossing papers onto the ground.

"I don't know where to go from here." That covered literally everything in my head.

Landon started walking. "Wait for me. I'm doing another sweep. Then we can go find a hotel. Come up with something."

I did as I was told and sat on the couch. I just stared out the window, distracting myself from my upsetting realization. Instead, I thought about the names in the ledger, trying to pull one that sounded useful. The appointments for Knox were for weeks away. I had seven more days with Landon before he was gone. Nothing I knew would be helpful.

"Ha!" I heard him exclaim from the hall. Landon came into the room, smiling and holding a safe. It looked like it was almost an effort for him, since it took him both hands to hold it up. The monstrosity was about two by two feet of what looked like a sturdy metal. Landon looked so fucking happy that I wanted to do some very naked things with him.

"Got yourself something, honey?"

He mostly ignored the question. "We should go now. I can break into this when we get to a hotel."

He went for the door, looking like he was stealing a pound of candy from a store. It only fanned the new flames in me.

We got the safe into the van, and I was quiet the whole way to the hotel. We went to our rooms, and I waited in mine for Landon to go and get the safe. It was the middle of the afternoon, but I threw on my sleeping clothes.

I waited on my bed for him. Like I was a love sick puppy. I knew Landon only tolerated me at best, and that just wasn't enough. I wouldn't long and pine for a lost cause. I was better than that. And that wasn't the kind of girl that Landon would like. I wouldn't even like me. Why should anyone else?

Landon came in with the safe and dropped it on my bed. He rubbed his hands together. "Been a long time since I cracked a safe."

I smiled. "You gonna get out a stethoscope?"

He sneered. "Ha ha."

He sat down and started working the dial on the front. I didn't think he actually knew what he was doing, and it really didn't look like he did. I let him try for about an hour before I stepped in.

When I pushed his hands away, he cocked an eyebrow. "You think you can do better?"

I kept my eyes on the safe as I worked on it. "I'm a thief by trade, darlin'. I can do a lot of things."

It took me a total of two minutes to get it open. The first thing I saw was a whole lot of cash. Thick stacks of hundreds that looked just lovely. I pulled them out and left them on the bed. "That all?" Landon asked.

There were a handful of papers, but at a glance, I couldn't understand what they were. So I handed them over. "Do you know what these mean?"

He glanced at them, going through each paper. "Tax stuff. Hmm. This can be useful, given the right circumstances."

"But that doesn't do us any good now." I shut the empty safe and hauled it off my bed to set it on the floor.

"Maybe not, but there's always another plan."

"Is there? Really? Because we've set loose a ton of demons, and not one of them has seen my brother. Knox took Jaxon for revenge. We're not going to find him at any of those auctions. Knox is doing something worse to my brother. I know it." My voice broke as the last of my hope was draining from me.

Landon dropped the papers on the bed and stood with his arms over his chest, trying to look blank-faced. Of course. Why show any compassion for the orphan who was orphaned twice?

"Would you rather give up now then?"

My temperature skyrocketed. "Are you kidding me?"

"No, I'm not. If you've already given up hope, then why are you trying so hard?"

"Because he's the only family I have. I got him into this, and I'm going to get him out."

You wouldn't be able to tell, unless you were looking far too closely, but he smiled. "Good girl. Now stop whining and keep calm. Stiff upper lip, love."

I breathed out through my nose. "Not easy from over here."

"I would say I understand, but I don't. I was an only child. and I lost my parents almost four hundred years ago. I don't know what family feels like anymore. All I can tell you is that I'll help you. But I'm not a shoulder to cry on, and I can't even apologize for that."

I smiled bitterly. "Well, I wouldn't ask you for that anyway. I know what I am to you."

His eyebrow arched. "Oh, do you now?"

"I'm the brat that fucked up whatever you had planned with Knox. You're here out of obligation. I'm aware of that, believe it or not."

He nodded and looked to the floor. "You did fuck it up. You are very right about that."

That answered every question I had and smashed the hope I was holding on to in one fell swoop. At least it was a snap back to reality. He didn't like me, and he wouldn't stick around for me. What could I offer him anyway?