What the Heart Takes

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Heaven’s eyes fluttered shut, blocking out the perfect blue sky. She wiggled her toes back and forth, enjoying the way the sun warmed her skin. If it weren’t for the shade of the nearby palm tree, her entire body would be nice and toasty. It beat the cooler weather back in Brightsville.

She pressed her back into the cushioned bench and pushed away the negative energy begging to take her under. As much as she missed home, danger awaited her there. She prayed her parents resolved the situation before they returned.

If they returned…

No. Dylan promised they would. He wanted her to deliver in the States. It’s not because there weren't good doctors on the island. The one she saw in Montego treated her like family. He’d even calmed Dylan a few times after her first Braxton Hicks contraction.

The sound of Dylan’s chuckling made her smile. She hadn’t heard him approach, but she enjoyed the feel of his hands on her belly. Each pass he made over her stomach sent a spark through every nerve in her body. Yet the next pass left her wincing. He hadn’t hurt her. It was the thumping beneath her navel. The little bubbles that fluttered there a couple months ago switched to flips and rolls from the contortionist within.

“Heaven?”

“I’m okay,” she whispered, meeting Dylan’s eyes before they fell to her tiny, but well-rounded, belly.

“She’s at it again, isn’t she?”

Her heart took an extra beat with his words. She loved the gleam that came to his eyes when he talked about their child. His energy fluttered every time his big brown eyes focused on her stomach.

“You’re so sure it’s a girl, aren’t you?”

Dylan’s mouth crooked before he brushed his lips against her belly. “I have my mother’s instincts, remember?”

“It won’t disappoint you when your son greets you instead?”

Another chuckle escaped his lips. She inhaled the sweet spice of his skin as he pressed his head to hers. “It wouldn’t disappoint me if we had a son. But I think you should concentrate on girl names.”

He was right, only because they’d already agreed on Jackson for a boy. If Dylan’s intuition was as keen as his mother’s… Yeah, she really should think about girl names.

Heaven gave him another smile and pushed the thoughts to the back of her mind as a new wave of energy swirled around her. The insistent tugging drew her eyes to the edge of the patio where Layne stood. He studied a torch near the corner of the patio and the solid yellow flame dancing in the breeze.

Was he questioning his own power over fire?

To conquer the fire within him would be the biggest step in learning his abilities. The curtains in the cottage proved it. Neither he nor Dylan had explained how they caught fire, only that Layne had been practicing too hard.

She didn’t believe that excuse for a second.

Something about him seemed different today. He raised his hand to his side, his eyes fixed on his palm. So much curiosity flowed through him. It made her anxious.

“What’s he doing?”

Dylan’s voice lingered in her ears. She didn’t meet his gaze but did squeeze his hand as she offered him a smile. “He’s questioning himself, and he’s struggling, but he is learning. He has a great gift. Figuring it out is a process. Time and patience are humbling to someone who’s used to getting everything he wants, when he wants it.”

“He didn’t get everything he wanted.”

She met Dylan’s eyes, noting the way they wavered between hers and her stomach. Would he ever come to terms with her connection to Layne?

As she trailed her finger across his lips, his eyes fluttered closed. How comforting it was to know a single touch could soothe his soul just as much as it could hers. That alone should erase any of his doubts.

“Layne needs us,” she whispered. “We have to help him.”

“I know.”

He pulsed the deepest and richest vibes of love toward her. Then he opened his eyes, shifting them in his best friend’s direction. Heaven did the same. They watched Layne as he tilted his head and stared at the torch again.

A second later, the flame rose an inch. It kept its new height for a few more seconds until Layne gazed down at his hand.

Heaven noticed the air shift. The warm breeze turned sultry. It even picked up a few notches. Then she sensed Layne’s energy gaining strength. A tinge of hope sprouted in her heart. Layne had it all. Determination. Dedication. Devotion. The three D’s needed for defense. It’s what her father said he’d have. Layne’s energy could no longer refute it.

A surge of heat pricked her cheeks, like she stood too close to a fire. And just as she sent an encouraging pulse to Layne, a tiny glow formed inside his hand. The light grew brighter, then softer, as it changed from white to golden.

Layne cupped his hand, bringing it in for a closer look. A slight turn of his body revealed his face—one full of wonder. His energy beat with amazement, even a smidgen of pride, something she hadn’t felt in him since he’d separated from Faith.

He moved his hand back to his waist, palm-side up. Heaven gasped when she saw a miniature flame inside.

“I’ll be damned,” Dylan mumbled beside her.

She smiled when she noticed the sadness in his eyes had receded. He returned her smile, leaning in closer. She barely had time to enjoy the warmth of his lips before her connection to Layne wavered.

Once she eased away from Dylan, she found Layne again. His shoulders rose as he let out a sigh. The small flicker in his palm vanished, as did his sense of accomplishment. His hair brushed the back of his neck with each shake of his head. Then he swung his fist and punched the air.

“Ugh,” he grumbled. A few obscenities followed before his eyes met hers.

In less than a heartbeat, his body stiffened. He drew in a deep breath and raked his fingers through his hair. The quake of his energy had her stomach knotting when his cheeks turned pink.

Poor guy. He’d given up his life to protect her. Now it was his privacy, what little the press hadn’t taken from him. At least with the paparazzi, he could escape to his home and curse, punch walls, or drink until he passed out. The moment he’d arrived in Jamaica and stepped inside the coastline cottage, that small sliver of solitude had vanished.

Embarrassment beat within his soul, but he didn’t turn away. He raised his hand, gave her a quick wave, and then grinned so big, his cheeks dimpled in perfection. “Hey. How’s it going?”

“Doesn’t look like you’re doing so hot,” Dylan chuckled. “No pun intended.”

“That’s an understatement,” Layne grumbled.

The breeze blew his bangs over his eyes, blocking the irritation they contained, but Heaven could sense it. She bit the inside of her cheek in order not to laugh at their bantering.

“Hey,” she whispered, jabbing Dylan in the side. “Be nice.”

The dumbfounded look on Layne’s face squeezed her heart. He was like a puppy, off doing his own thing, playing, growing, and learning about the world. Then she caught his attention, and he wanted nothing more than hers, would beg for it if she didn’t speak to him.

She gazed at Dylan, who shook his head at his friend and said, “Guess you need to talk to him, huh?”

“I think so. You know, you could stay and help me.”

“Soon,” he whispered while rubbing his hands together. Regret pulsed within him, along with frustration.

After five months on the island, she thought he would deal with everything better. It took him a month before he could stay in the same room with Layne for over five minutes. Another month passed before he would leave Layne and Heaven alone, and an additional month to explain why.

It’s not that I don’t trust you. I know you love me, but I know his feelings are complex. Part of it’s because of what he is to you. Part of it’s because he’s a man.

As she remembered her husband’s words, she stroked the side of his face. He wanted to say more. He would have if the phone hadn’t rung. His eyes darted to the cottage door, then back to hers as they widened.

“That’s a welcome sound. I better go see who it is.” The heat of his body left hers when he stood. He walked off and mumbled, “Maybe one of our parents found something.”

“Hurry back. I want to know what’s going on.”

He gave her a thumbs-up before taking off in a jog.

When she glanced at Layne again, she motioned for him to join her. Not that she had to. He would have walked over a second later. Anticipation burned in his eyes and his soul.

“Have a seat.” She patted the cushion beside her.

He acknowledged her a moment, then looked at Dylan, who walked inside the house. “Wonder who’s on the phone.”

“I don’t know.” She gazed up at him, waiting for him to sit. “As long as they have good news, I don’t care who’s on the other end of that call.”

Heaven inhaled his citrus scented cologne. Layne always smelled good, even on long practice days, including those days when he came into the cottage dripping with sweat.

An array of images played through her mind. It made her cheeks flush, but she pushed the thoughts away, focusing instead on the kink in her neck. She massaged the sensitive spot as she said, “I didn’t ask you over to chat about the call.”

He ignored the cushion she patted and found her eyes again. It didn’t take him long to kneel in front of her and curl his fingers around her arm.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“I’m fine, Layne, but you aren’t.”

Guilt washed over his face. He couldn’t hold her gaze any longer and lowered his eyes instead.

“I hoped you wouldn’t sense that. Guess I should have known better.” He shifted his focus to the ocean. “I’m worried, Heaven. Nothing is going right with my abilities. I think Delia was wrong about me.”

“No, she’s not. Trust me.” She reached for his hand and flipped it over. “Your hand bears the same mark as Dylan’s and mine. Besides, I feel you. Your energy speaks to me.”

She sensed the ache in his energy, and his heart. Whatever emotional attachment bound them, it ran strong.

“Layne,” she whispered. “You’re sad. Why?”

She gained his attention. The more his eyes burned into her, the hotter her skin grew.

“Because I’m failing you.” His voice shook with emotion. “If I don’t figure out my abilities, what good am I to you?”

“You protected me before, with your mind. Your abilities will enhance that. I trust you to keep me safe.”

“It won’t be enough next time. Your father said we would encounter powerful psychics. I have to learn how to protect you with every gift I have. Do you think Dylan’s the only one who would suffer if something happened to you?”

“Layne, I never said—”

The heat of his palms scorched her arms when he drew her closer. “I’m not bound to you like he is, but I am bound to you. I’m your Keeper, Heaven, and you’re my world. My life holds no purpose if you’re gone.”

“And that’s how I know you’ll figure this out. You’re devoted to me. You won’t let me down.”

So much loyalty burned in his eyes, yet something burned brighter, something that scorched his soul every day. His adoration. She refused to call it anything else. Doing so wouldn’t help either of them. It would embarrass Layne. She didn’t doubt for a second that he thought he hid his feelings well. He succeeded somewhat with Dylan, but not with her.

The fire in his eyes faded as he lowered his gaze to the ground. She wished he would trust her, wished he would believe in himself as much as she did.

Dark blond hair draped around his face when he shook his head.

“Quit looking at me like I’m the hero, Heaven. I’m not. If you only knew the things I—”

“There’s only one thing I need to know, Layne. That you’ll protect me when the time comes.” She pressed her hands to his face, forcing his head back until he met her eyes. Then she leaned in closer. “I know you’ll succeed at keeping me safe.”

“You have too much faith in me. I’ll let you down. It’s who I am—a failure.”

Cupping her hand, she placed it over his mouth. “I don’t want to hear those words pass over your lips again. Do you hear me? You’re not a failure. If you were, I’d either be dead or in the hands of whoever wants me dead. We both would be.”

Her hand lowered to her stomach along with his eyes. The moment she touched it, he brought his hand forward, as though he wanted to join it with hers. But something in the distance gained his attention.

Dylan. He’d come rushing out of the cottage.

She would have sworn he was angry with Layne for being so close to her, but fear jolted through their connection like shockwaves.

His lips moved in slow motion, leaving one word ringing in her ears.

“Run!”

An odd whooshing sound spread through the air, as though something went flying past them. Then silence reclaimed her ears. Sand and dirt filled the air a second later. Dylan disappeared. So did the ground, the scenery, and every sound but one.

BOOM!

Her mind spun, along with her body. Everything blurred as she collided with something firm. Then her knees gave, sending her to the sand.

Pain surfaced throughout her body. The only comfort worth claiming was the warmth wrapping around her. It soothed the pressure in her back, and her belly, which was the one part of her that didn’t hurt.

She lifted her eyes, trading glances with a set of caramel ones. It wasn’t until Layne spoke her name when she realized he was hovering above her on the ground. He shielded every inch of her body.

“Are you okay?” His fingers traced over her face before moving to her shoulder.

She nodded, gripping onto his arm. “Layne, what just happened?”

“I don’t know.” He pulled her to her feet. “But we have to go. Now.”

Heaven had enough time to gauge her surroundings, though seeing anything past the smoke and dust proved difficult. She wasn’t sure how they’d ended up several feet away from the patio, but the source of the smoke came from a spot close to where they were standing.

Layne clasped his hand around her arm. He pushed her in front of him, forcing her to run. They didn’t stop until they met Dylan near the edge of the patio.

“What the hell just happened?” Dylan reached for her, pulling her to his chest, but Layne didn’t release her arm. He kept his fingers curled above her elbow.

“What do you think happened?” Sarcasm drenched Layne’s words. He pushed past Dylan, tugging on Heaven’s arm until she stepped toward him. Not that Dylan would let her go. He tugged back and frowned at Layne.

“Where are you going?”

“This location isn’t safe. It’s compromised.” Layne glanced at the thick patch of trees and ferns behind the cottage. “It’s time for Plan B… me.”

“We can’t go to Plan B,” Dylan yelled. The spark of his touch spread over Heaven’s hips. “You can’t control your abilities yet. We just witnessed that. Do you even remember how you killed Marco?”

“Quit arguing with me,” Layne shouted. “We’re wasting time. We could escape without—”

Another whooshing sound filled the air. Heaven didn’t have time to react. Dylan shoved Layne away. His arms curled under her legs as her feet left the sand. She held her belly to keep it from jostling each time Dylan’s feet connected with the ground.

Groans echoed from the earth as sand and dirt flew toward the sky. Then the ground rumbled. Dylan lost his balance and fell to the ground. She didn’t know how he’d spun her around so he landed first, but she laid on his chest.

“Are you okay?” He waited until she nodded before the worry left his eyes. “I’ll get us out of here. Just relax.”

She wanted to believe his words, wanted to believe that they’d get out of this mess without harm coming to any of them. The possibility seemed grim, and only one thought played through her mind.

“Who is doing this?”

She choked back a sob, hating herself for putting them in this position. Someone wanted her dead, not Dylan or Layne. If anything happened to either of them, she’d never forgive herself.

“I don’t know, Heaven,” Dylan answered. “We can’t worry about who it is right now. We have to leave.”

Still cradling her close, he pulled them to a sitting position just as Layne joined them. He extended his hand toward Dylan, motioning for him to grab it.

“Get to your feet.” Layne urged him. “We have company.”