Page 4 of Deadly Deception
The seconds morphed into a minute, maybe two, and still, I stood there doing absolutely nothing. I could be patient whenthe occasion called for it. Hands stuffed casually into my pants pockets, I rocked back on my heels and waited.
Brendon’s laughter died, his humor dissipating with it. Brendon’s eyes flicked from me to Cody’s body. Nothing had changed. Cody remained in a sitting position, head turned toward his stepbrother, one eye open, its cloudy haze boring into the man who’d paid to bring him back from the beyond. Cody said nothing. I hadn’t asked him a question and he hadn’t felt the need to speak. I had a feeling that was how he’d gotten through his living experiences with Brendon—by holding his tongue.
Brendon’s eyes narrowed as they focused on me. “I said, that’s enough. Send his soul back to wherever it belongs. I’ve seen enough.”
I gave a slow nod. “Indeed, you’ve seen enough, but have you heard enough?”
Head cocked to the side, Brendon’s eyes narrowed even further. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
To be honest, I wasn’t certain. However, my connection with Cody told me there wassomething. It was only fair that I give Cody the chance to have a final say.
“Cody,” I said, placing my necromancer authority into my voice. While the dead were the only ones it worked on, the living often found that extra little push uncomfortable. Brendon and Stella’s flinches told me they were not different. “Is there something you’d like to say to Brendon?”
Up until that point, Cody’s soul had felt brittle. It was the kind of soul that was constantly wary, looking for verbal traps and doing its best to avoid further pain. All that changed with that simple question.
“Yes,” Cody answered. I wasn’t familiar with Cody’s voice while alive, and wasn’t sure if Brendon and Stella’s stunned reactions were because he sounded exactly the same or because he didn’t.
“C-Cody?” Brendon acted shocked, like he hadn’t known Cody’s corpse could speak.
“Brendon,” Cody flatly responded. “You look frightened.”
Brendon’s spine snapped to attention and his jaw slammed, rattling his teeth. “Like I’d be scared of a little shit like you. Besides, you’re the dead one, not me.” Pointing an accusatory finger Cody’s direction, Brendon smirked. “Mom and I get everything now. I couldn’t have planned this better myself. A fucking accident.” Brendon’s laughter was cold and vindictive. “With you gone, Mom and I get it all. I thought Mom was in idiot for marrying your old man. But he didn’t last long either. Guess the Stevens’s genes are cursed.”
Cody’s still functioning eyebrow rose. The other had been destroyed when his skull was crushed. Taking a moment to glance my direction, Cody seemed to be asking me for permission to speak. Since I hadn’t ordered him to stay silent, he had permission by default—but evidently he needed auditory confirmation.
I waved him on. “Oh, please, don’t hold back on my account.” I could tell Cody’s soul was itching to unload. I could only hope what he had to say would ease my conscience for bringing him back to deal with this shit again.
Cody’s grin was lopsided but no less pleased. “What makes you think you’re getting anything?”
Brendon blew Cody off. “Mom and I are the only ones left. Of course we’re getting everything.”
“No, you are not. You did not pay attention to my father’s will, Brendon.” Cody shook his head and raised a single finger in a tsking manner. “I’m not surprised. You’ve never been able to concentrate on anything or anyone for long, not even your girlfriend.”
Brendon’s eyes flew wide. Stella’s voice was shaky as she asked, “B-Brendon? What’s he talking about?”
“Nothing,” Brendon sharply replied. “Necromancer, send his soul back. That’s an order.”
Brendon’s words meant nothing to me. Aurelia was a different matter. “He acts just like a master,” Aurelia hissed. A whisper of fear slid down my spine. Choice was sacrosanct for Aurelia. Orders were never a good thing.
“I’ve got this,” I said, trying to appease Aurelia, not caring that Brendon gave me awho the fuck are you talking tolook. Ignoring those eyes that proclaimed me batshit crazy, I answered, “Funny, I don’t remember agreeing to takeordersfrom you.”
“We signed a contract, I paid you for—”
“And I’ve fulfilled my end of the contract. I brought Mr. Cody Stevens’s soul back from the beyond. You, however, have broken our contract by bringing an undisclosed third party to—”
“A what?” Brendon’s head snapped back. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
I pointed toward the woman at his side, the one he was holding so tightly it looked like she might be in danger of asphyxiation. “Your lady friend.”
“Stella?” Brendon looked at Stella as if she’d just materialized out of thin air.
“Yes.” Not waiting for his sputtering response, I continued, “It is also abundantly clear that you were not truthful in your reasons for bringing your stepbrother’s soul back. And before you tell me that I’m full of shit, might I remind you that I can, and will, bring back your brother’s soul in the future so he can testify to the nature of your past relationship and that your desire for bringing him back now was mean-spirited and not out of a desire to rectify past hurts or to pass along any sentiments of brotherly affection or love.”
Cody scoffed. “As if there was ever any of that.”
“Apologies, Cody.” I took the opportunity to grovel a little. “I was led to believe the situation was much different.”
While he didn’t look pleased, I didn’t pick up much anger from Cody’s soul. In fact, after a moment, his soul relaxed and he answered, “It’s fine, especially if I get to shatter a few of Brendon’s fantasies.”
