“Yes, you do! I was born the son of Marceli Pasteli on August 13, 1990. I am the youngest of the Pasteli family and a multiplex elemental.” Gio snapped.
Gio would have missed the widening of Kace’s eyes and the slight gasp had he not been watching the man. Gio could tell the man was confused, shocked and a bit unsure, and his voice sounded not as forceful as it had when he first arrived. “No! I am Kace. Multiplex elemental for Marceli Pasteli. I have no family, I only have Marceli. He is my maker. He is—”
“A fucking liar! That is what Marceli is. You have brothers and sisters and grandfathers… hell, you even have a great-grandfather! Gods above, Kace, think! Marceli wouldn’t know how to tell the truth if it was painted on a two by four and slammed against his head.” Gio shouted.
Shaking his head, Kace snarled, “You can’t know we are related!”
“I can and do! We have the same eyes, the same nose, the same cheekbones. Hell, we have the same color hair. Besides, Marceli would never work with anyone that wasn’t from his bloodline. He couldn’t. He only wants children that can be multiplex elementals. He can’t have that if he just snatches someone from the streets. You are my brother, Kace. You are Teagan’s brother and Gunther’s and…”
Kace opened his hands in a hard punching way, shouting, “Liar!”
The power Kace was using damn near brought Gio to his knees. Pushing back with his own, to hold off any chance that a large funnel could form, ignoring the rain pouring down on him once more, and the lightning and thunder all around, Gio shouted out, “I don’t want to hurt you, Kace. Please by all the gods don’t make me hurt you!”
Once more Kace looked at Gio in confusion. Gio didn’t know what the man was thinking in that brief moment, but then Kace’s features darkened once more, and the wind picked up so strong Gio damn near lost his footing. When Gio almost lost his balance for the second time, and feeling Taco’s energy draining quickly, Gio knew he was left with no choice on what he would have to do. Glancing quickly towards Cobra, he shouted, “Get ready to go. This is only going to stop him for a few minutes.”
Nodding, Cobra ran to his bike and started the engine. Gio tried to reason with Kace once more, “Please, brother. I don’t want to harm you. Leave Marceli and come with me. I swear to you, he can’t get you in Drago. On my word of honor, I will help you be free from the evil we call father.”
“Marceli is my creator not my father and I will do as I have been created to do!” Kace shouted once again.
“You’re wrong, Kace. Marceli isn’t your creator, he is your sperm donor. He is a weak and pathetic fool who uses his children to do what he cannot, and for one thing and one thing only… power. He has to, because he has no power of his own. So, he used his seed to create what he can never be. You are a tool to him and nothing more, but you can be more. You can be my brother. You can be my family. You can be… loved. All you have to do is stop this and come with my sentience. Please, Kace.” Gio begged.
Kace looked as if he might agree, then sighed as he shook his head, “I cannot do what you ask of me, Giovani. I must do as I have been ordered. There is no other way.”
Gio sighed, knowing there was no way he was going to get his point across to his new brother. Resigned with that knowledge, Gio whispered, “Please forgive me.” Then dropped his arms and punched his fists straight at Kace, opening his hands at the last seconds. A large bolt of lightning shot through his fingers as well as the palm of his hands. Kace was lifted into the air and the force of the lightning carried Kace far away from the boulevard.
Taking a second to mourn a man he hadn’t even known existed, Gio felt his knees give out. He had nothing left in his system. Taking a moment to ensure Taco was okay, he was glad to feel the small budge of energy within, and knew Taco was weak, exhausted, but was also alive.
Gio was so damn tired he could lie in the middle of the street and just sleep. A slow burning heat came over Gio, causing him to gasp, then groan. The pain was so intense he didn’t hear Cobra’s motorcycle next to him, but he did feel as if he was floating, and then the soft whispered words of his mate, “I’ve got you, baby. I’ve got you.”
