Matters of the Heart Read online

  Table of Contents

  Matters of the Heart

  Book Details

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  About the Author

  MATTERS

  OF THE HEART

  ALLI RESHI

  Demitri is a consultant to an Earth-based task force that solves extraterrestrial crimes. But even his extensive knowledge and non-Earth perspective are strained by the hunt for a serial killer.

  The situation is further complicated when his childhood friend Devin, a notorious criminal, comes under his care while recovering from a coma.

  Between hunting a killer, convincing his team to trust Devin, and trying to help Devin recover, Demitri is pulled in too many directions, and he's not sure he'll manage to accomplish any of his goals.

  Being secretly in love with Devin isn't helping matters.

  Matters of Heart

  By Alli Reshi

  Published by Less Than Three Press LLC

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission of the publisher, except for the purpose of reviews.

  Edited by Nicole Field

  Cover designed by Aisha Akeju

  This book is a work of fiction and all names, characters, places, and incidents are fictional or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people, places, or events is coincidental.

  First Edition July 2018

  Copyright © 2018 by Alli Reshi

  Printed in the United States of America

  Digital ISBN 9781684313181

  CHAPTER ONE

  I stood across from my old friend, glaring at the gun pointed at me.

  "Devin put that down. It's over, you lost. Let me help you, please." I begged, inching towards him. Devin's finger curled around the gun's trigger in response.

  Everyone in the room tensed, waiting nervously for what would happen. Amy reached for Sally's hand, while Benn moved to stand in front of President George and his three assistants. I kept a firm eye on Devin.

  "You should know by now, Demitri, I always win. You kept the tiny human man alive for today, oh well. I'll try again, some other day, some other place. A different planet, maybe?" Devin said, seeming unconcerned, but I knew him better than that. There was the twitch in his shoulder, the one he would always get when he was nervous.

  "You won't shoot me Devin, I know you too well. I'm not letting you shoot anyone else either. We have the building surrounded, guarded against you specifically, you can't get out. Please stop all this. I can help you. Let me help you." I pleaded. Walking the few steps to Devin, undeterred by the steady gun, I took it from his hand, clicking the safety on and, threw the weapon to a far corner of the room.

  "You can't help, Demitri. No one can help. What do you think you're going to do now? Shove me in the scrap you call a ship? Trap me there for the rest of my life? You've always been the naive one, my friend. I won't stop, I never will, and there is nothing you or your little defense force can do about it." Devin taunts, though his words sound empty. I put my hand on his shoulder anything to keep him still, maybe even ground him. I just needed to shift my hand a little to touch his neck, then we could make this conversation more private.

  "It's only a trap if you believe it is. I want to help you, I have for a long time. But you won't let me. You won't let anyone. It could be so much fun; we could travel all the stars together. See so much together, have adventures like when we were boys." I countered. Not reacting as Devin shrugged off my hand with a snarl, seeing right through what I was attempting.

  "It sounds like hell to me." Devin growled, showing himself to be every bit of the menacing terror most of the galaxy knew him as. I knew different though. I knew this was a farce brought on to deal with the clutter in his head. The noise that never gave him peace.

  Devin backed up, stepping to the side as he prepared to wind into a tirade. A bang cut him off as he opened his mouth, red blossoming across his white dress shirt. Devin stared at his chest in shock as he fell towards me. I caught him roughly, lowering us both to the ground, unable to support Devin's slack weight. I looked over my shoulder to see one of the president's assistants standing on the other side of the room. A tiny slip of a man shaking for all his worth as he held the gun.

  "No, no, no. Not like this. Come on Devin try to breath. You'll be fine. We'll get you help, hold on." I whimpered, turning back to Devin, adjusting him to be as comfortable as possible. I pressed on the wound in a futile attempt to staunch the bleeding.

  "It hurts, Demitri, so much. I can't breathe. It hurts." Devin said, his breath coming in gasps. He flailed slightly as he reached for my hand in comfort, something he hadn't done in lifetimes.

  "What did you do? He was unarmed, he couldn't hurt us anymore. What have you done!" I roared, pinning the assistant with my gaze. I felt the rage curling under my skin as I felt Devin start to shake.

  "I did what I had to. You heard him. You heard him as well as I did. He said he wouldn't stop, and I believed him. Look at what he's done already! How close he came to killing us all, and he'd do it again. This was the only way to stop it. I was protecting us! I was doing what I had to!" The assistant screeched, dropping the gun in his own fright.

  He continued to babble as Benn pulled him to the side. Thankfully Sally led the president and the rest of his assistants out of the room. Amy stood where she was, digging in her purse for anything helpful.

  "Well, look at this. I do win in the end. No life time imprisonment for me. Sorry, old friend, but this is the end of our little game, and you lose." Devin wheezed. His body jerks uncontrollably as his breath faded. Slowly his shaking grew weaker.

  "No, no, please, no. Hold on a bit longer, Amy's a doctor, she can save you. Don't leave me. I need you, please." I said crying softly, tears streaming down my face as his beautiful gray eyes drifted shut.

  I jerked out of the dream, nearly toppling out of my chair. I rubbed my stiff neck as I settled back into the uncomfortable chair. I glanced around the infirmary room that had become a home in the last few weeks. I felt my phone buzzing in my pocket and fumbled for it.

  "Hello? Ah yes Shannon how are you this morning? How are the children?" I asked, suppressing a yawn. Shannon was a lovely woman, but I had learned never to let a politician's secretary know you are anything other than in perfect health. They can sense weakness and will exploit it.

  "Everyone is just fine, but you're going to run out of charm eventually Demitri." Shannon said, from the other end of the line, her keyboard softly clicking in the background as she typed up something.

  "Hopefully I haven't yet, and you're calling to tell me the good news," I said with a small laugh. Governor Dylan was the last I was waiting to hear from, and approval from him would tie up all of my problems.

  "Yes, your charm is matched only by your luck. The governor has agreed to your plan to have the criminal taken in as a ward of your division, and no charges will be made at this time," Shannon said. I sighed in relief, I could finally relax with that matter resolved.

  "Thank you very much. You have been a wonder," I said, brushing my hand through my hair.

  "If I can give you my opinion, I hope he is well worth the trouble. Also, don't be expecting any favors in the near future." Shannon hummed. I could take the subtle note that this was an agreement that had only come about, because I had made a very good impression on the governor.

  "Thank you again for all your help." I repeated. I ended the call without making any comment on her last statement. Secretaries were still very political, and a
ny statement is one that can be used against you. Most of my time here, waiting for Devin to wake up, had been spent in phone calls much like that one. Over two weeks of conference calls between one secretary, or dignitary, or a half dozen other titles I didn't care to remember, and the next. Doing my best to talk my way through the mess that Devin's stunt had caused. There would probably be a lack of Christmas cards I would get this year, but I thought it a fair exchange for being able to keep Devin here with me. Where he would be under the protection and watch of myself and my associates.

  Devin's mishap puts him under our jurisdiction anyways, as our team dealt with all extraterrestrial murders, or attempted murders of the Washington D.C. region, including assassinations. Benn led the team while I merely consulted on extraterrestrial matters. Thank the gods Devin attacked here and not Japan, or some equally far off country. I wouldn't have been able to help him if he had.

  The steady noise of machines was a constant background. I read them all again to reassure myself everything was fine before looking down at the still form of Devin.

  The white sheet against his too pale skin. Wires and tubes led from his wrist. The air mask was still in place over his mouth. Gray eyes glared up at me as I used a hand to sweep his white blond hair across his forehead. Wait, gray eyes. My own darted back down to see cold, steely-gray eyes staring at me. It took a second longer to realize I wasn't imagining things.

  "You're awake. Oh, praise Goddess Theasta, you're awake," I said. Fumbling for the call button, dropping it twice in my trembling hands. I pushed the button with far more force or frequency than needed. I was sure Amy would understand. Devin shifted minutely trying to reach for the mask.

  "No, don't move; you still need that." I leaned forward to stop him from moving more. Devin's scowl deepened, but he thankfully didn't fight me. I took his hand, twining our fingers. I knew he would have questions, but it would be easier to let him talk through a telepathic link.

  "What happened? Why didn't I die?" Devin asked. The brush of his mind against mine was odd though still pleasant. It had been far too long since I had talked like this. Even longer since it had been with him.

  "I told you Amy's a doctor. A very good one at that. You should be grateful," I stated, though it wasn't much of an explanation. Devin raised his eyebrows, waiting for the rest. "Well, you see the bullet didn't fully pass through you. It got stuck part of the way out. So, while there was some bleeding around the exit wound, the bullet did a fair job of keeping most of it in. And well, Amy found she had a pad in her purse. That did well enough for the entry wound until we could get you properly treated." I explained, rubbing the back of my neck with my free hand.

  "A pad," Devin said dryly, giving me a bored expression.

  "They're a—" A mental rumble stopped me before I could divulge into a full explanation and history of the pad.

  "I know what they are. Oh, goddesses help me I was saved by a human menstrual hygiene product. You should have let me die, then I could at least retain my dignity." Devin sighed, rolling his eyes. I shook my head at his theatrics. He always had been one to dramatize everything. "Like you can talk." he added to my thoughts. I blushed slightly having forgotten how easily he could hear my thoughts too.

  "It's not so bad. You know I wouldn't let you die. Not without trying something," I said, trying to soothe him, dropping my hand from my neck to brush his bangs off his forehead again. The opening of the door stopped the conversation. Amy leans in the doorway, panting.

  "Awake, finally, are we? Good I'll take a look and see how you're doing." Amy huffed, straightening her lab coat before walking over to the bed.

  "Did you run here?" I asked, taking in her disheveled look. She rolled her eyes as she turned the monitors towards herself.

  "Yes, I was on the other side of the compound. From the way you were paging I thought something had gone wrong." Amy scolded. She continued checking the computers before retrieving her stethoscope from around her neck. Adjusting it on with practiced ease pressing the flat disk against Devin's left side.

  "Sorry. His hearts on the right side remember." I corrected, trying to be helpful. Amy moved the stethoscope while muttering about aliens. After a moment, she seemed satisfied and let it rest against her chest.

  "No, it's fine. I'd much rather be wrong in my first reaction with something like this, then be right and have to fix something else. Now, Devin, I'm going to raise the bed up a bit so you can sit up better. Tell me if it hurts." Amy addressed him before moving to adjust some switches on the side of the bed. She slowly lifted the head of the bed until he was in a relaxed upright position. Devin gripped my hand tighter, a few expletives coming across the link as he grimaced.

  "Are you all right there, Devin? What hurts?" Amy asked, putting her hand against his forehead.

  "No, I'm not all right, you stupid human. There is a hole in my chest, and get your filthy hands off me!" Devin said glaring over at Amy. I was glad I was the only one who could hear him.

  "He's fine aside from what you would expect of the wound." I helpfully translated for Amy, though cleaning it up a bit first. Devin's scowl turned to me. Amy nodded understandably.

  "Now I want you to take a few deep breaths so I can listen to your lungs. See if you still need the oxygen mask or not," Amy said, slipping the ear tips back in. Devin obliged almost too easily. Obedience was not his strong suit. Though getting rid of the mask was probably sufficient motivation. We waited as Amy listened to his lungs before leaning away and putting her stethoscope back around her neck.

  "Well, sounds fine to me, but if you have any trouble breathing tell us right away," Amy said, gently pulling the mask off him and setting it aside as she turned off the relevant machines.

  "So then, doctor, please do tell me the full prognosis." Devin, voice strained and raspy, did nothing to hide his displeasure. I let go of his hand to fetch a glass of water from the sink for him. Telling myself that the heat in my hand was only from how long I had held on.

  "I'm not quite done yet; I'll tell you everything when I finish. First open wide." Amy smirked, pulling a penlight out of her pocket. They stared each other down, Devin being the stubborn idiot I knew. Too bad for him Amy is just as stubborn. "Don't make me use force. It's not going to be pretty from here on out if I have to." Amy gave him a pointed look.

  Then, with a long-suffering sigh, Devin opened his mouth, which was most likely influenced more by the drugs than the actual threat. The mocking 'aa' sound he made crediting my thought. With a satisfied hum, she traded the pen light for a thermometer. Devin snapped his mouth shut while she prepped it.

  "You're not sticking that in my mouth." Devin mumbled leaning away from the offending instrument.

  "It's a thermometer. I use it to check your temperature, it's perfectly fine. Now open up," Amy said, waving the little stick in front of his mouth.

  "Not a chance. Don't you have something better than that rudimentary piece of junk?" Devin grumbled through gritted teeth turning his head away.

  "Oh, yes, we have one that goes in the other end. You won't like that one much." Amy smiled wickedly, tapping the thermometer against Devin's pressed lips. He sent me a quick glance. The closest I'd gotten to a plea for help in so very long. That was when I knew the drugs and other effects of the wound were taking their toll.

  "Come on, Amy, must you use that? Doesn't one of these tell you all that?" I tried to mediate the two of them. I didn't give off much sense of authority, leaning against the sink with a cup full of water in hand and waiting for the children before me to stop taunting each other. Old friends and new friends were always a difficult mix, especially when one tried to kill the other.

  "I want to be certain, it'll only take a minute." Amy replied, not turning away from her glaring match. 'More like you want to torment him as much as you can get away with,' I thought.

  "Devin, just do what she says. The faster you do, the sooner she'll leave you alone." I reasoned with him instead, and what has my life come to when h
e's the one more likely to be reasonable. With a crinkling of his nose Devin opened his mouth, letting Amy settle the thin device in his mouth. Before snapping his mouth shut again. Most likely hoping to break it in his clenched jaws.

  The room was far too tense for such a little infraction. I shifted my weight, irritated. They would have to get along at some point, now that I had Devin where I could keep an eye on him. I wouldn't let him run wild over the universe again if I could help it. The tiny beep of the thermometer broke the tension some. Amy pulled it away to examine.

  "A little high from what I would like, but otherwise fine," Amy said with a shrug, tossing the used cover in the trash.

  "Let me see," I said, crossing the distance to glance at the display screen before the number vanished. "No that's normal. We run a bit hotter than humans. I'd be more worried if he was the same as a human is normally." I informed. Taking the extra step to Devin's side, carefully giving him the water and watching to see if he would need help with it.

  "You know, Demitri, I'm not a Xeno-doctor. I did not sign up for this. I barely know anything about your species. The only reason I can get by is because you're similar to humans, but I'm not the best for this. Why are you insisting I help and not someone trained for this? Christy is a fine doctor. At least give me a biological rundown." Amy sighed, rubbing her forehead as she walked away far enough to lean on the wall.

  "I wouldn't let Christy look after a cat and neither would you, don't deny it. I want you here because I trust you to do what's right no matter how you feel, and you're my friend. I can't trust anyone but friends with all this," I said, not realizing I had been reaching for Devin till I felt his blanket under my fingertips. I jerked my hand back.

  "Hello, yes, this is all fascinating. I would still like to know everything that happened after I was supposed to die." Devin interjected sounding much more like his usual self. Fighting the urge to groan, I walked back to sit in my chair, clasping my hands together over my knee so I couldn't make any other unwanted motions.