A Higher Calling [Eternal Flames 5]

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 1

3 Months later

"Thanks for letting me know Doris. I appreciate all you've done for me," Twix said as he sadly hung up the phone.

Twix missed working at the café. It had been three months since the deadly shootout had taken place and left the café in shambles, and so many lives were changed forever. When Twix had gone in the next day, Doris had told him she was sorry. There was no way she could keep the place. Doris said she would remodel it and then be putting it up for sale.

Her call just now was to let Twix know that she had just put the place up for sale and already there were some possible buyers. Doris had wanted to reassure him that whoever purchased the café would be asked to keep him on.

Twix had been distraught over the loss of his job at first, but before Sut, Ronin, and Logan had left to return to Pennsylvania, they had argued over rent since they had stayed way past the few days they had intended. Twix had refused p*****t. Friends didn't charge guests to stay with them. He thought they understood his stand, until he had returned from his date with Finn and Marco and found an envelope on the table with a thank you letter, an invite to join up with them for a nice Poconos honeymoon, and a check for more than Twix had made in the past six months.

He had called to try and return the check, but Sut had told Twix they would be very offended if he made them feel like moochers. So, Twix went to the bank and deposited the check, feeling thankful to have such wonderful friends and knowing he would be okay until the café was

finished with the remodeling and hopefully the new owner would hire him to work in a place he had considered a second home.

Since then, Twix had discovered a love for the Food Network channel. He had even considered going to culinary school or maybe seeing if they had some online classes. Either way, Twix wanted to open a restaurant of his own one day. Tonight, he had a special surprise for his mates.

He just hoped they liked it.

A light knock on his door had Twix smiling and rushing to open it. Finn stood next to Marco, and Twix felt his heart fluttering at the sight of them both. Marco was almost a foot taller than Twix's own five-two. He had long blond hair and the prettiest green eyes. Finn was a few inches taller than Marco with burnt orange eyes that reminded Twix of a romantic fire glowing in a dark cabin. He also had long blond hair, but where Marco's was straight, his was full of unruly waves, and both men were built like brick s**t houses, or so Angelo described them. Twix just thought they were the sexiest men alive.

"Are you going to stand there looking luscious, or are you going to invite us in so we can sample the goods?" Marco said saucily.

Twix giggled. "Sorry, I was just admiring the view."

Finn walked in first, took Twix into his arms and brought his lips down on his, nipping Twix's bottom lip enough to have him gasp, then Finn moved in for the kill, or so it felt. Twix felt the oxygen being sucked out of his lungs, but didn't give a crap. His big mate knew how to kiss.

Finn's tongue swooped inside his mouth and swirled around as if he couldn't get enough of Twix's flavor. The kiss was possessive and Twix wanted to be possessed by this man.

"I really want in on this." Marco groaned.

Finn slowly pulled back and Marco immediately took his place. He gently brought Twix's lips against his own. Unlike Finn, Marco was always gentle and passionate. Finn's ardor was like pouring gasoline on a flame, and Marco’s was like an ember that built and built until the flame was a burning inferno.

"s**t, you two look good. I'm so f*****g ready to make you both my mates," Finn said in a lust filled tone.

Twix licked his lips, making sure to get every bit of his mate’s flavors on his tongue. "We agreed we would give each other time to really get to know each other, Finn."

Finn threw his hands in the air. "Every time we try to get to know each other, someone interrupts us about the search for Levi, or we end up making out and not talking at all. I say we mate and get to know each other through our lifetime together."

Marco's guilt showed clearly on his face. Twix grasped his hand and squeezed. "I had the same thoughts about always being barged in on by everyone. We never can seem to just talk. That's why I figured, instead of going out, I'd cook us something. This way we can turn off our phones, have some dinner, and just talk. Get out whatever we think might influence our mating or

whatever is giving one of us the thought that we don't want to mate."

"You cooked? Damn, baby, whatever it is, it smells f*****g fantastic," Marco said as he flounced towards the kitchen.

Finn, sighed. "It does smell great in here. I can't wait to try it. As for the rest, I can't think of anything that would change my mind. I refuse to make the same mistakes Zev did. The pain and heartache it put everyone through, especially my brother, taught me that mates are a gift from above and not to be taken for granted."

Nodding, Twix replied, "Heck, Zev almost died trying to prove himself to Jett."

"He wasn't trying to prove himself to anyone, Twix. When Jett took off to Pennsylvania and then returned here so cold and angry toward us all, Zev gave up on his mating and didn't care if he lived or died. So, he ran into Jinx's house to get the evidence to take the man down and damn the consequences," Finn explained.

"Have they finished going over the stuff he got out of Jinx's house?" Marco asked.

"Oh no! No! We are not talking about that stuff tonight. We are only talking about us and only us from this moment on," Twix demanded marching to the cupboard to remove some plates.

Finn and Marco's brows rose in surprise. Twix didn't give a crap. He was tired of his secret and he needed to tell them who and what he was before they found out. The only one that knew

anything about him was Jett, and not even he had all the details. If they got to talking about the other crap going on, they would never get around to their talk.

Handing the plates to Marco, Twix turned, opened a drawer, and set the silverware on top of the plates. When the man didn't move, Twix's sarcasm came to the surface. "Unless you are telekinetic, that table isn't going to set itself."

"But I've never set a table for more than one before. What if I do it wrong?" Marco asked nervously.

Twix just stared at Marco, not knowing what to say. Finn, however, didn't seem to have a

problem on that end. "How the hell old are you that you don't know how to set a table?"

Marco hung his head and Twix watched as regret immediately came over Finn. "I'm sorry, Marco. Come on and I'll show you how I do it. Hell, I don't know if it would pass the etiquette test, but honestly, if it looks nice, it's fine."

Twix left them to set the table as he pulled out his slow cooked roast beef and set it on the counter to rest. The rosemary potatoes and baked parmesan zucchini looked good, but smelled even better. He just hoped everything tasted fantastic, too.

"Damn Twix, you really went all out. Everything looks and smells awesome," Finn said smiling from ear-to-ear.

Twix smiled wide. "Thanks. Can you take the potatoes and vegetables to the table while I cut the roast beef?"

Finn kissed Twix's cheek. "Sure, babe, no problem."

Marco and Finn did as they were asked and Twix made quick work on the beef. Taking it to the table, then going back for a bottle of red wine he had opened earlier so it could breathe, at least that's what Geoffrey Zakarian said to do. Grabbing three glasses, Twix poured the wine and handed each man a glass before finally sitting in his seat.

"At the risk of repeating Finn, everything looks and smells fantastic, Twix," Marco replied as he held up his glass. "Let's toast our future mating."

Everyone clicked their glasses and took a sip, then immediately dug in.

Moaning and groaning was heard around the table and Twix couldn't help but beam with pride that Marco and Finn seemed to be enjoying their meal. Finn and Marco grabbed seconds and

then thirds, and Twix was shocked when he noticed there was not a morsel of food left on the table.

Finn slapped his stomach and belched. "That was amazing! I can't remember having such a wonderful meal."

Marco wiped his mouth and let out a loud sigh. "I agree. That was the best meal I think I ever ate."

Twix smiled and stood up, clearing the plates, and taking them to the sink. Grabbing the dessert he had baked earlier, Twix said, "Blueberry cobbler always seemed like the favorite at the café, so I figured it would make for a good end to our meal."

"Holy s**t! I've really missed that," Marco said excitedly.

Finn laughed. "Jett is going to be so jealous."

Twix laughed along with the other two as he added a dollop of ice cream on the fruity dish and handed each man a small bowl.

Sitting once more, Twix cleared his throat asking, "Marco, how old are you?"

"I'm 145 years old," Marco muttered.

Finn wiped his mouth softly saying, "Jett and I just celebrated our 245th birthday in February.

It's the first one we spent apart since birth."

Twix grasped his hand. "I'm sorry, Finn. I know you had to be hurting as much as Jett. He called me on his birthday. He was so sad. We talked until midnight. I'm just glad you guys could work things out and come back together."

Finn spoke and his voice broke with sadness, "Me, too. I wasn't sure I deserved his forgiveness. I did and said some shitty things to him, and I regret the hell out of all of it. Ignoring his pain, or making excuses for not trying to help him through those tough times, it just isn't what our clutch...hell, our family, is supposed to be about. When Jett came back to Crystal, and I saw the anger, hurt, and pain in his eyes──knowing I caused it──he was always the fun one. He joked and laughed all the time and when he returned so cold and angry──knowing I was a big part of that pain and ugliness was like a knife through my heart. I should have been there for him."

Twix noticed a haunted look come over Marco, he had to know what was behind it. "Marco, are you all right?"

Shaking his head, Marco whispered, "It's my fault Angelo got raped."