Heartlines

By S.G. Holster

**Heartlines is the third and final installment in the Thirty Seconds To Die Series and is not intended to be read as a standalone**

Sometimes in battle surrender is the strongest move of all.

Brett Owen, the son of a Sentori leader, promised himself he’d never do the work of his brotherhood - killing reborn souls. He’d been naive to make such a vow. He’d been naive about a lot of things – such as the bond of family and love.

Taunted by a Sentori hunter, Brett does whatever he can to survive, even if it means embracing his dark Sentori side and earning the unwanted attention of the Sentori leaders. His life had never looked so frantic. And all the while, his true family is infecting his heart and mind.

When his heart is tied to an unexpected soul, he finds himself fighting for a future he desperately wants to live to see. It becomes clear that whatever freedoms Brett is hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Fragile lives that had been carefully woven together will be ripped apart swiftly and easily.
Faith is betrayed.

Remorse and innocence intertwine.

Fate and chance collide to mend the tattered strands of Brett’s heart in the shocking conclusion to the Thirty Seconds To Die Series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: S.G. Holster
• Release date: Feb 11, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311611208

S.G. Holster

S.G. HOLSTER lives in California with her husband and their two daughters. She is the author of the THIRTY SECONDS TO DIE series.Young Adult:Her Thirty Seconds To Die series includes:Thirty Seconds To DieTerrible LiesHeartlinesRomance:DaisyphobiaUpcoming releases are:To The Edge Of The EarthYou can also find more about her here:Pinterest/sholster1Facebook S.G. Holsterwww.SGHolsterAuthor.com

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Heartlines

S.G. HOLSTER

Heartlines

SAMSHWORDS EDITION

Copyright © 2014 by S.G. Holster

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Holster, S.G.

Heartlines / by S.G. Holster

p. cm.

ISBN-13: 978-1502976079

ISBN-10: 1502976072

1. Supernatural – Fiction. I. Title

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents in this book are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead is coincidental and not intended by the author.

Cover design by Michelle Carroll

Edited by Debra L. Stang

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Glossary

Myscot – Friend to the Miller family and keeper of Sentori secrets.

Sentori – A secret brotherhood with supernatural elements who are killers to reborn souls.

Reader – A Sentori who possesses the ability to decipher names of reborn souls through any written word.

Hunter – A Sentori who kills reborns.

Reborn – A reincarnated soul.

Braden – A Sentori leader for the readers.

Dominic – A Sentori leader for the hunters.

The passage of souls – a magical passage where souls pass through to be reborn on earth.

Greenland – where the passage of souls is located. The passage opens when it’s filled with waiting souls and needs to be closed by its protector every two hundred years.

Protector of the passage – a reborn soul who is predestined to close the passage by using the sphere and key.

Sphere and key – The sphere is a small magical marble-sized stone that is protectively housed in a pendant. The key is an ancient wooden and metal triangle shape where the pendant fits in the eye of the triangle.

The Miller Family – carries the bloodline to reincarnate the soul who will protect the protector of the passage.

The Holland Family – carries the bloodline to produce the protector of the passage.

HALO – A high frequency grid that the Sentori want to use to manipulate the passage of souls to open in order to destroy it.

Contents

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

Ren

Lexi

About the Author

The human heart has hidden treasures,

In secret kept, in silence sealed;

The thoughts, the hopes, the dreams, the pleasures,

Whose charms were broken if revealed.

And days may pass in gay confusion,

And nights in rosy riot fly,

While, lost in fame's or wealth's illusion,

The memory of the past may die.

- Charlotte Bronte

Brett

One

Myscot was dead.

I found that out when I stood outside his flat waiting for an answer. His cell was no use – I’d left a dozen messages.

Qui avez-vous besoin, monsieur? A woman popped her head out of the first floor flat window.

Umm, monsieur Myscot. I stepped away from the door to get a better look at the woman.

Shaking her head a couple times, she continued to speak in French, You won’t find him there. He’s dead. Killed months ago just a few blocks from here, stabbed in the street. Don’t know why anyone would do such a horrible thing to a man of the church.

There wasn’t a doubt in my mind as to who had killed Myscot. What I needed to know was how they found out about him. Lexi had known him. I couldn’t begin to imagine how he would have known Lex. I’d never mentioned her to him.

Six days before visiting Myscot’s flat in Paris, I’d walked away from Lexi, leaving her standing behind the gate at their home. Ren was smart to put the barrier between us. I fought everything in me not to run back to the house and steal her away. Instead, I walked around the corner and punched the wall. Brilliant. My hand throbbed along with my heartbeat and the only thing I could do was stuff it in a pile of snow. A couple huddled together and pretended I wasn’t there as they passed by - smart people.

My phone had vibrated in my pocket. A text message from Kate lit the screen. The girl was trouble. She’d helped me out a few times…I’d used her a few times. Unfortunately she’d been thinking that there was something more between us. I deleted the text, slipped the phone back in my pocket, and waved down a cab.

Stepping out of the black cab in front of my building in Belgravia, I looked up at the glass structure to the penthouse, my home. The building was new construction set in the posh surroundings of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. I wondered why Ren and Lex didn’t live in the area. The family’s fancy cars and wealth were perfectly suited for the area; ego was abundant and flashed at every opportunity. Braden, my father, had moved me here when I came back from Ferndale.

Walking through the door, I didn’t expect my flat mate, Jax, to be home. The squeal of a female voice alerted me that he was there and that he had company.

I dropped my keys on the countertop of the kitchen bar. The floor plan was a large open space. The modern kitchen fed into a massive living room and the master bedrooms were set on either side of the living area. The part I was most impressed with was the view of London. I’d spent hours gazing out at the Thames and Westminster Abby.

Another squeal and a mess of blonde hair ran out from Jax’s room wearing only pink lace panties and a matching bra. I leaned against the kitchen bar and cleared my throat.

Oh! Her eyes traveled shamelessly down my body and she stuck her chest out. Hey. You come to join the fun?

I rolled my eyes, No. I live here.

Pulling a t-shirt over his head, Jax strolled into the room. His wavy black hair was unruly. From the looks of the two of them, I was glad I hadn’t walked in any sooner.

Brett, meet Shana.

Shelia, she corrected.

Whatever. It’s time for you to go. I’ve called for a car. Jax motioned to the door with his chin. He was a complete dick to girls. Relationships were forbidden, but being a slut was fine by Sentori standards.

Don’t be like that, baby, Shelia / Shana pouted while petting at Jax’s chest. When will I see you again?

You won’t. Get out. He answered flatly.

As much as I wanted to go to my room, I couldn’t tear myself away from the scene.

You’re an arse. Shelia / Shana spat at him.

You got what you wanted. Fun’s over.

Without another word she left the room and reappeared fully clothed. She slammed the door on her way out.

Jax was the closest thing I had to family or a brother. We’d grown up together. His father was a reader, but under Braden. Soon after Jax arrived at the institute, his father left for Portugal.

I missed Jax’s antics the times I’d left home to follow Lexi. He was my only confidant beyond Myscot, and I supposed he was my best friend.

Jax’s looks made him a magnet for girls. His dark hair was a stark contrast to his icy blue eyes. He worked out like a fiend and had a good three inches on my six foot height. Finding a mostly naked girl in the apartment wasn’t uncommon. I wondered how he would curb his slutty ways when he stepped into his role as a reader. Having to dress as a man of the church, a believer in religion and all that surrounded it. I didn’t believe he could do it.

Blonde this time? I raised my eyebrows at him.

Yeah, whatever. Did you get to speak to her? Jax asked, opening the refrigerator and pulling out two beers. He opened them and handed one to me.

I did. I took a long pull of beer.

Did you expect you would?

No.

You want to talk about it? he offered, squinting at me. Jax had terrible sight, but refused to wear his glasses in front of anyone. He opened a drawer and slid his black framed glasses onto his face. I shook my head at his stubbornness.

Thanks, but no, I don’t want to talk about it.

Jax leaned forward on the bar. Did it turn out differently than you thought it would? He asked, ignoring my answer. You knew what you were walking into.

First, I thought back to Lexi speaking Myscot’s name. It felt like I’d been punched. No one knew about Myscot, not even Jax. Second was Lexi’s offer that I could always come to her. That was an offer I would take her up on. Anything that would allow me to stay close to her, I would manipulate to its fullest. If I had to play a shattered, lonely idiot, I’d do it.

It was better than I expected – I guess. I have a little piece of her pity and I plan to take full advantage.

What do you mean? Jax took a long pull of his beer.

She told me how sorry she was that I’d been cheated out of my family and that I could always come to her, that I had her...as a friend. When she’d told me that, it had done funny things to my heart.

Jax smiled at me. That could complicate things. I mean, we are talking about, Lexi. The woman you would move heaven and earth for and went through a hell of a lot of pain for. She’s married, Brett…to your brother. Why keep this up?

I let out a groan and finished off my beer while Jax waited for my answer. Besides the obvious – that I’ve been told for as long as I can remember that Lexi was meant for me? I’ve been brainwashed into believing that she is the center of the universe and that I am to protect her. Somewhere, when the myth of our world fell away, I saw the truth of Lexi. There’s nothing original left in this world, really. Everyone’s just copying someone else, but not Lex. She’s only trying to be herself. She’s searching for the truth to who she is. After Acer ordered the attack on her in high school and she was so brutally beaten, it changed her. She became this amazing person. A little broken, but out of that horrific experience she chose to thrive. I’ve seen it. I fell in love with her years ago and I can’t let it go. I won’t let her go.

Jax stared at me for a long time and then finally spoke. She’s a reborn. Whatever you’ve been told, she’s not untouchable. You need to let go, Brett. I’ve heard some talk. Braden fucked up. He made you love her for only one motive. Whatever happened or didn’t happen in Greenland, it should have ended there. There’s tension between Braden and Dominic. You know the hunters are furious that Ren and Lexi have been placed off limits. You know they’re reckless. Jax planted his hands on the counter. Look, you’ve passed on your bloodline – planted your seed. You’re Sentori. There’s no place for love in our brotherhood. Accept your position as a reader and let her go.

His words unfairly chipped at my heart – the heart I wasn’t supposed to feel. I narrowed my eyes and wondered how badly he’d beat me if I were to punch him. I decided not to find out.

No, I stated flatly and left the room.

You know I’m right, I heard him call.

I slammed my door, flopped down on my bed, and stared out at the London lights. There had been growing tension between Braden and Dominic. The hunters, the Sentori who were sent to kill off the reborn soul once the readers produced a name - they weren’t onboard with letting Ren and Lexi live until they carried on the bloodline, or until HALO was successful. Braden was altering the line of Sentori values, and that secured my desperation to stay close to Lexi.

My cell on the nightstand vibrated and the screen illuminated, revealing Braden’s name.

Yeah.

Really, Brett. Try to be more civilized, Braden’s deep voice bellowed in my ear. I held the phone away.

What do you need, Sir?

I heard you saw Alexandra today. What was that about?

Who told you that?

Dominic. He refuses to let them go unwatched.

Why?

Tension. We need to speak. After your meeting with Carter Grey tomorrow, come see me. What time are you headed to Edinburgh?

I let out a long sigh. We hadn’t come face to face since the night in the cemetery. I’d done as I was instructed that night. I lured Ren from the ball, but I hadn’t expected that Dominic’s goons would beat the shit out of me and then all that came after. My loyalty to the brotherhood came out intact, but there was also a morbid curiosity about my new family that tickled a dark space in my mind. My father was a Sentori, the next great leader of the readers, and he’d abandoned the Sentori for my mother. He’d been allowed to choose a different life.

I rolled my eyes, sick of being treated like a child. I’ve arranged for the heli to take me at seven.

Good. I’ll see you in the afternoon then. I’ll have a car waiting, and I’m sure I don’t need to remind you that you need to play your role.

No, Sir, you don’t. I was getting pretty good at it. The line disconnected and I tossed my phone on the bed.

Since I’d forgone attending Uni, I’d become the liaison to the parties funding the HALO Project. That meant looking the part of the young tycoon of the Sentori’s shell company, Sentran, to the anonymous investors. It was easy. I knew more than anyone else about the passage of souls and what the Sentori wanted to achieve. I was fairly certain that I could find and open the passage on my own, but I’d never admit that to anyone.

Spreading my time between London and Edinburgh was something I was getting used to. My loyalty was in Edinburgh, but my heart was in London…Notting Hill to be exact. There was a temporary diversion that forced my time in Scotland and soon that would go away. When that was done, I’d commit my time to London.

Two

AS I BUCKLED myself into the seat of the Sentran helicopter at sunrise the next morning, a bloke stepped into the seat next to me and proceeded to fasten the harness. His eyes were exceptionally dark and his expression was cold as ice. He was a hunter. I raised a questioning eyebrow at him.

He glanced at me, Dominic wanted me to make sure you arrive safely.

I thought it best not to answer. This was part of the tension between Braden and Dominic. I was being babysat. For the first time ever, I felt unease. All my life I’d been untouchable – all readers were. Without us and our bloodlines, the Sentori wouldn’t exist. Whatever Dominic was planning, he was pulling me into it.

The feeling of the heli and the noise made me uneasy. I wasn’t in control of something that could go plummeting to the ground. I did my best to tune it all out. Instead I started thinking of Lexi and Greenland. I was lucky the way that had all played out. I’d needed her to take me to the passage. I’d been haunted by images of a small girl standing in the blinding snow. For as long as I could remember, that vision had been a nightly occurrence. I’d never told anyone about it, but once I’d learnt of the passage, I understood that the dream had something to do with it. I wanted to tell Lexi. The Sentori in me won, and I kept my mouth shut. If I would have told her on our journey to the passage, things might have turned out differently. I’d always regret that. I hadn’t dreamt of the girl since, but her absence didn’t keep me from wondering who she was or what she had to do with the passage or me.

We landed at the airfield outside of Edinburgh. I’d planned to take a taxi, but since I would be going to see Braden after my meeting he’d arranged a car for me. Braden had a strange addiction to luxury vehicles, but his façade as a clergy didn’t allow him to indulge it. For myself, I could care less what I drove, but I had to admit that the sleek silver Mercedes SLR waiting for me was a welcome sight. I knew Braden was thinking of my image as well. I won’t lie. It wasn’t a bad façade to put on. Custom suits, expensive cars, private jets…yeah, I could manage the act for a while.

It was a short drive into the city from the airfield. Tourist season was at its high, and getting around the city was a nightmare. Pulling up at the Balmoral Hotel, I left the car with the attendant and prepared myself for Carter Grey.

The lobby was busy and quite noisy as I made my way to the bar. The red walls and white columns in the Bollinger Bar were intimidating. The hum of the lunch crowd echoed through my ears as my eyes settled on Mr. Grey at a table for two at the back of the room. There was nothing appealing about these meetings, but I had to remember that HALO would keep Lexi safe. If the grid were successful at opening the passage of souls, there would be no need for its protector. I let the mask of a haughty business man wash over my face, and I strolled towards Mr. Grey. I could tell he was sizing me up. He was younger than had I imagined – late twenties maybe thirty. His eyes were dark to match his hair. He stood and held out his hand. Mr. Owen?

Carter Grey?

Please sit, he instructed. What are you drinking? He waved his hand to signal the server who hurried to our table. Her blonde curly hair was piled on top of her head and freckles splayed across her cheeks.

Coffee, please.

Scotch. Carter held up his empty glass.

Will you be ordering anything to eat? Her pretty green