Trust Me When the Sun Goes Down (10 page)

“Good.” I relaxed against him, things were falling into place.  “It’ll be nice to see your sister again.”

“You’re not wrong there,” he said with a half smile.  “She’s not the easiest person to talk to on the phone.”

“I can imagine.”  Leila seemed to live her life like she saw another universe within our own.  Maybe she had the right of it and the rest of us were blind, but it did end up in some confusing conversations.  “Well, she’s welcome to stay for as long as she likes, we’ve got plenty of room.  Maybe we can even have your sister meet my sister?” 

“I’d like that.  What about your parents?”

“I’d rather keep them as far away from our mess as possible.”

Both his brows rose.  “Are we a mess?”

“You know what I mean.  I’m not calling
us
a mess in that sense.  It’s just the less they know about vampires and magic, the better.” 

“I like our kind of mess,” he said, wrapping an arm around my waist to pull me closer. 

“So do I.  But speaking of messes, you know you don’t have to push yourself to stay up as late as I do, right?  I don’t want you to feel like you have something to prove with me.”

“I’ll show you something to prove,” he rasped, and that put an end to the conversation. 

Rob definitely proved it to me (and then some) before we made it upstairs and into polite company.  Somehow I think he missed my point, but I was far too dizzy with happiness and blood loss to worry about it overly much.  If it bothered me in the back of my mind that he tended to distract me with sex when I brought up something that made him uncomfortable, I tried not to worry about it. 

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.  Sometimes I’m pretty stupid. 

Rob proved as good as his word, spending more time by my side over the next couple of days, working on drafting up a business plan for the new venture.  Lee was keen to invest in the private police force, despite the fact that I said I’d find the money for it in my operating budget.  Seeing as how we weren’t planning on charging anyone for their services, I wasn’t sure how he thought he’d get a return on investment, but they had their heads together working on all the angles, so I let them have at it, figuring they’d run whatever they came up with past me when they had a plan.

Sitting at the office while Rob was out scouting facilities, I ignored a Skype call from Aubrey for the umpteenth time.  Why was the guy so hot to talk to me?  Didn’t he get the message from the bajillion calls I’d ignored over the past few weeks?  I stared at my monitor, an overwhelming feeling of icky unease descending upon me as the cursor hovered over the
decline
button. 

Against my better judgment I clicked
answer with video
, intending to get whatever it was out of his system and stop interrupting my day.  Aubrey’s face popped up on the screen, as handsome as ever, dressed in a crisp white shirt, open at the throat, his blonde curls cropped close.  Shock widened his slate gray eyes, but they instantly crinkled with a warmth I didn’t remember the last time I’d seen him up close and personal.  Why the heck would he be glad to see me?

“Anja, sweets, how lovely to see you again!”

“What do you want, Aubrey?” I asked, not bothering with any diplomacy. 

“I wanted to offer my most sincere apologies to you now that I’ve been freed of Lodinn’s influence.” 

Is that all?  “Fine, you’ve apologized.  I have to be going now, I’m very busy.”

“You can’t know the pain it’s put me through to know…”

“The pain it’s putting
you
through?” I cut him off, wishing I could reach through the screen and wring his neck.  “After the torture we went through in your House?”  

His hands came up in a supplicating gesture.  “I didn’t know that would happen, luv, I swear.  We were all naught but tools in Lodinn’s plan.”

“Well, you’re definitely a tool,” I muttered and he agreed without argument, flashing those puppy dog eyes at me.

“Yes, I am, and I’m sorry.  I know I can’t expect your forgiveness.”

“Good, ’cause I’m not offering any.  You didn’t turn me over to Volkov because of Lodinn’s orders, you did it because I rejected you, plain and simple.  If you truly wanted to apologize to me, you’d man up and admit it.”

Aubrey’s tongue darted out to moisten his lips, and he looked down, his eyes fixed on some spot I couldn’t see off camera.  “I admit, I was hurt by your rejection.  I made a mistake, a mistake that you paid for dearly.  But you can’t think I wanted that for you or my brother.”

“And Rob.”

Aubrey waved that distinction away, Rob clearly wasn’t a priority for him.  “You must know that I would’ve killed Volkov myself if Jakob hadn’t seen to it.”

“He didn’t,
I
staked him, remember?  Wait, Volkov’s not dead, is he?  I left him impaled with a poker, but he was alive.”

“Sorry, figure of speech.  No, Volkov’s still down in that very cell where he’ll remain for as long as I’m Elder of Vetis.”  His expression changed to one of self-proclaimed brilliance.  “Or I could have him shipped to you for your care, if you prefer,” he beamed.

“Eewh, no thanks.”  Talk about a creepy offer.  “Down in the dungeon works for me.  Look, was there something else you wanted, Aubrey, or did you just want to grovel some more?”

Aubrey drew himself up, every inch the polished aristocrat.  “I thought we might discuss re-establishing an accord between our Houses.”

“You have some nerve, you know that?  You basically destroy my life as I know it, draw Jakob out of hiding so Lodinn can target him by targeting MY family and now you want me to forget about it and go back to business as usual?”

“I understand that my actions have caused you great pain,” he said, choosing his words with deliberate care.  “But that is no reason for Vetis to suffer for lack of an accord with the West.”

“What would you possibly stand to gain from an alliance with us?  I remember exactly what you think about the backwards colonies.” 

“I have had my eyes opened.  Indeed, the Gathering opened a great many eyes to the importance of the New World.  In terms of numbers alone, the West is a force to be reckoned with, and I choose to stand beside you, not opposite you.”

“You act like you’re worried I’m going to call for a full scale invasion,” I snorted, but I could see a grain of truth to it in the fear behind his eyes.  “Relax, it’s not on my agenda for the moment.”

“Be that as it may, I would like to resume discussions between our nations, if at all possible.  I trust that a ruler of your integrity can look past her personal feelings to do what is best for both our Houses.” 

Frak
, how was I supposed to respond to that?  If I said no now, I’d look like the biggest jerkwad ever, but there was no way I wanted to get into bed with that purple belly again.  “I will agree to review a proposal if you send one over. I can’t make any promises beyond that.”

“If you would agree to visit, I could…”

“Not a chance in Hell.”  I put an end to that thought right there.  Maybe he was truly sorry and maybe he wasn’t, but I wasn’t about to take the chance and risk it. 

“I could come and see you then, humble myself at your feet.”

“I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”

“It tears me up to think I’ve caused you any pain, sweets.”

“Then don’t worry about it.  I’m in a good headspace, all is right with the world.”  I wanted to look to the future, not the past, especially a particularly painful past like that. 

“I’m glad to hear of it.  When I heard that Jakob and Ulrik both left you, I feared…”

“Wait, what?”  My voice rose to an octave best heard by bats.  “Where did you hear that?”

Aubrey shrank away from my shrill tone.  “One doesn’t like to repeat gossip.”

“You’re the one who brought it up, now spit it out,” I demanded.  I didn’t think I could compel him through the computer, but I sent him my most serious don’t-mess-with-me stare.

Aubrey licked his lips, unwilling to refuse me directly, but wary of saying the wrong thing, it was written all over his face.  “Jakob said as much to me when he came calling.”

“Jakob is there?  I thought he was in New York.”

“Not now, he’s moved on, I expect.  He told me he didn’t intend on returning to the West in the foreseeable future, and with his news about Carys I can understand why.”

Cool beans, now the whole world was going to think I was second fiddle to Carys.  “Not that it’s any of your business, but I kicked Jakob to the curb, not the other way around.  And I wasn’t with Bishop, so he didn’t leave me like that.  Or is that what he’s saying about me too?”

“No, or rather I dunno, I haven’t spoken to Ulrik.  Don’t get me wrong, sweets, I think it’s a fine idea you standing on your own.  It gives a man hope.”  His smile turned entirely too predatory and I had to jump in and nip that in the bud. 

“Whoa, not so fast, Romeo.  I am not standing on my own.  I mean, I am, but I’m not alone.  I’m with Rob.”

“Why?”

I shook my head, some people weren’t worth the effort.  “I think this conversation is over now.  Send me a proposal and I promise I’ll look it over.  But my personal life is none of your business.”

“I meant no offense, Anja.  You must know I hold you in the highest regard.”

“Thank you for your apology.  I appreciate the sentiment behind it, but I’m
so
not interested.  Goodbye, Aubrey.”  With that, I terminated the call, leaning back in my chair to sift through the parts of the conversation that stuck with me.  Part of me really wished Jakob found Carys soon so the world would have something new to gossip over.  Then again, part of me hoped Lodinn’s taunt turned out to be nothing more than that, a taunt, for Bishop’s sake.  Everything I’d learned about the woman made me think she was better left unfound. 

* * *

Rob seemed oddly stiff and nervous as we stood in the arrival lounge at the airport.  He barely acknowledged my attempts at conversation, his eyes riveted to the walkway the arriving passengers streamed through. 

Finally, I forced my arm around his, holding it close to get his attention.  “Aren’t you glad to see her?”

His hazel eyes flicked away long enough to meet mine, before they returned to the walkway.  “Course I am.”

“Then why do you look like you’re waiting for the Antichrist to step off that plane?”

“What you going on about now?” he scowled, shifting his weight.  “What do you expect me to do, hold a great big welcome sign and grin like an idiot?”

“Hey, I’m only trying to figure out why you’re so grumpycakes tonight, don’t bite my head off.”  I pulled my arm from his, but he caught my hand and gave it a soft squeeze. 

“Sorry.  I’m a bit on edge tonight.” 

I waited for more of an explanation as to
why
he was on edge, but that’s all I got, his attention focused on the steady stream of people exiting the gate area.  His body tensed a split second before I heard Leila’s excited cry piercing the terminal.

“Robby!”  Dark hair streaming behind her, she darted in and out of the throng, moving faster than should’ve been possible in the heavy rubber rainboots she wore, an odd combination with the light, flowery dress and bare shoulders.  Rob broke into a smile as she approached, his arms opening wide to give her a hug, but she stopped short, two feet away from us. 

“You’re wrong,” she declared, the joy draining from her face. 

“Different is all,” he said quietly, approaching her slowly, his hands stretched out as though approaching a skittish animal.  “You knew about this, I told you over the phone.”

Her head shook back and forth as she stepped backwards.  “Wrong, wrong, dead and gone,” she chanted.

“Not gone, I’m here.  Take my hand, you’ll see well enough.”

“It’s okay, Leila.  He’s just like me now.  You’re not afraid of me, are you?” I asked in as soothing a manner as I could and her head whipped to face me.

“You done this to him.  You’ve brought him low.”

“No, I mean yes, but he’s fine.” 

Rob stepped up while her attention was distracted and pulled her into his arms, hustling her along toward the escalators.  Leila grew more and more agitated, muttering something about blood and sickness.  It was hard to follow. 

“Anja, why don’t you go fetch the car then, yeah?” he asked, bringing her wrists together as she struggled. “I’ll see if I can get her calmed down.”  More and more people were beginning to stare as Leila whimpered and moaned, her eyes wide and afraid.

“Are you sure you don’t need any help with her?”

“Naw, we’ll be fine, won’t we, Bits?” he replied in a sing song voice, his stare direct and intense.  Even though I knew he wasn’t able to compel her, Leila responded to it, falling quiet.  “There’s a good girl.  Just wants a little getting used to, don’t it?”

“But you’re wrong,” Leila whimpered piteously and my heart twisted for her. 

“Anja, the car,” he prompted.

“Oh, right, sorry.”  With one last look at the pair, I headed for the parking garage to find his sedan, the remnants of their conversation floating up to me as I took the escalator. 

“I’ve got you now, Bits.  Nothing to worry about.”

“Dead and gone,” she whispered.

“Shh, nobody’s dead and gone.  I’m strong as ever, here to protect you as always.”

“But who will protect you?”

By the time I got back with the car, Leila was docile, and largely unresponsive to my attempts at conversation.  Rob let me drive home, sitting in the back with her, and I was reminded of the last time we’d brought her to the house.  So many things had changed since then! 

The place was empty, Maggie, Gunnar and Lee all down at the office by my request.  Leila didn’t hesitate before entering the house this time, leaving her heavy boots by the door.  She did stop short when she came to the parlor, her eyes falling to the hardwood floor where no amount of scrubbing had completely removed the stain of Lodinn’s blood. 

“We’re in the age of men now,” she murmured. 

“Oh, that’s not going to be a problem, is it?” I asked, remembering she was sensitive to blood shed.  “We could use one of the other rooms, the library maybe?”

Neither one of them replied, Rob and I watching as Leila hunkered down on the floor, her nose pressing against the scarred wood.  “Don’t make no nevermind to me,” Leila sniffed.  “His time is past.”

“Good, then um, would you like to rest, or…”

“I’m all over parched, have you any tea?”  Without waiting for an answer, she strode past me into the kitchen. 

“Is she okay?  She seems even more erratic than usual,” I asked Rob as soon as she was gone.  “And what was all that stuff about at the airport?”