Bella Vita (34 page)

I sipped on the spiked
drink. The blood cleared my mind from my day terrors. I walked over
to the sink and splashed some cold water on my face. I shook my
head one more time- clearing it completely- and picked up my bags.
I looked one more time around the room, feeling my stomach tighten
with sorrow for leaving this wonderful place. Before I headed down,
I let my link to Mike come to the front of my mind.

I'm about to leave. I
just wanted you to know. I'll miss you, Mike. Please take care of
yourself.
I knew even my mental
voice trembled.

Em, don't go. Stay.
We'll figure it all out. Stay with me.
His voice pleaded with me mentally.

You know I can't do
that. I have to do what's right for my people, just as you must for
yours.
I sent warm thoughts to
him.

When will you be
back?
I felt the trepidation
behind his words and his fear that I wouldn't
return.

I don't know. I've got
a lot waiting for me when I return. I'll try my best to come back-
I'm starting a business here that I'll have to check
on.
I tried to sound
positive.

I can only imagine the
things you're going back to.
Mike's voice took on a coolness.

None of that. We both
knew what we were getting into... Dominic and Acacia are part of
that. They aren't something that can be sidestepped. I love you,
Mike. I have to go now. Please, take care of yourself.
I knew I wouldn't hold out much longer if he
asked me again to stay.

Be safe, Em. I love
you, and I always will. Know that, deep in your heart. And know I'm
ALWAYS here.
I felt him push our
connection to the back of his mind.

I sighed. I had not
planned to feel such pain with that goodbye, but I knew it would
hurt. I grabbed my bags and headed downstairs.

Moira caught me
stepping off the last step. My breath escaped in a
squeeze.

“Imma gonna miss yah so
much. Yah best not forget about us.” Tears coursed down her redden
cheeks.

“Oh. I could never
forget you. You're so wonderful, both of you're. And I love this
place. Not to mention the fact that we're now business partners.” I
smiled at her, and my eyes got all glassy.

“Pish, none of that
now. Yah've got a plane to catch. Yer bike is in the front.” She
kissed my cheek and pulled away from the hug.

“Thank you, for
everything.” I hoisted my bags up to my shoulder and grabbed the
door. “ I'll be back before you know it.”

They smiled at me and I
walked out the door.

The ride back to the
landing spot was a lonely one. I stopped when I was just a little
bit away and wiped away the tears. That was when I saw the wolf-
running along the hill on the far left. When it noticed I had
stopped, it did. It sat down and the loneliest howl I've ever heard
ripped from the creature. I knew it was Mike. I waved to the wolf-
my bond mate- and then revved the motorcycle back up and headed to
the rendezvous point.

After I was there, I
sat on my bike. I knew Mike was there, watching and waiting for me
to get on the plane. I didn't try to bring the bond between us up-
we didn't know how the link would work with the other wolves. Well,
that, and I couldn't feel his pain any more than the dull throb I
was already feeling from the dampened link. I heard the plane
before I saw it. It circled and did a perfect short run landing. A
cargo door was opened for my bike, and I walked it in. I stepped
back out and bowed my head ever so slightly in the direction where
I knew Mike was. The link pulsed with more pain. I took a deep
breath, squared my shoulders and walked around to the passenger
door.

I stepped inside and
heard another howl echo all around me. It took all of my strength
not to rush back to the door. Instead, I walked calmly back to my
seat- only then did I realize I was not alone.

“Grandpa?” Shock
flooded my words.

“I thought maybe you
could use some company of a particular sort, my dear.” He patted
the chair next to him.

“Oh, Grandpa!” I ran to
his embrace and the tears rolled freely down my
cheeks.

“Some choices are the
hardest, even when they're right.” He stroked my hair gently as my
shoulders shook with my sobs.

“I know, I know... but
it's so hard.” I wailed at him.

“Ssh, ssh. It will be
okay, Emma. Calm yourself.” He pulled me back far enough to look me
straight in the eyes.

I took a deep breath
and Grandpa handed me his hanky. “Thank you.”

“Now, I think it's time
that you start to tell me your story. I have a feeling you're going
to need practice if you'll be talking to Dominic when we get back
to Italy.” Grandpa's face was relaxed.

“I think you're right.”
I took another deep calming breath and began to tell him my story
and what I had done.

By the time I was done,
we were almost home. Grandpa's face never changed, he listened as I
got everything out of my system. Once I finished I felt a sense of
relief. I knew I had done the right thing by talking to
him.

“Now, I know you feel
better. I now have a better understanding of a blood fasting
ritual, quite fascinating.” He smiled at me.

“Yeah, you find it
fascinating, Dominic isn't going to think so.” I shuddered as I
recalled some of my more vivid dreams.

“You don't give him
enough credit. I think he'll understand some of this, not all of
this- that is for certain. I don't think that he'll like any of it.
The fact that you drank from Michael will both worry him and upset
him. But, as with all this, in time even that will pass. Dominic
understands the importance of you two coming together- both you and
him and you and Michael. I think that poor Michael will probably
have a bit of a harder time with his mate- although I'm sure she
too will come around.” He smiled knowingly at me.

“I'm sure you're right,
for some strange reason you always are.” I smiled at
him.

“Not strange Emma, it's
my gift. You know that.” His smile brightened.

“I've never actually
tried to find out, Grandpa. You're one of the few people that I
certain knows his gift, inside and out.” I shrugged at
him.

“You are right, my
dear.” He laughed. “I do think that you should rest your mind
during this last half hour though, he'll be waiting for you when we
land- just as the other had to see you off in his own
way.”

“Okay, Grandpa.” I
rested my head against his shoulder- feeling his naturally
comforting air take hold of me and drag me into a pleasant light
sleep.

I felt his presence
before he woke me.
Dom?
My sleepy mind called
out to him.

Cara
mia
. It is time, you need to
awaken.
His words caressed my
mind.

Mmm, this is a nice
dream.
I
responded.

Not a dream,
Emma.
His arms picked me up from
my seat.

“Oh. What... hey!” I
smiled sleepily at him.

“Hello to you too.” He
smiled down at me. “Did you have a nice flight?”

“Yes, did you send
Grandpa to join me or was it his own cunning that made him come?” I
laughed as Dom carried me out of the plane.

“I wish I could take
the credit for that, but that was his own doing.” He kissed my
cheek.

“I bet he would've let
you take it too.” I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him into
a hug.

“I think we should be
heading home. Your grandpa is about to leave if you would like
tosay bye to him.” He gestured to the black town car- where he got
such a big car in Europe the world would never
know.

“Oh, right. Thanks.” I
rushed over to Grandpa. “Thank you, thank you for everything. Give
Grandma my love too.”

“No need for thanks. We
all need someone sometime, Emma dear. I'll tell her. I think
perhaps dinner at our house soon would be good for you as well.” He
smiled at me.

“Indeed.” I kissed his
cheek and waved to him as I walked back over to
Dominic.

“Are you ready to
return to our world?” His eyes twinkled in a way that told me to
have caution.
“Of course, how are we getting there?” I didn't see a car for
us.

“The bike.” My bike had
been pulled out of cargo and was waiting with my bags strapped onto
the back.

“Duh. Silly me.” I
waited for him to get on first, and then I climbed on behind
him.

We rode in silence. I
could feel him gently trying to probe my mind for anything that I
didn't already have under lock and key. I knew this evening would
be when the world shifted out from under me as I told the truth. I
mentally gently shocked him in a way that told him I didn't like
him poking around in my thoughts. He withdrew immediately. I turned
my head so it rested against his back. I felt very alone- a single
tear rolled down my cheek.

The house looked just
as beautiful as the first time I saw it. But my worry sat heavy on
my mind.
Will I still be here in
the morning?
I feared that Dom
wouldn't take this as well as Grandpa hoped. I stood on the steps
as he walked the bike over to the garage overhang. I knew someone
else would see it to it later- if I didn't end up on it again
headed for my grandparents villa.

“Shall we?” He took my
bags and carried them up the steps and held the door for
me.

“Thank you kindly, sir”
I tried my best curtsy at him, and he smiled- just
slightly.

“How about you just put
that down right there by the stairs. I figure we best get to
talking so you don't try and go traipsing around in my mind while I
sleep later.” I crossed my arms across my chest- trying to look
strong when all I really wanted to do was attempt to hold myself
together.

“As you wish.” He
walked to the library.

I watched his body and
realized he was tense, very tense, and nervous. I thought of trying
to read him deeper through his thoughts, but I knew that wouldn't
be right when I had just told him to stay out of mine. He was still
the beautiful blonde boy, but he wore a long black shirt, black
jeans, and heavy black boots- a sign he had been to Bella Notte or
he was feeling dark. I hoped it was the former. He took a seat at
the head of the long table in the room. I was tempted to sit at the
other end, I didn't want to show him fear. So I sat on his left-
hoping he would recognize the gesture as my devotion to our
relationship, as I sat closest to his heart, as cheesy as that
sounds.

“Okay, Emma. Where do
we begin?” His bright green eyes bore into me.

“I suppose, like all
things, we must begin where it starts. However, before I begin, I
want your word that you'll listen to everything I have to say
first, you can ask questions at the end- if you still want to. I
also want you to try and listen with an open heart and mind,
Dominic- don't just shut down.” I stared at him.

“
I'll try my best, Emma. I doubt that it will be easy, but
I'll
try
.” He
shrugged.

“I guess that is the
best I can ask for.” I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, this
was going to be a long night.

I watched the fury and
hurt dance across his face as I revealed more and more of my tale.
By the end, his hands were clinched into fist. I wasn't afraid he
would strike me but I did fear for the furniture. When I finished I
looked him straight in the eyes, and waited.

“I don't know what to
say.” His jaw was clinched; I could see his muscles tightening and
grinding.

“Say anything, tell me
what you're thinking. Something.” I didn't want to have to beg to
have his wrath released.

“Emma. How could you?”
His eyes were cold with pain.

“I tried to explain to
you, I had to. It was the right path to blood fast with him. I
don't regret what I know is right.” I held my head high. I wouldn't
be made to question things I had already done.

“Not that. How could
you sleep with him and drink from him and let that
beast
drink
from you.” His cold fury was colored by the disgust on his
face.