Climbing Out (5 page)

I'd guessed as much.

“I need her keys,” I said, while watching her at the table admiring Swan, who was sitting in Wildcat's lap eating some meat and vegetables.

Talon chuckled. “Kitten?” he called. Zara eyed her husband, handed Swan off to Vi and made her way over.

“Yes, honey?” she asked as she wrapped her arms around Talon's waist.

“Babe, I need you to get Hell Mouth's keys on the down low.”

Her brows arched; she looked from her man to me, so I supplied her with the reason why. “We're guessin' that whatever Deanna has to come clean about is serious enough to need protection. That right?” When Zara slowly nodded, I added, “So I'll have to move some things in, and if she knows before I get my shit to her place, she'll put up a huge fight. But if my stuff’s already there...” I trailed off.

Zara smiled. “I'll get them.”

Talon laughed. “That'a girl.” He smacked her on the arse as she walked off.

“What about Swan?” Blue asked, his eyes shining with humour.

“I'll be taking her with me. Once Zara gets the keys, I'll need you two to go to my place and pack what you think I'll need from my room and Swan's—her bed and all. Then you'll need to go to Deanna's, fix her bedroom door if ya can and load all my shit in. If you can find fuckin' room.”

“What you mean by that?” Killer asked.

“You'll see once you get there. You two okay with doin' that?”

“Pleasure.” Killer grinned.

“Yeah, I just wish I could see Hell Mouth's face once she realises,” Blue chuckled.

I couldn't wait to see it either.

Deanna

––––––––

M
y stomach was in knots. Zara's parent had left with Josie, and I knew the time was coming for me to talk. Everyone was expecting it, and I knew if I didn't supply them with the reason why I was going bat-shit crazy, Zara would.

But something else was going down as well. I could sense it. Zara was being cagey—one second she was with us at the table helping Swan eat¸ the next she was with Talon, and then next she'd disappear into the kitchen, only to return and walk back over to the guys still huddled at the door. Then Blue and Killer left, but not before staring at me with...amusement in their eyes.

Yes, something else was happening, and I think that something was at my expense.

Now, we were all sitting back at the kitchen table, with Griz joining us after he took Swan from Vi and sat her on his lap. The kids were in bed watching something on their TVs, and Zara had just come in from the kitchen once again—this time with Julian—and handed out coffees for everyone.

“All right, Hell Mouth,” Talon began, and then took a sip of his coffee, “enough time has passed. Let's have this out.”

“Looks like we came on the right night for dinner,” Vi said, rubbing her hands together. I glared at her.

“Vi,” Travis warned. He knew of our hate-hate relationship. Actually, I was sure everyone knew of it. It wasn't like I totally hated her—she had helped Zara in a huge way—but I hated the thought of anyone new stepping between what Zara and I had.

Was I jealous?

Fuck yeah.

Because I couldn't lose Zara. She was my rock.

“Yeah, well, feel free to fuckin' leave,” I said.

“Deanna!” Zara snapped and looked to Swan.

I rolled my eyes and muttered, “Sorry.”

“Let's just get this sorted so I can get my girl home,” Griz growled.

Shit. My heart skipped over and stalled. That was something I'd wish Griz would say about me. 'Get my girl home.' Yes, fuckin' please.

Instead, I glared at Griz and asked, “Any chance you wanna fill us in on why the...
heck
none of us knew you had a kid?”

“No,” he stated like there was never going to be an explanation, but I wasn't going for that.

“I knew,” Vi said.

“Jesus.” Travis sighed. “You can't help yourself,” he said with a smile. “Precious, I think it's time we left.”

“No way! I want to find out what's going on.” She glared at him and crossed her arms over her chest.

“I'm sure you'll be filled in sooner or later, but it'll be less tense without us here, and anyway, we should get home to Izzy. The sitter can only stay for so long.”

Violet actually growled. “You spoil all my fun.”

“Thanks, man.” Talon grinned.

“Yeah, thanks.” I smirked.

“Hell Mouth,” Griz said with a warning tone.

––––––––

––––––––

“S
o here it is, and I'm not going to repeat it, so listen—beep—carefully,” I said, once Travis had left with an annoyed Vi. Zara giggled at my attempt of adding in a swear word, but I had to add in something. It was killin' me not to, but when I looked at the sleeping form of Swan—Griz's flipping daughter—something in me wanted to behave like a grown-up.

I fuckin' hate doing this. I goddamn hate that I didn't know Griz had a kid when I want to be the one to have his babies...Holy shit, where in the hell did that come from? I want his kids? Fuck no! I'd be no good as a bloody mother.

“Sinner of all sins, how about you spit it out before hunter-man has a breakdown?” Julian suggested. I looked next to me at Griz, who had his jaw clenched and was glaring at me.

“Fine,” I sighed. “I grew up in foster care, going through family after family until I came to the Drakes' house. They actually put up with my bad mouth and attitude enough, even going so far as to show me...love. Until, that was, their son came home from traveling. He didn't like me. I didn't like him. Jesus, do I really have to?” I whined the last part.

“Yes,” Griz growled.

“Okay, okay. He came into my room one night and said if I didn't put out for him, he'd kill his own parents.”

“Fuck,” Griz hissed, and then yelled, “Fuck, fuck, fuck!”

Swan stirred in his arms. Mattie jumped up from the table, and with tears in his eyes, he swept Swan out of Griz's hold and out of the room.

“I thought no swearin'?” I teased, trying to lighten the mood.

“Sweetheart, don't,” Julian uttered.

Zara had tears in her eyes. Talon was as stiff as a board, and Griz...emitted a different kind of heat. His hands were clenched on his thighs like he was just waiting to hit something.

My heart sank and sputtered to life.

Fuck me.

They cared...and I couldn't handle that.

“Keep going, hun,” Zara supported.

I nodded and stared down at the table. “I didn't know what to do, but I knew—I knew he was fucked up enough to do just that. And I would never want anything to happen to the Drakes, so I...I gave myself to him.”

Shifting in my seat, I felt all their eyes on me and I didn't like it. I hated attention. “I let it go on for a year. Then I thought of a plan. So one night when he came into my room, I'd hidden a video camera. I told him no—like I had every other night—so he forced me. The next day, I thought I was the smart one and went to him, telling him to leave and stay to the fuck away or else I'd go to the cops and show them what he was doing. I-I should’ve fuckin' known. He went into a fit of rage, but then he left, so I thought I'd won.”

I took a deep breath to steady myself. There was no way I was going to cry. I had cried enough.

“Mrs Drake overheard our conversation. She was devastated her son could do something like that. She wanted me to go to the police, but I didn't. I didn't want anyone to judge the Drakes for what their son, Jason, had done. Two months later, he broke into the house, and after he killed his father and tried to kill his mother, he came into my room—with blood all over him—to kill me too. Only Mrs Drake was still alive, and she called the cops. They came and he went to jail. Mrs Drake lived for another week on life support, and then passed away. It wasn't until I was at the reading of the wills that I found out—the day before their son had come home—they'd changed their wills and left everything to me.”

I rubbed at my chest and then my eyes.

That had hurt.

It wasn't like I wanted to forget them, but if I let the memories get to me, I'd be crazy. I was nearing crazy when I met Zara three years later; she’d helped me and dragged me out of my darkness.

Julian's breath hitched, and I watched Zara wipe away her own tears while I waited for someone to say something.

It was Griz's hard voice that supplied a question to the silence. “How old were you when it started?”

“Sixteen.”

“The fucker gets out soon, doesn't he?” Talon hissed through clenched teeth.

“Yes, and this is why I’ve gone a little crazy with shopping. I was hoping that he wouldn't come and look for me if he knew I've spent all his money—or the money he thinks is still owed to him.”

“Are you sure he'll come looking for you?” Julian asked.

“Yeah. He sent me a letter about nine months ago.”

“When all my stuff was happening?” Zara gasped. “Oh, God, Deanna. Why didn't you say anything? I'm such a bad friend.” Talon pulled her out of her chair and into his lap.

“What did the letter say?” Griz asked.

“‘Looking forward to catching up and my payment,’” I quoted. I witnessed Griz and Talon share a look. “What was that?” I asked. “What was that look about?” Because for some reason, I didn't think that look would mean good news.

“Nothing. Let's talk about this shit another time. Right now, I gotta get my girl home.” He stood from the table and looked down at me. “I'll give you a lift.”

I was sure I heard Zara giggle, but when I turned to her, she was straight-faced.

“That's okay; I'm sure Julian won't mind,” I said, standing myself to stretch.

“Not at all, she-devil.” Julian smiled, only it looked forced.

“NO!” Zara yelled. We all turned to her. “I mean, I need Julian here. I'm reeeally tired.”

Julian's brow furrowed; I was sure he was thinking the same thing I was—how strange that sounded.

“Okay, weirdo.” I shrugged. “I'll just grab my bag while you get Swan,” I said to Griz, and with a chin lift, he left the room.

I bent over the table and whispered to Zara, “I don't know what you’re playing at, but it ain't gonna work.”

She smiled brightly and giggled. “We'll see.”

Deanna

––––––––

S
wan slept all the way to my house in her car-seat in the back of Griz's Jeep Cherokee. As we pulled onto my street, I noticed two Harleys and one van parked out the front of my place.

“What's going on?” I asked, more to myself, but Griz answered with a shrug.

Stopping the car, I grabbed my bag and hopped out, and then leaned back in and said, “Thanks for the lift.” Only Griz wasn't still in the driver’s seat. He'd also gotten out and was now opening Swan's door to—I guess, get her out as well?

What the fuck?

“What are you doin'?” I asked as I slung my bag over my shoulder, but before he got to answer, I heard the sound of feet stomping down my drive. I turned to find Blue.

“What are
you
doin'?” I asked with my hands on my hips and a glare in my eyes.

Blue chuckled. “Not much, Hell Mouth.” He walked right up to me and handed me my keys.

Hell. What is going on?

“W-what? How? Why do you have my keys?” I screeched.

Blue looked over the car to Griz. I looked over the car to Griz too, who was now holding a tired-eyed child in his arms. The men communicated something through head nods and chin lifts, and that just pissed me off even more.