Daughter Trilogy Bundle (62 page)

"Are you mad at me?" I worry.

"Of course not," he gasps.  "I'm pissed off I let a crazy bitch in here that was trying to kill you," he chokes out.

I stroke his cheek as we find the bed.

"In all fairness, I tend to draw out crazy bitches," I say jokingly.

He still doesn't crack a grin.  I huff lightly as I stand up and grab a ponytail holder to swish my hair off my neck.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm getting half dressed so we can go get breakfast.  I just burned the last of the bacon, and the eggs are now officially ruined since they've been left alone for so long.  I thought all of us could go out and grab something together.  I'm hungry more than I am tired," I murmur as I brush on a little makeup to kill the early morning, not-yet-showered look.

"I can send out for something," he protests.

"Please just let me go out for breakfast," I plead like a sixteen-year-old begging to for a later curfew.

"No.  I'll send out for something, and then you can rest.  We have stuff to do anyways.  We have to dispose of Stasia's body, and explain to the Vegas immortal community what has happened before we spark a war," he asserts.

"Oh.  I'm sorry.  I didn't think about that," I mumble.

Dead bodies don't even rattle me at all anymore.  Not since the apocalypse brought about from my hands.

"You don't have to think about that.  You're still mortal, and you have a long time before you should have to deal with the politics of our world.  Even after you change, I will be here to deal with this.  Right now, you have mortal needs, and we have immortal obligations.  I'll send out for food," he murmurs as he stands back up.

Tears invade my eyes from his stern tone.  He says he's not mad at me, but he seems completely different.  I feel like he's not telling me something.

"Are you upset she's gone?" I choke out as that possibility rumbles around in my mind.

His eyes scold me.  "She tried to kill the woman I love.  The only thing I regret is not killing her myself.  I won't miss her at all, but the community will want her body and an explanation.  I have to give them both," he informs.

"Will they want revenge?" I worry aloud.

"It's doubtful.  She's made more enemies than friends, and I have numerous allies here.  They'll only be mad if they feel disrespected by our neglect to offer the proper presentation.  I'll be back in a little while.  Hale, Theia, Phillip, Hagar, and Regina - his wife - will be here in case something happens."

He starts to turn to leave, but I call to him with a wounded tone.

"I love you.  I'm sorry."

He flashes to me in that second, and his lips fall over mine as he grips me to his body.  I can taste his fear flowing into my mouth as his trembling breaths rattle against my face.

"Don't be sorry.  I can't tell you how terrified I am to know how close I just came to losing you again.  I love you," he murmurs against my lips.

He pulls back as he caresses my face one last time before flashing out.  I groan as I plop down on the bed again, and then I feel the tears I've been holding back starting to slip out.

Before I know it, they're gluing my eyes shut and forcing me to drift off.

"How was your nap?" Deacon
asks as I step out of the room.  It's already dark, and I stretch as I look over at the clock.

"Holy crap.  It's ten o'clock," I gasp.

"Yep.  Getting the life sucked out of you tends to leave you a little drained - no pun intended," he morbidly jokes, even though he doesn't laugh.

"Is everyone still reeling?" I grumble as I slump in the chair.

"Yes.  It was a rude awakening, but we've got the mess cleaned up," he murmurs as he resumes his laptop tapping.

"Where's Devin?  Did the Vegas group get mad?" I worry.

"He's just getting some stuff sorted.  The Vegas crowd was very understanding, and there were plenty of women perfectly fine with Stasia's demise.  We're going out for drinks in a little bit, so you need to eat and get ready," he instructs.

I roll my eyes as I walk over and open the fridge.  The entire thing is packed with food that wasn't there earlier.

"Are we feeding a herd of horses?" I mock.

Deacon finally lets a small chuckle escape.  "No.  We're just making sure a stubborn mortal has a suitable selection.  We can't have you weak and frail.  Eat up." he says while closing his laptop and standing to his feet.  "I
’m going to go grab a shower.  Most of the others are already waiting in the lobby.  I was just waiting on you to wake up."

I nod as I grab everything I need to make a sandwich.  I quickly scarf it down so I can rush the getting ready process.

Why is everyone waiting in the lobby?  Why wouldn't they wait up here with me?  Deacon seems a little off.  Did something happen?

"Adisia?  Are you almost ready?"
Devin asks as he opens the bedroom door.

I smile a little as I turn to face him.  The red dress has one wide strap that covers me from neck to shoulder, and then it hugs me down to just below my rear.

His eyes widen, and then he smirks as he walks over to press his lips against mine.

"As always, you look amazing.  I might need to swap Sheila for Camara as far as personal shoppers go," he smolders.

"I've been worried something happened.  Where have you been?"

"I'm sorry I made you worry.  Everything went over rather smoothly.  I've been dealing with various other things not related to this incident.  I need a drink, and so do the others.  You ready to go?" He murmurs to answer my question indirectly.

I nod as I grab my purse, and he pulls my hand in his.  He kisses the back of my hand as we await the elevator, and I see that secretive twinkle in his eyes as well.  I start to question it when I hear ice clanking in a glass.

"I'm ready too.  Thanks for asking," Deacon plays as he walks toward us with a glass of scotch.

"I knew you wouldn't be far behind," Devin says with a smirk.

The elevator releases us into the lobby full of people who seem to be avoiding eye contact with me.

"What's going on?" I insist.

"It's just been a long day," Devin soothes.

"I wouldn't know.  I slept through most of it," I gripe.

He seems to wince before speaking with reluctance.  "That's because you were on the cusp of death when Gemma saved you - more so than I even realized.  Mom read your memories while you slept," he confesses.

"What?" I gasp.  "Without my permission?"

"She had to.  We needed to be able to show rather than tell the details of the incident.  I asked her to show them to me so I could see it for myself.  Baby, you don't even know how destroyed I was.  I went in there and held you while you slept for over two hours.  I've been working on something to keep you safe ever since."

"What have you been working on?" I ask skeptically, given his bizarre tone.

"We'll discuss it later.  Right now, let's just enjoy some drinks with friends.  We all need a break from reality after the very real day we
’ve had," he sighs.

I don't fight him on the issue.  I could definitely use a drink and a casual atmosphere as well.

We walk into the bar just a little bit away, and I smile as I order some ridiculously fruity drink just because I like the name.

Devin chuckles at my amusement, but I can feel the tension still in the air.  He moves away to speak to Deacon in private, and I huff a little at the secretiveness.  Hale stands beside me as I wait while ordering his fifth drink in ten minutes.

"How do you feel?" the sun boy asks sincerely.

"A little tired, though I shouldn't be.   Don't tell Devin though," I say softly.

"A dose of vitamin D would probably help things along," he playfully teases, and I just roll my eyes.

His drink suddenly rattles in his hand, and he ducks quickly as the scotch springs free from the glass and soaks him.

Devin is within range now and smirking slightly from his spewing bomb he just whirled.  I burst out laughing as Hale dries his face with a napkin too small to really make a dent, and he can't stifle his own grin.

"Damn it," he snickers out.  "I've got to buy a muzzle for my mouth when he's around."

I chuckle a little more, and we move over to join the others.  Everyone is still avoiding eye contact with me, and it's starting to give me a complex.

Devin is almost stiff when he sits down beside me, and his touch is so much colder than usual.

"Someone needs to tell what I've done to cause such awkward tension.  I feel like I have food in my teeth or something," I gripe.

Persia finally makes eye contact with me long enough for me to see her burdened gaze.

"We need to discuss something with you," she sighs out tragically.

"Not now, Persia.  Let's just enjoy a few hours without disruption," Devin argues.

"None of us are able to enjoy ourselves with this looming over our heads," she counters with exasperation.

"What?  What's going on?  I thought you said the Vegas crowd was okay with everything?  Did you lie to me?" I bark.

Devin sighs as he slides his drink away from him in disgust.  He rubs his head as if it's aching terribly, and I swear I can see tears trying to form in his eyes.

"I didn't lie to you.  This has nothing to do with the Vegas group.  We've decided it would be in your best interest if we housed you somewhere safe until we finish all of our meetings," he briskly blurts out with heavy reluctance.

My lips quiver under the heavy drop, and my ears begin ringing as I stare around at all the distraught faces.

"You don't want me here?" I whimper, and everyone's eyes shift back down to avoid my pitiful stare.

"No, baby.  It's not that.  I need… we need you to be safe.  You're not eating right, you're not sleeping enough, and you almost got killed this morning in my own home."

I swallow hard and try to digest his patronizing tone.

"Unless you're planning on assembling an army of exes, I should be fine from here on out," I choke out with a hint of anger.

"The immortals we speak to, well, we're not familiar them enough to trust them around you.  This incident with Stasia only proved how very little we know our casual allies," he mutters while wincing.

"I'll be careful.  I've eaten today, and I also slept for-damn-ever," I whimper.

Devin's eyes twitch with pained remorse, and they quickly shy away from the tragic blue ones dripping tears down my cheeks.

"Adisia, we're immortal.  You're not yet.  When you're with us, it's just human nature to mimic our actions.  You're eating when we eat, sleeping when we sleep, and trying to keep up with us when the reality is you just can't.  You don't do what you're supposed to do until you're body forces you to.  I'm sorry, but this is the safest option," he strains out.

"You said I was safer with you than on my own.  What happens if someone finds me while I'm by myself?"

"We've taken a desperate route to keep that from happening.  My opinion on my being able to care for your safety has been brutally proven wrong and naive.  I'm only risking your safety more by staying so attached to you while we're trying to launch a counter strike and dragnet.  I love you, and I know I have to keep you safe," he breathes.

I glance around at all those joining him in his betrayal, and the emotion forces my voice to crackle.

"You all feel this way?  Hale?  Kry?  Ther?  Deacon?  Camara?  Persia?"

They all refuse to meet my gaze, and Devin struggles more to keep his own emotions in check.

Gemma must have been asked not to attend for this reason.  I wondered why they wouldn't invite the person who had saved my life.  They just didn't want to humiliate me in front of her.

"I see," I murmur through strained composure.  "You all think I should go."

"Adisia, we don't want you to go, but we have to ensure your safety.  You're important to us as well as the rest of the world.  You'll be away from any threats, and you'll be able to think better when we're not here for you to relate to.  It's dangerous to think too much like an immortal when you're still a mortal," Camara adds sympathetically.

"I'm ready to go," I mumble through my tears.

"Please don't be mad, baby," Devin pleads.

I stand to my feet, and they all mimic my reaction.  It's odd they just accused me of being the one to mimic them.

"I'm not mad, I'm crushed.  If you want me gone, I'll go.  I'll leave right now, and I'll find somewhere far away from here to make sure you don't have me here slowing you down," I sob.

I take a deep breath to try and regain my composure.  I struggle against the bitter tears souring my cheeks, and I turn to walk off from the group of traitors.

"You're not slowing us down, but we can't be speeding you up either.  We move faster than you need to, and it's only going to get worse," Devin counters as he slides my hand in his.

I cry more as I pull it free.  I can't bring myself to even attempt to say more.