Drawing Blood (37 page)

He laughed without humor. “I think it came as a bit of a disappointment to the bastard when I told him I wanted none of it. So, Holly, your inheritance just increased significantly. You and Alison can split my share of the Seaton riches. Congratulations. I’ll have none of it.” He lifted his glass in a mock salute.

There was so much to say. Holly didn’t know where to begin. He was her brother, only half as she’d just discovered, but still blood. Despite having grown up in the same house, they didn’t really know each other. Strange, she felt closer to him now than ever. Matthew didn’t know it yet, but they were united in their distaste for Alan Seaton.

Emotionally overwrought, Holly stood up and walked into his arms. Startled, it took him a second to respond. Finally he hugged her back. After a long moment, he leaned back, a hand on each of her shoulders.

“I didn’t expect this kind of reaction.” His brown eyes held hers.

“I’m proud of you, Matt.”

He smiled grimly. “Maybe your move to Muskoka motivated me a little. I envied you when you left this house in pursuit of your future. It made me think. I wasn’t making the kind of difference I’d always wanted to make. I thought I could use the power of the Seaton name to bring change, but Dad’s too entrenched in the status quo. He’s in deep. The whole Seaton family is.”

“You say your Father has been in the
Cayman Islands
these past weeks?” Stryker asked.

“He had meetings or rather, machinations. I had to fly down there to speak to him in person. The mountain always comes to Mohammed.”

Holly and Stryker exchanged a look.

“Any idea when he’s coming home?” Holly asked.

Matt drained the last of his drink and swirled the ice in his glass.

“I have no idea what his plans are and I don’t give a damn. I plan to clear a few things up and be out of here by the end of the week.”

“Where will you go?”

“I’m not sure just yet. Why? Do you have room for me at your place?” He smiled, teasing her gently.

“I could find the room.”

“You’re sweet, little sister.” He kissed her forehead. “But I think I’ll take some time and work things out.” He hesitated, obviously wanting to say something more. There was silence in the dark paneled room. Finally, Matt decided to speak.

“Be careful of Father, Holly. He’s a hard man who does not take kindly to having his plans unravel. He’s sheltered you almost obsessively and still you managed to break free. Now I’ve walked out. The heir apparent thumbing his nose at all the great Alan Seaton has created. There will be fallout. I’d better warn Alison.”

“Matt, do you remember anything about our mother?”

He sighed. “Enough to miss her.”

“You’re lucky.” Holly’s voice was filled with pain.

Matt hugged her again. “Yes, I guess I am. Poor Holly. But at least on this one point, Father was honest. You’re a lot like her.”

“Do you remember a period of time when she wasn’t around?”

He frowned and thought hard before he responded. “No…unless you mean while she was pregnant with you.”

Holly nodded, too anxious to speak.

“Yeah. The pregnancy was tough on her. She spent weeks in the hospital under a doctor’s care. They only let her visit us once a week. She came to us here. Dad said she didn’t want us to see her in a hospital bed so she’d leave the hospital for a few hours and visit us then go back.” His frown deepened. “Funny, I’ve never thought about that time much. It’s a very vague memory…strange…knowing what I now know about Dad, I’m sure the whole thing was a lie.”

“You’re right,” Holly stated flatly.

“Well, I see I’m not the only one who has news. What is it, Holly?”

“All that you’ve told me about Father comes as no surprise. He has lied to us our entire life. He’s capable of anything. I’m glad you’re leaving and I think you should encourage Alison to do so too. This house is not a home.”

Matt pinned her with his eyes. “And you’re not prepared to explain further? That’s all you’re going to say?”

She nodded. “For the time being. I don’t have all the information yet. I have a few things to work out first.” She put a hand on his forearm. “Get out of here as soon as possible.”

“You have a tale to tell. Tell me now.”

Holly shook her head. “It’s a long complicated story and I’m not ready. Please understand.” He inclined his head.

Stryker broke in. “Does your father keep any private papers in this house?”

Matt shook his head. “No, not in the house. He’s too careful for that. Now I know why. He wouldn’t want me to have easy access. It was a bitch trying to find out all I did. I confess that I used the heir apparent line with underlings more than once in order to dig out the truth.”

“Needs must.” Stryker smiled at him.

At another time or place, Holly could see the two men becoming friends. Maybe when this was all over and she could fully explain to her brother and sister. Maybe.

* * * *

Before pulling away from the house, Stryker checked his messages and paused at one in particular.

Almost afraid to ask, Holly leaned over. “What is it? More bad news?”

“Candace was alive when the car went off the cliff.”

“My God. That poor kid. She knew what was happening then.”

“It’s been determined an accident.” Stryker’s knuckles were white on the wheel.

“But we know it was no accident.”

“Yeah, but at least the police will stay out of it. It’s up to me now.” He drove the car hard into the night.

Holly sat back in the plush passenger seat and silently reviewed all she’d learned that day. The illusion that had been her life had shattered into a million pieces. She was coping better than she’d dreamed possible. One more thing Alan Seaton had lied to her about. She wasn’t weak.

Turning her head to look at Stryker, she glimpsed the bright lights of Yorkdale Shopping Centre just south of the highway and she actually managed a smile. For anyone who liked to shop, Yorkdale was
Mecca
. She had such fond memories of that sprawling mall. One of the most successful in
North America
, Yorkdale had every quality shop one could imagine. She’d spent her last day with her friend Nicole in the shopping center’s tender loving care. It had been a wonderful day. Nicole’s aura had shone so brightly that Holly blurted out to Alison what she had seen. Of course Alison had laughed at her and dismissed the whole idea. But for Holly, sharing the car with Stryker as he expertly drove them home, revisiting her memories of Nicole helped her to relax and sit comfortably during the drive.

When at last they pulled up to Avery’s house, Stephen told them that Arnie was holding his own and the doctors Stryker called had every hope he’d roust himself out of the coma within the next day or so. He’d need all the support he could get in order to recover from the loss of Candice, but Stryker promised he wouldn’t be alone. As Candace’s surviving bloodmate, he now had a new family. He would get all the support he’d need. Perhaps one day he and
Lydia
could offer each other comfort. As for what they’d discovered at Carrie Blue’s, Stryker left it to Holly to fill in Avery and Stephen. It was her story to tell. Shortly after arriving, he excused himself and went to see
Lydia
. She needed to know about Candace and Arnie. He knew it would give her no solace, but it might help her to understand why her daughter felt compelled to disobey and take the car against her wishes.
Lydia
had to stop blaming herself.

The kids were still up so Holly kept all she’d learned at Carrie’s house to herself until they were safely tucked away. It wasn’t easy. That weekend was Midnight Madness in Bracebridge. They were excited. Each year the town threw open its doors long past closing time and celebrated in the streets. There were jugglers, fire eaters, gymnasts, dancers and just about every activity for kids. Local talent was on display. Avery and Stephen took them every year. In the past, Holly attended as well, making a special trip up to Muskoka just for the event. This year, Avery and Holly had agreed to do an author signing for the local bookstore so they had to attend. Holly had no intention of disappointing the children by mooning over her current situation. Life goes on. The children taught her that.

* * * *

“Well that explains so much.” Avery said as she closed Helene Seaton’s journal. “Alan Seaton is not your Father. Given the circumstances, lucky you.”

Holly said, “There is no way he didn’t know. Why did he raise me as his own? Seems out of character.”

“I’m not so sure. What better way to get back at Helene and her lover? Raise their child in ignorance, afraid of her natural abilities and at the same time, learn all about the physiology of vampire human offspring. If you weren’t strong enough to resist, he would have kept you drugged and disoriented your entire life. He would have crushed you. That seems like the kind of cold revenge a man like him would relish.”

“Maybe, but I’m not so sure you’re right when you credit me with strength. I’ve never really considered myself strong,” Holly said. “You’re the strong one, Avery…if it wasn’t for you…”

“You’d have found a way. Forgive the romanticism, but I believe this was destined. If you hadn’t met Stryker Cain in the supermarket that day, he’d have come looking for you.”

“But the murders…God, do you think my Father is responsible for them?”

“Didn’t Matt say his father was in the Caymans? He couldn’t have committed them himself, but he sure as hell could have hired someone else to do the deed. Do bloodstalkers hire contract killers?”

Holly shuddered, ignoring Avery’s lame attempt at humor. “As soon as he finds out about Stryker, he’ll come after him. Just like he did Mackenzie Holister, my biological father.”

Avery took hold of Holly’s upper arms and looked into her eyes seriously.

“My money’s on Stryker.”

“But don’t you think his involvement with me will only exacerbate the situation? Make my fath…Alan Seaton rabid?”

 
“Seems to me he’s there already. He knows about you two. Alison probably told him.” Avery shrugged. “Innocently enough…she’d have no idea what that news would mean to him and neither do we for that matter. We know he’s a bloodstalker, but we don’t know if he’s aware that Stryker is a vampire.”

“Stryker is going to get all the information he can on my real father, Mackenzie Holister.” She kept repeating the name in hopes of making it feel real. “He didn’t recognize the name. Back then, his people had barely started to assimilate and a rogue relationship with a human was frowned upon. My parents would have thought themselves alone with no one to turn to. Stryker says he and Declan are the first to see the advantages of reconciling humans and vampires and they had no knowledge of MacKenzie Holister and my mother.”

Avery smiled. “So I guess that kinda makes you the first lady of the vampire nation.”

“Ha! Stryker says he’s just a warrior drone. Declan is the real leader.”

“Yeah, and I believe that. Stryker’s got alpha dog written all over him. I can’t see him blindly following an order he didn’t agree with.”

“Me neither. I’m in love with him, Avery,” Holly stated.

“Tell me something I don’t already know, kiddo.” She hugged her friend fiercely.

* * * *

Stryker slipped between the crisp sheets on Holly’s bed. She was waiting up for him. They said nothing. Words weren’t necessary.

When he pulled her beneath him, she was already wet and waiting. With one smooth movement he was inside her. She flexed her muscles, holding him tight. He lingered, enjoying the sensation until he couldn’t help it anymore and he started to rock. Holly gasped at the size and strength of him. Every time he pulled away, she tried to hold him tighter to keep him there. He slipped a clever hand between their bodies, zeroing in on the perfect spot. She lost all conscious thought and became a simple creature of nature writhing, sweating, mating for life.