Thomas (11 page)

“
How did you get here?”
She looked at her sons when neither of them answered. Misha looked
at Linyah, and Thomas just stood there staring at them as if he
were upset.

“
I had them brought here.”
Maribel looked at her newest daughter-in-law, then at Thomas when
he spoke again. “Linyah told me what was going on and the things
that Father was saying. She thought it was a good idea if Misha
knew first-hand what Dad was planning, and I agreed with her. But
if he thinks that hurting you or anyone in this family is going to
work for him, he’s stupider now than he was back when we were
kids.”

Maribel nodded her agreement. Andy was
never very smart, but he did seem to get dumber as the years went
by.

“
And he left so quickly
because…?” Linyah just shrugged off her question. “I see. I guess I
can expect this sort of thing a lot now that you’re a part of the
family. You being able to take care of a situation without lifting
a finger.”

“
I can, and why shouldn’t
I if it keeps you safe?” Maribel had no answer for that but looked
at Thomas when she did. “I thank you for bringing your brother. We
should try to keep your mom from being alone too much, don’t you
think?”

“
I do. And how is the
shopping going?” She flushed, and Maribel had a moment to wonder
what that was about when Thomas spoke again. “You should go back
with Hannah. I’m sure she’s wondering what the hell happened to
you. That way when you finish, we can talk.”

Linyah’s face turned red from a surge
of anger, but said that Hannah was waiting in the restaurant and
that her aunt had not shown before she’d left. Linyah looked at
Maribel and winked, then just disappeared. Maribel looked at
Thomas, who was frowning. He was upset, but she didn’t know why.
When she started to ask him, he looked at her and shook his
head.

“
Not now.” She nodded. “I
can’t…it was too simple for me to do this, bring Misha and me here.
Not that I minded to be here for you, but this is just…she’s got
powers that are fucking scary.”

Maribel ignored the bad word. She was
more concerned with the fact that he seemed afraid more than
anything. And of his mate. She let Misha help her unload the cart
while Thomas bagged the groceries for the house. Nothing else was
said until they were out in the parking lot. There was a large man
standing by a limo where she’d parked her car, and that made her
pause in mid-step. He bowed to them.

“
I have orders to return
you from where I found you. Your own car is safely at your home.”
Maribel looked at Misha, then at Thomas when neither of them spoke.
“This conveyance will be at your disposal at any time you need it.
I can take them to the office.” The man bowed again and went to the
trunk and opened it, and began to put the things she’d just gotten
into the deep yawning mouth of the car. She looked at Misha and
Thomas, who simply stood there.

“
Are you upset with me
because I called Linyah or is it something else?” Misha shifted on
his feet and Thomas only stared at her. “Answer me. Are you mad
because I didn’t call either of you when he showed up?”

“
No, I’m not mad at all.
I’m pissed at our father.” She tried to gauge what mood Misha was
in, but he only smiled at her. “She saved your butt and smacked him
around a little. Wish I could have seen that. But no, Mom, I’m not
mad. Neither is Thomas. He’s just trying to get a grip on things,
that’s all.”

Get a grip on what? She could only
imagine. His life? Sure that was a part of it. But she had a
feeling it was something more, at least more than his father
showing up and Linyah coming to help her. She prattled on about
nothing, and Thomas still said nothing more. Maribel worried a
little. She hoped that he wasn’t upset with Linyah, but before she
could ask him, Misha kissed her cheek and told her to let it go.
She nodded but still worried.

The driver drove them back to the big
office that her sons all shared. Maribel didn’t go there often but
when she did, it was to only pick something up and then leave. And
since she had groceries this time, she just stayed in the car to go
home. But Thomas didn’t get out of the car when Misha
did.

“
Mom, what am I going to
do with her?” She had no idea what he meant but didn’t get the
chance to ask him before he continued. “She can do all sorts of
things that are frightening, and keep you safe when we can’t. I get
that and I’m glad for it. Father would have hurt you had she not
gotten there when she did.”

“
He could have hurt me
with you standing right next to me too. Her being there was because
I was thinking of her when he shoved the cart at me. It could have
been any of you at that moment.” He nodded but didn’t speak. “What
are you bothered by, son? Is it that you don’t want her? Do you
think that she’s going to hurt you somehow?”

“
She’s bored.” That made
her nearly smile, but she held back. “I don’t know how to keep her
happy if she’s bored with me. Today she told me that she wants to
continue working for her family. I want her home at
night.”

“
Is she bored with you or
simply bored? I get bored too. It’s why I do the shopping and go on
errands even though they have this big house with servants. I like
doing things for myself.” He nodded. “Does she want to go on
missions with you guys? Have you even asked her what she wants to
do? Thomas, you have to talk to her. This isn’t right and you know
it.”

“
I do know it. And we’re
going to talk. But she said she could go and still work with her
family and try to get back home to me nightly. I think she’d just
rather continue on as if we’d never met.” Maribel wondered if that
was really it or there was something more.

“
Again, did you ask her
what she wants to do?” He shook his head. “Then you should. Don’t
let this fester, son. Go and talk to her and see what she wants to
do. Maybe she could find a job around here that she’d enjoy. Or she
could work for her family until she finds something. You can’t
expect her to hang around the house all day. She’s a woman who gets
things done.”

“
I don’t, not really. And
as for her finding something to do? Not unless it involved guns and
knives.” He laughed, but it was bitter sounding. “And I can’t stand
how messy she is. Christ, it’s like living with a small child. She
can’t even put the lid on the toothpaste without leaving a trail of
paste on the sink.”

Maribel smiled at that. She’d heard
the story about her and the toothpaste art. She wondered if that
was all there was to it and decided that they both needed to be
left alone on this. They’d work it out. Thankfully they couldn’t
harm each other. She thought that before this was finished, Linyah
and Thomas would have one of the strongest relationships she’d ever
been witness to.

After making his confession, he told
her he had to go. Getting out, he turned back and gave her a quick
kiss on the cheek. Then he told her he loved her.

“
I love you as well.” He
nodded as he closed the door. She looked at the man who was driving
her home. “Who do I have to thank for this sort of
service?”

“
Queen Kendra, my lady.
She heard about your problems today and sent me to care for you
until things are settled. She said that if any harm comes to you, I
should simply lie down and die. Queen Kendra said she’d be most
displeased if you were harmed.”

Maribel thought she’d be displeased as
well and smiled. This was really the strangest grocery shopping
she’d ever done. And the most fun.

~~~

Hannah watched her aunt and noticed
not for the first time she was overly tense and she seemed
completely distracted. When she glanced at Linyah, she too looked a
little out of sorts. She wondered what had happened but said
nothing yet. Her aunt had shown up almost immediately after Linyah
had. But Linyah did promise that she’d explain later. Lucky for
her, she’d contacted Misha and he’d told her what had
happened.

“
I just don’t know why you
don’t just go and live with them for a time. They are your
grandparents. And probably just want to get to know you. I thought
you’d jump at the chance to see them. I didn’t know you could be so
stubborn.” Before she could tell her aunt no for what seemed like
the thousandth time, she spoke again. “It’s not as if you need
their money or anything. I mean, just go so that he’ll be
satisfied.”

“
But you do, don’t you?
You do know why she won’t go and the reason he wants her so badly.”
Linyah stared hard at Wanda, who paled. “You’ve gotten yourself
into some deep trouble, and now he’s blackmailing you to do just
what he wants. You’ve no choice in the matter, or so you think.
What did you think was going to happen when you asked him for a
loan? Did you really think he’d just lend you the money and things
would be fine?”

Her aunt looked like she’d been a big
balloon and someone had stuck her with a pin. Her body sagged,
whether from relief or something more, Hannah didn’t know
yet.

“
He said I could just do
him a favor some time. A small one he’d said. He said it would
be…I’m at his beck and call constantly now. Even in the middle of
the night he calls me. I don’t know what to tell Daniel. I was so
glad that we moved here. I thought he’d just….”

Aunt Wanda started crying and Hannah
wanted to comfort her. But Linyah pulled her back and shook her
head slightly. She sat still, but she hurt for the woman as she
watched her deal with whatever was going on.

“
Perhaps you shouldn’t
gamble. What do you still owe the casino in your town? Nearly ten
grand, and you kept going back when they told you that your credit
was good. Do you honestly think that you were going to get ahead
that way?” Aunt Wanda nodded, her eyes red and swollen. “It wasn’t
going to happen, not with Little in charge of things. In fact, I
would say that you’re only going to end up dead if you keep this
up.”

Aunt Wanda nodded, then looked at them
both. Hannah wondered then just how deep her aunt was in this.
Gambling was a horrible addiction, and her aunt seemed to have it
bad.

“
I tried to make it right.
I even asked if I could make payments on what I owed. It was as if
they knew I have a gambling problem. And…wait a minute. How the
hell did you know all that?” Aunt Wanda looked at Hannah, pissed.
“You told her? You found out somehow and now you’re going to
blackmail me too? Well I got news for you, I don’t have a damned
thing left. My piss pot is so empty right now that it has a crack
in the bottom from being so dry.”

“
I’ve no reason to
blackmail you. I have everything I want or ever need.” Hannah
huffed at her. “I really don’t care if you believe me or not.
You’ve been leading me down a merry path since I met you. I just
knew that whatever was going on, my grandfather was behind it. I
just…it’s why I asked Linyah to come here with me today. Does Uncle
Daniel know?”

Wanda shook her head and started to
stand.

“
Sit down.” Linyah’s voice
was sharp and had she been standing, Hannah would have sat too.
Wanda glared but she sat down. “You think that he’s going to let
you off with whatever he’s got you doing with Hannah? You really
think that a man like him won’t have you on the hook for the rest
of your life? You’re stupider than I gave you credit for if you
think that. The man is an evil, greedy bastard that will suck you
dry before he’s finished with you.”

“
He said that if I got
Hannah to him, he’d wipe my slate clean.”

This time Linyah snorted at her. For
some reason, Hannah thought that Linyah had it right. He was going
to suck Wanda dry, and her too if she let him.

“
All she has to do is go
to his house for a period of one month. One fucking month. Is that
too much to ask?”

“
Yes.” They both looked at
Hannah when she spoke. “I’ve never met the man, but I already know
that he’s not all that trustworthy. And I can’t believe you
actually believed that I’d simply go to them without taking someone
with me, or at least taking some sort of precautions. I have a
husband that I love, a lovely home, and—”

“
So you’re not going to
help me.” When Aunt Wanda stood this time, so did Linyah. “What do
you think you’re going to do? Hurt me? I have news for you, it
can’t hurt me any more than what it’s going to do to me to tell my
husband. He’s the best thing that ever happened to me. I love him
with all of my heart and because of this, I’m going to lose it all.
Everything in my life, what was good and nice, it’s all going to be
gone.”

“
I can help you.” Aunt
Wanda shook her head at Linyah. “I can. I can even get the men you
owe money to back off too. Or to go away altogether. I have a
little experience in this sort of thing. I’m
very…talented.”

“
You can’t kill them all.
And for as much as I dislike the old bastard, I love Carole and
don’t want her hurt in all of this. But I can’t do this anymore.”
She sobbed a little more, then sat down. “I’m a mess. And even
though I’ve stopped gambling—and I really have this time—I still
owe them so much money. So very much. When Daniel finds out, he’s
going to leave me. And despite his father, I love him with all of
my heart.”

“
What is the name of the
casino and the name of the man that you owe?” Aunt Wanda told her,
and Linyah nodded to her. “I’m going to make a fast trip. While I’m
gone, I want you to explain to your aunt what we are. She has no
clue what you are or what you’re capable of. My leaving you like
I’m going to will help her believe, but you might have to play with
your other part just a little to get her to really
understand.”