by Cat Miller
Lindsay was still processing all that had happened. Kayden had been doing his best impression of a helicopter. He made Lindsay eat and stayed hydrated. He held her all night long, petting her and generally just being there in case she needed anything or wanted to talk. Lindsay hadn’t been able to talk about what she’d witnessed or anything she’d learned. She couldn’t bring herself to discuss things she couldn’t get her own head around. So outside of general responses like yes, no, thank you, and I love you, too, Lindsay didn’t have anything to say.
She knew Kayden was worried about her wellbeing. Even though he was a party to most of her thoughts through their bond, it wasn’t easy for him to watch her suffer through something when he couldn’t help. Lindsay loved him so damn much. Kayden had to be the best mate in the world. He was attentive and loving and patient even when Lindsay was basically non-responsive. She was going to do her best to make it up to Kayden, as soon as she got her head on straight.
While sitting alone in the trees watching a fire Kayden had built just for her, Lindsay reached the conclusion that she was who she was no matter whom her parents were or why they did what they did. There weren’t going to be any explanations now that her adoptive parents had been murdered. It had been difficult to come to terms with the lie that was her life. The people who’d given Lindsay their name—and shockingly enough, it was the name of a prominent vampire house—were paid to do so, but they weren’t happy about it. She’d been a chore they endured for the good of the rest of their family. Lindsay’s birth mother was human who likely didn’t survive the birthing. She had no idea who her birth father was, but he’d at least provided for her and in a big way.
In fact, Lindsay had been contacted by a lawyer earlier that day, and that phone conversation was what had led Lindsay to requesting some time to be alone with her thoughts. Lindsay had been watching from the upstairs library window while the platform for the tent that she and Kayden were going to occupy was being built when Koren let Lindsay know she had a phone call.
“Who could be calling me?” Lindsay asked when Koren entered the room with a cordless phone. That reminded Lindsay that she still hadn’t picked up a cell phone.
“He said he’s a lawyer.” Koren’s forehead wrinkled with concern. “Do you want me to get a number so you can call him back when you’re feeling better?”
“No, I might as well deal with it now. Thank you.” Lindsay took the phone.
“All right, I’ll give you some privacy. There are pens and paper in the top drawer if you need them.” Koren pointed to the desk that occupied one corner of the room. “I’ll be in the kitchen if you need anything.” Koren left Lindsay to take the call.
“Hello?”
“Hello. Am I speaking to Ms. Lindsay Roselle?” asked a hopeful male voice.
“Yes, how can I help you?”
“The better question is how I can help you? You weren’t an easy female to track down. I’m so pleased to hear of your return from … from your extended absence. We should have met just after your graduation, but …”
Lindsay had no idea who she was speaking to, but he clearly knew who she was and some of what she’d been through. She wondered if she’d ever stop feeling like a bug under glass in the presence of curious people who knew about her past.
“I’m sorry, but I have no idea what you’re talking about, sir. Why would I have been meeting with you?” she asked.
“Oh, pardon my rudeness. I was just so relieved that I finally located you that I started off rambling. My name is Douglas T. Stapleton, P.A., and I’ve been managing your estate since your birth. There was a meeting scheduled to review your finances and property. The position of said property and money were transferred to you on the day you graduated from university.”
Lindsay recalled her father telling the council the home she’d grown up in was hers, not theirs.
“You said you manage my estate. What does that mean? And who hired you?”
“I’m going to be completely transparent with you, Ms. Roselle. I have no idea who my previous employer was, but they paid so well that I only took on other clients to keep from being bored and to help my practice prosper for my associates.”
“How can you take a client without meeting with them?” Lindsay walked over to the desk and opened the top drawer. She had the feeling she would need to take notes.
“I was paid a visit by a representative of your estate. It was the strangest thing I’ve experienced in my life, which I don’t mind telling you has been a long time. It’s not unusual a couple hundred years ago for there to be executors that weren’t family members. In modern times things are very different. I digress yet again. Please forgive me.” Mr. Stapleton cleared his throat. “In the spirit of transparency, I will explain my reason for taking on this mysterious client. I was in a difficult position at the time. We were about to lose our family practice due to a bad run of business decisions made by my father.”
It seemed to be a theme because both her adoptive parents and her newly found lawyer had been in financial straits when they were hired to be Lindsay’s personal staff.
“You see, our practice and those like ours are imperative for the survival of our clients. As vampires who don’t age as quickly as humans, we often have to deal with delicate matters, like transferring property from one name to another when a person has seemingly lived too long. We also specialize in the creation of alternate identities. In modern times, it’s far more difficult for a vampire to be unnoticed by our human counterparts.”
“I understand.” Lindsay had wondered how all of that was handled. What do you do when people start asking questions about you? How often would a person need to move just to remain safe? How would you get things like a driver’s license without a birth certificate that said you were eighty when your face looks like you’re in your late twenties?
“I was desperate to find a way to save my house from ruin when a stranger appeared on my doorstep one Sunday morning. No one but my father and I knew about our plight. Or so we believed, but this man knew it all, and he was holding a golden get out of jail free card. It was an offer I couldn’t refuse that came just in the nick of time. They gave me all of the information I needed to set up a household as well as access to your considerably large bank account. I was paid handsomely up front, and over time I have received additional payments.”
“From who? Where do the payments come from? What exactly were you hired to do?”
“The payments come from various overseas businesses. You have to understand, Ms. Roselle, I don’t ask questions. These people … well, they weren’t the sort of vampires you wanted to annoy. My job was to do what needed to be done and mind my business about the who’s and the why’s. I was hired to oversee your finances and grow your portfolio. I’m also a steward of sorts. I do payroll for your household staff. I supervise the maintenance of the house and property. I pay the utilities and other bills as needed.”
“Did you have any contact with my parents, the Roselle’s?”
“No, I didn’t. I was aware that they were playing the role of parents and one day the truth would all come out. That day was to be at our meeting, but that didn’t happen.”
“Was my father going to be there for that meeting? Do you have a way to contact him?” Lindsay wanted a name or something. Anything. She felt like an empty bag blowing in the wind with nothing to ground her.
“I do not. I am aware my activity is monitored. I have the feeling if I were dishonorable and misappropriated your funds it would not go unnoticed. I get these annual bonuses, and they seem to be related to how well your estate is going. If I make you money, I get paid. It’s all very covert.”
By the end of Lindsay’s conversation with Mr. Stapleton, she had no more information regarding her lineage, but she did have control of an estate that was larger than she could have imagined. Lindsay was now a multimillionaire. Mr. Stapleton had done his job well. Lindsay would need to meet with Mr. Stapleton to sign some paperwork.
Then he intended to retire. She suspected he would be getting another bonus for completing his duties successfully because the man was in a hurry to discharge her as a client. Lindsay set up the meeting for a week later.
Her first inclination had been to reject the money. As if it would be an insult to the mysterious—and according to Mr. Stapleton—frightening man who was her father. Then she looked out the library window at the tents lined up in tidy rows. She watched the hybrid vampires who, just like her, were struggling to cope with life. No, she wouldn’t discard the money. Lindsay was going to use her riches to build a campus for the Horde. She already owned a mansion and a giant piece of property. Changes could be made to the mansion now while the campus was under construction. She’d have to talk to Kayden about her plans. Lindsay’s property was over an hour away from the Enclave. If that were too far, she would just sell it, and they could buy something that was better suited to their needs. That money was going to help Lindsay and Kayden make a real home for their people. She imagined a secure compound similar to the Enclave with less of a military feel to it.
It had taken Lindsay a while to sort out her thoughts. She didn’t think her feelings on the subject of her parentage would ever get sorted. She was ending the day with a new mindset and a plan to execute. Now she just needed to get Kayden involved.
“Hey,” Kayden said, as he sat next to Lindsay on the log. “Do you want me to rekindle the fire for you?” Wrapping his big, strong arms around her, he kissed her forehead. It was amazing to Lindsay that such a big, strong man could be so gentle and loving.
“That’s because it’s you, Hellion. I’m loving and careful with you, my mate.” Kayden was picking up her thoughts again.
Koren told her it wouldn’t be long before Lindsay would want to learn to shield her mind. It was wonderful to have such a deep connection to your mate, but there were times when a girl needed to have her own space. Plus, it made Christmas shopping and surprise birthday gifts impossible if your mate was always in your head with you. There was a balance to be found and a way to shield things that you wanted to keep personal without blocking your mate entirely. Lindsay supposed they’d find that balance in time.
“No, thank you. The fire is fine.” She was ready for bed. The sleepless nights were catching up with her all at once.
“I need to talk to you about something,” Kayden sighed.
“Yeah?”
“We’ve been informed of the funeral arrangements for the Roselles. Naturally, they will be held in California where they lived. Do you want to attend the services? I’ll get it all lined up. We’ll have to fly out the day after tomorrow.” Kayden was caressing her back as he spoke.
Lindsay had to think about it for a bit. Did she want to attend the funeral? Should she? It was a delicate situation.
“I don’t want to go. Not because I don’t care, but I think it will make things harder for their children. The Roselle’s went to a lot of trouble to hide my existence and protect their family name. I would be a stranger among them. I’m sure those who have been told the truth about the deaths wouldn’t want to see the woman who caused all of this heartache.”
“Lindsay, you can’t think that way. You didn’t cause any of this. You were an innocent baby when decisions were made that brought about this end. They were murdered to keep them from admitting the identity of the real culprit. You are the victim here.” Kayden was getting angry on Lindsay’s behave.
“Either way, I don’t want to go. I wasn’t welcome in their lives. Why would I want to impose on them in death? I will mourn them in my own way.” And that wouldn’t be with a crowd of strangers who very likely blamed her for the deaths of the leaders of the House of Roselle. Lindsay couldn’t hold that against them. They had to be as shocked by the news of her existence as she was of their existence. She imagined the people her adoptive parents had actually loved were even more dismayed by the loss of Roland and Monica. Lindsay would be an intruder.
“Okay, baby. We won’t go.”
They sat in silence for a while, just being there together. Kayden’s ability to comfort Lindsay without needing to talk or pick apart her feelings had been more helpful than he knew. They shared a comfortable silence when there was nothing to say, or when what needed to be said was still too hard to verbalize, but she finally felt like she was ready to say what she was feeling, not only for her sake but for Kayden’s, too.
“The last few days have been difficult. It was no easy thing to witness the death of my parents. No matter that they hadn’t cared enough to search for me themselves when I was missing. No matter that I just learned that they never wanted me. I was a chore they were forced to endure. That has been a jagged pill that stuck in my throat.” Lindsay paused.
“Hellion, I wish with everything I have in me that I could take this hurt from your heart. I want to fix this for you. I want to go back in time and change what happened. If the Roselle’s had to die, I wish they had done it before they said so many hurtful things,” Kayden said through gritted teeth.
Kayden had been doing an admirable job of controlling his temper. His rage would not have helped Lindsay cope with all the truths she’d been faced with, but she felt the red hot anger that had been bubbling just beneath his skin.
“Of course, I’m enraged. Nothing means more to me than you do. Our bond is my priority. Your happiness is my goal. Those people took something from you that I can’t give you back. They took your growing peace of mind and the pride you’d earned after working through some unimaginably painful shit. They took away who you thought you were and left you with nothing but questions that won’t be answered. It makes me want to destroy something with my fists,” Kayden continued. He was picking up on her worry for him about what she was doing to his life. What all this drama was doing to his clan.
“You’re right, it fucking sucks. But there are some things you’re wrong about. I had no intention of rejoining the life my parents built for me. I’d already divorced myself from them in many ways. I knew something was wrong in our relationship. They were as kind as they could be but they were never there for me. I was raised by a series of nannies, governesses, and household staff. Learning that they didn’t have any desire to take part in my life was nothing more than verbal confirmation of their actions throughout my life.” Lindsay pulled away from Kayden enough to look up into his eyes.
“You see, no matter what happened in the past, no matter what we learned that day, my future was already decided. I just needed a little time to digest the overload of information. My life changed forever the day you scooped me up off of a cold tile floor and carried me to safety. You and I, we are what matters now. You are my family, my clan, my mate. Lindsay Roselle ceased to exist long before her adoptive parents cut her loose. I was just Lindsay, a lost girl with no connection to the world. Lindsay Paris was born the day you took me as your mate. She is who sits before you today. I was hurt by their words and actions, it’s true, but all along I knew I would be healed by your love.” Lindsay gestured between them. “This here, you and me, it’s all that really matters.
Kayden’s eyes glistened in the waning light of evening. His love for Lindsay was pouring off of him in a great tide of pride and devotion. Being able to feel each other’s emotions was helpful when you were too overwhelmed to speak. Kayden was struggling to remain manly and not let the tears of contentment her words provoked escape his control. It was a losing battle though. He kissed Lindsay tenderly, with all the love he had in his heart for her and the kiss was made salty and damp by happy tears.
“We’ll get through this.” Lindsay held Kayden tight.
“I think you’re the strongest female I’ve ever known.”
“I have one more thing to discuss with you before you take me to bed,” she said, and she felt the leap of hopeful male need in Kayden’s response. She chuckled inwardly. He hadn’t done anything even overtly sexual while Lindsay was working through her confusion and loss, but his thoughts had wandered there more t
han once. He was a virile male after all.
Lindsay went into detail about her conversation with Mr. Stapleton. She gave him an accounting of their current wealth. Like a dutiful vampire bride, Lindsay reminded Kayden that all that was hers now belonged to him. Then she laid out her plans for building a home for the Horde. By the time she was finished Kayden’s mouth was hanging open.
“You’re a wealthy man, Mr. Paris.” She patted his chest.
“Yes, well, what you don’t know is that I was already pretty well off. My father is much older than he looks. He invested wisely over the years, and he began building a considerable fortune for his children before he was even mated. We wouldn’t have struggled. I just haven’t felt the need to dip into my savings. As far as a home for the Horde goes, Hawk is already hard at work on that project. This is just a temporary arrangement to fill the gap in the meantime. With our help, it will go faster.”
Now Lindsay was the one with her mouth agape. The Paris home was certainly beautiful, but it didn’t scream money. The home Lindsay grew up in had been cold and austere. Koren and Gage had a home that was warm and welcoming. She’d just learned a lesson about relying on appearances. Don’t judge a book by its warrior’s cover.
“Alrighty, then.” Lindsay grinned up at Kayden feeling lighter than she had in days. “Is our tent ready? I want my mate to take me to bed.”
Kayden scooped her up into his arms and started off toward the tents at a run. Lindsay held on tight and laughed the entire way to their new tent where she and Kayden spend the next few hours reminding each other of how lucky they were to be mates in love.
Lindsay was sitting on the side of the bed pulling on her shoes when the murmured conversation between Kayden and Hawk filtered through the tent’s walls.
“I don’t like this. Something feels off,” Kayden told Hawk.
“My instincts are in agreement with yours. It feels like another trap, but if we ignore the tip and lose a chance to hone in on Sheena, if not catch her, we’ll regret it,” Hawk replied.
