Lord, let him keep his mouth shut, she prayed.
Nathan was equal to Asa’s stature—roughly the same height and weight—and in vampire years he was only marginally older than Asa. If there were ever to be a scuffle between them, Chelsie wouldn’t know where to lay her bets. Hopefully, her stepfather wouldn’t make a scene.
Finally, he said, “I hope we haven’t come at an inconvenient time, Chelsie?”
Her hand fluttered in front of her, and she resisted the urge to cover Asa’s bite marks. “Of course not. Uhm, well come in. Please.”
Her mother and Nathan shared a knowing look then walked past them into her living room. She shot a nervous glance Asa’s way. He seemed uneasy and concerned.
Should I go?
No. We have nothing to feel guilty about. Besides, they saw. Too late now. I know this is all so new for both of us, but this is real, right?
He smiled. As real as it gets, love.
Then what have we to hide?
He nodded.
She faced her mother and Nathan. “I’m so happy to see both of you, but why didn’t you tell me you were coming to New Orleans? Is everything okay in New York?” She gestured for them to take a seat.
Her mother and Nathan settled on the couch, she and Asa on the love seat across from them. Her mom offered Chelsie a warm look and hunched a shoulder. “Everything’s fine. The kids are fine. I simply had an urge to see my daughters. Tiffany didn’t know we were coming either. I wanted it to be a surprise. We should have called, I suppose.”
The phone call about Chad!
Their purpose here was obvious, and it wasn’t a casual visit. She’d been a hot mess yesterday when she’d spoken to her mom. Chelsie should have realized her mother would do something like this. “It’s alright. I’m glad you came, but I know why you did. Rest assured, I’m okay.”
Her mother pursed her lips, appearing unconvinced. “I have a bad feeling about Chad, Chelsie. Call it a mother’s intuition or what you will, but my gut is telling me he might make trouble for you if this recording contract doesn’t go the way he wants.”
“No, he won’t. I gave him what he wanted, or I will soon. I’m going to sign the contract. Not for Chad, but for Randy, Wayne, and Colt. They got caught in the crosshairs of this mess, which was partly my fault for not making things more clear to them regarding my involvement in a future with the band beyond New Orleans.”
Asa made a soft grunting noise. Chelsie glanced his way, not surprised to see he wore a derisive sneer.
Nathan gave him a piercing look. “What do you know of this human?”
Asa glanced at Chelsie with a caught-in-the-middle look. “Sorry, Chelsie, but I have to speak my mind on this issue.” To Nathan he said, “I’ve been in his mind. He’s mentally unstable and a definite threat to Chelsie if she thwarts his plans or goals.”
Nathan bit off a curse.
“But I’m not going to.” She shot Asa a frustrated look. “I appreciate your worry, Asa, but Chad would never hurt me. He needs me to accomplish his goals.”
His expression remained unconvinced, but he said no more.
Her mother tsked and shook her head. “Honey, I know you don’t want to hurt or disappoint your friends, but this decision is not beneficial for your life or your career.”
“I know, but it’s temporary. I told Chad and all of the guys I would only sign if they agreed to find a replacement for me. Granted, that might take some time, but I’ll manage. Singing may be a hobby, but it’s one I love.” She shared a bright smile with all of them, which probably came across as strained as the mood in the room.
Don’t pretend you’re going to be happy with that life, love. We both know better, Asa said mind to mind.
Chelsie looked at him and sucked back a groan. Asa, I have to do this. Please understand.
I don’t at all, but I will support you.
Thanks. She took his hand and gave it a quick squeeze. When she glanced back at her mother and Nathan, they stared at the two of them with curious looks, because it would have been obvious to them both that she and Asa had been mind-speaking.
Asa threaded their fingers together. “Chelsie is my life mate.”
Chelsie swallowed a gasp, both shocked and delighted by his declaration to her parents. The tension in the room dissipated. When a vampire male made that admission, it was a solid promise, one other vampires understood and respected and rarely questioned. Even parents.
Nathan stared stoically at Asa for several moments then nodded once. “Congratulations to you both. Her mother and I will entrust her into your care, but not exclusively where this Chad character is concerned. Not that I’m doubting your abilities to handle a human, but her mother and I will take no chances regarding Chelsie’s well-being.”
“Neither will I.”
Tears welled in her mother’s eyes. “This is wonderful news. I couldn’t be happier for you both.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Relief swept Chelsie like welcome warm waters, because they’d accepted him, and there would be no fuss from her mother once the time came for her to turn.
“I just made some coffee. Would either of you like some?”
“No, honey, Nathan and I are going to let you and Asa get back to your day. I know how rare a day off is for a doctor. If the two of you are free tomorrow night, would you like to come to dinner?”
They owned an impressive Antebellum in one of the city’s historical districts. In fact, they owned a home in nearly every major city in the world, as well as a private island or two and some castles in Great Britain and Scotland, and the list went on.
Nathan had lived over a half century longer than Asa, and the man was a master at making money, real estate being his acumen. Given his longevity, the full extent of his wealth was unknown to Chelsie and probably more staggering than she could imagine.
Chelsie glanced at Asa and nodded. He replied for them, “Sure, we’d love to.”
They all stood, and after hugs, Chelsie walked them to the door. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“I am sorry for assuming you’d be alone. I really should have called.”
Her mother looked very troubled. So did Nathan, and Chelsie suspected it had nothing to do with interrupting her and Asa. More Chad concerns, she was sure. “It’s no problem. Let me walk you out.”
Once they’d entered her building’s parking garage, Chelsie stopped a short distance from the limo the two had arrived in. “Talk to me, Mom, Nathan. What’s going on?”
They shared an uneasy look, then Nathan said, “After you spoke with your mother yesterday, she became very concerned about this problem with your band. I did a background check on Chad, which revealed some very disturbing issues. Are you aware he has felony charges for assault and battery?”
She wasn’t, but Chad had been a wild hair back in the day. Still was for that matter. A bar fight or two wouldn’t have surprised her. “No, but guys get into fights now and again. Working in a bar scene would naturally exacerbate such things.”
Nathan shook his head. “No, honey. These charges, several of them in fact, were all against women.”
Chelsie gasped, her head reeling. “That can’t be. Chad’s a jerk, but he’s not a maniac.” Asa thought differently, but she wasn’t fully convinced.
Her mother stepped forward and took her hand, her beautiful, ageless features a study in trepidation. “People change, honey, for many reasons. Sometimes for the worst. Chad is no longer the person you knew when you were a girl.”
Her gaze darted between her mother and Nathan, her mind seeking answers.
Nathan provided the nail in the coffin. “There’s also a warrant for him in Missouri, sweetheart. For rape.”
Chelsie gasped. Many nefarious things she could believe about Chad, but rape?
“It happened eight months ago. He picked up some girl in a bar and took her back to her place. What happened from there is still in the realm of the court system, but the girl’s statement claims he began to push
her to do acts she wasn’t willing to participate in, and when she objected, he beat her, then raped her.”
Chelsie was so shocked, she couldn’t form words. Her mind simply couldn’t gap the bridge between the Chad she knew and the one Nathan had just described. Yet she knew Nathan’s homework to always be flawless. That coupled with Asa’s take on Chad made her feel very blind and naïve.
Chelsie’s mind and emotions reeled. How could she, a doctor, a Harvard graduate, have not seen this psychopath right before her eyes?
Her mother must have read her facial expression. “Honey, don’t be afraid. Nathan and I will do whatever we can to protect you if you’ll let us.”
Nathan added, “I’d like to hire a security guard to watch over you.”
She’d been down that privacy stripping road a year ago when Tiffany and some V clinic patients were poisoned, and she wasn’t going through it again. “Absolutely not. Asa is a fully mature vampire and completely capable of protecting me if Chad should decide to get nasty.”
Nathan said nothing, but he didn’t look pleased.
Neither did her mother, but she said, “Honey, I just want to say, don’t beat yourself up for not recognizing a violent streak in Chad. You haven’t seen him in years. In your mind, he’s that boy you knew many years ago when he was still a fairly good person. You’re simply too close to the situation to recognize his inner man. I’m guessing, based on what you told me, he wants this recording contract so badly, he’s working overtime to put his best face forward with you. However, if you refuse, it could get seriously dangerous from there. Asa said as much, and he was in Chad’s mind. It’s obvious he cares deeply for you. I think you’d be well served to trust his judgement and ours.”
“Oh, Mom,” she muttered. If what everyone said was true, she really had agreed to sign a deal with the devil! “I gave the guys my word I’d sign this contract. I’m guessing you know what that means. Eventually, I’ll have to tour with the band.”
Her mother gazed at Nathan for a few seconds, then let out a little huff and said to her, “Chelsie, you can’t do that. Chad is dangerous. You have to recognize that fact. If he raped once, he’d certainly do it again. I don’t think riding around the country on a tour bus with that man is such a good idea.”
“The boys would protect me. Each are married with children. Naturally, the families would be on the road with us.”
“And Asa? What about him?” Nathan posed.
Chelsie swallowed a lump in her throat. “I wouldn’t ask him to put his practice on hiatus for me, even if he offered.”
“Then I have to agree with your mother. Touring with this Chad character could put you in danger.”
Chelsie just didn’t see it that way. Chad was crazy, but he’d never been violent toward her. Besides, it would be counterproductive to his goals. He needed her as a willing participant in this recording deal. “I can’t go back on my word to the guys. It would devastate them. Besides, as long as I’m doing what Chad wants, he’d never hurt me. He needs me too much. Without me, there won’t be a contract.”
Nathan inhaled sharply, his features ripe with worry. “We understand you’ve agreed to do this for the benefit of your friends and at a great price to yourself. But the price you ultimately pay, should you go through with this, may be far more costly than you ever imagined.”
Her mother added, “Please don’t sign anything yet. Put this off as long as you can, and think long and hard about all we’ve told you. Above all, listen to your heart and try to hear what the Lord is telling you. You’re very good at doing that. I’ve never known you to make a seriously unwise decision.”
Chelsie nodded. “I will.” And she meant it. This news had changed everything. She would put off signing the contract to test if what Nathan and her mother said was true, but ultimately, she would have to sign it.
“What’s this producer’s name and his company?” Nathan asked.
Chelsie knew what he was fishing for and what he intended to do with the information. If Mr. Hammold learned that Chad was a felon, especially on violent charges, he would most likely retract the offer, then the choice would be pulled from her hands. “Let me handle this my own way, Nathan.”
He scowled at her, grunted, then pulled her into a hug. Her mother gave her one, too, then they bid each other goodbye.
Chelsie stood in the parking garage for several minutes after their limo drove away, battling control of her nerves. Asa couldn’t find out about this. If he had proof Chad was capable of physical violence toward women, no telling what he would do to him. If, God forbid, he learned the truth and she couldn’t find a way to get out of signing this contract, Chelsie didn’t want to think what that might do to Asa—what it might do to their relationship.
Nothing could break the life mate bond, but vampire couples could live just as miserably as humans when they couldn’t come together on important issues. Their bond was in the fragile beginning stages, and Chelsie was determined not to let anything ruin it.
She hadn’t a clue how she would keep this from him. Asa would never slip into her mind without “knocking” first, but during that initial push, he might see or sense the truth. Somehow, Chelsie had to keep thoughts of Chad out of her head when Asa was around—and thoughts of her cancer, at least until she was ready to tell him the truth, which had to be soon. She just needed the timing to be right.
She first needed to solidify things regarding a date for her turning. Once that was in place, she’d tell him and everyone else. Not today though. Today was for her and Asa, and she refused to let anything ruin their budding relationship.
***
“Tonight was very nice, Chelsie.” Asa reached across the console of his truck, took her hand, and weaved their fingers together.
“My mom thinks your great. Nathan, too, but he’s not quite as demonstrative.”
Asa chuckled. “She’s a very gentile lady and an amazing chef.” Chelsie’s mother owned MJ’s Catering Service, one of the most renowned catering businesses in New York City. Her partner, Julia Chauvenski, was Danielle’s mother-in-law. He’d met the woman and her husband, Dimitri, at Christian and Tiffany’s wedding. The couple had seemed nice and were very entwined in the Davenport fold. As far as Chelsie’s stepfather, it might take some time for the guy to warm up to him, but he didn’t mind. He was going nowhere.
“Thanks. My mother could turn a couple of turnips and some herbs into something food snobs would rave about.”
Asa laughed. “That she could, from what I tasted tonight. I like your stepfather, too, and despite the fact he’s a bit reserved, I think the feeling is mutual.”
“I think so too.” She squeezed his hand.
Dinner at Asa’s future in-laws had been very pleasant tonight, but there was an underlying current of unease, which came as equally from the Davenports as Chelsie. That one he couldn’t figure out, but he knew Chelsie felt guilty about hiding her cancer from him. Every time he’d touched her mind to speak with her, she gave a start, then wiped every thought like a slate. Her emotions, however, she hadn’t been as clever at concealing. She was a bundle of nerves and had been since she’d come back from bidding her parents goodbye yesterday at her apartment. He wasn’t solid on the notion, but he suspected she was hiding something about Chad too.
He’d asked her several times over the last two days what troubled her. She’d just smile and assure him nothing was wrong. Asa understood her well enough to know that she thought she was doing him a service by protecting him from the truth. He didn’t need protecting, but she did—and someone to lean on in her time of need. She hadn’t even told her mother yet about the glioblastoma. That fact had been apparent tonight by Mrs. Davenport’s jovial demeanor. No mother would feel like sitting around making small talk at a dinner party if she knew her daughter battled something that catastrophic.
This had to end, and apparently it was up to him drag the truth out of her. Decisions needed to be made and quickly. It hurt him that she bottled a
ll this. He didn’t sense it to be a trust issue with anyone in particular. One way or another he intended to find out right now why she’d been hiding this hideous news.
“So are you going to tell me what’s eating at you, Chelsie?”
She glanced across the cab of the truck and frowned. “You know it’s this contract looming over my head like an executioner’s scathe. Talking about it isn’t going to make the problem go away. I’d much rather talk about happy things with you.”
“We can talk about happy things later. Right now I want to talk about what’s bothering you. It’s a hell of a lot more than this stupid contract, isn’t it?”
She sighed heavily. “Yes.”
“Share, Chelsie. You know you can trust me. We’re life mates. You also know what that means in the vampire world. One would die for the other. I know you don’t know me that well yet, which might be why you’re hesitant to talk to me about hard issues, but you have to try. We both have to be open and honest with each other. One day soon we’ll have no choice, once we’re truly life mated. You know what I mean, right?”
She nodded. “Yes. Once you mark me, a bite from you to me that not only creates a unique combined scent, but a deeper psychic connection. We’ll feel each other’s emotions as clearly as we feel our own. In particular, when emotions run high.”
“Right. In fact, textbook right, except you missed one thing. There are no secrets between life mates, because eventually we’ll become so in tune with each other we’ll automatically know when the other is hiding something. Consider it a sixth sense on steroids.”
She chuckled. “That’s a cute way to put it. But I don’t know what you’re driving at, Asa.”
He was starting to lose patience. “We might not be life mated yet, but I’ve always had an excellent sixth sense, which is presently telling me you’re hiding something from me.”
She flashed a guilty look his way then dropped her gaze to her lap. “Fine. You’re right. There is something I haven’t told you. Nathan did a background check on Chad and came up with some pretty disturbing facts.”
Asa already knew what Chad was made of. He didn’t need a report from Nathan Davenport. What he did need was for Chelsie to get real and honest with him about her cancer. He needed to know how bad it was, how long she had, if it was too far progressed that a turning might cause her to stroke out in the early stages when the process was its most violent to the human body. Asa was scared to death for her, and because of her refusal to fess up, he was growing more pissed by the second.
Deadly Secrets (Forever and a Night Book 3) Page 10
