Sucker Punch: A Paranormal Women's Fiction Novel (First Fangs Club Book 3)

by Painter, Kristen

  Dr. Goldberg jotted something in her notebook. “That’s a wonderful idea, LaToya. I can ask if the room’s available that night, if that works for everyone.”

  “I can’t,” Donna said. “I’m going to Kansas to attend in person.”

  Francine’s eyes lit up. “That’s even better. Let’s do that.”

  Neo shrugged. “I’m in.”

  Donna started to respond as the door flew open, and Temo burst in. “Boss, I’m sorry to interrupt, but you weren’t answering your phone.”

  A chill went through her. If he felt the need to interrupt, something had to have gone seriously sideways. “What’s wrong?”

  “It’s not wrong, exactly, it’s just that, well, your daughter landed at LaGuardia twenty minutes ago. She called Charlie for a ride. I guess you gave her that number?”

  “I did.” Donna stood up. “Christina’s here? I thought—wait. Did I forget she was coming?”

  He shook his head. “You talked about it but never firmed anything up, but she decided to come anyway. As a surprise.”

  “Good surprise.” Donna put her hand to her heart. Her baby girl was here. She bent to pick up her purse. “Ladies, I’m sorry, but I have to go.”

  They were all smiling and nodding.

  “Go ’head, baby,” LaToya said. “Nothing like family.”

  “That’s for sure,” Meghan added.

  “Have fun, honey.” Francine gave her a little wave.

  “I will, thanks. And listen, I’ll be in touch about the trip to Kansas.” She pointed at Neo. “This changes nothing.”

  She nodded, grinning. “You got it. Boss.”

  Donna hustled out the door with Temo. “Are we headed to LaGuardia, then?”

  “Yes, as fast as I can get us there. Pierce and Charlie are making sure the penthouse is ready.”

  “What’s there to do? It’s not like it’s a pigsty.”

  He lifted one shoulder as they got in the elevator. “They just want everything to be perfect. This is your kid. They want her to like them.”

  Donna smiled. “She’s going to love all of you.”

  His brows pulled together. “You think so?”

  She nudged him with her elbow. “Temo, you’re so easy to like, I don’t know why you’d think otherwise.”

  He grinned. “Thanks, boss. Hey, did that exchange with Neo mean she took the job?”

  “She did.”

  They got to the car, which he’d left parked in the fire lane, and he drove for all he was worth, smiling most of the way. How they didn’t get pulled over for speeding, she had no idea.

  But her mind wasn’t really on his driving. She was texting with Christina, making sure she knew where to wait and how soon they’d be there.

  Wasn’t soon enough, even with Temo’s incredible efficiency.

  They pulled up to the airport, and Donna’s heart skipped. “There she is. She doesn’t see us.”

  Temo aimed for a closer space that had just opened up. “She looks like you. Very pretty.”

  “Thanks.” As soon as he parked, Donna hopped out and ran toward her. “Christina!”

  “Mom?” Christina turned. “Mom!”

  Donna wrapped Christina in her arms. “Hi, baby.”

  “Hi, Mom.” A second later, she was bawling.

  Donna pulled back. “Honey, what’s wrong?”

  Sniffling, Christina shook her head. “I’m just happy to see you.”

  “Aw, I’m happy to see you too.”

  “You look amazing.” She wiped at her eyes. “I mean, like Real Housewives good. Wow. Being a…you know is really working for you.”

  Donna laughed. “Thanks. Is that your stuff?” She pointed to the bags behind Christina. A suitcase, a duffel bag, a computer case, and her enormous purse.

  “Yeah.”

  “Are you moving in?”

  Christina rolled her eyes. “Ha ha.”

  Temo had already gotten out. “I’ll get them, boss.”

  “Thanks.” Donna put her arm around her daughter. “Christina, this is Temo Danielson, the head of my security, my driver, and an all-around great guy.”

  He nodded at her. “Nice to meet you, miss.”

  “Call me Christina.” She looked at Donna. “Is that okay?”

  “Of course. I’m the governor, not the queen of England.”

  “And you may call me Temo.” He picked up all four of Christina’s bags at once and carried them to the car.

  She watched him go. “Wow, he’s strong. Is he a…you know, like you too?”

  “Not the same as I am. But he’s more than human.”

  Christina nodded, a little wide-eyed. “Cool.”

  “Come on, let’s get back to the penthouse.” Donna opened the rear passenger door. “I can’t wait to introduce you to everyone. Oh! I have a surprise for you too.”

  “You do?” Christina climbed in and scooted across to sit behind Temo, who was closing the rear gate.

  “I do.” Donna took her seat and shut the door.

  Temo got back behind the wheel. “All set?”

  “All set.”

  With a nod and a grin, he pulled out and started for home.

  Christina poked Donna in the leg. “What’s the surprise? Tell me.”

  “Aunt Cammie is at the penthouse, too, so you’ll get to see her as well.”

  For a second, Christina didn’t look quite as happy as Donna had anticipated she would. Then a fresh smile bent her mouth. “That’s awesome.”

  But it clearly wasn’t. Not entirely. And Donna had no idea why. She wasn’t about to dig into that in the car, however. Or maybe at all. Whatever the reason for Christina’s surprise, Donna didn’t want to ruin the happiness of the moment.

  “So, do I look that much different?” Donna asked.

  “You do and you don’t.” Christina shook her head. “You look like a supermodel version of yourself. I still can’t really believe you’re an actual vampire.”

  “Believe it. I am.”

  “Can I see your teeth?”

  Donna smiled widely.

  Christina smirked. “That’s not what I mean.”

  “You mean the fangs I use to drink the blood of my hapless victims?”

  “Mom, you don’t really—okay, very funny.”

  Donna snorted, followed by a similar noise from Temo. “Ready? I don’t want to freak you out.”

  “I’ve seen all the Twilight movies, you know.”

  Donna shook her head slowly. “This is nothing like that.”

  “Just show me. Please?”

  “All right.” Donna called down her fangs and let a little glow into her eyes. “How’s that?”

  Christina reared back, eyes rounding. But a second later, she chilled out and leaned forward again. “Okay, that is freaky.” She reached out like she was going to touch one of Donna’s fangs.

  Donna pulled them in. “Don’t. They’re really sharp.” She quickly changed the subject. “How’s school?”

  “It’s good. Busy. Tons of work. I’m always in the library.”

  Donna wasn’t so sure about that. Christina was a good student, that much was true, but she’d been a very social creature in high school, and Donna couldn’t imagine that had changed. “That sounds a little boring.”

  Christina laughed. “I’m not always in the library. But I do spend a lot of time there.”

  “Are you any closer to deciding what you want to be when you grow up?”

  She shrugged, her smile suddenly going coy. “Maybe I’ll be a vampire like you.”

  “That’s not a profession. And let’s not even start that discussion.”

  Christina’s expression went thoughtful. “I don’t know. Would you be mad if I decided I wanted to be a housewife and have kids and just do the whole stay-at-home-mom thing?”

  “If that’s what you really wanted, no. I’m never going to be mad at you for doing something you want to do.” It wouldn’t surprise her if that’s what Christina wanted. She’d a
lways had a deep maternal instinct. “You have to follow your heart. Being a mom isn’t easy. It’s one of the hardest jobs you’ll ever have, actually.”

  “It was hard for you, wasn’t it?”

  Donna took a moment as her past rushed back in waves of memories. “It was hard at times.”

  “Because of Dad.”

  “Yes. He was…mostly a good father, but at the same time, the worst one possible.” Donna took a breath. “I was always afraid he might hurt you. Or do something that would cause you to get hurt.”

  “You did a great job of protecting us. You really did.”

  “Thanks, honey. Sometimes I think I should have tried to get you kids away from him sooner…” She’d always have doubts about that. “But if he’d come after us, I don’t know that I could have kept you safe. I’m sorry about that.”

  “Mom, you did the best you could do. And it was more than a lot of people could have done. You have nothing to apologize for.”

  “Thanks.” Donna wondered what had brought all this up. Was Christina struggling with something? They hadn’t even talked about Joe this much at his funeral. Didn’t matter. Donna would do whatever she could to help her children. No matter what age they were, or what they were going through. “Everything okay with you?”

  Christina nodded. “Yeah, everything’s good. Or will be.”

  That was a slightly cryptic statement. But Donna got the sense Christina didn’t want to go deeper than that with Temo listening.

  Christina grinned and let out a little laugh. “I can’t believe you’re a vampire. It’s one thing for you to tell me that, but to see you… There’s no denying it now.”

  “Nope. I am definitely a vampire.”

  “Did it hurt? Being turned?”

  “Not really.” Donna didn’t want to frighten her with the gory details.

  Christina grimaced. “But you have to drink blood?”

  “I do. I know that sounds awful, but it doesn’t to me. It’s what keeps me going. The same as air to you, I suppose.”

  “Can I see your fangs again?”

  Donna laughed. “Sure.” She brought them down and curled her lip back so Christina could see them more easily.

  “I want to touch one.”

  “They’re teeth. Like all the rest of my teeth.”

  “Mom, they are literally not like all the rest of your teeth. The rest of your teeth don’t retract into your jaw.”

  “True. Okay, fine. But be careful.”

  “Why? Does the sight of blood drive you uncontrollably mad?”

  Temo snorted softly.

  “No,” Donna answered. “I just don’t want you to hurt yourself.”

  “Mom. Please.” She stuck a finger out and poked at one of Donna’s fangs. “Huh. They’re hard just like teeth.”

  What had she expected? Donna sighed and shook her head.

  Her fang sliced across Christina’s finger.

  “Ow.” Christina snatched her hand back, but not before a drop of blood fell.

  “I told you.” Donna retracted her fangs and frowned. There was something off about the metallic taste of the blood. An underlying innocence that was both wonderful and out of place.

  Understanding came a second later. Donna sucked in a breath as she looked at her daughter. “Holy Mother. You’re pregnant.”

  Chapter Thirty-three

  Introductions were short and sweet at the penthouse, probably because Temo assisted in getting everyone to give Donna and Christina some alone time. Thankfully, Cammie wasn’t there, as she’d gone out to talk to some potential customers. Donna didn’t want to have to explain just yet why Christina’s beloved aunt was no longer a nun and was now freelancing as a supernatural bounty hunter.

  Not when there was a much bigger topic to discuss.

  She closed the guest room door and faced her daughter, who sat on the edge of the bed, arms crossed and looking like she was about to cry or scream. Donna took a breath and made herself stay calm. “Does the boy know?”

  Christina relaxed slightly. Had she been expecting Donna to yell? “He does, and he’s super supportive. In fact, that’s why I came home this weekend. I wanted to tell you all this in person. I didn’t think you’d find out before I could say something.”

  A thousand different thoughts and emotions swirled through Donna. She turned the chair around from the dressing table and sat. Then she asked a question she felt like she already knew the answer to. “Are you going to finish school?”

  “I’d like to. It’s part of our plan, anyway. I’m so close, you know?”

  Our plan. Donna’s intense distaste for that phrase surprised her. Maybe because it illustrated how keenly she’d been replaced in her daughter’s life. But that was how things went, wasn’t it? “Yes, you are close. What is the plan?”

  Christina twisted her fingers together. “We’re going to get married.”

  Donna’s mouth opened, but forming words took a second or two longer. “Married.” She blew out a long breath.

  After everything she’d been through in the last couple of weeks, a little unplanned pregnancy should be a breeze. But it wasn’t. The word pregnant had caused every dream Donna had ever had for Christina to disappear like…ash on the wind. “I see. Tell me about him. About how he’s going to support you and the baby. About how you’re going to take care of a baby and a husband and finish school. About how—”

  “Mom. I know you’re mad. I know this isn’t what you wanted for me. It wasn’t what I wanted for me either, but it happened, and now I want to do what’s best for all of us. We love each other, and we want this baby.”

  Donna nodded, her throat constricted with a knot the size of a softball. All of us didn’t seem like it included her anymore, but that was selfish, and she knew it. She couldn’t stop herself from feeling it, though. “Go on,” she whispered. “Tell me the plan.”

  “He’s got some money. He’s been working since he was a kid. And his parents are going to help. We’re going to—”

  “His parents already know?” Another cut to the heart. Donna had been second to find out.

  “It wasn’t intentional. We’d already decided I was going to talk to you before we did anything, but we were there last weekend, and somehow his mom just guessed.” Christina put a hand to her stomach. “I’m not even that far along.”

  A small comfort, but Donna couldn’t shake the sense of numbness that had seeped into her bones. “The plan?”

  “Right. We’re going to get a little off-campus apartment, and we’re going to make it work. He loves me, and I love him very much.” She smiled. “It’s all going to be fine. You’ll see.”

  The confidence of youth was a staggering thing. “How old is he?”

  “He’s twenty-three. He’s working on his master’s.” Christina lifted her chin ever so slightly. “He’s very smart.”

  “Not smart enough to keep this from happening.”

  “Mom. It takes two people to make a baby.”

  “I’m well aware.” Donna sat back. “Let me guess, if one of you has to drop out, it’s not going to be him.”

  “No, it won’t be. But if I have to drop out, I will go back. I’m only three semesters from graduating. And the way I see it, I should be able to get through next semester without any issue, have the baby this summer, then be good to finish my last year. And if that doesn’t happen, and it takes a little longer, so be it.”

  Donna wondered if that could actually work, but having had two babies, she was pretty sure it wouldn’t. “What’s he studying?”

  “Hospitality management. His family owns a restaurant chain, and he plans to open his own location after he graduates.” Christina paused. “His dad is also the mayor of their town. His parents are great people.”

  “What town?” Donna was fast getting a sense of these people, but she didn’t know if she could trust it. She wasn’t exactly in a warm and fuzzy place.

  “Timberville, Indiana.”

  Donna had neve
r heard of it, but she did know Indiana was on the way to Kansas. “What kind of restaurants?”

  “Barbecue. Called Big Dog’s. We don’t have them around here. I mean, obviously. But they have seven locations in Indiana. Eight after Noah opens his location.”

  “Noah?”

  Christina’s smile was big and bright and instant. “Noah Miller. That’s his name.”

  He certainly didn’t sound Italian. In fact, he sounded as middle American as all get-out. And about as far away from the life Christina had growing up as could be.

  Noah Miller wasn’t the name of a guy who would ever think about breaking the law as a means to an end. He’d probably been a Boy Scout and captain of the football team and maybe even prom king. He undoubtedly never drove more than five miles over the speed limit, definitely ate all his vegetables, and more than likely thought the mob was mostly a Hollywood construct.

  Or at least that’s what Donna hoped. Except Noah Miller had still managed to get her daughter pregnant. “Does he know about…your father?”

  Christina’s smile faltered. “He does. His parents don’t. Yet. I mean, it’s bound to happen. They know my last name.”

  Donna nodded. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re already suspicious.” Especially since Joe had been in the spotlight recently thanks to his faked death and arrest by the FBI. No wonder Christina had been so upset by that news coming to light. “How long have you been seeing this boy?”

  “Almost a year.”

  “And I’m just hearing about him?”

  “We were taking it slow.”

  That was a good sign, right? Except things sure weren’t slow now.

  “We were kind of hoping you might want to meet his parents. I know that’s an inconvenience, but we figured if they got to know you, then finding out about my family might not be such a big deal. You know, if they could see what a regular person you are.”

  “Except that I’m a vampire, which is about as unregular as a person can be. Does Noah know about that?”

  “No.” Christina’s eyes widened. “I don’t think that’s a good idea at all.”

  “Neither do I. So it needs to stay that way.”

  “Right. Totally.”

  “I’d be very interested in meeting his parents. I’d like to see what kind of people they are too. And it just so happens, I’m going to be driving through Indiana next week.”