by Lisa Olsen
“There is nothing for you to accept. The debt is paid, there is nothing for you to do but enjoy the peace of mind that comes from land ownership.”
“It’s too much…”
“Too much would have been showing up at your door with a string of goats or a team of oxen.” Jakob’s smile was bright and this time my father matched it.
“And a lot harder on the hedges.” They all chuckled over that and I could tell he’d managed to completely win them over with a single grand gesture.
“What, so you’re going to sell me off?” I demanded, disgusted that my own father could be so easily bought. Where had all his high morals run off to?
“Anja, really.” My mother colored slightly, reaching for her glass of wine. “There’s no need to be so dramatic. You’re ruining his largesse.”
They wanted dramatic? I’d give them a show stopper. Jakob wanted to experience human traditions – a holiday blow-up was right on the menu. “I’m sorry, I’m just having trouble accepting the fact that you’re happy to trade me off to the highest bidder. If I’d known that was all it took to gain your approval, I would’ve raffled off my virginity years ago to pay for Daddy’s car.”
“Anja, that’s enough!” my father thundered, and it was enough to make my mouth snap shut with an audible click before I remembered I wasn’t his little girl anymore.
“Oh stop, you lost the claim to righteous indignation when you accepted that bribe,” I snorted, doing my best to ignore his spluttering apoplexy as I turned to Jakob. “I don’t know what you thought you were doing with this stunt, but this isn’t the way to win my heart. I’m not chucking it all and leaving with you because you set my parents up for a cushy retirement. I’m sorry if that hurts you, but you don’t have the right to run roughshod over my life like this. You can’t trade me to my father for a herd of goats and a cow. I thought you would have learned that by now.”
Jakob leaned forward, an unrepentant tilt to his lips. “Clearly you’re worth far more, as I’ve already demonstrated.”
“That’s really not the point.”
My mother seized upon the one point she didn’t follow. “Leaving? Where are you going?”
Jakob rose to refill the glasses, opening another bottle of wine. “I hoped you could persuade your daughter to take me up on my offer to see something of the world.”
“Oh, a trip around the world, how lovely!” she exclaimed, holding her glass up to him.
Great, she was already half sauced, but my father saw straight to the heart of the matter.
“What about school? Or does he mean during the winter break? I haven’t had another call from the Dean. Can I assume no news is good news?”
“Oh, Daddy, remember what happens when you assume,” I replied, settling back with my glass of wine, done pretending to move food around my plate. Things were unraveling far too quickly, and this wasn’t how I’d pictured telling them I’d dropped out of college at all.
“She is done with that place, on to bigger and better things,” Jakob replied for me, sitting back into his seat with a healthy swig of wine before he attacked a giant turkey leg.
Forks paused in the air as my parents stared at me in shock. “Excuse me?” my father said with a blink, convinced he had to have misunderstood.
“I meant to tell you, but then I had to go to England unexpectedly, and things have been kind of hectic ever since. But I was going to bring it up tonight, I swear.”
“England? How did you afford a trip to England? If you used your tuition money…”
I might’ve known it would boil down to dollars for him. “Relax, Daddy, I caught a ride with a friend. I didn’t use your money at all.”
“To England?” Mom gasped. “What friend is that? You?” She turned to Jakob.
“No, start with why you dropped out of school and what your plan is to fix this unacceptable situation,” Daddy interrupted.
“I’m not going back,” I answered honestly.
“Don’t be silly, of course you are. We haven’t worked hard for all these years for you to quit when you have less than a year left. I’ll make some calls on Monday, maybe I can get the Dean to take you back as long as you can make up what you’ve missed.”
“I said I’m not going back,” I repeated, a little louder.
“The hell you’re not! Stop acting like a spoiled child and take responsibility for your future, goddamn it!”
I’d never heard my father swear before, and if the veins on the top of his head were any indication, he was working himself up into a heart attack. I stared at him, slack jawed, at a loss for what to say. How could I tell him I’d quit because my future held an entirely different set of responsibilities?
Jakob had remained silent during the exchange, and now he dabbed delicately at his lips with the linen napkin before folding it across his lap. “You’ll not raise your voice to my Anja again,” he said mildly. “In fact, you will support her in this decision, and any other she makes.” He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed it, but all I had eyes for was the way the purple tinge to Daddy’s skin faded to a healthy glow. He no longer looked about to burst, but he didn’t quite look like my father anymore either.
“Hey, I thought I told you to quit doing that,” I hissed. “If they’re going to be mad, I want them to be mad. They’ll get over it, they’re my family, but they have a right to their feelings, just like I have a right to ignore them and do what I want.”
“I wouldn’t cause you that pain, beloved.” He kissed my hand again. “Not when I could spare you it. Speak now, they will listen freely.”
I couldn’t deny it was liberating to be able to speak my mind without any outbursts. At the same time, I knew on some level it wasn’t real, and that robbed me of some satisfaction. “Mom and Dad, I know this isn’t what you wanted to hear tonight, but I left school, and I’m not going back. You don’t have to worry about me, I can take care of myself now. Not because Jake is ready to shower me with wealth, but because I found my own job.”
“What kind of a job?” Mom asked mildly.
“It’s… a sort of liaison position. I work as an advisor to a minority group in San Francisco, advocating for them with the local law enforcement.” Not a lie…
“Then it’s not music related at all?”
“No, it’s not.”
“But your gift…” she said.
“Makes me sick to my stomach every time I have to sing. You know that, you’ve always known that, but you pushed me to do it anyway. Not that I’m blaming you. For some twisted reason I’ve always wanted it too, but this is better. This is something I’m good at and it pays well. The hours suit me and the people really need me. It’s nice to be needed, you know?”
“Well now, that sounds like a prestigious position at that,” she beamed, reaching for another sip of wine.
My father remained silent the whole time, and I knew it was because of Jakob’s compulsion. Just because he’d been ordered to support me didn’t mean he had anything good to say to me either. The fact that he wouldn’t meet my eyes was a fairly good indicator that he didn’t approve of it one bit.
“It’s a great opportunity, and that’s why I’m not jetting off around the world with anybody.” I met Jakob’s gaze squarely. “No matter how tempting an offer they make me.”
“In that case, I must be going.” Jakob rose to his feet hastily, tossing his topcoat negligently over his arm. “I thank you for welcoming me into your home, Mrs. Evans. That was a glorious feast to be sure.”
“Well, you’re certainly welcome any time. Are you sure you can’t stay for some pie?”
His eyes lit upon the two pies on the sideboard with obvious envy, but Jakob shook his head. “I’m afraid I have other obligations. Another time, perhaps?”
“Another time,” she smiled girlishly.
“Mr. Evans, it was a great pleasure to meet you.” Jakob stuck out his hand and my father clasped it warmly, not objecting when Jakob pulled him into a one armed hu
g. I heard the flurry of whispered words, but I couldn’t quite make out what he said to my father in the brief exchange.
Hanna burst in at that moment, and in the commotion no one but me noticed Jakob slip out the back. Puzzled by his sudden departure, the reason became clear seconds later when my sister turned back to the front door.
“Mason, what are you doing out there?”
Yep, that would do it. Jakob might talk a big game about how he didn’t sweat the Order, but he sure did a fair amount of running whenever they showed up. Not that my sister’s boyfriend was there in an official capacity, but Mason did know Jakob’s true identity. I could see how Jakob wouldn’t want him to know he was spending quality time with my folks.
I drifted to the top of the stairs to see Mason standing on the other side of the open doorway, his toes right at the edge of the invisible barrier. “Yes, Mason, how come you’re standing out in the cold?” I couldn’t resist the dig.
“You know me, I’m a stickler when it comes to etiquette. I won’t come in unless I’m invited. I’m sure you’re the same way.” His brown eyes flashed with our shared joke, his closely manicured beard enhancing rather than hiding his cheeky grin. He’d left his navy blue tactical gear at home for once, dressed in a pair of black slacks and a blue button up shirt that had to be custom tailored to fit across his muscular chest and arms. Still, I was willing to bet he had at least two weapons strapped to him, out of sight.
“Aw, you know you’re welcome here,” I smiled broadly.
“That’s awful sweet of you, but I’m gonna need something a little more specific.” And from someone alive… I could practically hear him thinking.
“Oh, for Pete’s sake, would you get in here?” Hanna leaned her head out of the kitchen to fix him with an exasperated stare. I wasn’t sure if it would work, since it wasn’t her house, but Mason stepped inside with no trouble. Good to know.
They were received with a fair amount of fuss from my mom who immediately hopped up and dished out two more plates of food. My father played the role of stern patriarch again, and even the hardened vampire cop (who I’d seen be ultra scary before) looked suitably intimidated by his steely gaze.
Soon we were all seated around the table again and I was glad for the distraction, anything to take the focus off of my life.
“Dig in now, there’s plenty more where that came from,” my mother chirped happily, still paying more attention to the wine than her meal.
Mason shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Oh, gosh. This looks great, Mrs. E, but I’m not all that hungry.”
“Don’t be silly, a big strapping boy like you, I’m sure you could eat twice that,” she waved away his objection.
“I really wish I could,” Mason sighed, looking down at the plate with obvious regret. “I’m on this special diet, and I can’t eat big meals like this anymore.”
“Don’t worry, Mom, it’s not your cooking,” Hanna chimed in, adding gravy to everything on her plate. “I can’t get him to eat much at home either. I’m so sorry we’re late, we had a hell of a time getting here from the city.”
“You came from San Francisco?” I blinked in surprise. “You should’ve called, we could’ve come together.”
“Yeah, about that…” Hanna drew in a steadying breath. “I wanted to wait until we were all here together to announce it. Mason and I are moving in together!”
Chapter Eight
I drew Mason aside as soon as I could get him away from the firing squad of questions from my parents. “What are you doing?” I hissed, pulling him into my father’s study.
“I love her,” he shrugged, as if that explained everything.
“Are you nuts? You can’t possibly think this is a good idea.”
“Why not? She loves me too.”
I tried my best to ignore the glorious smile that lit his face at saying those words. It wasn’t that I didn’t want them to be happy, I just wanted my sister alive and well to enjoy it. “You’re supposed to be keeping her out of danger, not inviting her to move into the middle of it.”
“I’m not, I’m moving to be with her. We’ve been spending time at my loft, packing it up.”
“Are you leaving the Order?” I gasped, shocked that he’d consider such a thing. From the way Bishop talked about it, the Order wasn’t something you easily left.
“No, I’m not quitting, I’m trading places with Frost. He’ll take over my beat in your neck of the woods.”
“Who’s Frost?” I wracked my brain, but I couldn’t remember anyone by that name.
“You’ll be meeting him soon enough. Listen, I’m glad we have this chance to talk. Before I move in with Hanna, I want to tell her everything.”
“Everything, everything?”
Mason’s hands came up in a supplicating gesture. “Just about me, your secret is safe.”
“Are you sure about this? What if she freaks out?”
“I’m sure I want this to be the real deal between us. That means no more secrets, no more lies.”
I could respect that, even if I thought there was a very real chance it might blow up in his face. “Alright, when are you going to do it?”
“I was sorta hoping you might come back to the loft with us tonight and help me break it to her. That way she won’t think I’m a nutbar when I tell her I’m a vampire.”
I let out a long breath. “Alright, it’s your funeral. For what it’s worth, I hope it goes your way.”
“Thanks, sis,” he grinned. “I feel pretty good about my chances. Did I mention she loves me?” His grin split wider.
“Don’t get cocky, you haven’t survived the night yet. First you have to make it through the third degree out there and let me warn you, they’re not in the most receptive mood tonight. So be prepared for all kinds of objections, even though Hanna’s an adult.”
Mason cracked his neck one way and then the other, reaching his arms over his head to stretch as if preparing for battle. I might be wrong, but I thought he checked for the comforting weight of a gun against the outside of his ankle before we left the room. Maybe it was just an itch.
“Alright, let’s do this,” he said, lips compressed into a grim line.
*
In the end we decided I’d meet them at Mason’s loft. Gunnar and Isak would’ve followed us either way, and I didn’t want to get too chatty with Hanna for fear of screwing something up before Mason was ready to spill the beans. Besides, I didn’t want to talk about Bishop, and she’d already asked me about him once during our musicale after dinner.
Mason had surprised me by charming my parents with no sign of compulsion whatsoever. His naturally buoyant personality carried him over some misfires in conversation, and by the time he joined us in a spirited rendition of Tie a Yellow Ribbon, down in the rec room, I knew he’d fit in with the family just fine.
My bodyguards insisted upon inspecting the inside of Mason’s apartment before they let me go in, and Mason let them pass without objection.
“What’s with Frick and Frack?” Hanna muttered as we waited out in the stairwell for them to complete their search.
“They’re a perk of the new job I mentioned before. It’s not a big deal, they’re just here for my protection.”
“Oh, right. That sounds like a sweet set up, but why the need for all the muscle? I thought you were like an ambassador?”
“Something like that…” I searched for a simple explanation that wouldn’t peak her interest too much. “There’s a certain criminal element in the people I work with, this is only a precaution.”
Her eyes grew wide as saucers, her voice dropping to a fevered whisper. “Shut up… you do not work for the mob!”
“The mob? God no, what would make you think that?” I stared at her dumbly, not liking the way she smiled at me knowingly.
“Did they make you an offer you couldn’t refuse?”
I opened my mouth to say no, but in a way it was true. Luckily, I was saved from replying by the emergence of my body
guards, who pronounced the loft as secure. They’d been busy packing alright – there were boxes in every corner of the open room, and the weapons Mason used to have up on display were nowhere to be seen. Hanna moved through the loft with the easy assurance of someone who’d spent plenty of time there.
“I’m going to make some coffee. Do you guys want some?”
“Sure, kitten, make mine extra sweet, just like you,” Mason replied, pacing nervously.
“None for me thanks,” I called out, staying by Mason’s side. “Relax, it’ll be alright.”
“Easy for you to say, I have a lot riding on this.”
“Well, if she sees you freaking out it’s going to make her freak out, so try to calm down.”
“What are you two whispering about out there?” Hanna narrowed her eyes at us from the diner style kitchen, and I gave Mason a small push in the direction of the red vinyl stools in front of the breakfast bar.
“Nothing, it’s just… well…”
“Yes?”
“Can I have some cream in my coffee, please?”
Oh, for crying out loud. “Hanna, Mason has something he wants to tell you, and he’s really nervous about it. So, why don’t you have a seat and Mason… just go for it.”
“Okay,” she waited expectantly, sliding onto the stool beside me.
Mason stood on the other side of the counter, steeling himself with a deep breath before he looked up, his big brown puppydog eyes just about breaking my heart. “You and I have been together for a while now, and… it’s been really great,” he began.
“Yep, that part I already know.”
“I mean, really, really great.”
“Uh huh, I think we’ve established that.” Hanna shot me an amused glance. “Keep going.”
“No, I don’t think you get what it’s been like for me. I told you it’s been a long time since I’ve been in a serious relationship, but you don’t understand how long it’s been.”
“I know, we talked about this before we decided to move in together. You’re not having second thoughts, are you? Because it’s okay if you are.”
