“You want to give him the third degree.”
“That too.” He dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “I’ve got to meet him sooner or later. Might as well get it over with.”
With an exasperated sigh, Sofia called Ethan, hoping that introducing the two men she loved wouldn’t bring about the end of the world as she knew it.
He answered on the first ring. “Hey, Sofie, what’s up?”
“Micah wants to meet you.”
“You sure that’s a good idea?”
“Well, as much as I hate to admit it, he’s right,” she said with an exaggerated sigh. “You two have to meet sometime. Might as well be now.”
“All right. I’ll be at your parents’ place by the time you say good-bye.”
Sofia ended the call and opened the front door. Ethan stood there, his hands shoved in his pants’ pockets. For a moment, she drank in the sight of him—so tall and handsome in blue jeans and a leather jacket over a black shirt. “You look just like a rebel from the fifties,” she said, grinning. “All you need is a cigarette behind your ear.”
Ignoring her remark, he gave her a look that clearly said he’d rather be anywhere else.
“I know,” she said. “Come on in.”
As with all houses, Ethan experienced a shimmer of preternatural power as he crossed the Ravenwoods’ threshold and followed Sofia into the living room.
From her place on the love seat, Holly smiled a welcome.
Ethan lifted his chin in acknowledgment. “Hey, Cuz.”
Making introductions, Sofia said, “Ethan, this is my sister Rosa.”
He nodded at the dark-haired young woman sitting in a chair beside the fireplace. There was no mistaking the family resemblance.
“Nice to finally meet you, Ethan,” Rosa said.
He nodded again.
“And this is my nosy brother, Micah. Micah, Ethan.”
Sofia held her breath as the two men shook hands, thinking they looked for all the world like two stags poised to fight over territory.
Sofia resumed her seat on the couch and beckoned for Ethan to join her.
“Sofie tells me you’re doing some remodeling in Morgan Creek,” Micah remarked, settling on the love seat beside Holly.
“We’re about done,” Ethan replied easily. “I think we can make a go of it.”
“What about Browning?” Micah asked.
Ethan glanced at Sofia, who shrugged. “She told you about that, huh?”
“Yeah, but I’m more interested in your intentions toward my baby sister.”
“She asked me to marry her and I said yes.”
“She proposed to you? Interesting.” Micah sent an accusing glance in Sofia’s direction. “She forgot to mention that.”
“With good reason,” Sofia retorted. “Are you two through now? You’re both Saintcrow’s prodigies, so to speak, and we’re all going to be family soon, so maybe the two of you could make an effort to get along.”
Micah and Ethan glared at each other.
Holly jabbed her elbow into Micah’s side. “Enough of this foolishness. I’m drowning in testosterone. Either you play nice with my cousin or you’ll be spending a lot of time on the sofa, if you know what I mean.”
“We’re still on our honeymoon!” Micah protested.
“Are we?” Holly asked.
“Fine,” Micah said. “Welcome to the family, Parrish.”
Sofia nudged Ethan.
“Thanks,” he muttered. “I’m happy to be here.”
Sofia looked at Holly, then at Rosa, and the three of them burst out laughing.
* * *
“Well, that was a night I could have done without,” Ethan remarked later, when he and Sofia were alone in the living room. Rosa had gone to bed. Micah and Holly had gone back to the hospital to check on the old man.
Sofia rested her head on Ethan’s shoulder. “It wasn’t so bad.”
Ethan snorted. “Not so bad? Your brother looked at me like I was going to steal the family silver as soon as he turned his back. Or worse.”
“He’s my big brother. Well, one of many. But Micah’s always been more protective of me than the others.”
“I don’t think he’s going to be too thrilled to have me in the family.”
“Do you care?”
“Not really,” he said, pulling her into his arms. “You never told me how your dad’s doing.”
“Hopefully, we’ll know something by tomorrow.” Sofia worried her lower lip. “If we get bad news . . . I mean, if things look hopeless . . . I saw how your blood helped that woman Mateo attacked. Would it make my father well?”
“I don’t know if it would fix what ails him, but it would likely help him recover his strength. Don’t you think you should be discussing this with Micah? He is family.”
“I know, but your blood is stronger, don’t you think?”
“Maybe.”
“You wouldn’t have to turn him, would you?”
“Not unless he’s on the brink of death. But that would have to be his decision, if he’s conscious. Or your mother’s, I guess. In any case, you should be discussing this with her and with your brothers and sisters, not me.”
“I can’t imagine any of them would object. I mean, they all know about vampires now.”
“That doesn’t mean they want another one in the family,” he said with a wry grin. “But I’ll do whatever you want. For now, you should probably get some sleep.”
She nodded. “I can hardly keep my eyes open.”
“Go on up to bed. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Micah’s going to be green with envy when he finds out you can be awake during the day and he can’t.”
“Good.” He kissed her, long and slow, savoring the taste of her, the scent of her hair, the softness of her skin, loving the way she always melted against him. Soon, he thought, soon she would be his in every way that mattered.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Nolan Browning stood on the bridge at the entrance to Morgan Creek. It galled him that Saintcrow had killed Shiloh so easily. He had been told she was a powerful witch—but not, it seemed, powerful enough to defeat Saintcrow.
So, now he was on his own again.
Curious, he walked across the bridge, only to be stopped in his tracks when he reached the other side. Damn Saintcrow! He had warded the town again, only this time it was against his own kind instead of humans.
He gazed at the buildings beyond. The darkness hid nothing from his preternatural vision. The work was going faster than he had expected.
Perhaps he would bide his time, wait until the renovations were complete, before he tried to get rid of Saintcrow again. Or maybe he would just wait until Saintcrow or Kadie got tired of the place and decided to leave. New as he was, the fledgling, Ethan, wouldn’t be much of a challenge. With Saintcrow gone and the fledgling destroyed, it would be no trouble at all to take over Morgan Creek. He had spoken with Felix, Quinn, Lonigan, and Vaughn. All had expressed interest in returning to Morgan Creek.
Nodding, he walked back to the highway, where he had left his car parked.
Waiting was the smart thing to do.
After all, he had all the time in the world.
Chapter Thirty
In the morning, Sofia and Rosa accompanied their mother to the hospital. It was all Sofia could do to keep from crying when she saw her father. He looked much the same as he had the night before: pale, fragile. Vulnerable.
“He looks better, don’t you think?” Lena murmured, stroking her husband’s brow.
Sofia and Rosa exchanged looks.
“Sure, Mom,” Sofia said.
The doctor came in a short time later, his expression grave as he explained the patient’s condition. The only thing Sofia really understood was that there had been no change and that the longer he remained unconscious, the more unlikely his recovery would be.
Lena collapsed in a chair, sobbing. She sat there for several minutes, her face buried in her
hands. “I’m going to the chapel to pray,” she declared, blinking back her tears. “Only the good Lord can help him now.”
“Rosie, why don’t you go with her?” Sofia suggested. “I’ll be there as soon as I check in with Ethan.”
Nodding, Rosa led their mother out of the room.
When she was alone, Sofia took her father’s hand in hers. “I don’t know if you can hear me, Dad, but I’m not going to let you go, not like this. Not when I might be able to help.” Leaning down, she kissed his cheek, then whispered, “I love you, Daddy. Please don’t leave us.”
* * *
“I’m staying here, at the hospital,” Lena said. “He might wake up and need me.”
Instead of arguing with her mother, Sofia sent a group text to her brothers and sisters, and they decided to take turns staying with Mom, each one taking a shift, with the women going during the day and the men scheduled for a few hours after work at night. Sofia volunteered for the nine-to-midnight shift. Micah and Holly were the logical choice for midnight until three a.m.
Rosa decided to stay and take the first shift. “I might as well,” she said, “since I’m already here.”
Sergio nodded. “Sounds good. I’ll relieve you at noon.”
* * *
When Sofia returned home, Ethan was waiting for her on the front porch.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” she said, unlocking the door.
“Bad news?”
“He’s still unconscious.” Sitting on the edge of the sofa, she peeled off her sweater and kicked off her shoes. “Mom’s staying at the hospital, afraid to leave for fear that . . . you know. My sisters and brothers are all going to take turns staying with her.”
Nodding, he sat beside her, his hand massaging her back.
“That feels so good.” She closed her eyes. “You’d probably rather be at Morgan Creek overseeing the finishing touches on the renovation than stuck here with me.”
“I’m not stuck here with you. I’m here because this is where I want to be. Saintcrow can look after things while I’m away. It’s his town after all.”
Sofia smiled up at him, then laughed softly when her stomach growled. “I haven’t eaten since breakfast.”
“Do you want me to make you a sandwich?”
“Seriously?”
“Hey, I might not be able to eat it, but I haven’t forgotten how to make one.”
“That would be nice, thanks.” Settling back on the sofa, she closed her eyes again, thinking what a sweet guy he was. She couldn’t ever remember having a boyfriend who offered to fix her anything to eat. Sure, they had taken her out for dinner, sometimes to lunch, but there was nothing personal about that. She grinned as she listened to Ethan moving about in the kitchen, amused by the thought of a vampire fixing her a sandwich.
“Hey,” he called from the kitchen. “Do you want something to drink? Milk? Soda? Water?”
“Soda sounds good.”
A few minutes later, he returned, carrying a plate in one hand and a glass of root beer with ice in the other. “Here you go.”
“Looks perfect,” she said as he placed it on the coffee table. And it was. The sandwich was thick with roast beef, Swiss cheese, tomato, onion, and pickles, light on the mustard and mayonnaise. Just the way she liked it. She frowned as she took a bite. “Did you read my mind? Is that how you knew what I like?”
“Guilty as charged.” He dropped into the chair next to the couch. “Are you mad?”
“Not a bit.” She sipped her drink, took another bite of her sandwich. “Do you miss eating?”
“Not as much as I thought I would. I remember what things taste like, but . . .” He shrugged. “I don’t really have a desire for any of it.”
“And the . . . blood?”
“Do you really want to talk about that while you’re eating?”
She shrugged.
“I never really thought about liking it or not. It’s necessary.” He paused a moment, thinking about it. “If you want the truth, I guess I do like it. When I prey on someone, I get a glimpse of their whole life—who they are, what they want, if they’re happy or miserable. It’s a kind of high that’s hard to explain.”
“Do you get all that when you drink from me?”
“I don’t take enough of your blood for that.”
“When you exchanged blood with Saintcrow, did you see his past?”
“More of it than I wanted.”
“What did you see?”
“Just bits and pieces, some longer than others. I got a glimpse of his life before he was turned. And after—years of savagery and killing until he learned to control his hunger and his power. I caught snatches of life in Morgan Creek. And a sense of the peace he found when he met Kadie.” His gaze met hers. “Sort of the way I feel with you.”
Whether it was because they could read each other’s thoughts or because they both had a sudden need to touch, she didn’t know, but they stood at the same time, each reaching for the other.
“Sofie.” Her name was a groan on his lips as he stroked her back.
She rested her cheek against his chest, utterly content to stand there with his arms tight around her.
“Marry me now. Tonight. I can’t wait any longer.”
It was tempting. Oh so tempting. “My family,” she murmured. “It would break my mother’s heart if she wasn’t there. My . . . my dad’s, too.”
“We could keep it a secret for now and have a big wedding later.”
“We don’t have a license. And I don’t want to leave here, even for a few minutes, you know, in case my dad takes a turn for the worse, or . . .” She couldn’t finish the sentence, afraid if she said it out loud, it might happen.
He nodded. “You’re right. I was only thinking of myself. Sorry.”
“I love you, too. As soon as my dad’s out of danger, we’ll get married, I promise.”
* * *
Later that afternoon, Sofia decided to take a nap, since she had chosen to take one of the late-night shifts at the hospital.
“I think I’ll go check on things at Morgan Creek,” Ethan said. “I’ll be back before it’s time for you to go keep your mom company.”
“Okay. Be careful.”
“Right.” A hug and a kiss, and he was gone.
* * *
Workers were swarming over the residences when Ethan arrived. A couple of men were painting the outside trim on the hotel. Two others were pouring a section of new concrete in front of the tavern.
He was checking out the freshly planted shrubbery at the park when Saintcrow fell into step beside him.
“I was beginning to think you’d found another interest.”
“Sofia’s dad’s in the hospital. It’s not looking real good.”
“You can fix that.”
“Yeah, she asked me to, but I told her she needed to talk it over with her family, especially Micah. He’s not too keen on having another vampire in the family.”
“It’s a territorial thing,” Saintcrow remarked. “He can’t help it. None of us can.”
“Territorial? What the hell does that mean?”
“Just what it sounds like. It’s unusual for more than one or two vampires to occupy the same city, and when they do, one is usually a master vampire who keeps the others in line.”
“Is that how it was when you and your fanged friends all lived here?”
Saintcrow nodded. “I was the boss. I laid down the rules. I disposed of anybody who broke the law.”
“Are you saying Micah’s a master vampire?”
“Hardly. But it’s his hometown, and that gives him priority.”
Ethan grunted softly. Live and learn. “Are there a lot of vampires in the world?”
“No. Like I said, we’re territorial. Old vampires tend to get rid of new ones in their territory. Those who go rogue are destroyed. The fewer of us there are, the better for everyone.” He paused at the edge of town, nostrils flared, eyes narrowing as his gaze swept the area. Sat
isfied there was no danger lurking in the shadows, he resumed walking. “Reed says his crew should be finished here by the end of the month. You’d better start hiring people if you want to open this place.”
“Right. I’ll put an ad in the paper on Monday.” They needed someone to man the front desk in the hotel, a couple of maids, cooks, and waitresses for the hotel dining room and the tavern, someone to sell tickets in the movie theater and work the concession counter, maybe a lifeguard or two for the pool, maids to clean the rentals, a couple of guys to run the gas station. Damn, it was going to be one heck of a long ad!
“When are you and Sofia gonna tie the knot?”
“Not until her old man recovers.”
“Is that likely?”
“How should I know? I’m not a doctor.” They walked in silence for a moment. “Where do you think Browning’s gone off to?”
“I don’t know. He was here the other night. I caught his scent on the bridge.”
“You don’t think he’ll go looking for another witch, do you?”
“I doubt it. They’re not that easy to find. And most of them don’t want anything to do with vampires. Alone, he’s no threat.”
Ethan nodded. “I hope you’re right.”
Saintcrow huffed a sigh of exasperation. “When have I ever been wrong?”
Ethan might have taken exception to that if he hadn’t heard Sofia’s voice in his mind, begging him to hurry back. Ethan bid a quick farewell to his sire and returned to the Ravenwood home as fast as preternatural power could take him.
* * *
He found Sofia pacing the living-room floor, her eyes red from crying.
“Rosa called,” she said, blinking back her tears. “My dad is . . . is . . . Oh, Ethan, you have to do something!”
“All right, let’s go.” Wrapping his arm securely around her waist, he transported her to a back entrance where their sudden appearance would, hopefully, go unobserved.
Luck was with them. A little vampire magic unlocked the door, and they hurried toward the elevator. There were times, Ethan mused, when having enhanced senses was more of a curse than a blessing. Now was one of those times. He wrinkled his nose against the strong scents of blood, death, and disinfectant that permeated the air, along with other, even less pleasant smells.
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