“Stop freaking out,” she said softly. “Stop denying your feelings for him because you think it’s wrong to love a vampire. I understand, though. We were taught to hate them. But it’s time to follow your heart. And how do you know the baby will have fangs?”
“Jo told me. Dr. Vieira thinks that’s the reason I’m drinking Sam’s blood.”
“Sounds to me like Dr. Vieira doesn’t know that for sure. I think your pregnancy hormones are kicking in and making you emotional. Look, I’m flying out tonight.”
“I thought you were staying for another day,” I said, sniffling.
“Conrad told me about Rianne, so I’m leaving early.”
“Did you accept the job, by the way?”
“We’ll talk in person.” She sounded as though something had happened.
I flicked away a tear. “Jordyn, what’s wrong?”
“Have you talked to Aunt Tab?” she asked.
My aunt was the farthest thing from my mind. “I have no reason to.”
“She’s worried about you. Call her.”
“You didn’t mention the pregnancy, did you?” My pity party vanished as a foreboding feeling clutched at my throat.
“Of course not,” Jordyn said, “but Uncle Jack has reached out to Steven Mason. He finally wants to meet with him. I think he wants Steven’s help.”
I coughed then swallowed. “Why?” Jack was too proud to ask anyone for help.
“She couldn’t talk. Call her, Layla. I’ll see you tonight.” Then she hung up.
Crap.We barely talked about Rianne.
A chill scraped down my spine as I flushed the toilet. Maybe Aunt Tab knew what Rianne was up to. I went over to the sink, which had a collection of soaps, lotions, and a basket of washcloths beside it. I turned on the faucet and let it run while I checked myself in the mirror.
My blue eyes were dull with faint black circles underneath them. My freckled nose was red. My lips were chapped, but not as badly as they had been the day before. My auburn hair didn’t have the normal shine to it, and I had a pimple on my nose. Overall, I looked like death.
I splashed warm water on my face several times and checked myself again. I laughed through tears. No amount of water would change my ghostly appearance. Shuddering, I combed my fingers through my hair, attempting to fluff it up, but it was no use.
I gave myself a stern look in the mirror. “You’re strong, girl.” I rolled my shoulders back. “You can handle anything.” I repeated those two lines as I turned and leaned against the sink.
A bathtub big enough for two was tucked in the far corner, a skylight above it. Suddenly, my mind took a trip back to the night when Sam had been the star of my dream. The memory quickly vanished when the doorbell rang.
I collected my phone, which I’d set on the counter, and tapped on Aunt Tab’s number. The line rang three times before her panicked voice came through. “Layla, how are you? I’ve been going crazy not knowing if you were okay. Jack told me what Rianne and Noah did. I’m shocked beyond words.”
I believed her since her tone pitched and rolled. “I’m okay. Confused as heck about Rianne. I don’t think she and I will be working out our differences. Do you know why she flew to Boston?”
“She’s in Boston? Oh, Jack and I have been looking for her and Noah. They seemed to have disappeared. Is Noah with her?”
“Not as far as I know,” I replied. “What’s going on? I hear Uncle Jack wants to meet with Steven Mason.”
“It’s true. He wants Steven’s help to find Noah. After Jack yelled at Noah and Rianne for what they’d done to you, they disappeared. We’ve tried calling him and Rianne. It’s like they dropped off the planet. But you said Rianne is in Boston, so that’s good news.”
I captured a nail between my teeth. “Maybe Noah went to visit Jack Jr. in Chicago.” Although if he did, Jordyn would’ve mentioned it, or at least Carly would’ve told Jordyn.
“He didn’t. We checked with Jack Jr.,” she said. “I’m afraid he might’ve been taken by that Roman vampire.”
That didn’t add up. Roman would go after those Sam and the SEAL team cared about, and Noah didn’t fit into that circle. Rianne might, though. Unless my uncle Ray incited Roman recently.
My brain was about to explode with too many unanswered questions, but one in particular was nagging at me. “Was Jack involved in the plot to burn Sam?” I wanted to believe he wasn’t.
