I thought for a split second about Jack’s rental that I’d stolen but then discarded any need to return it. We didn’t have time, and I didn’t have the energy to care what happened to it.
Surprisingly, Sam didn’t say a derogatory word or threat about either Jack or Noah. Frankly, I wanted nothing to do with either of them or anyone else in the Aberdeen clan, except Jordyn. She was going to have a stroke when she learned what Rianne was about to do.
Mounds of snow blipped by along the highway as the hum of tires on the salt-laden road lulled me into a trance. I tuned out Steven’s voice as he talked about their next move. The next nine months—or sooner, if I delivered early—were more important. I wasn’t one to run and hide. But Sam was right. Going off the grid would keep me safe until our child was born.
15
SAM
Isat up in a bed that wasn’t mine. For the last forty-eight hours, I’d been Doc’s hostage in the infirmary at the naval base until he gave me the all clear that Carly hadn’t fucked me up. I’d been worried about my head. Doc speculated that she might’ve been comparing my brain function to a human’s to check for any similarities or differences. Since I wasn’t exhibiting any signs of memory loss or anything to indicate my mind was fried, Doc didn’t think we had anything to worry about.
The bad news—I wasn’t sleeping beside Layla. She’d spent one day in the infirmary. Then Dr. Vieira discharged her. She’d hung out in my room for a bit and told me about her exam with Dr. Vieira, complained about Rianne, and poured out her emotions over her family.
Every bone and fiber in me thirsted to take away the emotional pain Rianne inflicted on her sister. The only way I knew how was to murder the bitch. But in doing so, I would only hurt Layla. But I couldn’t promise her or myself that I wouldn’t do something drastic when it came to Rianne. If she had any notion of taking out Layla like she had on that loading dock, I would kill Rianne without even blinking.
On top of that, I’d almost lost my mind after Layla explained what had happened at the airport when I’d been taken. I’d never been more grateful to my old man than I was for saving Layla and my unborn child. Carly had mentioned something about Layla getting caught in the helicopter basket. But as Carly fucked with my head, I hadn’t registered the true terror of Layla dangling by a thread.
Regardless, the woman I was hopelessly in love with continued to put her own life on the line for me, which was why I didn’t go apeshit on her. How could I? I would’ve done the same fucking thing.
It tore my heart out to see her emotionally distraught and tired as fuck. I recommended she go to my apartment where it was quiet, which would give her the freedom to kick back and relax. Plus, I wanted her close. The infirmary and my apartment were in the same building but on opposite ends, so if she needed me, I would be there in a flash, and if our enemies got any ideas about storming in, I could get to Layla quickly.
Doc strolled in with a stethoscope around his neck, pens poking out of the chest pocket on his lab coat, and a bright smile on his face.
I clutched the blanket over my lap. “I hope your smile says you’re discharging me.” It was approaching midnight, and Doc had been working around the clock to ensure I had no more drugs in my system. Carly had pumped enough drugs into me to feed an army of addicts who craved their next fix, which was the main reason I hadn’t left the infirmary and not only because of Doc’s orders. I couldn’t risk Layla drinking from me, not until I knew I didn’t have crap in me that would jeopardize her or our kid. Otherwise, I would be snuggled up to a naked Layla, taking away her pain, and fucking her into next week.
“You’re good,” Doc said, removing the IV from the back of my hand.
Hall-e-fucking-lujah. Layla, here I come.My dick jerked at the thought of pounding into my beautiful huntress.
“But before I let you leave, I need to draw blood. I have minimal reserves here, and if something happens again, I want to be prepared. Not only if you’re injured, but for Layla and the baby.”
I couldn’t argue with him despite my desperation to be with Layla. She and the baby came before my dick or my blue fucking balls. “Is it imperative that Layla has my blood?” We needed a backup plan if I was missing in action for an extended period of time.
He switched out the IV bag for an empty one. “It’s hard to say. I’m still researching our historical records. But so far, I haven’t found anything to help me with Layla’s pregnancy. However, if she doesn’t have access to your blood, I suggest Jo’s or your father’s. The processed ones we drink have too many additives, and it wouldn't be good for the fetus.”
I rubbed the back of my neck. “So it’s not for sure our kid will come out with fangs?”
He stuck a needle in my vein. “No. Her Vel-negative blood indicates she comes from a line of witches. Therefore, that’s a possibility, or it could end up being a combo.”
“Like Abbey?” My niece had never been dubbed a witch. But she’d been born with magical powers. She was a special little girl, and if the prophecy was correct, she didn’t need her father’s blood to turn into a vampire. According to our late grandfather, Abbey would slowly lose her humanity as she aged and at sixteen would be a full-fledged vampire.
We were seeing her change right before us. At ten years old, her powers were getting stronger. Her ability to read the future was becoming sharper. She could open a door with a wave of her hand.
“Possibly. As you know, Jo is still looking into Abbey’s mother’s family.”
Jo and Doc suspected that Rachel, Abbey’s birth mom, came from a powerful coven of witches.
Dark red liquid flowed from my arm into the bag as Doc continued. “I understand Layla’s scream has an effect on humans,” he said. “If that’s the case, I don’t know any vampires with that ability.”
“When I held Layla’s hand the other day, a bolt of electricity connected us,” I said. “It was stronger than the supernatural charge when Jo and I combined our powers. Layla shouldn’t have that much elemental energy. Is it coming from the baby?”
Doc scraped a hand along the side of his face. “From my calculations and her exam yesterday, she’s just about a month along. So until the fetus develops more, it’s too early to tell.” He released a breath. “On another note, she will probably require more and more blood as she settles into her pregnancy. With her hormones and body changing, she’ll also need lots of rest. She can’t be fighting or throwing herself into the fray, and we need to keep you alive and healthy for her. Therefore, as much as you want to fight, Sam, you cannot risk yourself either.”
“I’m a soldier, Doc. I’m not disagreeing with you, but I might not have a choice.” Particularly if our enemies decided to bring the fight to us, much like Roman had when he invaded the naval base in search of Abbey. Not only that, if my grandfather’s message to my father held any truth, then I was instrumental in the coming war.
“I know. But we need to be cautious, and with her grandmother in the picture, it’s even more important to keep both of you under the radar. Especially Layla.”
I wasn’t worried about Harriet for myself, but when it came to Layla—for sure. “You did warn me about Harriet,” I mumbled. My head was still reeling about the old lady and her intentions—in particular, allowing her granddaughter, Rianne, to be a model lab rat for her sick plan. “There’s something I can’t quite figure out. The Aberdeens have killed vampires for centuries. Now Harriet wants to build an army of supernatural soldiers to take out people like me. If something like cobalt oxide can burn us from the inside out, why not just load us up with the shit instead of using humans to experiment on? That seems like a no-brainer to me.”
