“You sound like him,” Cooper said as he pointed a finger at me. “He gave a similar speech to our pack.”
“Which is why my father is stepping up, no matter the consequences,” I uttered. “If we allow the ancient asshole elders to lead us, vampires are fucked.”
Tripp gave me a nod. “Exactly. Soon enough the elders, guardians, and those vampires not on board with us will either realize Steven is right and join us, or they’ll perish. There’s no room for rogue vampires.”
I leaned against the cool window, which was a welcome relief to the sweat on my back. “Does that mean I’m free from the guardians?” I sure as hell wasn’t safe from hunters.
Tripp straddled the other arm of the couch. “You’re not out of the woods just yet. As we speak, Steven has called for a vote from the scouts and guardians nationwide. He’s also preparing to round up those in Boston who do not stand with us. But I suspect that if your father is successful, those elders against him will use you to piss him off and will follow through on bringing you in.”
I bit my lip. “I’m damned either way. There’s no need for me to hide from the guardians anymore.”
“Which is another reason why I’m here,” Tripp said. “Sam and I are heading to Maine.”
Fuck yeah! Best news ever. “You said she was okay. So what’s the plan?”
“To pack up Layla and the kids and bring them here.” Tripp regarded Dane. “That’s okay, right?”
“Yes,” Dane said. “And you can include Abbey and Alia. But as far as using our place as a second command center and us joining your fight, Cooper and I have to discuss that with our pack. Wearedesperate to find Ross, but like you, we need to be strategic. I’ll have an answer for you by morning.”
I was itching to see my feisty huntress and our children, but I had to ask Tripp the obvious question. “Can’t Conrad, Jo, Rebekah, and Stan’s men escort everyone here?”
“Conrad is needed in Boston, Stan’s men have to protect their town, and Rebekah is only one wolf,” Tripp said. “Also, Jo and Abbey are on their way to meet Webb and Alia in Boston. Jo will pick up Alia, then return to Maine while Webb helps your father.”
“No argument from me,” I said. “I just needed to understand the plan. I’ll pack my things.”
I was out the door before Tripp could stop me, and as I wound through the compound, butterflies were going wild in my stomach. The nine-hour drive would be long, but knowing I would have my arms around my wife and be kissing my babies by dinnertime tonight would be worth every confining hour, minute, and second in the car.
27
LAYLA
By lunchtime, I was ready for a nap alongside my little ones, who were snoozing away in their baby rockers by the fireplace while I lay on the couch. My run that morning and my talk with Conrad had wiped me out. Not to mention diaper changes, feedings, and cleaning up my bedroom. I was sleeping in the nursery with my children, and my room was a disaster. I’d always been a neat person, but that went out the window with quadruplets.
Jo and Abbey had left about five hours ago. They should be in Boston by now, picking up Alia Costner, who had ridden with Webb. Jo’s husband had a meeting with the council. Otherwise, Webb would’ve driven up to the house.
When I probed Jo for more information on Webb’s meeting, her response had been, “I can’t say anything. But all will be revealed soon enough.” She’d seemed relaxed, which told me Steven was working his magic. My gut had failed me on Steven. I’d thought something happened to him, but I guessed it hadn’t.
I suspected Alia was coming to stay with us because she needed protection. She hadn’t heard from her father, her son was in the hands of Adam, and since she carried the vampire gene but had never turned, she could be targeted as a guinea pig for her DNA or experimented on to confirm if the serum worked on a person with her vampire lineage.
The ocean outside the glass accordion doors appeared calm. The skies were crystal clear and bright blue, and the salt air floated inside. It would be a perfect day for the beach if it wasn’t for Rorie. She was warm to the touch. Even after Rebekah examined her and confirmed Rorie’s vitals were normal and she didn’t have a fever, I didn’t want to leave the house. As a first-time mom, I was paranoid and anxious. It didn’t help that my hormones were acting up. But Rebekah assured me nothing was wrong with Rorie.
Truth be told, I was tired. Exercising in the mornings, taking care of four littles, missing Sam terribly, and worrying were physically and emotionally draining.
I closed my eyes, sleep a second away from taking me under when my phone vibrated, dancing on the coffee table with a low buzzing sound.
Damn it.With the babies sleeping, I’d switched my cell to vibrate. But the vibration against the table was loud enough to disturb them—or at least Orion with his sensitive vamp hearing. A quick glance confirmed otherwise. Thank God. I’d just gotten them down for their naps.
Jordyn’s name came across the screen. My sister and Rebekah had gone into town to pick up lunch at Trina’s, and I suspected Trina was out of elderberry pie. She always ran out and couldn’t make the delicious dessert fast enough, especially with Jordyn and me buying it on a daily basis.
“Is Trina out of pie?” I asked as I answered.
“Not at all,” the female voice on the other end said.
I was on my feet in less than a second, my pulse lighting up like the Fourth of July, the steadyboom, boom, boomramming against my skin. I opened my mouth to speak, but my tongue was stuck to the roof of my mouth. The room spun into a wild vortex, and before I could take one step, large hands were around me, guiding me to sit down.
I blinked, and Conrad’s hazel eyes swirled to black.
“Layla!” Rianne’s voice shouted through the cell.
