“Even rich men need security, Dad.”
“Yes, but they’ll have money left over.Don’t settle.You are a strong, intelligent, beautiful woman, and you can choose any man you want.Don’t waste your power on someone who doesn’t deserve you.”
I wiped my mouth with a napkin.“Do you want to go anywhere special today?We can drive to the bar, the hardware store, the bookstore, or even take a ride into the next town and sit at that local park you like.”
My father shook his head.“Straight to bed after I finish up.Gonna take me a long nap.Yes, I am.”
He looked utterly exhausted, but I could tell he enjoyed having a guest in the house to break up the monotony.Lucian didn’t talk as much as usual, which my father delighted in since he was a professional storyteller.I had a feeling Lucian might be holding back.Maybe he didn’t enjoy our company, or maybe it was awkward dining with the local Council.I didn’t know him well enough to read him.
“Chinese is my favorite food.”Lucian dumped another helping onto his plate.
I nibbled on a red pepper.“I bet Bear makes an excellent pack chef.I’m envious.Sometimes I bring home lunch from the bar.His food is a hit in this house.Before he came along, the only way to get a quick meal was to order ahead at Dragonfly’s, and they’re pricy.”
Lucian gulped his tea and then set the glass down.“He doesn’t make Chinese food that often—Americanorauthentic.And his version always has some fancy shit thrown in.It’s nothing like the dives up north.”
“Up north, you say?”My father set down his fork.“Where are you from?”
“Cognito.It’s by the coast?—”
“I know where it is.I used to live there in…” His gaze fixed on the table.“Was it 1750?Long time ago.I bet it’s changed.”
“I wouldn’t know,” Lucian replied matter-of-factly.“I’m only in my eighties.”
“Cognito was one of the first Breed-only cities.Did you know that?”My father shook his head.“They tried, but they couldn’t keep the humans out.”
Lucian looked across the table at him.“Whose side were you on?”
My dad finished the last of his rice.“I had no problem with humans.But they had a lot of problems with us.All them witch hunts.”He shook his head.“It was the Vampires who drove them out.They wanted power and control.”
“A tale as old as time.”I leaned back in my chair and knew where this conversation was heading.He needed rest more than giving a lecture on the trouble with our society.In the end, it always gave him heartburn.“Come on, Dad.Let’s get you downstairs so I can paint the house.”
While I helped him to his walker and grabbed the portable oxygen tank handle, he muttered, “If I were a younger man,Iwould paint the house.”
“I know you would.”
“I should be the one fixing things around here.”
He was especially tired this afternoon, so once we were downstairs, I dimmed the lights and adjusted the thermostat to a cooler temperature.As soon as his head hit the pillow, he was sound asleep.I kissed his forehead, grateful that we’d had a good day together.Maybe after his nap, we could play checkers like we used to in the old days.
I padded barefoot across the room and filled up a thermos with water and a few ice cubes.After setting it on the bedside table, I collected the trash and headed upstairs.
When the elevator doors opened in the kitchen hall, loud voices startled me.
“You gotta be fucking kidding me,” a man grumbled from outside the door.
Lucian braced his hand on the doorjamb.“I’ll leave her a message.”
“I’m sure you will, Lucy.But I’m here on business.”
I rushed to the door and was met by a very muscular man with a grey shirt so tight that his tattoos looked like they wanted to jump right off his arms.“Mr.Shaw.What are you doing here?”
Deacon pushed his sunglasses on top of his head.“Hamish sent me.”
“Lucian, I’ll be a minute.”
When Lucian pivoted away, I could’ve sworn I glimpsed his fangs.
After stepping onto the front porch, I closed the glass door behind me.“What’s this about?Mr.Macgregor always calls.”
