Dad grinned at me and gave me a grateful wink. “We’ve all missed you, Son. Even Caitlin. Maybe her most of all. She’s been stuck in the Lair without anyone to walk over and harass.” He gave a little chuckle at his own humor.
“I doubt she would see it that way.”
“Well, Finn, you know your sister. Admitting need or affection is a lot more daunting than anger.” His heavy shoulders gave a small shrug. “She’s just afraid she’s losing you.”
She had lost me. They all had. I’d lost myself. Whoever it was in this shell of my old body wasn’t me. “Things are okay at Mascarada?”
“Oh yes!” He was visibly relieved with the turn of the conversation. Dad loved us kids more than his own life. However, he had always told people he had five children, Mascarada being the largest of the de Morisco siblings. “The high school is doing a huge production ofThe Sound of Music. I’ve never had to stock up on so many nun habits and Nazi uniforms since I’ve opened the store.” He leaned closer conspiratorially. “I gave them a twenty percent discount if they agreed to use Caitlin as their lead makeup artist for the show. Not that she needs it after doing the movie, but you never know if that kind of thing might come again. Gotta stay prepared.”
“I’m glad, Dad.” Already the two of them seemed better, just from these few minutes of conversation. Had my absence really been this hard on them? Probably being worried about one of your kids hurt as much as getting left by the man you love. Maybe more.
The room returned to awkward silence again. I could see Dad wracking his brain, trying to come up with something else to say.
“Did you hear on the news about the seal that came too far inland and got stranded?”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. Dad was a news junkie. “No, I must’ve missed that.”
“Sure enough. Got all turned around and was wandering around the shopping district in La Jolla. Would have loved to hear all those fancy women screeching at the top of their lungs while they’re trying to carry all their name-brand shopping bags.”
Mom seemed to realize the blunder before he did. La Jolla floated in the air between the three of us.
“I’ve been going to Brett’s grandma’s every night.” I hadn’t meant to say it. It was all the way out of my mouth before I could even attempt to pull it back in.
Hurt flashed in Mom’s eyes, but she quickly shoved it away. “You and she have a good relationship?”
“No. I mean, yes, I guess so. We’ve only spoken once since Brett’s been gone.”
Her eyebrows creased in confusion.
“I’ve just been watching over her. Invisible.”
A tender expression washed over her face. “My sweet boy. Making sure she’s safe from the vampire?”
I nodded. “And hoping that Brett would come back to see her.”
No words.
“He hasn’t.” I guessed that clarification was unnecessary.
Dad had less pride in his “sweet” little boy than Mom. “You don’t have any business getting tangled up with a vampire. Getting killed isn’t going to help Brett, his grandmother, or anyone else.”
I thought about reminding him of the interaction I’d already had with the vampire and that I was fine. Of course, Brett had been with me then, not to mention Caitlin. “I know, Dad. But what am I supposed to do? Just give up?”
His lips curved down into a tight frown. “I assume you don’t really mean give up on taking out this vampire. You mean give up on finding Brett.”
“I have to find him, Dad. What if the vampire finds him first?”
“Then that will be an unfortunate day for the vampire. Brett is part demon. He can take care of himself.”
I looked at Mom. “You remember! That first night, after the vampire had done all that stuff to him.”
She nodded slowly. “Yes, dear, I do. He was a mess. However, that was before he even knew vampires, witches, or even demons were real—much less that he was one.” She made an imploring gesture with her hands. “And even then, the vampire was nearly burned to a crisp.”
True. All of it completely true. Brett was safer with a vampire than any of us would be. Safer than all of us put together. He was probably even immortal.
But what if he wasn’t?
“What if he doesn’t come back? What if I never see him again?” I hated the little-boy crack in my voice.
