Doc had put Foxx into a deeper sleep, and had done something to those ‘threads’. Harlow again didn’t completely understand, but whatever the man had done, it seemed to improve Foxx’s condition. The brat had looked healthier afterwards.
Either way, according to Doc, he’d healed the ‘threads’ as much as he could, but the rest was up to Foxx. He said the vampire needed to take the time to rest, and above all else, he had to avoid using his bloodline powers for at least a month, to give everything time to regenerate and strengthen.
“Aunty, Foxx is going to come with me,” she chimed happily. “He said so. We are going to be a family!”
Harlow’s eyes widened, gaze snapping to the girl.
“Baby,” the woman started hesitantly. “Foxx can’t stay with us. He needs to stay with his own family.”
She blinked, eyes starting to go glossy. “But… NO… Then I’m going to stay with Foxx!”
Her aunt winced, and crouched down in front of Melody, placing her hands on her knees. “Melody, I know Foxx is your friend. And I am very grateful that he is. But he needs to stay with his family, and you need to stay with us.”
Harlow wished more than anything that he could find some way to exit the room without notice when the little girl started to cry—ugh, children…
* * *
Foxx glared at Harlow.“I want to go home.”
Harlow sat there peeling an apple, expression blank, not reacting to his words at all.
“Don’t ignore me,” he hissed.
The human sighed. “Calm your ass down, Foxx. You will go home when the doctors are good and ready to release you.”
“Whatever,” Foxx huffed and crossed his arms. While his back pulled a bit painfully, he ignored it. Just a few more days and it would be better. “By the way, where is Melody?”
Harlow’s knife paused, his gaze finally lifting up to look at him. “Why?”
He frowned. “Why? Because I’ve decided to take her in. Her parents are dead. So she needs someone. I’m financially—”
“Stop,” Harlow said firmly.
Foxx blinked. “Stop what?!”
“You are not taking that child in. You don’t even like children.”
He clenched his bandaged hands into fists, uncaring about the pain it caused him. His heart, for some reason, started to race. “I promised I wouldn’t leave her. I’m not breaking my promise.”
“Foxx, leave it alone.”
“Where is she?!” he demanded.
“Foxx, she has been in here already, while you were asleep. She knows she can’t stay with you.”
That…that wasn’t right. He’d promised. Shecouldstay with him! There was no reason why she couldn’t!
“She can!” Foxx hissed.
“She has family. An aunt and uncle. They will be taking her in. You have no right to take her. And let’s be real, you know you don’t really want to. You don’t even like kids.”
“She is MINE to protect! You can’t keep her from me! I promised her, Harlow!”
“Foxx, calm down.”
“YOU are making me a liar! I won’t let you!”
“Foxx, stop screaming.”
