They were still alone when she came out a few minutes later, “Hattie came up to check on you,” he said. “I told her we’d be down when you’re dressed.”
CHAPTER 18
***MALCOLM***
They followed the smell of coffee downstairs and found everyone gathered in the kitchen. Hattie was just setting a steaming pan of scrambled eggs on the table. “You’re just in time, breakfast is ready,” she called. “Grab some coffee and join us.”
“Do you all have breakfast together every morning?” Rose asked, following him over to the coffee pot.
“No, not normally, but after last night…well, they’re all here to help. It’s just what we do,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. “Besides the fact that you’re important to me, one of the things we’ve been taught about our power is that it should be used to help the innocent when we can, as long as we don’t get exposed.”
“Wait, it’s not just you?” she said, looking around the room. “Are they all…”
“Dragon shifters,” he finished for her. “Only the men, the women are regular humans just like you. Until they met the boys, they didn’t know about shifters either. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind sharing their stories with you; they’re all really nice. Hopefully, you can all be friends.”
“I’d like that,” she said, taking the cup that he offered her. “Is that what this fraternity is all about?”
“I guess you could say that, we’re all here on a scholarship from our clan,” he said. “We’re the first group to get it. I guess it’s something new the elders put together. I wouldn’t have been able to afford an education like this without it.”
“I wouldn’t have been able to go to college if Chet hadn’t paid for it…” Her words trailed off, and a guilty look appeared on her face. “Malcolm, your friends are here to help me, but I’ve been spying on you all. They’re not going to like me very much when they find out. Maybe I shouldn’t be here.”
“They’ll understand when you explain,” he said. “You might have been spying, but you never told Chet anything. That will help.”
“What am I going to do about him?” she asked. “He’s going to expect something soon. I don’t think he’s going to like it when I tell him that you all weren’t involved; he’s going to think I’m lying.”
He studied her for a second, then let out a long sigh. “And you would be, but it’s a long story and the food is ready. Let’s take one problem at a time, we’ll figure it all out,” he said, then hesitated. “Rose, do you know who your stepfather really is?”
“What do you mean?” she asked, following him over to the table. “He’s an executive at some big corporation. He never stops bragging about how rich and successful he is.”
“That corporation he’s talking about is really his clan, the same one that Thomas belongs to. That’s how he recognized you,” he said, helping her into a chair. “He’s not a good guy, sweetheart; he’s dangerous. Whatever he’s threatening you with, don’t think for a second he won’t follow through. He’s been trying to take over the clan for about a year now, and I bet this is just his latest attempt to gain power.”
She shivered, and he put his arm around her.“You’re not in this alone, you’ve got all of us,” he said. “We’ll get through this,you just need to be honest with everyone. They’ll back you up, you’ll see.”
When they joined the group at the table, Rose waited until everyone had been eating for a few minutes, then after a quick look over at Malcolm, cleared her throat. “Ummm…there’s something I have to tell you all, and I’m afraid that you’re not going to like it very much,” she said, then waited as silence fell over the table. “My stepfather is Chet Carmichael and he sent me here to spy on you. He wanted me to find out what happened to Diego and Sebastian and report back to him. I didn’t want to do it, but he threatened to kick my little sister out on the street if I didn’t. I’m sorry I lied to all of you, but I was desperate. If it helps any, I haven’t told him anything, and I don’t plan to. The truth is, there hasn’t been anything to tell him. I’m afraid he’s losing patience with me, though. I’m not sure what I’m going to do other than keep stalling him.”
The silence only lasted a few seconds, then the table erupted with suggestions, offers of support, and a couple of hugs. By the time everyone quieted down, Rose had tears in her eyes. Malcolm squeezed her hand under the table and gave her an I told you so look, then flashed her a smile before turning back to his friends, ready to get down to business now that the truth was out.
“Okay, the way I see it, we’ve got two separate problems on our hands,” he said. “Sandra is still out there and, from what Rose said, I don’t think she’s going to quit until she gets even. Then we’ve got Chet and his threats against Chloe, Rose’s sister.”
“Sandra is the bigger threat right now,” Ryan said. “Until she’s caught Rose needs to stay hidden, as unhinged as it sounds like she is, I’m afraid of what she’ll try next.”
“I agree, but not here; this is one of the first places she’s going to look for her,” he said. “We need to find someplace out of town to disappear for a few days until the police catch her.”
“You can use my mom’s old cabin. I’ll call her as soon as we get done here,” Taylor said. “I’m sure she won’t mind, and it’s on clan land. You’ll have a little extra protection once she finds out what’s going on.”
“That’s perfect, thanks, Taylor,” he said, nodding at his friends. “That just leaves Chet to deal with.”
“Do you really think he’ll kick your sister out?” Gabe asked. “That’s pretty brutal.”
“He’ll do it to get what he wants, he’s an awful man, but he hides it so well that I sometimes think I’m the only one who sees it,” she said, shivering. “My mom is so far gone, she thinks he’s perfect, that he’s the best stepfather in the world. Chloe doesn’t see it either, she thinks I’m just being a bitch. I’ve tried to talk her into leaving before. I could easily support us both now that I have a degree, not the way Chet does, but we’d be free. She refuses, she can’t see the danger that she’s in, and nothing I say will convince her.”
“Then she needs proof,” Abby said. “She’s what, sixteen? That’s a tricky age, she probably thinks she’s old enough to make her own choices, and in a way she’s right. You’ve got to prove to her what a piece of trash Chet is, that’s the only way you’ll be able to get her away and keep her away, especially if your mom is backing him up.”
“I guess I could record him the next time he starts threatening me,” Rose said, a little hope in her voice. “Maybe if she hears the awful things he says she’d listen to me.”
“That’s a good place to start,” Malcolm said. “If you can just stall him for a little longer, the problem might solve itself.”
“I hope you’re right, that would be so much easier,” she said, letting out a sigh. “It feels better just knowing that I’m not alone in this anymore.”
