“Okay, what did Shawn say when you told him that?”El asked.
“He was upset.I understand his need to explore this part of himself, but right now, I can’t deal with the fallout.It’s a lot to ask, I know, but I hope he decides to wait.”
“Could he do so in private?”El asked.
“You should realize now that there’s not a lot of privacy at the pride.Inside our house is fairly private but there are still people in and out of there all day.Someone could see through the windows and honestly learning how to shift for the first time, as an adult inside a home isn’t the best idea.He needs room.”
“I understand,” El said, still trying to find a way for Shawn to be able to try, but also keep Ryan happy.
“El I have exhausted all options.I have no idea where Shawn could go to try.I’m sorry, but we have to put this matter to bed for the time being.”
El hated that saying.Her father had told her that her entire life.It was his polite way of telling her to quit approaching the topic.Then El had a thought.
“What about my home?”
“Your home can’t possibly be private?”
“My grandfather’s home is, though, and he left it to me.Nobody has been there for a while; I’m the only one that ever went.Shawn could go there and try.We could try, for him?”
Ryan didn’t say anything, but she saw him glance in the review mirror at Trip who seemed to be considering her idea.
“Does your grandfather’s home have many neighbors?”
“No, none that are close.We can go there, and you guys can see for yourselves.Give it a thorough once over.Maybe one day a week one of you could go out there with him and help him.He’s going to need help,” El knew she was asking a lot.None of them had any time to spare, and if they did, they spent it guarding her or just being with her.
El was willing to sacrifice the time to give this to Shawn.
“How about we end with I’ll agree to go look at this place, and we’ll see if it’s even possible?”Ryan offered.
“I can deal with that,” El squealed clasping her hands together with excitement.She knew she shouldn’t get too excited.There was a chance Ryan wouldn’t go for it, but there was hope.She was also excited to go to her grandfather’s home.She had gone the longest ever without going out there, and she missed the connection to him.
“When he gets home, let Trip know the address, and he will see to everything else,” Ryan told her.
“What kind of details?”El asked curiously.
“Blueprints of the house and the property lines.I’ll also be running background checks on anyone within a twenty-mile radius,” Trip jumped in to answer.
“That seems excessive.I can tell you what I know about some of the neighbors if it’s helpful.”
“If something pops up, I’ll definitely be asking you more on the person.”
“Thank you for talking this out with me,” El told Ryan.
When he looked over at her, she gave him a sweet smile.They had miles of hurdles left to jump; she was sure, but El felt like they had just jumped a big one.Ryan and the Triad were used to handling things amongst the three of them and everyone else just following suit.They now had to consider El and Shawn in those decisions.She understood that was difficult, especially since El always seemed to be at the other end of the argument, but they were trying.
The rest of the drive went by relatively quiet.As the giant gates came into view and then opened, El sucked in a breath.Home was supposed to be comforting, but for El, it was much different, especially now as there was so much hanging in the balance.Ryan still hadn’t opened up to her about what he planned to do with her and her mother.El wasn’t inclined to ask.She decided it would be best to wait.
As soon as they walked in the house, Adam ushered for Ryan to follow him into Ryan’s study no doubt.El looked at Trip who shrugged and motioned for El to follow Ryan.Shawn and Marcus weren’t far behind them.Once everyone was in the study, Adam looked at all of them and then at Ryan as if confirming that Ryan wanted them all in there.El rolled her eyes.Adam was going to be a tough one to break.As Ryan’s brother, he had no doubt been groomed by mommy dearest to always look to just Ryan, the Alpha, for all things; Triad and mate be damned.
“Go ahead, Adam,” Ryan said.
“It’s a family matter,” Adam replied.
“We’re all family.”
“Mom’s gone,” Adam said then, not bothering to look for anyone else’s reaction.
El’s stomach lurched.She didn’t care for the woman, but she didn’t want anything bad to have happened to her.El also didn’t like the fact that Leilani disappeared while El was away.There would no doubt be those who presumed El had something to do with it.Word had no doubt got out about El and Leilani’s dispute at the gathering the other night.
