Audra nodded, “Yep. It’s about time forCharlotte’s– “
Diggs placed his hand on her arm and shook his head. Audra slowly closed her mouth and then gave him a brief nod in return. Then she looked back at Laura. “I heard Faith likesgymnastics?”
“She loves it,” Laura allowed, giving Audra a pass on the formula thing. She could ask Kinglater.
“I used to teach gymnastics. I could work with Faith some, if shewants?”
“Yes!” Faith had been avidly following theconversation.
“If you’re okay with it?” Audraasked.
Why not? She had no idea how long they’d be here and the more people she got to know here, the better for her. “Sure. She’d loveit.”
Reaper strode back into the kitchen then, arms empty but his gaze determined. “Audra, do you mind keeping an eye on Faith for a minute? I want to talk toLaura.”
Laura shot Audra a pleading look, which was completely ignored. “Sure, I’d loveto.”
Reaper gestured to the door, “Laura, come withme.”
His tone brooked no defiance, still, she hesitated. “For how long? I don’t want to leave Faith alone toolong.”
Her pulse throbbed in her ears, at the thought of being alone withhim.
“Just a fewminutes.”
He held the door openexpectantly.
“Okay,” she said and bent to Faith. “I’ll be back in just aminute.”
Faith gave her a thumbs up and shoved a whole chicken nugget in hermouth.
“Laura, I’ve got her. You go on,” Audrasaid.
Trying not to drag her feet, Laura followed Reaper out of the kitchen and down a short hallway. He pushed open the large wooden door on his right and they entered what appeared to be a massive library. Tall windows graced the far wall, flanked by heavy burgundy velvet curtains. Books stretched from floor to ceiling, and low leather lounge chairs were placed artfully around the room. “This is nice,” she said, feeling like she needed to fill thesilence.
Reaper crossed to one of the chairs and sat down, gesturing for Laura to take the seat across from him. “You don’t have to be nervous around me. I’m not going to hurtyou.”
Laura gave herself an internal shake and crossed to the chair, sinking into its depths gratefully. It was so intimidating when he stood, at least now they were on semi eye-level. “I know you won’t, just like I know no one else herewould.”
“Good, I hope you’ve learned that in your time with us. But that’s not what I wanted to talk to youabout.”
Laura’s anxiety took a whole new direction. She knew before he spoke exactly what he wanted to discuss. “Mybrother.”
Reaper nodded slowly. He sat back in his chair and steepled his fingers. “As much as King wants to deny it, we were all in that same bad place as your brother, Dawson. We all managed to save each other from the darkness and I think Dawson can be savedtoo.”
Laura sat up straight. “You mean theexperiment?”
“I guess it would be too much for me to hope that King would have explained to you what happened. But yes, the experiment changed all of us. But I don’t think your brother realizes it.” Reaper paused and then leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees as he pinned Laura with a deadly stare. “We’ve got to find a way to bring him in, safely andsecurely.”
Laura licked her dry lips, fighting the urge to fidget. “I can do that. I can talk to him. John always listens tome.”
“But that was before, Laura. I don’t know if I’m willing to riskthat.”
“Listen, I know that everyone here thinks my brother is a threat, but he’d been staying with me for the past few months. He never acted out in any way. Why do you think he would hurt me now?” She hadn’t been able to convince King but maybe Reaper wouldlisten.
“Because he knows we have you and your daughter. I promise you, the only reason he hasn’t attacked us now is he either doesn’t know where we are, or something is physically keeping himaway.”
The frustration flamed through her and Laura jumped to her feet, needing to move around. “You don’t understand. He would never harmFaith.”
