Page 63 of Enzo

They picked up a few more things that caught Deja's eye before they paid and made their way to the grocery store.

"Perfect timing," Deja said as she opened the door. "Oh, you're wide awake and so beautiful."

She moved back and allowed Jessie and Mia in.

"Welcome to my humble abode. Have a seat."

"Thanks." Jessie took a seat on the edge of a chair holding Mia.

Deja closed the door and leaned against it. "Ven, go find your dad and tell him dinner will be ready in about thirty minutes."

"Okay." He stood and moved to the door, searching her face.

"There's no problem," she whispered to him before she moved from in front of the door.

"I want to thank you for inviting Mia and me to dinner."

"But?" She grabbed a chair and pulled it up to sit facing Mia. The chair moved much more easily now that she had mated with Enzo.

Jessie fidgeted around, playing with Mia, not looking Deja in the eyes.

"My mother reminded me that we don't take charity. It would probably be best if I took a different job."

"Did your mother also give you that bruise on your arm?"

She pulled her arm back, hiding it under Mia.

"Who's hitting you, Jessie, and are they hitting Mia too?"

"No. If I go along with them, they leave her alone."

"Is that what you want? To go along with the program?"

"No, when I save enough money, I'll move out."

"Who are you lying to? Me or yourself?"

She dropped her head. "I just want my baby to be safe."

"I get it. Jessie, I need you to stay here tonight. It's the only place I think you'll be safe. You can take the time to decide what you're going to do. The club won't open tonight, and I have everything you need in the main bedroom. Would you mind watching the baby from last night too?"

"I would love that."

"Perfect. Let's set the table; the guys should be here soon."

Chapter Twenty-five

Dinner had gone wellif she didn't count having to assure Jessie every half hour that she was making the right decision to spend the night. Lazaro and Amira brought their daughter around dark. She left them with several bottles of milk, having learned how to pump from the internet. Deja beat them all to the little girl and held her until it was time to get ready. Not knowing what to wear for an epic battle, she went with jogging pants and a cami; that's what all the badass humans wear. She laughed at her joke but noticed all the voices in her head were quiet.

Now she was sitting on the steps that led up to her apartment. A sentinel standing between the Thalians and Jessie and the girls. Ven was sitting next to her, his arm touching her in camaraderie, a show of family.

"Do you think this is going to work out?"

Deja rolled her neck, watching the sky as it got darker. The shadows seemed to grow longer as if they were hiding the enemy.

"I don't know. All we can do is protect those we care about."

Declyn and Enzo wanted to take the fight as far away from them as possible. She agreed with them, but she knew it wouldn't happen that way. Corso and his crew wanted blood, and part of that blood was hers.

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