Page 39 of Visions in Blood
It would have been the perfect exit.But I couldn’t help myself.I needed her to stick the dagger in a little more, then feel it twist in my heart.
“Why do treat me like you do?I’m your first daughter, but you don’t treat me any better than Christopher does.I can understand why he’s like that.I’m just a nasty reminder there was someone in your life before him.But why did my own mother turn her back on me?”
For a second, her shoulders dropped, and I readied myself for the second truth of our little chat.To this point, her confirmation of my father’s name was the only other fact I could be sure of.But the moment passed, and her chin took on that stubborn tilt.
“Never mind.”I pushed way from the table so fast, it shook, jarring her as she fell back.
I stormed past the other tables on my way out, barely paying attention to my surroundings as I shoved open the door to the cool air beyond.I didn’t want to hear the answer—afraid of her truth.
ChapterFourteen
Devon knockedon Cressa’s bedroom door for the second time when Greta walked by carrying her dusting kit.
“She left her room an hour ago, sir.I think she’s in one of the rooms downstairs.”
“Thank you, Greta.”He was halfway down the hall when she called after him.
“She’s in a mood.”
He paused but shook his head and mumbled, “I’m aware.”
He started with the gym.Cressa was like him in that regard.Physical punishment eased the pain of working through personal issues—or with hiding from them.But if she’d been there, she was long gone now.He searched the library, the hot tub, pool, and even Anna’s classroom.Nothing.
She might be outside.There was a path she seemed to enjoy that wound through the garden, and the blooms were especially beautiful this time of year.He stopped by the kitchen on his way out.
Cook chopped vegetables while Lucas hovered.
“I just need one recipe for her to try.”Lucas’s tone was pleading.“I wanted to give it to her as a gift along with the ingredients.She’s never had a decent-sized kitchen to work with before.”
Cook shook his head but smiled at the younger vampire.He stopped dicing tomatoes and gave Lucas a long look.“You know I don’t like giving out my recipes.”He ran an arm across his forehead, his expression serious.“But it’s been some time since I’ve had an apprentice.”
“She’s not going to work here.”Lucas appeared offended for his ward.
“Of course not.I’ll give you one recipe, but in exchange, I want a serving of whatever she creates with it.If I approve of her skill, I’ll consider something more unique.”
Lucas’s smile couldn’t have stretched any wider, and he slapped Cook on the shoulder.“Deal.”
Devon shook his head as he strolled in.The two of them were constantly bartering over something.“I didn’t know you were back.”He took a seat next to his bodyguard, easily drawn into Cook’s impossibly fast dissection of carrots and sweet potatoes.
“Bella took over for me.She likes Ginger.”
Devon smiled.“It’s difficult not to.That woman has no inhibitions.”
Lucas’s smile took on a dreamier appearance, and Devon could only return a smile for his smitten friend.He didn’t care what the two of them did.There weren’t any rules about it as long as Lucas performed his job, and Devon had no reason to think he didn’t.In fact, he’d handled himself with calm professionalism when he and Ginger had been attacked at the apartment.
Lucas turned serious as he eyed Devon.“Sergi gave me a quick rundown of Cressa’s meeting this afternoon.I couldn’t tell if it was considered a success other than hearing one of the most prominent intersections in the area was blocked for over an hour.”
Cook shook his head with a grin, not missing a beat with his dicing.
Devon chuckled.“Bella does have an evil streak when it comes to creating distractions.”
“That explains her good mood when she relieved me.Did you get the answers you needed?”
Devon stole a carrot from Cook, narrowly missing the knife that shooed his fingers away.“Partially.We’ve confirmed the name of Cressa’s biological father, but whether he’s alive, where he’s from, or anything else about him is still a mystery.”
“And the necklace?”
Devon grimaced.It had been a good decision to remain at the manor while Sergi ran the operation.He might have done something regretful to Willa Underwood.The woman was cold-hearted.Or appeared that way on paper.Sergi had been thorough in his report of the events, having interviewed Cressa as soon as she’d returned to the car.
