Page 7 of Vengeful

"Looks like he knew we were coming after all," Hunter said.

"I've never felt so welcome here before," Parker added.

"That's not it." Slade's grip on my wrist tightened.

I glanced over at him, then back at the house as the front door opened. A woman stepped outside. Her hair was a tangle of red falling down her back. She wore loose, linen pants and a white T-shirt with a colourful flower in the centre. She stepped away from the door in bright red flat shoes.

I frowned.

Who the hell was she?

My eyes widened as my father stepped out behind her and drew her towards him. He said something in her ear which made her giggle, then kissed her.

"What the—" I rubbed my fingertips over my forehead. I knew my father wasn't celibate, but in no universe I was aware of was she his type. Except the red hair. That was definitely his thing. Usually he went for women who wore pencil skirts and heels. Not black linen pants with— was that paint? —on the front.

She broke off the kiss, placed her hands on his chest and pushed him away playfully. "I really have to go."

"You don't have to." He pulled her back and nuzzled his face into her hair. "You could—"

He somehow became aware he was being watched. He raised his head and looked right back at me.

"I'll see you later." His relaxed posture became all business. He lowered his hands and stepped away from her.

"If you're lucky," she teased. She smiled at him over her shoulder as she walked away. Only when she turned back did she see me and my guys standing outside the gate. She gave me a warm smile and a brief finger wave before she slipped into the driver's seat of an old van. That was covered in more paint than her pants. Some artistic and intentional, others looking as though someone threw balloons full of paint, letting them burst however they wanted.

"Did you want something?" My father stood with his arms crossed over his button down shirt.

"Dude, nice socks," Parker remarked.

Dad and I both looked down at his feet.

I'd never seen him with cartoon character socks on before. Only a small sliver was visible between his patent leather shoesand the hem of his suit pants. Even that little bit was out of character for him.

He looked back up, but offered no explanation about the woman or the socks.

"I asked you a question, Lila. I presume you didn't come all the way to Sydney to stand there and stare." He gave the twins a look like they were bugs that crawled out from the sewer. The glance at Slade was only slightly more welcoming.

"You're right, we didn't," Hunter said. He waved us all in through the gate and up to the door. "We're not vampires, so we don't need an invitation to enter, but the polite thing to do would be to extend one anyway." He smiled pleasantly.

Dad didn't smile back. Without another word, he turned and stepped back inside.

"Well, he didn't slam the door in our faces." Parker trotted up the steps and followed him into the house.

"No, but he might shoot you in the face instead," Hunter said.

"I won't say I'm not tempted." We found Dad in the kitchen, standing by the coffee machine. "But I'm not in the mood to have blood cleaned out of the carpet today. Unless you push me too far."

"Who was the woman?" I reached for four cups and set them on the island.

"None of your business," Dad snapped.

"Daddy's got a girlfriend," Parker said in a singsong voice, half under his breath.

I grimaced at him. "If you say anything like that again,Imight shoot you in the face."

Parker raised his hands to either side and grinned. "There's nothing wrong with having relationships. Is there, Hunt?"

"Nothing at all," Hunter agreed.

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