Authors: Mary Abshire
“Or he could’ve known and he and Daniel kept it from Galluzzi,” Jonas said.
A more colorful curse word surfaced on my tongue, but I bit down and stopped it from flying out of my mouth. Jonas had a valid point too. The two men could’ve conspired together to keep my existence, and Daniel’s, hidden. But why?
Maybe I should’ve been nicer to Daniel so I could’ve asked him more questions. One after another bubbled to the surface.
“Martin is the only other person to know about the project. Why didn’t Galluzzi try to kill him too?” I asked.
“If I were to guess, she needs him. Martin can provide things besides voicing his support for her,” Boss replied.
“Spells, charms…” Jonas said.
More anger flared. She’d spared Martin’s life so she could use him. For a split second, I thought of him as a victim, then rapidly changed my mind. He knew about the project, about me. Therefore, he had knowledge of her wicked ways. In my book, he was as sneaky and conniving as Galluzzi.
“It would be nice if we knew from Daniel if he told Martin the potion was for you,” Boss said, a thought I shared minutes ago.
“Can you reach him?” Jonas asked.
“I doubt it. If that object Jackson removed from under my fingernail was a tracking device, it’s on the way to the lab. By tonight, he’ll figure out it’s not on me anymore.”
“By tonight, Martin will be here.” Jonas sat in the recliner, leaned his elbows on his knees, and clasped his hands together. “Which means he’ll probably have a chat with the Senator.”
I caught his subtle hint and fidgeted on the cushion. The Senator could find out soon about my lack of memories. Returning to work would be more dangerous than ever.
“I get it. Another chance for Galluzzi to attack. Here’s what I think–I don’t fucking care.” I met Jonas and then Boss eyes with a steel gaze. “She’s an evil bitch who strives to hurt and use people, not to mention she wants destroy me. I don’t care if she’s my half sister. I won’t let her beat me. I refuse to back down.”
Silence drifted between us for maybe a few seconds, then Boss shot up with his attention directed at the door. His pupils dilated, and he clenched his fists. Listening closely, I heard car doors slam.
“Is someone here?” Jonas asked.
I started to respond, but stopped short when a strong sulfuric odor filled the air.
Boss held his hand up in a stopping motion. “Stay where you are.” He headed for the front door with heavy steps.
Jonas and I stood within a second of each other. I moved closer to him, clasping my hand over my mouth and plugging my nose. The stench reeked, and I wanted to gag.
“What do you smell?” Jonas asked.
“Rotten eggs.” The words came out muffled by my hand.
Boss yanked the door open.
“May we come in?” Sal asked.
Sal? Why would he show up on our doorstep?
Boss’s face remained tight as he took a step back.
Sal strode inside with another man behind him. Both men wore suits and appeared ready for business. They stopped a few feet from the entryway.
Sal faced me with a sly grin. “Your father would like a few words with you.”
Chapter 20
I stared at the man Sal called my father with my hand hiding my gaping mouth. He stood shorter than Boss and Sal, but had the build of a boxer–husky and with broad shoulders. He had short hair, dark eyes and stubby nose that looked similar to mine. The same jet-black color on his head covered most of his cheeks, chin and above his lip.
“Shelley?” he asked, his voice deep and unfamiliar to me.
My mind filled with words, none of which came out. I didn’t know what to say. His appearance installed no memories. For all I knew, Sal could have brought a stranger into Boss’s home and labeled him my father.
“I told your father about your memory loss,” Sal said. “Along with all the information you have given me, including the status of your investigation.”
Leaving the door ajar, Boss stepped around the two men. The centers of his eyes had returned to normal, but the tight features of his face along with his frown indicated his distress with our visitors. He stopped not far from the curtained window, several feet away from Jonas and me, and faced the two demons.
I slowly lowered my arm. The horrible stench of smoke and sulfur remained strong, but the half-open door allowed fresh air inside. I’d suggest moving to a new house once the two demons left. Besides the fact demons knew where we lived, I doubted the odor would ever truly go away for those of us with extra sensitive smelling abilities.
“I have been so worried about you,” my father said. “I was ready to send troops to find you.”
Troops? Did he intend to send demon troops? From Hell?
I swallowed hard. “How do I know you are my father?”
He reached into the pocket of his jacket and withdrew his wallet. “I always keep photos of you with me.” He removed two pictures and held them out.
Boss took the photos from Lorenzo. As he studied both of them, a slight smile broke through his frown.
“Can I see them?” I asked, reaching for them. Jonas and the coffee table blocked me from moving closer to the three of them, not that I wanted to stand near the two demons.
Boss brought the photos to me. Our eyes met. “
You were a beautiful young girl.”
Holding the pictures, I lowered my gaze and examined them. One showed a child, maybe ten, with long dark hair smiling and waving from a horse on a carousel. Lorenzo, looking very similar to the way he did now, stood near the child holding a large white bear. The other picture showed an older version of said child, smiling again. This time she stood next to a middle-aged woman with silver hair that reached her waistline. In the background, I noticed a pyramid.
“You were eight years old in the picture taken at the carnival. The other photo was taken after your graduation. You were in Egypt with Claire,” my father said.
“Who is Claire?” I asked.
“She was your nanny. She took care of you in the human world when I had business to attend to.”
The longer I stared at the pictures, the more I believed he was my father. The resemblance of the child and young woman compared to me were too close. And I couldn’t overlook the fact that he stood in one with a huge teddy under his arm. I doubted someone could’ve doctored the amusement on his face.
I handed the photos to Boss, and he delivered them to Lorenzo.
“Maybe you are my father, but since I have no memories, you are a complete stranger to me.”
“I understand,” he said as he tucked the two pictures into his wallet. “I never thought this would happen. I never imagined Barbara would want to hurt you. In any case, I can help you and I will find a way for you to get your memories back.”
“What if I’m not interested in your help?” He was a demon. And he served Lucifer. If I accepted his help I’d owe him, and I didn’t want to have to payback a demon that had ties with the chief of Hell.
He gave me an icy glare. “You
need
my help.”
“We’re investigating the Senator along with the warlock councilman,” Boss said, crossing his arms. “We may very well reach a conclusion in the next couple of days.”
“Who are you?” my father asked.
“This is Boss, one of the investigators for the council,” Sal said.
My father shook his head while he gazed at me. “Another fucking vampire.” He shifted to face Boss. “Do you think you know what’s best for my daughter? If you know what’s best, stay away from her.”
Boss stiffened and lowered his arms. “Your daughter has a mind of her own. She is making her own choices. I am here to help and protect her.”
“If that is true,” Lorenzo said, his eyes fixed on Boss as he drew near him. “Then you will convince her that I can help her.”
The two were in a stare down, neither blinking. From watching the two, it was clear Boss, a fourteen-hundred-year-old vampire, refused to allow one of Lucifer’s servants to intimidate him. I was impressed.
“I cannot force her to do anything she doesn’t want to do,” Boss said, and Lorenzo’s glare sharpened.
Hoping to avoid any heated arguments, I strode the long way around the table and stopped next to Boss. “How can you help me?” I asked my father.
The coldness in his face drained slowly as he gazed at me. “I will talk to Barbara and put an end to this game of hers. I believe she is upset and jealous because I broke off ties with her years ago. She wants you dead because she knows it will hurt me emotionally. I will not allow her to continue like this anymore.”
I folded my arms under my breasts. “You want to have a chat with your other daughter and tell her to stay away from me. Did I get it right?” The plan seemed too easy.
“She’ll listen to me.”
I shook my head. “I’m not buying it. She knows we’re family, and she doesn’t care who she kills to get to me. I get the strong impression she doesn’t care what you think.”
“Has she spoken to you about me?”
“No, but she consistently asks me if I have talked to you.”
“Ah, then she does care what I think if she is asking you about me.”
Maybe he was somewhat right. She did seem intimidated when I threatened to tell him about the dump.
“I think she’s hoping you and I are not on good speaking terms.”
He lightly chuckled. “I’m not surprised.”
“I’ve managed to fool her for the last six weeks. She thinks I’m after her job. She doesn’t know that I’m lacking memories.”
“You have a gift of deceit. I know of it firsthand.” He hit me with a firm, yet cunning gaze.
“I don’t know what I did, other than what I’ve been told. I honestly don’t remember anything,” I said, hoping he wouldn’t catch the lie. I did recall a few visions, but not much else. “But the Senator believes I know everything. Until I am finished gathering evidence, I want to keep it that way.”
“I agree with you, she doesn’t need to know. For now, let me talk to her and see if I can make amends.”
“Sure. Talk away. But I’m not changing any of my plans. I want Galluzzi brought in front of the world so everyone can see what she really is. Many people died and she’s not going to stop killing to achieve her goals. I want justice. Other people want justice too.”
“Can you give me a day to talk to her?” my father asked.
“Like I said, talk to her, but I’m not changing any of my plans.”
Lorenzo smirked. “I think both of you received your stubborn genes from me. It’s one of my weaknesses, as it is yours and hers too.”
I lifted my eyes to Boss and saw him stifling a grin. His effort proved in vain as the corner of his lips curled slightly.
Lorenzo brought his hand near my face. I inched away, not wanting him to touch me. He paused, his fingers near my cheek. “While I love both my daughters, you are the apple of my eye. You always have been.”
“Because I’m a rarity? Because you took advantage of my mother to create me?” I took a step back, putting distance between us.
He lowered his hand. “You are special in your own way, not because of what you are. As for your mother, she willingly took a place in my bed. I never forced her.”
Demons–who could believe them? Especially one working for the devil.
“Regardless of what you think of me, I love you and will protect you.”
In truth, I didn’t know what to think of my father, other than that I should fear him for his occupation. Since I lacked any memories of him, I had no way of knowing if he genuinely felt affection for me. I didn’t know if he was a good father or a killer like Barbara. Besides the information Daniel gave me about Lorenzo, I had no supporting evidence to help me decide one way or the other. Until I knew more about my father, he remained a stranger, and I’d keep a safe distance from him.
“I appreciate your concern,” I said, lacking the same emotion as his.
“I’ll contact you after I speak to Barbara.” Lorenzo shot one last glare at Boss, then headed for the door.
“Oh, I found your watch,” I said.
Lorenzo stopped and spun around. “Where is it?”
“Billy Rodriguez has it. I’m pretty sure he’s Barbara’s main squeeze.”
He clenched his jaw, and the vein over his temple protruded above the skin. Then he focused Sal. “Do you know this demon?”
“Not personally. He’s one of the underground.”
“Find him. I want the watch returned.” My father looked at me with the same coldness he’d shown Boss earlier. “It seems both my daughters are sneaky. I’ll have to be more careful.”
“I don’t remember taking it.”
“Lucky for you.” The dryness in his tone made it clear that stealing his watch had hit a sore spot with him. At least I’d found it.
He strode out the door without saying another word. Sal followed, and although the quality of the air didn’t improve, I breathed better. Maybe dear ol’ dad could talk Galluzzi into backing off.
I shut the door and returned living room where Boss and Jonas faced each other, chatting.
“What’s going on?”
Jonas nodded to Boss. “I’ll start packing.” He passed Boss and me, heading for the stairs.
Boss turned to me. “We’re leaving after the sun goes down. I have another safe house we can stay at.”
“Great, but I still need a ride to work in a few hours.”
“Did you hear anything your father told you?” he said in an elevated voice.
“Sure, and you heard my response. I’m not changing my plans for him, you or anyone. I have a job to finish.”
“Let Jackson and his pack finish it. They have all the documents.”
“I’m not running away like a coward.” I raised my voice. “And I’m not leaving a chance of her getting away. I want her convicted of murder without any doubt. If that means I have to take the stand, I will. If that means we run DNA tests to prove what I am, so be it.”
“What did you just say?” He brought his brows together.
“If I have to give blood to prove–”
He gripped my arms. “That’s an excellent idea. I don’t know why I never thought of it before.”
“Thought of what?”
“Remember when I took you to the lab and compared your DNA with that of a demon and an angel?”
“Yeah, you showed me the graphs.” Of course, I remembered. The doctor who examined me said I had an extra uterus.