Unspoken (Shadow Falls: After Dark #3)(100)

Della pulled her knees up in the seat and hugged them. Right then, she knew that Burnett was doing this for her. And she’d bet he hadn’t gone through the FRU, either.

“Thank you.” She leaned her head against her legs and gave in to the tears. Silently.

“What happened in there?” Burnett asked. “Did they take your name? Did they call the FRU office?”

Della told him about the ghost, about the guard shooting at her, and how everything played out.

Burnett gritted his teeth. She could actually hear it. He couldn’t jump on her about what she’d done. Because he’d done the same thing. Only he’d been successful.

“You’re lucky that guard didn’t hit you,” he said through tight lips.

“I know.” She looked out the window at the passing terrain and tried not to think.

“We’re going to have to do something about the ghost.”

“She didn’t hurt anyone. She wasn’t throwing the boxes at him, just tossing them out.” Go ahead, look. Look in every box there is. You won’t find it because the proof doesn’t exist.

“But Della—”

“Give me this, Burnett. Please. She just wants answers.” We all do, Della thought. Why would her father think he’d killed his sister? It didn’t make sense. Because she knew, she knew with every ounce of her being, that her father wouldn’t kill anyone. The man had even purchased live traps to catch a rat that had taken up residence in their attic. Then he took it off in the woods and let it free. Her mother had teased him about it, and he’d teased back that the rat had reminded him of her mother.

They drove the rest of the way in silence. When he parked the car, Della looked for Chase. She didn’t see him. She inhaled. His scent lingered. Probably waiting in the office.

“Go get some rest.” Burnett got out.

She started to walk off and then turned back. “Do you believe me now? My dad said he saw a monster. He saw Feng that night and you remember I told you he told my mom that his brother got cold like me. He knows that I’m vampire?”

Burnett exhaled. “We don’t know that.”

But Della did. She knew it just like she knew her own name. Her father thought she was a monster. And this, this was why he didn’t love her anymore.

*

Della was almost to the cabin when Chase dropped down right in front of her.

She didn’t have time to brush off her tears.

“I’m sorry,” he said and pulled her against him.

She let him.

His scent filled her, and she gave in and cried some more.

She stayed there for several long seconds. His arms around her. Her head on his chest. Her heart breaking.

Her mind ran laps around what she wanted to say.

She loved him.

She hadn’t done anything wrong with Steve.

Her father knew she was a monster.

“It’s going to be okay,” he whispered, close to her ear.

She pulled back. “No, it’s not. He knows, Chase. My dad knows. And in the file, it states that my dad said he killed his sister. Why would he say that?”

“I don’t know.” He brushed tears from her cheeks. “Della, listen to me. I promise, I’ll fix this. Okay?”

She looked up in his eyes. “How?”

“I just will,” he said.

She blinked and there was something in his eyes, something in his tone.

“What are you going to do?”

“Just trust me. Can you do that?” he asked.

And of all the things he could have said this gave her more pause.

“If you have a plan I need to know.”

He stood there, his firm hands on her shoulders. “I haven’t got it all figured out yet, but I’m working on it.”

“Working on what?”

He dropped his hands from her. “I need to go see Burnett.” He started to leave.

“No.” She grabbed his arm. “You know something. What are you not telling me?” He looked away from her. “Don’t lie to me, Chase. What’s going on?”

“I have not lied. I promised you I wouldn’t lie. And I haven’t.”

“But you’re not telling me something.”

“Della, I’m trying to work this out. Can you just give me some time? I’ll do the right thing.”

“What’s the right thing?” she asked, now certain he was hiding something. “What are you planning?”

“I’m planning on doing everything earthly possible to get your dad off. I believe he’s innocent.”

“I know he’s innocent,” Della insisted. But there was still something Chase wasn’t saying. Her mind raced. “Did Kirk give you something? Does he know where Stone is?”

When Chase didn’t answer, she asked, “Have you talked to Burnett about it?”

“No.” He sighed.

“You know where my uncle is now, don’t you?”

“No. Della, please, just…”

“Just what? Trust you? You are asking me to trust the guy who’s done nothing but lie to me? Who’s walked out on me twice? No, let’s make that three times, because you left me again.”

“Burnett thought it was too dangerous for me to be here.”