Unspoken (Shadow Falls: After Dark #3)(104)

“So far they haven’t contacted us,” Burnett said, “but if the Chis’ case doesn’t get wrapped up quickly, they will.”

“Someone needs to teach him a lesson!” Chase said. “And I volunteer! Let’s go.” Chase stopped at his car. “Maybe that bastard did kill his sister!”

Burnett shook his head, and opened the locks but didn’t get in. “He didn’t. Something happened that night, however, that makes him think he did.” He exhaled and blinked as if trying to control his own anger.

“Believe me, I’ve looked under every rock, every leaf that man ever walked past. I’ve searched everywhere, hoping to find the smallest reason to beat the holy shit out of him!”

“How he treats Della isn’t enough reason?” Chase snapped.

“Yeah, but the kicker is that he’s a decent man. He’s a good husband, and until Della got turned, he was practically up for the father of the year award. Why else do you think she loves him so much?”

“But what about how he treats her now?”

“I know. I’d like to knock some sense into him too. But the only thing that makes sense is that her being turned somehow brought back all of these terrible memories. I think until then he either managed to forget or believe it was a dream. Now he’s scared. And not for himself, but for his family.”

“Then let’s not beat the crap out of him, let’s just talk to him.”

“Not now,” Burnett said. “We need to get this trial over with. If he loses it, he could hurt his case. And we both know if he gets convicted Della wouldn’t be able to handle it.”

*

Della walked to the door. Put her hand on the handle. I love you, Daddy. I just need to understand and you need to understand.

She’d practiced what she’d say on the ride over here. Now she took a deep breath and, holding it, she walked inside. She walked past the booth where her dad had told her he had done his homework every evening. She walked past the huge lion that her dad claimed he used to climb on as child. She walked past the picture of her grandparents that still hung on the wall.

Finally, she plopped her butt across from her dad.

She saw his paper stiffen. And only then did she breathe.

Only then did she realize her mistake.

The scent of vampire filled her nose.

“Hello, Della,” her uncle said.





Chapter Forty-three

Della sat frozen as her uncle lowered the paper. His eyes, his face, all his features were a dead ringer for her dad. Every reason she disliked this man ran through Della’s mind, but her heart recalled how in the beginning she’d longed to know him. Longed to have a family member who would understand, who wouldn’t look at her like a monster.

She couldn’t speak.

He studied her. “You thought I was your father, didn’t you?”

Unable to lie—literally unable—she simply nodded.

“Sorry to disappoint you.” He smiled. “Would you like some tea?”

She shook her head, still trying to figure out what to say. Hell, what to feel.

“Does your father come here?” he asked.

She nodded.

“It brings back memories.” He looked around. “It hasn’t changed that much. That booth over there is where we did our homework. You father and I would climb on that lion. Mother used to scold us and say the lion would get one of us one day.” His gaze landed on the photo. “You know that’s your grandparents.”

His voice even sounded like her dad’s. Her chest tightened more.

“Why?” she forced that one word out. “Why didn’t you come to me earlier? Why did you send Chase and not come yourself? Why didn’t you save Chan?” Tears filled her eyes. “Why didn’t you go to the FRU when my father got arrested for murder? And why … why did you let Chase go see his parents in the morgue?”

He stared at his cup. “That’s a lot of questions.”

She brushed away a tear. “I deserve answers.”

He inhaled. “Where do I start?” He paused. “I did not come to you because you were connected to the FRU. I have reasons not to trust them.” He looked down again. “I wanted to save Chan.”

“Then why didn’t you?” Della sensed a decrease in the room temperature. She ignored it to listen.

“The last time I attempted to bond with someone, they died. My blood is no longer useful. Understand, it would have been unfair of me to ask Chase to bond with either of you. And I didn’t. One should only bond with someone you care about. You give up powers. You give up a part of your soul.”

Della recalled Chase telling her about Eddie’s wife, but she held back her words of sympathy and waited for him to continue.

He added a pack of sugar to his cup. Bits and pieces of tea leaves swirled on top. The spoon clinked against the cup. “I asked Chase to prepare you and Chan to face it on your own. Chase said Chan was too weak to survive even if someone bonded with him. It hurt Chase. He found you were strong. He felt you might survive it. But you intrigued that boy.” Her uncle smiled. “He would tell me some of your antics. I heard it in his voice. I knew he would do it, even before he knew.” He held up his cup. “He said going in that you were going to fight him. He had you pegged.”