Unspoken (Shadow Falls: After Dark #3)(34)

Della just stared, trying to take it all in, her exhaustion level climbing. “Who called the police?”

Chase shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“It had to have been my dad.”

“It’s possible.”

The images flashing in her head were almost too painful to stomach. She felt Baxter bathe her hand with his tongue. She stared at the dog, using his soulful, caring eyes as a touchstone as the story replayed in her head. Did she believe it? Maybe. Oh, hell, she didn’t know what she believed.

She looked up at Chase. Did she believe in him? Hadn’t he proved that she couldn’t?

“Does my uncle work for the council?”

Chase nodded. “Sort of. But not as an agent.”

“Then what?”

He smiled ever so slightly. “Eddie says he has more brains than brawn. The council put him through Baylor. Then he trained as a supernatural doctor around the world. He no longer works as just a doctor, but works trying to improve the health of vampires. He’s the one who discovered the five different lineages who are carriers of the Reborn virus and discovered how to save Reborns. He’s a good man, Della.”

“If he’s so good, why isn’t he here? Why didn’t he come looking for me instead of sending you? What’s he hiding?”

She saw the way Chase looked away for a second. Then he turned back. “It’s Burnett.”

“He knows Burnett?”

“No, because he’s FRU.”

“But…” She paused as she tried to wrap her head around his answer. “You’re here and you’ve even joined the agency.”

“Some people are more political than others.”

“That sounds like a pretty weak excuse.” And damned if her eyelids didn’t feel heavy as well. She really needed him to leave so she could rest. But she was finally getting answers that felt half true.

“Is he going to avoid you now?”

“He wouldn’t do that.”

Was that doubt in his eyes? “Then it doesn’t make sense.”

He ran a hand over his face. “I don’t know why he hates the FRU.” He exhaled. “But whatever that reason is, it’s not … He’s got a good heart.”

“Who is Don Williams?”

“I think it’s an alias that Douglas Stone uses. I’ve got addresses on some here in the Houston area. Tomorrow I’ll go check them out. You obviously saw what I printed out.”

She didn’t deny it. They sat there for a silent few seconds, her body sinking deeper into the chair, her eyes growing harder to keep open.

“Any other questions, Della? I’ll answer them. I’m not hiding anything.”

Did she believe him? Oh, hell, she was too tired to believe or not believe.

Chase stood and walked past her. “I brought us something.” He pulled out a bottle of blood from the fridge, unscrewed it, and took a sip. The tangy scent was O negative. He walked back and held out the container.

“Here.”

The taste buds on her tongue tingled. She didn’t take it.

“I don’t need it.” Her stomach grumbled in protest. “I had some last night.” She looked back at Baxter.

“How long did you go without? Did you feed at all when you were at your parents’?”

“Of course I did,” she said.

“You know if you don’t feed regularly, you get worn down. Especially, when you’re a Reborn.”

She glared up at him.

“I should have brought you some blood while you were there. I didn’t think. I apologize for that.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m not your concern.”

“You will always be my concern,” he said softly. Then he put the plastic container in her hand. The wild berry scent rose up and her mouth watered. Oh, hell. She lifted it and took a sip. The flavor sent her taste buds to heaven.

She looked up. The fact that he towered above her hit a nerve, but with zero energy, she didn’t have what it took to stand.

“I don’t need you to take care of me,” she said.

“We all need someone, Della. That doesn’t mean you aren’t strong.”

She started to stand up, but he knelt down. His green gaze locked on her face. “You’re beautiful, smart, and funny. You care more about people than is required. You’re the furthest thing from a monster that I know, Della Tsang.”

An achiness swelled in her chest. “You were eavesdropping.” If she weren’t so tired, she’d give him a hard shove and knock him on his butt. Hell, if she weren’t so tired, she’d come up with some rude remark about his compliments meaning nothing.

“Not really eavesdropping. Not intentionally.”

Before she realized his intent, he brushed a strand of hair from her cheek and let his hand linger against her cheek. The touch was both painful and wonderful at the same time.

She cut her eyes to the side and glared at his hand. “That’s a good way to lose a finger.”

As if to prove he didn’t believe her, he ran his index finger over her bottom lip. “Get some rest. I’ll check on you later.”

She watched him walk out. Why hadn’t she bit him? Damn, she should have bit him!

It wasn’t until she blinked that she realized she had tears in her eyes. Hell, she was so tired that she didn’t even know why she was crying. Not that she was short on reasons.