Spider Game (GhostWalkers, #12)(40)

“She’s created a natural pharmacy there. Wyatt told me she spent a good forty years or more transplanting plants so she could have them in one place. She uses them to help people when they can’t go to a doctor.”


“Isn’t Wyatt a doctor?”


Trap nodded, slowly easing his body into a sitting position. He deliberately didn’t cover up because he wanted her to get used to him naked. He liked being naked, and he wanted her to like it as well. “He charges money, babe. That’s the way of the world. Of course he takes on patients his grandmother recommends to him and gives away his services if they can’t pay. Well, they use the barter system instead of money.”


“I’d like to learn about her plants and what each of them does to help sick people,” she said, her voice thoughtful. “I’m going to use your computer. I spent a lot of time on computers and found most of the answers I needed. Is there a password?” She didn’t sound worried, but there was a challenge in her voice, as if she expected him to say she couldn’t have access to it.


“Cayenne, I’m not going to keep you off the computers. I don’t like my things touched in the lab, but I created a workspace for you there as well if you want it. Everything in the house is for your use.”


He turned his head toward the door just as she flattened herself against the wall, staying in the darkest corner. Trap reached down and hastily pulled up the sheet. There was a knock. They exchanged a long look, both inhaling the scent of Wyatt’s grandmother. She smelled of lilacs and baby powder.


You okay, Cayenne? He knew she was holding her breath, holding herself still, much like a wild animal trapped in a snare. Grand-mere wouldn’t hurt you for anything.


“Come on in, Nonny,” Trap invited aloud, knowing he had to.


I stayed too long. I stayed too long, Cayenne chanted. Both hands went to the wall and she looked as if she would scurry up toward the ceiling.


Breathe for me. You don’t want to get so agitated you accidentally hurt her, Trap cautioned. Stay still and breathe. I’ll handle this.


The door opened and Nonny’s head came into the room while her body remained firmly on the other side of the door. “I know you’re up a lot at night, Trap,” she said softly, her faded but extremely intelligent eyes studiously on his face. She didn’t so much as glance around the room. “I wanted you to know I fixed a few things to eat and left them out in case you get hungry in the middle of the night. You don’ eat it all, I’ll just have to throw it out.”


“You didn’t have to do that, Nonny.” Like she didn’t have a houseful of people to feed. She’d fixed that food for one person, and it wasn’t him. He smiled at her. He couldn’t help it. Nonny had a way of claiming those men who had stayed to help protect Wyatt’s daughters from the constant threat of Whitney. She was helping Cayenne because she knew Cayenne belonged to him.


“When you get old, Trap, you’ll learn you don’ sleep so good. I cook when I can’t sleep.”


“Thanks.”


“You feel like takin’ that food with you to the lab, I put out a few bags to makin’ the packin’ easier. And Flame left some clothes she wanted to donate to the secondhand store. I haven’t gotten around to it yet, so I put the things in a couple of bags by the door. Next time you or Wyatt go to town, would you take them for me or find someone who can put them to good use?”


“Sure thing, Nonny, and thanks. I really appreciate it.” The woman made him wish he’d known his own grandparents.


Nonny waved and was gone, quietly closing the door behind her.


Cayenne pressed herself tight against the wall. “She did that for me, didn’t she? She knew I came here tonight. She’s probably been aware when I’ve come before. I’m so embarrassed. Sometimes I stayed in her room because it felt…” She covered her face. “I can’t ever face her.”


“Babe, just stop. You freak out when people are nice to you.”


“I don’t know what to do with that.”


“You don’t have to do anything, just let them be nice.” He could see the panic on her face, in her eyes. She edged toward the door, and he knew he had to let her go. She was too upset to soothe. “Take the food and clothes, babe. I’ll be there soon,” he assured, but she was already slipping out the door.


CHAPTER 7


Trap stood just outside the tall chain-link fence surrounding his home. There was satisfaction in finally getting the renovations finished enough that he could live and work there. The building was massive. He liked space. He needed space. The laboratory was on the same floor as his living quarters. He had a massive recreation room complete with a pool table and big-screen television, because what man would go without those if he could afford it? At least his teammates had insisted he needed the TV so when they came over they could watch it. He wasn’t much of a television watcher.


He also had a home theater for movies – at the urging of the team. He wasn’t much for movies either. The team members had a lot of input for the space in the old factory, including a bowling alley. He’d vetoed that one, and there had been some sulking on Malichai’s part.