Crimson Groves (37 page)

“Yes.”

“Then whatever he told you is the truth. So you’re definitely a hybrid thingy.” Stone playfully nudged my shoulder.

“Ha ha. Very funny.” I tucked my hair behind my ears.

“So what about Tyler?” Stone took my hand inside his, holding it gently.

“One of the Head Council, Tristan I think, is tracking him.” I bit my bottom lip and looked at Stone. “But they want me to help find him too.”

Stone frowned, face full of disappointment. “Are you going to?”

I swallowed hard. “I kind of made a deal with them. I don’t have a choice.”

Stone picked up his ice-filled glass. “Want something to drink?” He reached behind the bar and grabbed a bottle of Glen Levitt.

“Sure. That’s probably a good idea,” I said.

He twisted the cap off and drank a big gulp straight from the bottle. “You’re not going alone. Promise me you won’t.” He sounded very serious.

I jerked the bottle out of his hands. He didn’t fight me. “I can take care of myself! Did you not hear anything I just told you?” I brought the bottle to my lips and chugged. It was warm, pungent. I preferred it on ice.

Stone gave a graceful shrug. “I know how strong you are, but you’re not emotionally bulletproof. You will need someone to help you. Both with your father”—he paused as if trying to figure out the best words to say—“and with that human.” He slipped the Glen Levitt out of my hands.

Those words stung my face as if they were an electric current. He was right. Emotionally I was unstable. Seeing Tyler again was going to stir up all kinds of feelings. Combine that with a possible father-daughter reunion and it could equal a disaster. “All right. Fair enough,” I said. “And if I don’t go alone, does that mean you’re coming with?”

“Who else do you think?” He snickered, voice serious.

I stole a moment to think about it. It really would be nice to have someone with me, helping me, supporting me. I knew I could count on Stone for that. “Okay.”

“Okay what?”

“We’re doing this together, you and me. And you better not get yourself killed.” With a straight face, I stared at him.

Both of us burst into laughter, and I grabbed my stomach to ease the twisted knots. Stone did the same. We laughed together a short while. Oh it felt so good to feel happy, momentarily carefree. Stone reached over, slid his arms around me, and pulled me into a caring embrace. “I was so freaking worried about you,” he quietly murmured, lips tickling my ear. “Thank you for doing it my way this time. It’s only because I care, you know?”

Here came the tears, filling up my eyes like a tunnel getting flooded. My throat constricted, trying to fight them back. Stone’s grasp tightened around me. It was comforting, safe. And it accelerated my tears like gasoline on a fire. I tucked my head under his chin and buried my face into his bare chest. It was much warmer than I’d thought it would be. It was nice, comfortable. It felt like home, the closest thing I had to it anyway. I slipped my arms around him and held him back.

“I know you care. And I appreciate that you want to help me,” I said, voice soft and a little crackly. I was getting control of my emotions back, thank God.

His grip loosened and we both sat back, gazing intently at each other.

“So when do we leave?” he asked.

I mulled it over in my head for a moment. “I don’t know.”

“Did the Head Council give you a time frame?”

I shrugged. “Not really. But I know I don’t have forever.”

He half laughed, rolling his eyes. “So I guess that means we’ll find the human first.”

“Pretty much. I don’t really think they care about my father.” I grabbed the bottle of scotch and took a couple sips, then wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. “I’m the one that wants to find my father. I have questions that only he can answer.”

He took the bottle from me, chugged down a hefty amount. “What if he doesn’t want to be found?”

“It’s really not up to him! I deserve to know more about my
real
mother!”

Stone’s eyes grew wide. He flashed around, facing the entrance.

“What is it?” I asked. I followed the direction of his view but didn’t see anything. But then I picked up
his
scent and didn’t have to.

“I know you’re there!” Stone called out, standing up from the barstool, eyes narrow. He looked ready to fight.

I jumped up and placed my hands on his chest. “Please don’t. Let me talk to him.”

“This is my bar! He’s not welcome here, unless he’s here to turn himself in!” Stone was shouting so loud I thought the whole block could hear him.

I pressed harder against Stone’s chest. I glanced back at the entrance. No one came in. Nothing happened…yet. I flicked my eyes back to Stone. “Please, Stone! Do this for me. Give me five minutes to find out what he wants. If I don’t like it, we take him down…together.”

Stone’s face was full of anger. He looked down at me and it softened just a little. “You know we should bag him now and take him to the Head Council.”

I nodded, eyes begging, desperate. I didn’t even know why. I’d made a deal. I was under their strict orders. And I knew for a fact he wasn’t here to turn himself in. And Stone knew it too.

“Five minutes, Abby.” Stone kissed my cheek and then vanished behind the bar.

I watched the door—nothing there, no movement, no noise.

“Abby.” Warm air tickled the back of my neck like a feather brushing the skin.

I flashed around. Tyler was standing right there. How the hell did he get behind me? “How did you do that? What are you doing here?”

He reached up and cupped my cheeks with his hands. I flinched but didn’t pull away. After a brief moment, I relaxed a little, resting my face more comfortably on him. “I had to see you,” he said, voice soft, tired, his beautiful green eyes threatening to hypnotize me. “I couldn’t leave without seeing you again. I knew you’d be here…even though I know he’s here too.” He frowned and let go of my face.

“Stone is the least of your worries.”

“I know. A member of the Head Council is tracking me.” His muscles pulled his cheeks into a sly grin. “I lost him hours ago though.”

I shrugged. “I’m supposed to help find you. And turn you into them when I do.” Why was I even telling him this? Words kept flowing off my tongue like ocean waves in search of the shore. “They may have acquired more Enforcers to help with the search. Why do they want you so bad? Were you helping rogue vampires?”

He gazed at me, eyes full of information. “I want to tell you everything. I really do.” He stepped forward and embraced me—tight, meaningful.

I got a little choked up, throat constricted, stomach tight. Why did it feel so good inside his arms? I was close to crying. God, please not that again. “I can’t let you leave.” My voice was muffled against his chest. “I have to take you to them. I made a deal. They promise your safety.”

Tyler took a small step back, just enough to look down at me. He caressed my chin with his fingers and lifted it gently, slowly, so that we were looking at each other. His face lowered, lips closer and closer. His eyes were burning green flames in search of oxygen. I was the oxygen. His breathing sped up, deep, heavy. His heartbeat sounded like a marching band on too much caffeine. I did not step away—even though I should have. His lips brushed across mine like tiny electric currents. It fueled my hunger for him as if I were a depleted battery and he was the only way to recharge. I grabbed him by the back of his head with both hands, pressing him closer, tugging at his hair. His hands slid down my back, then crawled their way under the edge of my shirt. His fingertips danced across my skin, soft and gentle like butterfly wings. My hands fell down his neck, fingers digging into his skin. I kissed him harder and harder, my need to be close to him more urgent, desperate.
But I can’t do this! Need to stop it! Now!

I seized him by the shoulders and pushed back, using just a little extra force. Since he was fueled by my powers, he was tougher to budge now. But I did get him back a few inches. Note to self: Don’t give your boyfriend vampire blood or you can’t fight him off. Wait! He wasn’t my freaking boyfriend!

“Are you going to turn me in, Abby?” He violently sucked at the air, trying to catch his breath and cool off.

“Give me one reason,
one reason
I shouldn’t take you to them! I deserve the truth!”

He inched closer and I flashed several feet back, crashing into a chair and knocking it over. Tyler’s face crumbled. “I never wanted to lie to you! I wanted to tell you everything! I love you! I swear it!” Tiny streams of tears dropped down his cheeks.

“So tell me now! Please! What do you know about my father? Why does the Head Council want you?”

He swallowed hard. “Abby.” He stared down at the floor. This must be bad. He couldn’t even look at me.

“Spit it out Ty!”

He let out a long sigh. “Your father is dead.”

I froze. My whole body went numb. “But he called me. He was trying to warn me about Bronx.”

Tyler shrugged. “Bronx almost got him then. Your father got away, though. Bronx was beyond pissed off about that.”

Tyler helped Bronx find my father. He was the reason my father is dead! “You helped him! You helped him find my father and kill him.”

“No!” Tyler exclaimed, arms rising. “Bronx wasn’t going to kill him. He just wanted to keep him quiet. He was supposed to chain him up like that other vampire!” He took a moment to collect his thoughts. I waited impatiently, seething with anger. “It was an accident. Your father was too strong. He fought back. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

I dropped to the floor as if a Mack truck just crashed into me. I couldn’t handle hearing this, not yet, not now. I slammed my fists against the floor, over and over again. Just a few short minutes ago I was going to find my father, talk to him, get answers, and see him again with my own two eyes, father and daughter. But now that hope was lost, gone, buried forever.

Tyler’s hands rubbed my back, soft and hesitant. When I didn’t react, he drew closer, wrapping me up like a baby, pulling me back against him, holding, comforting, rocking. I lost myself in his arms and cried harder than I ever had before as we sat there on the floor of the pub.

The tears eased up, sticky trails left behind on my cheeks. I leaned back, just enough to look at Tyler. His face was soft, sincere, and so damned beautiful it almost hurt to look at it. When your hand gets stuck in the cookie jar, there’s no way to get it out without letting go of the cookies. I wasn’t ready to let go. I don’t know why it was so hard. Why do feelings have to get in the way of your conscience? You know better but you don’t listen. The door handle is hot, burning deep red, but you touch it anyway. Why do that? You already know it’s freaking hot!

“The Head Council doesn’t know my father is dead?” I said it like a question, but I was pretty sure they didn’t.

He shook his head slowly. “I worked with a couple friends of Bronx’s. Those are the rogue vampires the Head Council told you about. That’s how I met Bronx in the first place.” He grabbed my chin, gently tugged it, making sure my eyes stayed on his. “But Abby I swear, I swear I didn’t know they were bad. I would’ve never helped them, or Bronx, if I had known.”

I swallowed hard. The Head Council had no intention of keeping Tyler unharmed and alive. That was why I’d gotten the suspicious look from Elliott. There would be no way to clear Tyler’s name. His involvement was too easy to prove. And once they discovered my father’s death and the fact that Tyler helped Bronx get him, it would be all over. My whole body hurt, my chest caved in, the pressure growing more tense. I cared too much to turn him in. It was hard to see his innocence in all of this, but I knew it was there. I didn’t have Trace’s discerning ability, but I could sense the truth from Tyler’s words. He’d come clean. He’d admitted everything. None of it was his fault.

“You need to leave.” I’d said it. I didn’t mean it. Empty, meaningless words. But I knew Stone would be back out here any minute.

“Come with me.”

I shook my head. “I can’t.”

His eyebrow arched. “Why?”

I shrugged. “Because the only way to find out more about my mother is by speaking to her myself. And the only way to do that is through the Head Council.”

Tyler nodded and then looked away. A brief moment of silence passed and then we stood up. “Before I go, I need to hear it. I need to hear that you believe me. Abby, I would never hurt you intentionally. Not once I got to know you. I love you. I really, really love you. I’m sorry for everything.” His voice was urgent, desperate.

I closed my eyes and slowly opened them back up. He looked at me expectantly, his eyes drilling me for an answer. I stepped forward, grabbed his face hard, and kissed him. All the passion I could ever dream of still burned alive with the touch of our lips. I’m a glutton for punishment, I know. I slid my lips across his cheek, planting baby kisses all the way to his ear. “I believe you. I believe everything you told me,” I whispered.

“Thank you,” he breathed.

We held each other a little bit longer. Then his body straightened. He pulled out of my arms, stepping back cautiously. His eyes flicked toward the entrance and then back to me. “I really do have to go now.”