vampires of san francisco 07 - suckers lost and found (19 page)

“Yes, but you will carry and nurture our child for the first part of their life. Allowing him or her to grow and thrive. I just can’t believe it. That heartbeat was the sweetest heartbeat I have ever heard,” he says, his voicing cracking at the end.

I take his face in my hands to kiss him but he gets on his knees and leans his head against my belly to listen. I try to stay quiet and still and then I see it. Sebastian’s awe. He can hear the heartbeat. So unfair, but I’m happy for him because he will have a way to participate in the pregnancy.

Just then the doorbell rings. I tell everyone to come in. There is a whole host of shocked faces except for Diel and Aidan. Then everyone is talking at once and yelling to be heard over the others. I start laughing and can’t stop. Bast gets off his knees and pulls me into a kiss. He whispers that he is going to get the picture and leaves.

“You can hear the heartbeat already?” Hannah exclaims. “How long is gestation? And I can’t believe I didn’t know about this.” She looks a little hurt.

“Please everyone, come into the living room. I’ll explain everything.” I head to the kitchen to get the food for Diel and Hades, who bounds after me anticipating his treat. I give it to him and he wolfs it down in nothing flat. Hell Hounds. 

When I get back to the family, they are passing around the picture which Aidan so nicely summons a frame for. Sebastian is regaling them with his account of hearing the heartbeat for the first time while he opens the champagne. Diel opens the cider for Hannah and me. The twins are lying on the floor staring up at the jungle gym above them.

“So, I feel mighty gypped. I was pregnant for four months and you only have seven weeks. That’s like half the time. No fair.” Hannah pouts.

“Yes, but it means half the time with the baby too. I’m envious of that.”

“I didn’t think of it that way. I just remember how huge I was at the end. You’ll go through it quickly.” She pats my shoulder as she goes to pick up a fussy Finn.

“I should have a bump in a couple of days. I can’t wait until the baby moves.” I spin around and Sebastian swoops in and grabs me and dances with me across the floor. He dips me low and kisses my neck when I come back up.

Helena is watching us and glowing. She gets up and comes over to me and places her hand on my tummy. I feel a warming sensation and look at her. She just smiles and kisses our cheeks before sitting back down. Julian is rubbing her back and kissing her cheek. Everyone is happy. Even Manda, being so new to our family, is excited. I think that once Manda comes back fully, Aidan and I will be able to talk her into a house in the neighborhood. Hannah will be the holdout. I’m going to have to convince her.

My phone rings. I go into the next room to take the call as I see it’s Basilio. Sebastian and Aidan follow me in.

“Put it on speaker, cherie.” I do and slide the screen to answer.

“Basilio, hello. How are you?”

“Not well, bella. Lily this is a very serious call. One of the mates of a vampire that Aidan incinerated is seeking permission to leave Italy to seek her revenge. I’ve denied her three times but tonight she threatened me in front of many important people of committing treason for siding with an American. She wants to take you out, Lily. Painfully and cruelly. She is a vicious vampire. She is very old too. I have sent two of my guards to watch over you.”

My hand is shaking so Sebastian takes the phone from me.

“Your Majesty, this is Sebastian St. John. Am I understanding this right?”

“I’m afraid you are, Sebastian. This is a fucking mess. I’ve already sent my guards out. I sent them the second after she left and right before I called you.”

“What’s her name and what does she look like?” Bast asks. He is fisting his hands.

“I’ve already sent all the information along with several photos to Julian’s email. Her name is Giulia.”

“Your Majesty, Lily is pregnant.”

“How is this possible?”

“Aidan gave us the gift for a wedding present. She is pregnant. It will be a short pregnancy so she will be incapacitated soon. You can see why with her condition and then my child that is soon to be in the world why I am fucking pissed,” Sebastian seethes.

“Sebastian, I understand. Dio Mio…Where is Aidan?”

“Here Your Majesty.”

“You need to be glued to Lily. This woman is scary and manipulative. She will infiltrate wherever she needs to. She must be killed or she will kill.”

Silence fills the room. No one knows what to say. Finally Sebastian comes around.

“It will be done,” he says and then hangs up. He unclenches his fist and then reaches for me. “Lily, do not worry. Aidan and I will take care of this. I promise you.”

“How can I not be worried,” I shout. “This is a fucking mess. I’m scared to death.”

Sebastian pulls me into an embrace. I feel slightly safer in his arms. My eyes search out Aidan.

“Lilith, I think, if it is all right with you and Sebastian, that Manda and I stay here with you both until this threat can be neutralized. It will give you and Manda the chance to bond and plan the wedding. She can also help you with your pregnancy as she recovers.” Aidan’s eyes are focused on Sebastian.

Sebastian nods.

“Cherie, it will be best if they do move in. It will give them a chance to look for a house close by too.” He smiles down at me, trying unsuccessfully to ease my panic.

Julian walks in the room looking weary.

“We all heard Lily and I was nominated to come find out what is happening. Please tell me everything is okay.”

“Everything is most certainly not okay,” I say, choking on the words. “This mad vampire named Giulia is bent on seeking revenge for her mate that was destroyed at the fights. Basilio tried to deny her permission to leave Italy until she threatened him with treason for sheltering an American.”

“Shit, I knew it was too good to be true that we have a happy event and no danger was in the mix,” Julian snarls. Very un-Julian like.

“Manda and I are going to move in temporarily to watch over Lily. This is going to be a logistical nightmare with the households split. But I think that we can manage.” 

“We’ll need everyone diligent. What does she look like?” Julian demands. He’s rubbing his forehead which is never a good sign.

“Basilio sent all her information to your email. You can use my laptop to bring it up,” Sebastian says as he goes into the other room to get it.

“Let’s take this back to the living room so everyone can be appraised,” Julian says. There’s a steely glint to his eyes. I pull him aside as we are walking out.

“I know everything is a mess, but are you okay?”

“No, my dear, I’m not. I didn’t realize how much it would mean to me that you are pregnant and I am feeling very protective of you. I’m scared and angry and I’m not sure I know how to process all this.” He pinches the bridge of his nose. “I’ve always known I could keep you safe. We are strong as a family and with Aidan we are even stronger. But now there is this little life and I am terrified.”

I give him a long hug.

“I love you, Jules. We have to be okay. I just have to believe that.”

“I love you too, dear heart. And I’ll try to believe.”

“Thank you, for so many things.”

“Let us face the family.”

“As Sebastian says, merde.”

SEVENTEEN / LILITH

We move our conversation to the front room to tell our family the bad news.

      “We wanted to see what you guys have been doing all day. Andrew has been positively jonesing to bring coffee and tea over here,” Liam says.

      “I’ll give you a tour in a minute. First we have some more news. That was Basilio on the phone,” I say.

      “We need to come together as family, stronger than ever,” Julian says.

      “Here is my laptop, Jules. Maybe you can print out a few copies for Diel, Aidan and me,” Sebastian suggests.

      “What’s going on,” Helena asks, picking up on her mate’s uneasiness.

      “We have a very dangerous situation. A vampire named Giulia is seeking revenge over her mate’s death at the fights. She wants Lily…” Julian says.

      “Of course she does. Holy Hell, can we just have one moment when someone isn’t trying to take out Miss Lily?” Andrew exclaims and throws his hands in the air. He starts pacing and Liam gets up to intercept him.

      “Hey, it’s going to be okay, Andy,” Liam whispers to Andrew while he takes him up in his arms.

      I go to Andrew and Liam and throw my arms around them.

      “I’m so sorry, Andrew,” I sob. I’m so tired of being the target too. Why can’t this happy event not be scarred by this mess?

      “Miss Lily, are you crying real tears?” Andrew asks with his mouth hanging open.

      Everyone comes up to me to see and I just want to hide.

      “It’s because I’m pregnant. I don’t know what else will happen but I do know that I do not want all this drama. I’m so tired of it.”

      “That’s because Ganja Mamma hasn’t kicked enough bad guys yet. Isn’t that right, Finn?” Hannah asks her baby boy who is presently being bounced on her tiny hip.

      “The mamma part is what is going to keep you out of this mess. Promise me?” I ask her.

      “Yeah, yeah…”

      “Hannah, pinky swear!”

      “Well, Hell, I can’t get past that,” she grumbles and holds her pinky out for me to lock with my own.

      I sigh in relief. I know she won’t go back on her oath. Pinky swears may seem silly but between sisters they mean everything. Diel mouths a ‘Thank You’ at me from behind Hannah. I give him a weak smile.

      Manda comes up to me and places her hand on my shoulder and squeezes.

      “It’s my fault. You should have left me,” she whispers but everyone hears her and immediately rises to flood her with love and reassurance. I take her hands in mine and pull her close. I have to tilt her head up so she meets my eyes.

      “Manda, sweetheart, leaving you wasn’t even an option. Do you have any idea how we all looked for you? We literally searched the world over for you. Aidan has only been half himself without you.” I smile a real smile this time. “He is getting back to his old self thanks to you. You are so loved that I would face a thousand Giulias over and over again to keep you safe.”

      I’m almost knocked over by her hug. She sobs into my shoulder and I hold her tightly against me. This is the first time she has cried since we found her. It will be cathartic. I look at Aidan and motion with my eyes for him to come and take her. It will be good for both of them. He gently pries our fingers from each other and takes Manda up in his arms and closes his eyes and she clings to him. He transmanifests out after he tells me he will be right back. I know he wants some privacy for them.

      “So who wants that tour? I’m sure Julian will need a few minutes to go through the information,” I say to the room.

      Hannah surges to my side with one baby in tow.

      “That sounds like a good idea. I want to check out this new portal. You have no idea how much I am going to enjoy not having to go to Bakersfield,” she says. I wipe my face and get myself under control. 

      Taking them through each room is a small joy after all the turmoil. They’ve been painted by Aidan and the house is rich in Tuscan colors. Some rooms are minimalistic and others have every nook and cranny filled. Our library is full of books and a couple of laptops, thanks to Aidan. I have it painted in Tuscan colors. Italian Sky Blue, ochre, greens and deep reds and a purplish color that reminds me of the sunsets we saw in Tuscany. This is the color I had Aidan paint our bedroom. I have gauzy white fabric over the top of the canopy and down each poster. The windows have a similar fabric for curtains. The bed is covered in the same white linens that Aidan whipped up with accent pillows. The room reminds me of our wedding and honeymoon. 

      “Oh, Miss Lily, this room is to die for. You captured Italy perfectly. I have a sudden urge to paint our room,” Andrew says.

      “You’ve all really outdone yourselves,” Helena says. “I don’t even recognize the house. It is beautiful.”

      “You have exquisite taste, Lily,” Sebastian says.

      “Thank you, all of you. I love this house. Anytime you want to go swimming, let me know,” I say. 

      “You know I will, girlfriend,” Andrew quips. Great. I was trying to be hospitable, not open up twenty four – seven. I don’t mean to think ill towards the family but Sebastian and I need our space and quiet for a while.

      “I’ll keep them reigned in for a while, Lily,” Helena assures me. I relax.

      “As much as I would like to entertain all night, I have a date with my wife,” Sebastian says and winks at me. He just loves calling me his wife. “It may be the last time we can go out for a while with Giulia on her way.”

      Everyone gets the hint and starts to say their farewells. Just as they leave, Manda and Aidan show up. They both have a healthy glow to them. They both must have eaten.      

      “Manda, do you think you up to being around warm-bloods tonight to go dancing?” I ask.

      “I don’t know. Aidan didn’t have to stop me this time when I ate and my hunger wasn’t bad today while we were busy decorating…”

      “We would be with you and at any time it is too much for you, Aidan can pop you out of there and back home,” Sebastian says.

      “I can only try. What do you think, Aidan?” Manda looks at her paramour for advice.

      “I think a night of dancing would be a good diversion. I’ll be with you wherever you go so you can ease your worry.”

      “Let’s do it then,” she says. I clap my hands, excited for some guilt-free fun for the first time in months.

EIGHTEEN / AIDAN

“Manda, lover, I hope it’s okay if I spoke for us at Lilith’s?”

“Yes, Aidan. I’m still having a hard time. Today is just what I needed though. I kept my mind on good things, hopeful things. I barely had a moment to remember.” I smile. “But Aidan, I will have to work through this. I can’t just pretend it didn’t happen.”