Bite Me
Page 61
Her anger might not come out often, but when it did, the world shuddered in the face of it.
But, for once, Joan was going to let her daughter take the lead on this. To be honest, she wanted to see what her daughter would do. How she would handle it. If Olivia handled it well, then at least Joan wouldnt have to worry about her safety. Not involving herself in the family business put Olivia at risk in a way she wouldnt be if she was involved.
Then again, there was that time Olivia was snatched by full-human men who wanted her father to do a job for them. Olivia had only been sixteen at the time, and both families had quickly gotten together, plans on how they would deal with the kidnapping already in the works, when Olivia had suddenly walked in the back door of their Washington house. Covered in blood, with a handcuff still dangling from her wrist, shed walked barefoot through the kitchen, stopping only to point at her father and inform him that, After what I just went through, you better pay for my art school. Something her father had initially refused to doeven after a painfully long plea from Antonella Jean-Louis Parker on Livys behalfbecause hed rightfully thought it was stupid.
But when they didnt find anything but the empty van and lots of dried blood, Damon went ahead and paid for that education he didnt believe in.
So maybe Joan didnt need to worry about her ridiculous daughter with her ridiculous ideas about being a great artist.
A glass of scotch was held in front of her face and, smiling, Joan took it.
Thank you, Baltazar.
Her husbands brother sat down next to her. It was freezing cold out, so he also wore his mink coat.
Dont be mad at little Olivia.
Who says I am?
You did. I heard you say to your sister, I am so mad at her.
Yeah. She had said that.
Besides, he went on, did you really expect her to do anything else once she found Damon in some full-humans house? Stuffed and on display like some deer?
You have a point.
Balt pressed his shoulder against Joans and lowered his head a bit so she had to look him in the eye.
Stop it, Balt.
What? I said nothing.
Im still your brothers wife.
My brothers ex-wife. Or, if you were still married . . . widow. Besides, you cannot live your life alone and miserable.
Who says Im miserable . . . or alone?
Balts back straightened. Who? Tell me his name?
Balt
I want to know his name.
Stop.
Balt drank his shot of vodka in one gulp and poured himself another from the bottle hed brought out with him.
Lets focus on somethingelse.
Fine, he grumbled, sounding like the seventeen-year-old shed met all those years ago. A seventeen-year-old who never gave up on trying to get in her pants.
Joan put her arm around Balts giant shoulders. Tell me the plan.
Right now, we need name. There is someone very important who protects this Whitlan. I want their name. So tomorrow, my brothers and I go to Florida.
Whats in Florida?
The company that shipped Damons body.
Good. You deal with them. Ill deal with Allison Whitlan.
Olivia will not like if you kill her, my beauty. Unless Whitlan girl is involved in all this.
Joan chuckled. You listen to my daughter too much. Im a thief, not a murderer.
Your daughter has never said either. My brother, though . . .
Joan laughed and kissed her brother-in-law on the cheek. Im glad youre here, Baltazar. But I want you to be careful.
I will not promise to be careful, Balt admitted honestly. But I do promise many will suffer.
Laying her head on his shoulder, Joan smiled. I know, Baltazar. I know.
CHAPTER 21
Vic woke up with Livy tucked in his arms. They were both fully dressed and on top of the covers. It had been a long couple of days, and theyd been exhausted. So he wasnt surprised theyd sort of passed out without having dinner.
It was still early, though, so Vic was ready to go right back to sleep when he caught sight of Kyle at the foot of his bed.
Kyle?
Someone needs to feed me.
Feed you?
Yes. Im hungry.
You can get food on your own.
I could. But I wont. Ive got work.
Youre twelve.
Im well aware of my age. I also know that legally someone has to feed me.
Wheres Cooper?
Practicing in the basement.
Okay, then
And he throws things at me when I interrupt him. Your soft eyes suggest youre weaker and wont physically harm me. So I need you to feed me.
He wont physically harm you, Livy growled from her spot against Vics chest, but I will.
You wont because of your loyalty to my sister. And shes in Siberia. Not metaphorically, either. Literally . . . in Siberia.
Livy pushed herself up on one elbow, locked those beautiful black eyes on Kyle, and said, But youre also a shifter, which means youll heal before she gets back in the country. So get out of my room! she ended on a screech.
But, for once, Joan was going to let her daughter take the lead on this. To be honest, she wanted to see what her daughter would do. How she would handle it. If Olivia handled it well, then at least Joan wouldnt have to worry about her safety. Not involving herself in the family business put Olivia at risk in a way she wouldnt be if she was involved.
Then again, there was that time Olivia was snatched by full-human men who wanted her father to do a job for them. Olivia had only been sixteen at the time, and both families had quickly gotten together, plans on how they would deal with the kidnapping already in the works, when Olivia had suddenly walked in the back door of their Washington house. Covered in blood, with a handcuff still dangling from her wrist, shed walked barefoot through the kitchen, stopping only to point at her father and inform him that, After what I just went through, you better pay for my art school. Something her father had initially refused to doeven after a painfully long plea from Antonella Jean-Louis Parker on Livys behalfbecause hed rightfully thought it was stupid.
But when they didnt find anything but the empty van and lots of dried blood, Damon went ahead and paid for that education he didnt believe in.
So maybe Joan didnt need to worry about her ridiculous daughter with her ridiculous ideas about being a great artist.
A glass of scotch was held in front of her face and, smiling, Joan took it.
Thank you, Baltazar.
Her husbands brother sat down next to her. It was freezing cold out, so he also wore his mink coat.
Dont be mad at little Olivia.
Who says I am?
You did. I heard you say to your sister, I am so mad at her.
Yeah. She had said that.
Besides, he went on, did you really expect her to do anything else once she found Damon in some full-humans house? Stuffed and on display like some deer?
You have a point.
Balt pressed his shoulder against Joans and lowered his head a bit so she had to look him in the eye.
Stop it, Balt.
What? I said nothing.
Im still your brothers wife.
My brothers ex-wife. Or, if you were still married . . . widow. Besides, you cannot live your life alone and miserable.
Who says Im miserable . . . or alone?
Balts back straightened. Who? Tell me his name?
Balt
I want to know his name.
Stop.
Balt drank his shot of vodka in one gulp and poured himself another from the bottle hed brought out with him.
Lets focus on somethingelse.
Fine, he grumbled, sounding like the seventeen-year-old shed met all those years ago. A seventeen-year-old who never gave up on trying to get in her pants.
Joan put her arm around Balts giant shoulders. Tell me the plan.
Right now, we need name. There is someone very important who protects this Whitlan. I want their name. So tomorrow, my brothers and I go to Florida.
Whats in Florida?
The company that shipped Damons body.
Good. You deal with them. Ill deal with Allison Whitlan.
Olivia will not like if you kill her, my beauty. Unless Whitlan girl is involved in all this.
Joan chuckled. You listen to my daughter too much. Im a thief, not a murderer.
Your daughter has never said either. My brother, though . . .
Joan laughed and kissed her brother-in-law on the cheek. Im glad youre here, Baltazar. But I want you to be careful.
I will not promise to be careful, Balt admitted honestly. But I do promise many will suffer.
Laying her head on his shoulder, Joan smiled. I know, Baltazar. I know.
CHAPTER 21
Vic woke up with Livy tucked in his arms. They were both fully dressed and on top of the covers. It had been a long couple of days, and theyd been exhausted. So he wasnt surprised theyd sort of passed out without having dinner.
It was still early, though, so Vic was ready to go right back to sleep when he caught sight of Kyle at the foot of his bed.
Kyle?
Someone needs to feed me.
Feed you?
Yes. Im hungry.
You can get food on your own.
I could. But I wont. Ive got work.
Youre twelve.
Im well aware of my age. I also know that legally someone has to feed me.
Wheres Cooper?
Practicing in the basement.
Okay, then
And he throws things at me when I interrupt him. Your soft eyes suggest youre weaker and wont physically harm me. So I need you to feed me.
He wont physically harm you, Livy growled from her spot against Vics chest, but I will.
You wont because of your loyalty to my sister. And shes in Siberia. Not metaphorically, either. Literally . . . in Siberia.
Livy pushed herself up on one elbow, locked those beautiful black eyes on Kyle, and said, But youre also a shifter, which means youll heal before she gets back in the country. So get out of my room! she ended on a screech.
