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Anna and Lisa stood up.
“They tried to get me,” Lisa said. “Now that Frankie’s blood is tainted, they must think that they can use me for the transfusion.
“Yes,” Antonio sighed, “your DNA markers mimic Donja’s but after they get you and realize your blood won’t match, they will feed on you.”
Lisa gasped. “The bastards are determined. They’ll be back and I’m good as dead.”
“You can get them off your back, that is if you’re willing to cross over.” Antonio said.
“Me,” Lisa stuttered with wide eyes, “like Frankie, become an…”
“No!” Carson shouted, there must be another way.”
Lisa held up her hand. “So, if they think that I am the last of the blood and it’s tainted, will they let Donja go?”
“They might,” Anna said, “only one of them got close enough to me in the battle to realize my lineage and Gage killed him, so they still believe you’re the last hope. If you cross over it will increase the chance of using me as a bargaining tool.”
“And who will do this?” Lisa whispered with a faraway look in her eyes.
“Antonio,” Torin said. “He changed Frankie.”
“You changed Frankie?” she asked. “I thought it was Torin.”
“Yes, it was me,” Antonio said. “Frankie has Donja’s blood, it would have been a hardship for Torin.”
Lisa pondered as Carson joined her side. “It’s not something I would ever have wanted,” she said, “but if it will save my life and possibly help get Donja back, why not?” She thought about Frankie.
Maybe I would have my son back.
“Let’s do it,” Lisa whispered.
“Not without me,” Carson chimed in. “You’re not crossing over without me,” he said, pulling her into his arms.
“Looks like our family is growing,” Antonio remarked with lustrous eyes. He held out his hand to Lisa and Carson. “Let’s take a walk.”
Hearing the front door close behind them, Torin took a deep breath. “Could we have some coffee,” he asked, hoping to distract from the uncomfortable silence settling upon them.
“Sure,” Makayla said. She headed for the door, Anna at her side.
In the kitchen, just as the coffee pot ceased to hiss and churn, Makayla poured six cups, then spun as the front door opened and every eye fell upon the hallway, leading to the foyer.
Antonio emerged, Lisa and Carson at his side.
Frankie cast a look as a smile curled upon his face.
Lisa gazed into Frankie’s eyes and in as much turned a page in her life. She understood his feelings, knew his needs. She had not lost her son, he had simply evolved. They shared a companionable moment and then she turned her gaze to Anna, who was sipping coffee. They shared a look which required no words.
Anna sat her coffee on the island and turned to leave. She paused beside Frankie, so different, yet his presence still warmed her heart. With a clandestine glance, she found Antonio’s eyes upon her. She took her leave into the hallway and headed for the stairs.
“Her heart is skipping beats. Go to her,” Frankie said with a nudge to Antonio.
Antonio bolted with long muscled strides, closing the gap just as Anna reached the stairs. “We need to talk.”
Anna stopped with her back to him. Then, without a word, took to the winding stairs. Antonio raced after her, two steps at a time. He grabbed her arm and spun her to face him. “I loved you. Why did you run?”
Anna looked deeply into his eyes as if searching his soul. “I was a scared kid, twelve years old and to me…you were a demon.”
Silence like a rolling fog, settled upon them, deadlocked with neither of them breathing.