Page 12 of The Brave (Black Arrowhead #6)

H ope and I clutched hands as we drove to Dragonfly’s in the back of Atticus’s van. We remained silent while Atticus kept the radio at a low volume. It didn’t seem right to leave Salem behind, but I understood the reasoning.

It still left me unsettled.

Atticus called his employees in advance to empty the topside restaurant. We arrived to a quiet entrance, the cooks energetically preparing meals as we cut through the kitchen to the elevator.

Once we reached his private office, I gasped in disbelief. He had converted his personal space into a bedroom. A large canopy bed with sheer curtains tied to the corners replaced the wooden desk. Two Tiffany lamps on either side were switched on, the mellow light illuminating the colorful lampshades. I looked at the couches on the left and noticed the statues were pushed against the wall.

How on earth did they get this giant bed in here? And so fast?

The idea of them doing all this in less than a half hour made me smile. “Where’s your desk?”

“They moved it into a storage room to fit the bed. There’s a private bathroom in the hall. This room should also be stocked with snacks and necessities. Is this to your satisfaction?”

“And then some.”

Hope approached a long table in the center and looked at the array of drinks and fresh fruit. She lifted the lid to a canister and peered inside. “Did you make these cookies?”

“One of my cooks did. They should be fresh sugar cookies.”

I gave the room another scrutinizing gaze, noticing small touches like fresh flowers, lotion, and candles. “You did all this … for us? In that short of time?” This Vampire continued to surprise me at every turn.

A smile touched his lips. “My employees are indispensable, and I compensate them for their time and effort. There are extra blankets over the couches. I don’t have a good sense of what temperature is comfortable, but if you get chilly, I can bring a space heater down. I’m afraid my book collection is a little dull for your taste, but I can locate whatever you desire, my lady.”

Nonplussed, I set my oversized travel bag down. “I thought we were going to your house? How long do you mean to keep us here?”

“The roads aren’t safe to travel, and Vampires always have the advantage at night. We’ll leave once I find a secure way to transport you. Tak is already making arrangements for Hope.” He gestured to the wall opposite the door. “If you have a sweet tooth, the freezer’s filled with ice cream and frozen yogurt. Help yourself. Silverware is wrapped in napkins in the adjacent cabinet. Can I order you something from the kitchen? Anything you like.”

We had skipped dinner, but I was too anxious to eat at the moment.

“We’re okay for now,” Hope said while looking at all the snacks. “How do we find you?”

“Send me a text message or call. I’ll be on the premises. Don’t venture any farther than the bathroom by yourself. I made a promise to keep you safe. You’re not a prisoner, but if you wish to come out, I’ll escort you.”

When he left, Hope and I settled in.

“Prisoners in a gilded cage,” I mused.

“Look.” She held up a word game and gave it a shake, rattling the contents inside the box. “He thought of everything.”

Nearing the bed, I spotted plush slippers on the floor. This was a scene out of a fairy tale. Meanwhile, a nightmare was unraveling.

“I’m so sorry for all this.”

Hope took a small orange from the bowl. “Don’t be silly. Even if you had told us about the lab from the beginning, we would still be here.”

I sat on the bench at the foot of the bed. “I shouldn’t have been so insistent, shouldn’t have forced Salem into this, but I wanted a pack’s protection.”

She sat beside me. “And you have it. I’ve lived in a pack my whole life. Believe me, we’re prepared for danger. Did Mel or Lakota ever mention the pack war years ago when rogues attempted a land grab? I’ve seen more drama in my old pack than on television. Tak knows what’s best for us. Besides, this will give me a chance to have a long visit with my family. Every pregnant woman needs her mother sometimes.”

I stared blankly at the table ahead.

“I’m sorry, Joy. It breaks my heart what your parents did. That must have been devastating, but I hope you can take some comfort in knowing that we’re your family now.” Hope soothed me with a touch of her hand. “Here, let’s share.” After peeling the mandarin orange and tossing the skin, she divided the small fruit in two. While eating her wedges, she toed off her shoes. “Do you hold any resentment toward Salem?”

Swallowing my last bite, I replied, “I’ve had a lot of time to think about our relationship. I’m not a spiteful woman. Salem made deplorable choices in his past life, and he knows it. In the end, he saved me and all those other women. Even though I get a little angry sometimes, I’ve forgiven him. I’m just glad that I have no memory of that dreadful place, but those poor girls did. Can you imagine living with that? My wolves never shifted back—not once.”

“They protected you.” Hope opened her overnight bag. “Do you miss performing?”

I leaned against the bed. “Not at all. Do I miss the lifestyle that came with it? Guilty.” I stared at the sticky residue on my fingertips. “Maybe it’s selfish, but it’s hard not to appreciate the travel, food, music, and soirees. I felt like a princess.”

She ducked behind a bed curtain and changed. “I could never be a performer. To be vulnerable in front of others takes courage.”

“You can have all the courage in the world, but an entertainer needs thick skin to survive. With compliments comes criticism. When you put yourself out there for the world to judge, the world’s not always nice.”

She reappeared in sleep shorts and a baggy shirt. When she held the collar to her nose and pulled in a deep breath, I knew it had to be Tak’s. His scent must have brought her comfort.

“This was generous of Atticus.” I focused my attention on the room and all the small touches. “People don’t go out of their way to help others unless they want something in return.”

Hope slipped her feet into a pair of blue slippers. “Melody knows him better, but he’s always been generous. It’s also wise to be allies with influential people in the community.” She regarded me for a stretch while pulling her long hair out from beneath her collar. “Does your skepticism have to do with the Vampires chasing you? Is that why you’re uncertain about him?”

“The power they wield frightens me.”

“Yes, but remember they can do good with those same gifts—just like we can with ours. A Shifter gave me these marks on my face when his wolf attacked me. Our gifts aren’t innately good or evil; it’s what we choose to do with them.” She retrieved a hairbrush from her bag. “He saved Virgil’s life and asked for nothing in return. Vampires are protective of their blood and don’t give it up freely, so that speaks volumes about his character. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t trust him. If Atticus says he’s going to protect us, that’s what he’s going to do. He might have a private agreement with Tak about a favor trade, and that’s fine. I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

A voice boomed in the hallway. Hope dropped her hairbrush, eyes wide as she stared at the door while clutching her chest. When the door crashed open and hit the wall, I jumped to my feet.

A Native man with long hair and a skull-and-crossbones tattoo on his left arm stalked in. He dropped to one knee in front of Hope and clutched her hips, his forehead against her belly. After muttering something in his native language, he rose and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “My daughter.”

Hope’s expression brimmed with both love and absolute astonishment. “How did you get here so fast?”

He drew back. “I heard you were in danger.”

“Father, I’m hardly in peril. These are just precautionary measures.”

He tilted his head to the side. “Tell me why it is you think sleeping in a bar basement is a safe option.”

She crossed her arms, and a line formed between her eyes similar to the one her father had. “Because my mate will do anything to protect me and our baby, and if he thinks that I’m safer here than in our home, I trust his instincts. Tak loves me enough to send me away. You would do no less.”

Atticus leaned against the doorjamb. “No one can break in here. The doors are Vampire proof, and you need an access code.”

“Come on.” Hope’s father jerked his head toward the door. “I have twenty packmates waiting outside.”

“You’re such a worrywart.” She rubbed her cheek while glancing down at her outfit. “I barely got to enjoy the slippers.”

“Bring them with you.” Then he turned a sharp eye at Atticus. “Unless you need them back.”

Atticus shook his head.

Lorenzo Church was a formidable man with long hair, a stern gaze, and enough alpha energy to make any wolf submit on command. “You’re welcome to join,” he said to me.

Boy, was that tempting. “I appreciate the offer, but I should follow my Packmaster’s orders. He wants me with Atticus.”

“Fair enough.” Once he collected Hope’s bag, Mr. Church bowed his head politely and ushered her out.

“Sorry, Joy!” she called back. “I’ll send you a text.”

Though I was relieved she had a safe place to go, Hope’s absence left me feeling even more alone in an uncertain time.

I studied the door closely. “You said your doors are Vampire proof, but that’s made of wood.”

He crooked his fingers for me to follow.

When we reached the center of the hallway, he pressed a sconce on the wall. A heavy steel door slid down from the ceiling, sealing us off from the rest of the hallway.

“I installed these in a few key locations for safety,” he explained. “One can never be too careful when it comes to Vampires. My club generates a lot of cash, so I have to protect it.”

He must keep his money somewhere in the office, perhaps hidden inside a statue or inside the freezer along with the ice cream.

“You couldn’t be safer,” he assured me.

“If that’s true, maybe I should remain here instead of going to your house.”

“My home is far more lavish than these meager offerings. You’ll tire of this quickly.” Atticus opened the security wall back up. “You need to be away from this town until we’ve eliminated the threat.” He drew nearer while studiously avoiding eye contact. “It’s for your protection… and the baby’s.”

I hugged my arms, the gunshots from earlier today still ringing in my ears. “But the roads aren’t safe to travel.”

He lightly gripped my shoulders. “Your heart is racing.”

I drew in a sharp breath. “You make me nervous.”

Atticus lowered his hands, amusement glittering in his ancient eyes. “I haven’t even shown you my fangs.”

Maybe he’s helping Tak so he can get a favor trade in return, but I hope he knows it won’t include me.

“Nothing about this scenario is normal, and the longer I sit in that empty room with my thoughts, the more anxious I’ll become. You said there weren’t any Vampires in your club?”

“Correct. They’re banned until I say otherwise.”

“This day started off so wonderful, and I’d like it to end that way. Distract me.”

“As you wish. Come with me.”

Atticus escorted me through the gold room. Heads turned, admiration etched on the faces of customers who viewed him as a wealthy, powerful man with charisma. They smiled desperately, hoping to capture his attention. Rather than seating me at a table or booth, Atticus led me to one of the private carriages on the right-hand wall. Our fingers briefly touched when he helped me into the seat.

“Would you like these closed for privacy?” he asked, touching the black curtains on the end.

“No, leave them open for now. This is lovely.”

“Mind if I join you?”

Dining with a Vampire wasn’t at the top of my list of things to do, but I needed the company. “Please do. I’m famished and hate eating alone.”

Atticus slid into the seat across from me and rested his arms on the table, fingers laced. The votive candles flickered in the gold-etched holders, adding a flair of romance. “I thought we could get better acquainted so you wouldn’t be so worried. Would you like a raspberry sorbetto? It’s refreshing.”

“Actually, this pregnant lady is a little hungrier than that. Do you mind if I order dinner?”

He signaled to one of the servers.

I moved one of the pretty amber candleholders to the left. “Who decorated this place?”

“I did. Down to the last detail.”

“It’s breathtaking. I had no idea you were so talented.”

His eyebrows arched. “I’m not sure I’d call it talent. When you’re as old as I am, you’ve seen the best and worst of public entertainment. I like the concept of different spaces for different needs, so that’s why it’s carved up into three main rooms.”

“I’m glad you did. If every room was like the red room, I’d never come here.”

His lips twitched.

A waitress with silver hoop earrings whisked over to our booth, her hair pulled into a tidy bun. She kept her attention solely on Atticus. “Yes, sir?”

Atticus reached across the table to capture my attention. “Do you have a request, or shall we look at a menu?”

One of my pregnancy cravings was in full force, but would they serve it at this late hour? “Would it be possible to have breakfast for dinner?”

“Absolutely,” the green-eyed woman replied. “What would you like?”

“Pancakes with syrup, sliced strawberries, powdered sugar, and maybe just one sausage on the side.”

“And to drink?”

“Sweet tea with lemon.”

“Coming right up.”

I giggled and sat back. “Salem would kill me.”

“For?”

“He wants me to cut back on sugar and salt.”

Atticus laughed quietly. “For what reason? You’re a Shifter. You don’t suffer from the same risks as humans.”

I tapped my fingernail on a candleholder. “Maybe that was his subtle way of saying I might get fat and retain water. The surprise is on him because I love my new size.”

“As do I.”

That intrigued me more than it should have.

The candlelight illuminated his chiseled face and emphasized the depth in his obsidian eyes. Atticus didn’t possess any nervous habits such as talking too much or fidgeting, and I was finding myself more at ease in his presence. Most Vampires I’d met thrived on terrifying people, yet Atticus was so amiable.

“What are you thinking?” he inquired.

“I’m wondering why movies always depict your kind as dead things.”

He gave a lopsided grin. “And what about the films that portray you as hairy monsters who tear through your human skin on a full moon?”

I snorted. “Sometimes it feels that way when our wolves want out. Do you have a heartbeat?”

Atticus leaned forward and placed my hand against his cheek. “I’m very much alive, my lady. Warm-blooded, just like you.”

A flurry of butterflies circled in my stomach. Startled by my reaction, I snapped my hand away from his warm cheek.

He leaned back. “I suppose it makes sense.”

“What does?”

“If your wolf was abused by Vampires, she sees me as a threat. But I’m not. I’m just a man who runs a club and likes to bake.”

The server set our drinks on the table and hustled away.

“You bake?”

He tucked his chin against his fist and watched a nearby table. “The only trouble is I don’t especially like eating the foods I make.”

“That bad?” I chuckled softly. “Maybe you should bake what you do like to eat, Mr. Rain.”

“I never could master macaroons. Anyhow, there’s no joy when you’re the only one who can appreciate the food. I’d rather cook for another.”

A young woman with the palest hair entered the room. Her long skirt and baggy sweater caught my attention because it didn’t match a woman of her natural beauty.

Atticus followed my gaze. “Do you know her?”

“She and her brother tried joining our pack. I assumed they had given up on this town by now. Where in the world could they be staying?”

Atticus gazed at the tiny flame that flickered in front of him. “Storybook has many secrets. Most people here are hiding from one thing or another.”

“And what are you hiding from, Mr. Rain?”

He laughed softly. “Certainly not responsibility.”

I steered my gaze back to Serena and spotted her sitting at a corner table with her brother Ian. He was doing all the talking, and it reminded me of their brief time with us. Poor thing. To be stuck with such an unstable wolf was a terrible fate.

“Are you curious what they’re saying?” Atticus canted his head. “I don’t make it a habit to pry, but their conversation is banal.”

I gave him an admonishing look, wondering how many times he had listened in on our private conversations. “It’s incredibly rude to eavesdrop.”

“I can’t help it any more than you can help seeing her from across the room.”

“I thought you could mute out certain sounds.”

“Normally I would, but given the circumstances, I need to stay alert to my surroundings.”

It was tempting to go up and say hello, but I didn’t want to draw attention to myself on such a busy evening. Aside from that, the doleful look in her eyes conveyed that she wasn’t up for a friendly visit.

When my pancakes arrived, I pulled in a deep breath of the mouthwatering aroma. They were perfectly stacked—fresh strawberries sliced on top and around the side, and two pats of butter melting over everything.

“This is wonderful!”

Atticus watched me intently. “Nothing but the best.”

The server presented me with two miniature syrup bottles. “This one is maple, and this one is a strawberry syrup to complement the meal.”

I reached for the maple. “Thank you so much.”

While she added powdered sugar to my pancakes, I couldn’t decide if I wanted to eat the sausage first or save it for last. After placing rolled-up napkins containing our silverware on the table, she made a swift exit.

Atticus gave me a pensive look. “Is everything to your satisfaction? If not, we’ll make the correction.”

“Once it’s in my tummy, I’ll let you know.”

With that, I carved into the fluffy pancakes and savored the first bite. The syrup was delicious and fresh, the strawberries juicy and ripe. These past months had been so trying that I’d forgotten how nice it was to be pampered.

“I like watching you eat,” he remarked.

That should’ve made me self-conscious, but I was too hungry to care.

Atticus laced his fingers together. “If you have any meal requests, I’ll make sure it’s stocked in my home. I can’t profess to being the best cook, but?—”

“You plan on cooking?” I bubbled with laughter at the thought of a Vampire in charge of my meals. “That means you’ll have to fill your cabinets with real food. Do you even have a kitchen in your home?”

“How else would I make my pastries?”

“I thought maybe you used the club kitchen.”

He threaded his fingers through his pale hair. “If you don’t like my cooking, I’ll have to kidnap a chef. Pizza doesn’t deliver out that far.”

I cast a worried look about the room, wondering how my pack was doing. It made me sick to think that something might happen to them.

“Do you have a rose garden?” he asked.

I swirled my pancake in syrup. “No. I’m afraid I don’t have a green thumb.”

He ran his finger through the candle flame. “What are your passions?”

That was a good question. I’d never fully explored my interests in the past since I never had the time.

After swallowing my bite, I replied, “Well, I suppose I’ve grown to love knitting and making things with my hands. I’m nowhere near as creative as Melody or Hope, but what started as a hobby is something I find enjoyable.” I chuckled softly when I remembered how awful my first attempts were. “Maybe I’ll actually be good at it someday.”

“I’m sure you already are.”

“I can make scarves, hats, and small things, but I’d also love to try my hand at quilting. Melody could teach me how to use the sewing machine. I’m sure this is all dreadfully boring to a man like you.”

Atticus stroked his chin. “On the contrary, the most rewarding pastimes are the simple ones.”

“Is that why you bake?”

He smiled as if embarrassed. “Yes, but it didn’t come naturally. I learned from a talented lady. She took her passion and transformed it into a business. I can tell you firsthand that running a business is challenging, and not everyone has the versatility or intelligence to do it. I mused on the idea of opening a bakery, but I have no talent to speak of—not like your packmates.”

“I don’t think you realize that running a business is your talent. Building a successful place like this in the middle of nowhere was risky, but look what you’ve done with it. Even Calvin needed help, and he’s been running the Rabbit Lounge for years.” I tasted the sausage, delighted that it wasn’t spicy.

“You don’t seem like a woman born of this time.”

“How can you tell?”

“One of my talents,” he quipped. “Might I inquire your age?”

After sipping my tea, I replied, “My birth year is 1902.”

“Younger than I presumed.”

I sat back and smiled with surprise. “You think I look older? Shame on you.”

Atticus laughed brightly. “On the contrary, I think you have youthful but elegant features. I only mean that you have wisdom in your eyes, a feature I see more commonly in ancients.”

“Wealth and fame took its toll. When you reach a certain status in life, people use you for their own gain. I suppose you know all about that.”

He nodded. “Didn’t you have a team of advisors or a bodyguard? A good friend to guide you?”

“I never had anyone. No brothers to protect me, no best friend, no pack. My manager was my advisor,” I said with a roll of my eyes. I studied the way Atticus held my gaze before redirecting his focus elsewhere. It made it more comfortable to look at him while talking. “You’re smarter than I thought.”

His eyebrows popped up. “Are you saying I look like an imbecile?”

I set down my fork. “On the contrary. You’re obviously smart enough to know that polite conversation puts people at ease. I needed the distraction.”

“As it so happens, this isn’t a distraction. I enjoy talking to you.” Atticus reached across the table and touched my hand. “You have nothing to fear in my custody.”

“My pack will be safe. You’ll see to it, won’t you?”

He sighed. “I’ll do what I can to protect you, but your pack must fend for themselves. On my honor, I’ll do whatever must be done to ensure your safety. Not just now… but forever.”

What a strange thing to promise.

“Forever is a long time, Mr. Rain.”

“Yes, it is.”

“And you would do that for someone you barely know? I simply don’t understand you.”

“Someday you will, my lady.”

“For better or for worse?”

He flashed a wicked grin. “For richer or poorer.”

“That’s presumptuous.”

Atticus belted out a laugh. When he saw me staring blankly at him, he laughed even more and shielded his eyes. “Apologies. My humor doesn’t always stick the landing, but you left that wide open.”

I gripped my juice glass. “Well, as long as we’re on the topic of proposals, I have one of my own.”

“Name it.”

“I propose you order me some of that expensive ice cream with the gold leaf and truffles and not make any remarks about whether or not it’s good for me.”

He signaled for a server. “Sometimes what’s bad for us is good.”