“Please Ronnie, don’t cry. We can take things slow. You know, like go on a date or two. Please, I beg you, don’t shut me out.” I could see Remy’s tear-stained reflection staring back at me on the door of the microwave.
Determined to control myself, I sniffled a few times then blotted my eyes with the corner of my shirt. I took in a deep breath then blew it all out before I turned around to face him. That’s about the time Tango woke-up.
“What the hell is going on in there?” he shouted from the living room.
Like two kids about to get caught with their hands in the cookie jar, Remy and I wiped the remaining liquid off of each other’s face and scrambled to sit at the table. “Nothing,” I yelled back.
“What are we doing?” Remy leaned in and whispered from across the table. I shrugged and shook my head. He sat up straight and glowered at Tango as he entered the kitchen. “Simmer down, Tiger, we’re just talking.”
“That didn’t sound like talking to me.” Tango eyed Remy then placed his hand on my shoulder. “Are you okay, Ronnie? Want me to make Remy leave?”
“Really, I’m fine. Remy and I were just talking.”
Remy reached across the table and clutched my hand. “I was about to ask Ronnie on a date.” He gave Tango an arrogant lopsided grin before turning his attention toward me. “What do you say, Ronnie, up for dinner and a movie tonight?”
This wasn’t just Remy asking me out on a date—he was marking his territory in front of Tango. I leaned across the table on my elbows, my face inches from Remy’s. “Let’s get something straight. If you expect to date a witch, you better show her familiar a little respect.” I let go his hand and leaned back in my seat. As much as I wanted to swim, I was not about to jump head first into this shallow pond. Remy would have to learn to do things on my terms.
“Was that a yes?”
“That was a maybe. First, you have to convince Minette and Tango to double with us. And second, a night date is out of the question, so let’s make it lunch. Oh and one more thing—you need to ask my dad for permission to date his only daughter. Do we have a deal?” I put my hand out to shake on it.
Remy rolled his eyes to the side then stared at my hand. Raised brow, I nodded towards my out-stretched hand.
“You drive a hard bargain, but deal.” He clasped my hand, but instead of a shake, he pulled me across the table on my side and cupped his hand behind my head as I lay on the table.
“This deal’s going to be sealed with a kiss.” His lips met mine. I rolled onto my back as his body pushed against mine.
Remy gazed into my eyes and smiled before helping me off the table. Tango cleared his throat, breaking the trance. “In case you two forgot, there’s still the business from last night to take care of.” We walked towards the front door.
“About that.” Remy paused and stood near the entrance. “We don’t have a poacher problem. We have a vampire problem. I called my dad before one of us gets killed.”
Just as Tango opened the door, Mr. Dubois pulled up in his truck with my father in tow. I dashed down the stairs and threw my arms around his neck. “Daddy.”
“How’s my girl? I knew trouble was brewing the moment I felt you touch the book.”
Mr. Dubois motioned for us to follow him into his camp. Once inside, I could feel Brent trying to influence me. His lustful thoughts penetrated my mind, but this time with clarity, I knew what he was up to. I smiled and walked over to where he stood, then punched him in the junk.
“Cut the crap. I know what you’re doing and it won’t work.” The look on his face was priceless as he fell to his knees and held the family jewels. Everyone turned and looked at me. I shrugged. “He had it coming.”
Minette smiled and gave me a high-five. “I’ve always wanted to do that.” I’m glad I had someone’s approval—my dad frowned then continued his conversation with Mr. Dubois.
Remy raised his brows and snickered. I glared at him then gave him the “I’m watching you” sign. He smiled and walked towards my dad. An uncomfortable heat crept up my face. I dashed out the door and headed for the marina.
Occupied with the thought of Remy talking to my dad, I hadn’t noticed I was being followed until my face and body were forced into the cinderblock wall of the marina.
“I’ve been looking for you,” hissed an unfamiliar voice as he ground his hips hard against my backside. His tongue slithered up the side of my neck and stopped just below the ear. Sharp fangs scrape against the skin over my jugular. Too paralyzed to scream, I whimper and squirmed. A calloused hand snaked its way between my stomach and underwear. I swallowed hard, barely able to breathe. He was too strong for me to resist. Tears wet my face as I whispered my plea. “Please don’t,” was all I could manage right before all hell broke loose.
A howl pierced the air, like a hell hound locking onto its prey. It hit the man with so much force it momentarily knocked the wind out of me as I crumbled to my knees. The biggest dog I’d ever seen tussled with what I know knew was a vampire.
I needed a weapon, but all I could find were oyster shells and a broken branch from a nearby oak. I fisted the stick in my hand and backed up until my spine came in contact with the wall.
All hope for my safety was dashed when the vampire threw the dog against the tree. The audible crack of the beast’s back against the large oak made my stomach want to heave. Before I could think, the vampire came barreling at me. I pointed the stick at the spot beneath his ribs, closed my eyes, and braced for impact.
Pain ripped through my body as the other end of the stick impaled my side just above the hip. The vampire fell to the ground with a thud, half the stick protruding from his chest. I slid down the wall and screamed in pain as I clutched my side. The other half of the stick was embedded deep.
The dog stirred and dragged itself with its front paws to where I lay. On the verge of passing out, I watched through heavy blinks the transformation from dog to Remy. He lay face down next to me, his legs still paralyzed, and yelled for Minette at the top of his lungs.
“Ronnie, I need to remove the stick so you can heal. On the count of three, I’m going to pull it out, okay?” His voice, calm and soothing.
I nodded and stifled my cry before I looked away.
“One, two...” Before he made it to three, he jerked the stick as hard as he could.
My scream must have been heard from the house as everyone ran to where we were moments before the world went black.
~~~***~~~
I woke in the master bedroom of the Dubois camp. Remy lay next to me and Tango curled up at my feet, both sleeping.
“How are you feeling?” My dad sat in a chair next to the bed. The black circles under his eyes made him look twenty years older.
“I thought I was dead,” I mumbled, too weak to keep my eyes open as I spoke.
“I’m sorry, Ronnie Bear. I don’t know what made me think I could keep you safe from all of this by keeping it secret. All your mom and I managed to do is leave you vulnerable. Your mawmaw is probably rolling in her grave right now.
“What’s Mom going to think about me dating a Roux-Ga-Roux?” I snorted.
“Well—your mom has a secret of her own. Let’s just say, she cringed every time the doctor said she was pregnant with a boy.” He laughed then smiled.
“Are my brothers wolves too?”
“Ironically, no—it looks like our family was spared that gene. Imagine her surprise when your mawmaw told her she carried a witch after escaping her own family curse four times. She didn’t want you to go through what she did as a child growing up in a supernatural family. She just wanted you to be normal and have a normal family.”
“What about you?”
“I was ecstatic to have a daughter to carry on the Benoit heritage. I loved what my mother was and wish I could do it all over again. There is so much she could have taught you. The power you wield is immense. You cou
ld have easily killed that vampire had you been shown.”
“Speaking of which—I thought vampires couldn’t go out in the sun. And why didn’t he turn to dust when I staked him?”
Dad chucked. “The answers to your questions are all up here.” He tapped his finger on my head. “You possess the knowledge of one of oldest and strongest witch bloodlines in the world. Just think about what you’re asking. The answer is there.”
“This is going to take a lot of getting used to.”
Remy stirred then laid his arm across my waist and pulled me closer, still asleep.
My dad raised his brows. “Yeah, I know what you mean.”
“Aren’t you going to do your dad thing and threaten him with bodily harm?”
Shaking his head, he replied, “As much as I would love to throw the pup out on his head, he’s already marked his territory.” He glared at the hicky on my neck. “There’s no force on earth that will keep that boy from you, but I’ll give him a good scolding about discretion when he wakes.”
I sighed, then drifted back to sleep in the comfort of Remy’s arms and the watchful eyes of my dad and Tango.
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