Bitten to Death

“Oh.” Suddenly I didn’t know what to do with my hands. I shoved them in my pockets. But they were full. I ran them through my hair. Wrapped them around my ribs. And tried not to think how humiliating it was to be the biggest idiot in the room.

“Trayton, we have to go,” I said, without looking at him.

“Okay. See you in a few.”

“Yeah.”

“Lucille?”

I turned to him.

“I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings.” He really did look apologetic. “If there’s another way to break this hold Disa’s got on Vayl, and I can do anything to help, believe me, I’ll be there.”

“Okay. Thanks. Get some damn sleep, wouldja?” I made sure the door was locked behind us and joined Vayl as he walked back toward our suite. Since I wasn’t ready to talk about our relationship and how much I sucked at it, I said, “What did Niall tell you about Disa and Blas?”

“It was much as we had thought,” Vayl replied. “Blas planned the coup, with Disa as his cohort. They took out the majority of the Trust’s fighters together, and then she turned on him. Niall thought he was dead.”

“What a great liar he turned out to be,” I said. “He sure had me going.”

“I agree. So if you see him again, shoot to kill.”

“Will do. And, about the other matter . . .” He waited, not blowing it off like I’d hoped, making me hunt for the right words. I can honestly say, when my phone rang, I was never so relieved to answer it despite the fact that my father was at the other end of the line.

“Jaz, can you talk?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m in trouble.”

“I thought you said—”

“Naw, things are still calm on that front. It’s your sister.”

“Evie called? How’s she doing?”

“Fine. Except she wants me to come down next month for a family portrait. Tim’s parents will be in town, so she’s made an appointment with this big-wig photographer. I thought this Grandpa crap was supposed to be fun!”

“It’s all in how you see it.”

“Give me an excuse to stay home.”

“Albert, you need to be in the picture. Literally. Evie will cry if you don’t come. On the phone. To me. So go, and find a way to have fun.”

“Well, it might be okay if Shelby and I can sneak E.J. off to the park for a couple of hours. Old gals love the babies.”

“There you go. Use your granddaughter to pick up women. That’ll get you points in heaven.”

“It’s better than sitting around the house with Lemon Lips and Pencil Head!” Tim’s mom and dad were way uptight compared to our clan. His mother, Alice, kept her lips puckered in a permanent expression of disapproval. She was always saying, “Bless your heart,” but somehow you knew it meant, “You’re going straight to hell.” And her hubby, Reverend Lester, really did look like you could turn him upside down and use his round, bald dome as an eraser. They’d probably been a couple of firebrands in their younger days. But they’d had Tim late in life, and evidently raising him had worn them out.

“Okay, sounds like a plan to me.”

Moment of silence. Why were they always so uncomfortable lately? I waited until Albert said, “So. About your brother.”

“Yeah?”

“Opinions vary.”

“They would.”

“Some say you should help him relive the event in a safe way, where he has control. So he can see how it really was.”

“I don’t see how I can do that from our present location.”

“I thought you might say that.”

“Any other ideas?”

“Lots of talk. Now. When he goes back to work. In the years to come. Also, there’s a program I’ve signed him into. He won’t be happy about it, but it’ll keep him in the service and on his team.”

“So what should I do?”

“You’re the one who has to get him started. You know, with the blabbing.”

After another long pause he said, “Jazzy? You still there?”

“Oh, that’s going to be a cinch! Why don’t you just ask me to fly to Mars and get you a few ice cubes for your tea?”