“Delta is D. D. Knight, the famous author!” Abby squeals and jumps up and down. Chase's mouth drops open, and he stares at her in shock.
“Truly?” he asks.
“It’s true,” Delta answers.
“Yes!” Chase does a fist pump and glares at his son, “You owe me fifty bucks, boy. I knew D. D. Knight was a female!” Delta laughs until tears spill free.
He takes it really well, considering everything they've been through. Then he proceeds to badger her about book three. Delta can't remember when she's been so relaxed. “Are you gonna ask her?” Chase demands before he leaves for the night.
Daniel tries to shove him out the door before she can respond. “Ask me what?” Delta asks as Chase grins and pushes his son back.
“If you will autograph his copies of your books.” Daniel shoves him out and slams the door while Delta laughs out loud. When the door opens, Chase pops his head back through, “You owe me, son, I will collect tomorrow.” Daniel throws a pillow at the door while Chase laughs.
“I’ll take Abby to the airport tomorrow. Have her ready at seven,” he calls before he leaves.
Delta stares at him as he begins to straighten up the living room. “Daniel? Are you going to ask me?” She taunts him.
He glares at her and stomps into the kitchen to clean up, while she laughs. “I haven't laughed this much in years, thank you,” she says wiping her eyes. Daniel smiles at her and sets the alarm for the house before sitting next to her on the couch.
“Good. Now that we are finally alone,” he takes her hand, “when is book three coming out?”
Delta leans back with a laugh, but he isn't smiling. “I'm serious, when?” She bites her lip to keep from laughing. “Will the Covenant stand? Who lives?” he asks.
“If you’re a good boy, I might let you read the first ten chapters…” she traces a finger down his cheek.
“Name your price, woman,” he says leering at her. “How about a hot oil massage?” Delta’s smile fades.
“Don't tease me like that, Daniel. My whole body aches,” he just stares at her, before lifting her leg up onto his lap and begins rubbing her foot. Her groan of pleasure has him grinning.
Delta leans up and pokes him in the chest. “Feet, calves and shoulders?”
“You run a hard bargain, Delta. Where is it?” His lip curls in a satisfied smirk.
“Are you serious? Right now?” Delta laughs when he pushes her leg off his lap and glances at her laptop.
“Daniel, it's password protected,” he frowns slowly lifting her foot back into his lap.
“Work first, play later…” she teases and wiggles her toes. Daniel proved to be as good as his word. He rubs her calves and feet, and by the time he's done, she's nodding off in his lap.
“Delta, what’s your password?” He asks nudging her.
“Do I get a rain check?” She asks only to giggle when he pokes her foot. “It’s Shepherd39, the file is called “Blood Covenant,” she yawns, sitting up, she glances at him nervously while he settles down to read.
“This is a rough draft, Daniel.”
“Mmhmm,” he says, ignoring her.
“Very rough draft. I mean Phillip hasn’t even read it yet.” Delta is so nervous what if he hates it? Will he tell her the truth or sugar coat it? “I haven’t written in two years,” she scoots closer to him on the couch tempted to rip the computer from his lap.
“Delta, do you trust me?” Daniel asks quietly.
Her eyes fly open wide as she thinks about the question. “I just told you my greatest secret, of course, I do, but,”
“No buts, go to bed. I promise to be brutally honest.”
Delta wrings her hands together and reaches for her computer. “This is a bad idea, don’t you have to go to work tomorrow?”
Daniel grabs her hand and presses a kiss to one. “It’s only ten p.m. and Dad is going to handle my work for the next week. Go to bed Delta and let me read.” Daniel waits for her to make up her mind.
“Fine, but just remember that everything you say or do may be used against you in my next book.” She grabs her crutches and walks to the bedroom while he laughs softly.
“Sweet dreams, Delta.”
Chapter 11
Zach glares at Melody through the trees and sighs.
“Bitch! She needs to pay,” she sneers.
This is not how he planned to spend his Sunday morning. Mel snuck out of the hotel and had someone drop her off down the road from the Matthews family home. She hiked to watch from the cover of the trees as the security crew worked on the house and barn installing a high-tech system. When Daniel carried Delta laughing from his house Melody slams her binoculars into the tree shattering the glass in them.
“Mel, this has to stop!” Zach grabs her arm and begins dragging her back to the jeep. “What are you doing here?” He shoves her into the front seat and slams the door. Climbing into the front seat, he starts the engine and glances at her.
“She needs to bleed,” Melody hisses turning in her seat to try to see them.
“That's it! I'm taking you to see Dr. Michael.” He pulls onto the road and Melody whips around to look at him. Fear fills her eyes, and she shakes her head and moans, “No.”
“Do you want to go back to that place, Mel?” She presses her hands to her temples and pushes.
“No, please, Zach, I can’t go back there!” The last time she was institutionalized for six weeks for multiple issues, including schizophrenia.
