Disgusted with herself, Ildaria sat up straight and lifted her chin. Screw him. She wasn’t that child anymore, and he wasn’tthe boogeyman, and if the bastard tried anything, she’d bite his dick off again, and maybe cut his head off too . . . if shecould get her hands on a weapon. And if Lucian or someone else didn’t stop her.
Ildaria rolled her eyes at her own thoughts and told herself to focus on tomorrow. By tomorrow at this time, this ordeal,whatever it was, would be over and she would either be dead or back at her apartment, cuddled on the couch with G.G. and H.D.,watching a movie, or passed out on the floor after making love, or in the office at work, or entertaining his parents.
That thought made her wonder when his parents were leaving, and then she turned in her seat to peer out the back window to make sure the second SUV that Mary and Robert were traveling in was behind them. Lucian had sent Tybo and Valerian to collect G.G.’s parents and bring them too.
Ildaria had just spotted the second vehicle when her body swayed to the side as the SUV Tiny was driving turned. She immediatelyswung back around to see that they were pulling into the driveway to the Enforcer house.
Grinding her teeth, Ildaria felt herself separating somewhat from her emotions in preparation for what was coming. It wasan automatic reaction to stressful situations, and one she only became aware of a few decades ago. It was like she had anemotional disconnect button. It allowed her to stick her steel heel through a man’s face or groin without hesitation or guilt,and do whatever else was necessary to survive.
“Here we are.”
Ildaria didn’t respond to Mirabeau’s comment as Tiny brought the SUV to a halt in front of the Enforcer house a few momentslater. She was looking out the back window, watching the Enforcers that guarded the gate run a mirror on a stick under theSUV G.G.’s parents were in as it sat idling between the inner and outer gate. It was the same search they had endured on arriving.She knew they would be through and parking next to them momentarily, but had no intention of getting out until they did. Shewanted all of them with her when she entered to face the lion.
Tiny and Mirabeau got out of the front seat, and moved to stand by her door, but didn’t open it. She supposed they’d readher mind and were willing to wait for the others to join them.
“Tiny left the keys in the ignition. We could still make a run for it.”
Ildaria shifted her gaze to G.G. at that comment, a small smile breaking the tension that had been pulling at the musclesof her face as warmth swam up through her. “I love you.”
The words just slid out, wholly unexpected, even by Ildaria. They stared at each other in surprise, but then G.G.’s surprisefaded under certainty and he said in his deep rumble, “I love you too, Angel.”
They swayed toward each other, but before their lips could meet, Ildaria’s door was yanked open, and she was caught underthe arms and dragged out of the car.
“No bare skin to skin,” Mirabeau reminded her with amusement as she set her on her feet.
“We were just going to kiss,” Ildaria protested with exasperation.
“Lips are bare skin,” Mirabeau pointed out as G.G. followed her out of the SUV, looking perturbed. “You would not believethe number of passed-out half or wholly naked immortals Marguerite had littering her house and grounds the last time she hada New Year’s Eve party, and all because of the tradition of a kiss to ring in the new year. For new life mates, kissing invariablyends in sex.”
“Fine, no kissing.” Ildaria sighed the words with resignation as she checked that her abrupt removal from the vehicle hadn’tleft her blouse rumpled or her skirt twisted. Everything seemed in order, though, so she turned to the second SUV that waspulling to a stop next to them.
“Angelina, dear. Where are your shoes? Did you leave them in the SUV?” Mary asked as she stepped out of the vehicle and moved to join them.
“We forgot them at home,” G.G. answered for her.
“Oh dear, I was so worried about this meeting I didn’t even notice. I should have checked you over before we left,” Mary saidwith a frown and Ildaria found another smile lifting the corners of her mouth that everyone seemed to want to take responsibilityfor dressing her now.
“Well, of course we do,” Mary said, obviously reading her thoughts. G.G.’s mother gave her a quick hug, and added, “You’refamily now, dear. And family take care of each other.”
Family. Ildaria swallowed a sudden lump in her throat. She hadn’t had family in a very long time and now she had them everywhere.
“Are you ready?” Robert asked as he joined them. His expression was as concerned and compassionate as G.G.’s when he met hergaze. They may not be related by blood, but he had obviously influenced his stepson. They shared a lot in the way of personalityand mannerisms.
Straightening her shoulders, Ildaria nodded and then found herself surrounded by people and escorted up the short walkwayto the door of the Enforcer house.
The door was opened by Mortimer’s wife, Sam, before they even reached it. The woman offered a tense smile of greeting, herconcerned gaze sliding from Ildaria to G.G. as she stepped back for them to enter. That smile and look, worried Ildaria.
“Angelina left her shoes at home,” Mary said as Sam started to close the door. “You don’t happen to have any here that she could borrow, do you?”
“She does not need shoes to talk,” Lucian announced, appearing in the doorway of the living room just ahead and to their left.“Come, Angelina. The rest of you can wait in the kitchen with Sam.”
Ildaria’s heart stopped at the thought of meeting Juan alone without her new family to support her. But she raised her chinand acted like the idea didn’t bother
