Dominic chewed his bottom lip a moment.
“You’re my brother as assuredly as any of the ones back home who turn furry and have claws. I can’t allow you to lie to yourself. She can’t either. Meriel is exactly what you need. She won’t take your shit and she’d take a bullet for you. Don’t go fucking that up for some junkie who means you nothing but heartache. Don’t be dumb and lose everything real and good for this dream of yours.”
Shit.
MERIEL’S phone buzzed and a text from Dominic came onto her screen.
I want to hear your voice. Can I call you?
She smiled.
Yes please
Moments later the phone rang and she picked up. “Hey there.”
“Hey there yourself. I miss you. I’m an asshole too. I’m sorry.”
“I know you’re having a hard time with all this. I understand that. And I understand that you’re feeling exposed and raw and that maybe a lot of what you’d thought was your past was all just made up.
“And I’m sorry. I’m sorry it happened to you. I’m sorry you’re hurting. But you wouldn’t let me in. You were so open with me at Tom’s but when we got back you dropped me at my apartment and went home. You made an excuse the next night too. I brought you dinner and you wouldn’t even look at me. You owe it to me to look me in the eye if you don’t want me around. It’s not fair for you to hurt me to get me to leave.” That had been the worst part.
“I know. I’m sorry. I am. I was a dick. And I was scared and all off balance and I shoved you back even when I knew you would make it better. That you would help me find a way to give it all some meaning, so that it made sense somehow. And I knew I’d hurt your feelings when you left and I didn’t come after you, even when I knew you were upset. I came to you yesterday morning and you were gone. I miss you. I need you to help me make sense.”
Meriel wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and tried not to sniffle where he could hear it. “You didn’t come after me. I wanted you to and you didn’t.” That’s when the tears leaked from her voice and she cringed, not wanting to make him feel bad.
She heard his intake of breath. “I’m sorry. God. I’m sorry. I hurt you and it was totally my being a dick. I’ll come for you. Always from now on I will come for you.”
She believed it. “You’d better. And how are you then?”
“I haven’t slept much. I talked to Nell about some information that came up about my mother, Gloria, whatever. Simon yelled at me, but I think he set me straight. I guess I’m lucky to have a friend who’ll totally take me to school.”
“He did? What for?” Good heavens, did they regularly get into fistfights? For fun? “I can’t believe that gets me hot.”
He paused for a moment and then laughed. “God, I’ve missed you. We talked about the whole thing with my family. He just reminded me of who I was. I want to talk to you about all this face-to-face.”
“I’ll be home tomorrow morning. Eleven thirty. You can pick me up from the airport. Call Gage and tell him.”
By the time they hung up she felt a lot better.
HE was there where the gates dumped passengers. A huge bouquet of red roses in one hand. He looked so good she sighed.
Many women paused as they passed him, taking a long look, trying to get his attention but he had nothing for any of them. He looked at no one and nothing but Meriel. And when she reached him, he put his free arm around her and hauled her up to her toes to receive the kind of kiss she’d missed so very much.
“You’re back.”
She nodded.
“Are you free for the day or do I have to share you with work?”
“I’m all yours.”
“Yeah. I’m a lucky guy that way.”
She took the bouquet and buried her face in the silk of the blooms, breathing in deep. He had no idea but she loved getting flowers.
He got her settled in the car and she relaxed for probably the first time since he’d dropped her at her door on Sunday night.
“So I talked with Nell earlier today.”
She nodded. “Yeah, me too.” In the time since they’d learned about Gloria Ochoa’s existence, Meriel had come to believe that the only way to exorcise her from Dominic’s mind and heart was to find her and get rid of her. Nell had suggested, and Meriel agreed, that Gloria would probably be amenable to a cash inducement. But the next in line and the part of her that was Dominic’s woman was pretty sure there was only one way to deal with Gloria. She hoped it wouldn’t come to that, but it if did, Gloria would deserve it. Besides, Nell was only tossing that out because Meriel had demanded some nonlethal remedies as well as the numerous violence-filled ones.
Nell had found someone who might just be Gloria. She’d been living in Canada for several years, but had recently shown up in Michigan. Coincidentally, they’d recently gotten a report of a witch in Detroit who’d been attacked and drained. Someone had approached mid-attack and they’d left the witch for dead. It was a silly thing, but Meriel was totally sure Gloria also had something to do with the recent attacks in Seattle.
“You think she’s part of the attack.” He said it flatly, totally able to read her.
“Yes. I do. And the ones here as well. I have no reason to believe anything else. Given her history, it’s clear to me that if she’s in the same place as an attack against a witch or the site of some sort of ugly ritual, she’s part of it. I’m sorry for that. But I can’t pretend it’s not true. Even to make you happy.”
He was quiet awhile as he drove. “I don’t want to write her off entirely.”
She was quiet, just listening to him process as the miles passed.
“Simon didn’t actually punch me in the face. He just threatened to,” he said suddenly.
“I know. He told me.” She didn’t want to keep that communication between them secret. Dominic needed to know that he had people around him who cared enough to make him upset if that’s what it took to get him to face the truth.
“He was right. You’re right.”
She took his hand and he squeezed. “I’m sorry I’m right. I wish I wasn’t.”
“Yeah well, me too. Nell yelled at me.”
That was a surprise. Nell hadn’t mentioned it. “She did? I didn’t know.”
“She told me I made you cry.”
“She had no right.”
“Don’t get mad. She was right to make me see what a dick I was being. I just wanted to believe she wanted me. Not Nell,” he added quickly, “my mother.”
Meriel wanted to laugh at that, but he was so sad. “I want you. Tom wants you. Edwina is charmed silly by you. My dad thinks you’re wonderful. If Nell yelled at you, it means she likes you, just sayin’. I know this is hard. But this is about what she’s missing. Not what you’re lacking. She had a gorgeous little boy and she hurt you. What she is repudiates all of what we are. What we stand for. And that people like her are joining with humans who want to erase us from the face of the earth makes it even worse. She’s a threat to me and mine. You’re mine. I won’t let her hurt you again. Are we clear on that?”
He sighed. “I don’t know how you manage to always say what I need to hear, but thank you. However, I don’t want you going to meet her on your own. If this is her and you manage to track her down, let Nell and her people take care of this.”
Meriel said nothing.
This was personal. This woman had used and abused Dominic. She’d left a swath of pain in her wake and that had to be answered. Meriel wanted this bitch to understand just what she was dealing with and that was best done face-to-face.