Page 16 of The Dancer and the Dark
“None of my business involves anything as tawdry or dangerous as drugs or weapons or smuggling. Nothing of the sort. Most of it is quite boring. But because of my properties, I could be a target for any number of dangerous people who would love to have leverage over me.” He nodded toward the stairs. “There is no human being in the world I care more about than your daughter, Dr. Brown-Reardon. It’s not very likely someone would target her, but it’s possible.”
“That’s why you have guards on her?”
“Yes, and it’s very likely that I will put even more guards on her while she’s in Los Angeles. This isn’t her home anymore, and there are subtle ways she will be at a disadvantage that would not be an issue if she were in New York.”
Clara sniffed. “Well, I suppose if she’s going to be with a bar owner, it’s good that he’s a rich one.”
Gavin bit his tongue for the hundredth time. In their limited interactions, Chloe’s mother always managed to passive-aggressively insinuate that he wasn’t good enough for her daughter, that her daughter was wasting her life in New York, and that her daughter had squandered her intellect.
The one time he’d tried to push back, Chloe hadn’t liked it, so he stopped. Now he tried to ignore the digs and focus on what mattered—Chloe.
“I’ll talk to her about it so she knows, but if you see increased security around the house while she’s here, that is why.” Gavin shrugged. “They won’t likely need to come inside unless there’s an emergency.”
“Lovely.” Clara pursed her lips and slipped off the barstool. “I’m going upstairs. Are you staying with us while you’re in town?”
Not unless you have vampire safe rooms I don’t know about.
“I’ve committed to staying with some friends while I’m here. I’m not sure what Chloe’s plans are, but I assume she’ll need to stay close for family reasons.”
“She’ll probably stay with the Vecchios,” Clara muttered. “Strange family, but she always liked them. You know she and Ben dated in high school?”
“I’ve heard. Did you know Ben’s married now?”
Clara’s eyebrows went up. “No.”
This should be amusing. “I believe it was a traditional ceremony overseas. You should ask him about it. I hear the pictures are lovely.”
Chloe was curledup against his chest, lying in her childhood bedroom. “You told her they weremarried?”
“Yes.” Gavin smiled. “That should rankle Tenzin thoroughly.”
“Do you purposefully try to make life harder for Ben?”
“Of course I do. I thought that was obvious.”
Her shoulders shook slightly. “I think I’m jet-lagged.”
“I think you are too.” He twisted one of her curls around his finger. “I’m going to have to leave soon. Do you want to come with me or stay here?”
She sighed and hugged his arms around her more tightly. “I should probably stay here. As soon as you’re out for the day, I’m just going to have to come back here and be with her.”
“You don’t, actually. If she makes you feel worse about your father passing, you don’t have to spend time with her.”
“She’s my mom, Gavin.”
She’s the woman who gave birth to you, who has subsequently discouraged every action you’ve taken in your life to make yourself happy and pursue success on your own terms.
He kissed her shoulder. “I know, dove.”
“We don’t have the greatest relationship, but I don’t want her to be alone.”
“When is her sister coming?”
“Today.”
“Good.” He nodded. “So you stay here today and then tonight you can spend the night with me, Ben, and Tenzin at the Vecchios’. Be around people who love you.”Unlike the unsupportive wench in the other wing of this castle.“How does that sound?”
“Let me see how things are when my auntie Sheila comes.”
