Page 29 of The Hunted
Silence stretched between us as I processed this newfound news and wondered why Dad had never shared it with me. But I wasn’t there to reminisce. “Why would you want my father to work for you?”
“That’s a story for another time. Layla, we want the same thing. We want my kind to stop killing your kind and vice versa. We want a peaceful existence.”
“That may be true on your part, but I don’t see it. What I see is a world that’s growing darker and darker every day. My sisters and I are frightened to start a family. We don’t want our children to grow up in a world where monsters need them to survive.”
He gave me a warm smile as his features relaxed. “I’ll have my son remove the spell from your sister, but I need your help with this Dowell person. Can you do that?”
He’d just given me an opening to stay longer, which meant I could possibly glean some inside info on Abbey and if she was living on the naval base. Maybe things were looking up.
11
SAM
Iwaited by the elevator not far from the viewing room for Layla and my dad to come out. I’d tried like hell not to blow my top or tear off Layla’s clothes before my old man came in. His words echoed in my head: “Son, you have no clue the power of a human woman with blood so fucking sweet, she will drive you so insane you won’t be able to stop yourself.”
I’d been ready to go madman style in that room. Not only had she threatened Jo again, but her cherry aroma clouded my brain. Her big tits blinded me, and the lust pouring off her had my dick hard as stone.
It took all the restraint I had to step away from her or even walk out of that room on my father’s order. I was beginning to agree with him that a human woman like Layla had power, but I wasn’t admitting that out loud.
I watched Ruth, our receptionist, collate a stack of papers as I tuned in to listen to Layla and my father. I didn’t need to be in the room to hear them, but I sure wanted to see her reactions as my father interrogated her.
“Layla, one thing you’ll learn about me and my children is our ability to get to the truth. Therefore, all I have to do is touch you to read your mind. If I find you’re lying to me, I can guarantee you will not walk off this naval base.”
I grinned as I imagined Layla stiffen.
“I know you can read minds,” she said confidently.
Maybe my old man was right, and the Aberdeens had a way of blocking our powers.
“Your father told you?” Dad asked.
“We know vampire history about those of you who are more powerful than others,” Layla replied.
She lied. She had no clue what I could do. That had been evident at the club when both she and her sister were shocked at what I’d done to Rianne.
The phone rang at the reception desk, jarring me away from the conversation.
Ruth’s usually soft voice boomed through the vast space.
I stretched my neck one way then the other and resumed listening.
“Then read my mind,” Layla said to my dad in her siren voice that was gripping my dick like she had her lips around it. Her pulse slowed to a crawl.
Yep, my old man knew this family. But what had me confused was how she could block him. We had a mind-blocking potion that on occasion was a staple for the SEAL team. With my father and Jo able to read minds, we didn’t want them in our heads. I hadn’t taken any recently. I wasn’t around Jo all that much, and my father spent a good amount of time in Boston at the Council of Elders’ headquarters.
Several silent moments passed as I homed in on Layla’s heartbeat. I would love to be a fly on the wall to see the look on her face. In order to read their mind, my father had to be touching the person unless it was Jo or me. He didn’t need to with us. It had something to do with being related. Jo, on the other hand, was stronger than our dad. She didn’t have to touch anyone to read minds. I felt sorry for Webb, who continually had to block her out.
It seemed like an eternity before my father said, “Mmm.” With his even tone, I couldn’t gauge what that meant.
The elevator dinged, and Harley called my name. “Sam?” She sounded distraught as the strawberry blonde sashayed toward me, all wide hips and pretty smile. “Do you not answer your phone?”
My phone hadn’t gone off. “Bad signal down here.”
“Your sister is looking for you.” Harley batted dark-blue eyes at me. “She’s up in the infirmary with Abbey. Call her.”
“She had you track me down?” It must be extremely important. After Layla’s sister threatened Jo’s life, my sister probably wanted to find out more.
“I told her I was on my way down to the lobby. I have to fill in for Ruth while she goes to lunch. By the way, why are you out here and not in there?” Her lips twisted. “Oh, the human is with your father? Poor thing.”
