Page 72 of The Union
“You should be happy about that,” he returned. “Do you want to talk about your nightmare?”
“No. I want to shower.” The hot water would feel amazing against my taut muscles.
He straightened. “How about that bath you wanted?”
That sounded even better. But Steven was there, which told me he was staying in his room where the jetted tub was located. “I don’t want to intrude.”
“No intrusion,” Steven said. “Sam, can I have a moment alone with Layla? Also, call down to the control room to let them know things are okay here just in case they heard the scream.”
Sam switched on the bedside lamp despite the light spraying in from the hallway. “Sure, Pops.” He kissed me on the forehead. “I’ll run the bath,” he said before strutting out.
Once Steven and I were alone, a jittery flutter clawed at my stomach.
He sat on the end of the bed, faced me, and set a book he had in his hand beside him. His stark white shirt brought out his black hair and forest-green eyes. “Since you first arrived on base two months ago, you’ve been through quite a journey.”
Luckily, I’d fallen asleep in one of Sam’s T-shirts, and the blanket was covering my lower half. Just the same, I brought the covers up a little higher over my lap. “To say the least.”
He rubbed his chin. “You and my son have been drawn together from the moment you met. Call it fate. Call it whatever you will, but your destinies are tied together for a reason. In my world, that is something to heed. I’m not saying your love for one another isn’t real. I believe it is.” His tone was circumspect, but beneath his words lay worry, fear, or something along those lines.
“Steven, if you’re about to tell me I have to obey orders and your rules around here, I don’t want to hear it. To be blunt, I make my own decisions, and with Sam in my life, we make them together.”
He clasped his hands in his lap, chuckling. “If you will let me finish, please. We’re on the brink of war—one that will be far worse than the war we fought against Edmund and my brother. We have several enemies with different motives, and the one I’m most concerned about is your grandmother.”
I held in a snarl. “And Rianne.”
He tipped his head to the side. “Her too, but I’ve known your grandmother for some time, and the woman can be lethal. Did you know your father was afraid of her?”
“In a way, yeah. But most Aberdeens won’t cross her.”
“She locked up your father after she found out he’d been talking to me,” he said.
I swayed where I sat, anger consuming me. I hated that my grandmother had the audacity to treat people with disrespect just because we didn’t bow down and kiss her feet. But I couldn’t change her beliefs any more than she could change mine.
“I didn’t know that. But I’m learning my father held back many things from me and my sisters.”
He crossed one leg over the other. “Her hatred for my kind is stronger than I’ve seen from anyone.”
“She blames vampires for the death of her husband,” I mumbled. “Can you blame her? I’m not taking her side. But considering several Aberdeens have been killed by your kind dating back a hundred years or more, a person can’t help but hate.” I sighed. “Until I met Sam and began to learn that you guys protect humanity, I would’ve never believed there was a nice vampire out there.” Boy, how my view had changed—and how easily Sam had stolen my heart.
“I understand completely, Layla,” Steven said. “But I’ve tried to show Harriet that we want the same things as humans. That we strive to keep the peace in order to coexist. But she won’t listen. I’m all for punishing the vampires who don’t conform to our laws, and if the situation warrants it, even kill them if I have to. But that’s not the issue or my point here. She’ll use my grandchild to her benefit or might even—”
I held up a hand. “Don’t say it. I know. But considering that she wants to command an army of supernaturals, your first point is valid.”
“I would like to say she can’t find out, but that might be a tall feat since your stomach is growing.” He took a breath. “We could find a place where no one would find you, but even that is a challenge since you need Dr. Vieira and his colleague. To that end, I’ve ordered Dr. Vieira to equip the infirmary with the proper equipment for pregnancies, but that will take several weeks. In the meantime, the naval base is the best place for you, and not anywhere else.”
“But I have an ultrasound scheduled with Dr. Martin at his office next week because of the lack of proper equipment. I’m going to that appointment, Steven. And I understand and agree with every word you said, but I also can’t feel like I’m a prisoner. Plus, the base isn’t that fortified. Roman Brown was able to penetrate the compound.”
On a long blink, he dipped his chin. “You’re right, but we’ve taken measures to secure the compound even further, and Roman wasn’t able to get into this building. So, I’m giving you and Sam this apartment. You’re family now, and you’ll need the space with the three bedrooms. You can turn any of them into a nursery.”
“I do feel safe here.” Soldiers patrolled the rooftops, and it would be hard for anyone to scale a four-story building without being noticed, particularly with the guards who stood watch at the prison complex across the courtyard.
On a separate note, the spacious abode was chic and furnished. Plus, beggars couldn’t be choosers. In some respects, I was a nomad with nowhere to go. Not that I was complaining about the military base. But I needed to set down roots and feel like I had my own space. Staying with Harley was great, but I wanted my independence and somewhere I could call home.
“Good, then it’s settled,” he said. “I adore you, Layla. I also trust you. You’re a strong woman. You’ll survive what we’re about to face. You remind me of my daughter in many ways, and you’re a perfect match for my son.”
I smiled even though I could hear abutcoming. “I won’t hurt him, if that is your next statement.”
He grinned. “Actually, it isn’t. I want you to know that I will protect you and that baby at all costs, and so will Jo and the rest of us here.”
