Page 61 of The Dawning
I knew the war brewing revolved around Abbey, Sam, and me. Each of us were targets. Even if we removed Harriet, Carly, Noah, and Rianne, if she was alive, out of the equation, I would still be on the most wanted list. I was carrying Masons and was one of the most important people in Sam’s life. I hated that my family played a part in this fight.
He cupped my face. “You’re right. Our immediate goal is to keep you safe. So once Peter removes my chip, we’ll leave for Maine.”
The sorrow and anger I’d been harboring dulled for the moment. “So he figured out a way? That’s fantastic news. When will it happen?”
“The text said this afternoon. The MRI showed the chip moved again, and he tested it and confirmed it’s fried—but we’re getting rid of the fucker once and for all.” Relief punched through every word.
A knock on the apartment door had us glancing out into the hallway.
He gave me a chaste kiss. “That’s probably Jordyn.”
The day was looking up for sure. No more worry about a freaking brain-to-machine control device, and I would have a chance to hug my sister.
But when Sam opened the door, my jaw hit the floor. I wasn’t in the least prepared to see my sister’s face covered with cuts, stitches, and splotches of red that would deepen to black and blue, a neck brace, and a cast on her arm.
She half smiled, pain evident as she flinched.
I wanted to hug her and tell her everything would be okay, but I was afraid I would break her.
Sam cupped her good elbow, helping her to the couch.
Quiet tears slipped past my lashes as I followed, saying a silent prayer to thank whoever was listening that she’d survived. I’d already lost one sister—I couldn’t lose another. My heart broke to see her shuffle in, meek and fragile. She’d suffered so much from Fred Emery bashing her face against a car and now the accident.
She eased herself down onto the cushion, her features tightening. “It’s not as bad as you think, Layla.”
I could have sworn my eyeballs had fallen out of their sockets. “Liar.” I knew Jordyn, and she was lying through her teeth.
Sam kissed me on the head. “I’m going to see Peter. I’ll see you later.”
I squeezed his hand. “Love you, vampire.”
He blew me a kiss on his way out of the apartment.
Jordyn settled in and sighed. “I did lie. Every bone and muscle hurts. I also cracked two ribs, and as you can see, I broke my arm. I was lucky, Layla. But Junior…” Her waterworks opened as she sobbed.
I rushed to her side and grabbed her hands. “Why were you going to West Virginia?” I asked in a gentle tone. I knew the answer but had to hear her say it.
“You’re not going to like this, but Granny called me. We made a deal.”
Either my ears had cotton balls in them or I’d lost my hearing. “Say again?”
She quivered as she sniffled. “You heard me.”
Mind blown.I thought she would say she wanted to help rescue me, not make a deal with the devil.
I pressed my fingers into my chest as a sliver of pain came out of nowhere like it had before I ended up in Carly’s lab and almost died. “Are you betraying me as well?” My breathing increased as I stood on shaky legs, needing to put distance between us.
“I was trying to save you, Layla,” she said in a small voice.
I jerked so hard I would probably have whiplash. I tempered my ire, walking over to the wall of windows. I had to keep telling myself she was only trying to help. I got that. I would do the same to save her. But Granny Aberdeen couldn’t be swayed—not when I had Masons growing inside me.
I tipped my head back. The sun was high in the sky, the warmth of its rays beaming in, erasing the chill that had sprung up. I welcomed the heat, imagining a quieter, less stressful place with no Aberdeens present.
“Say something, Layla,” she pleaded as she sidled up to me.
“I’m sorry you were in a car accident—but that was fate telling you to back the fuck away from our grandmother. You would’ve suffered more in her hands than the pain you’re in right now.” Or she could be lying beside Junior in a morgue. I left that part out. I rubbed my chest again. It was clear she was suffering from more than her physical injuries.
She cried. “I’m the reason he’s dead. I coaxed him into going with me.”
