PS01 - Tall, Dark & Lonely (43 page)

“Well it seems in seven and half months they will be letting out another room.”

Chris rolled his eyes. “Oh, that? I already knew about
that
.”

“You’re such a liar.”

“Puhlease, I was the first person after the two of them to know three weeks ago.” In fact, Madison had twisted his arm,

literally, and made him go into a Wal-Mart an hour away to buy the damn test.

“Liar, why would they tell you and not us?”

He gave her a ‘duh’ look and spoke slowly to her in much the same manner. “Because he’s my father and she’s my best friend.”

“Hey!” Joshua griped.

“Besides you, little man, of course.” Chris reached out and gently punched Joshua on the shoulder.

Joshua nodded firmly, satisfied with the correction. “Of course.”

She snickered.

“What?” he asked mildly annoyed.

“He’s not really your father you know.”

“Tell that to our legal system,” he said dryly.

“Ephraim is too his Dad! You’re just jealous! He treats me like his son too and you like a daughter so I don’t know why you’re

complaining, Jill. I think you’re just mad because he didn’t adopt you, too.” Joshua’s voice was crisp.

“I am not! I just think it’s weird! I mean he’s only what twenty-six! He can’t have a sixteen year old for a son. It’s weird!” Jill

might have denied it, but the dark blush on her cheeks gave her away.

Chris didn’t correct her and tell her he was really 206 years old that was beside the point. Instead he shrugged a shoulder. “If it

doesn’t bother me then why does it bother you?”

She looked around his room pointedly. “Of course it doesn’t bother you. He spoils you rotten.”

Chris followed her gaze around his room. Ephraim bought him a flat screen television, video games, DVD player, posters,

clothes, computer and all the other stuff he never had before. When he lived with his mother he slept on old blankets on the

floor of the trailer in a corner of the living room. He’d never even slept on a mattress before Madison and Ephraim took him in.

He kept his eyes on her face as he pointed lazily around the room. “If memory serves me correctly your room looks very

similar to this one.”

She averted his eyes. “That’s not the point.”

“Oh, then pray tell what is? Are you pissed because I knew about the baby first or because Ephraim is my Dad?”

“Shhh!” Jill hissed, pointing to Joshua.

“It’s going to be a boy,” Joshua said offhandedly.

“What? How did you know?” Jill demanded.

“When Ephraim and Chris aren’t at work or training he takes me with him to run errands. Chris was with us and he complained

that Madison keeps hitting him upside the head for stealing her ‘pregnancy food’.” He shrugged unconcerned. “It was really me,

but I didn’t say anything.”

“You little punk,” Chris said, chuckling. He was impressed. The kid was coming along nicely.

“Hey, junk food is junk food, brother.”

“You knew and you didn’t tell me?” Disapproval heavily coated her words.

“Why would I? You have a big mouth and you throw tantrums like Candy. I also didn’t tell you that Ephraim wants to marry her

and
I
don’t care what you think about that!”

“So, what is it, Jill? What’s your problem?” Chris asked. This spoiled brat act was getting old. Actually it was old months ago.

“I think she’s just jealous. I’m going to ask Ephraim to adopt me, too. Then Chris and I can be brothers and Ephraim will be my

Dad for real.”

“He can’t adopt you!” Jill shrieked.

“Yes, he can! He likes me too! He introduces me to everyone as his youngest son.”

Jill rolled her eyes. “You’re such an idiot. Don’t you see what he’s doing? Remember when you were little and all of those

guys bought us things or took us places?”

“Yes,” Joshua answered slowly. Chris didn’t like where this was going.

“He’s just using us to get to Madison. As soon as he gets bored with her or finds someone else he’ll stop being nice to us.”

“Liar!” Joshua yelled, but his lower lip trembled. “He bought this house so we could stay here.”

“No, he bought this house so he could stay here. As soon as he’s done with her we’re out.”

“That’s not true! He loves me! He even told me so!” Joshua dropped the game controller and started wiping frantically at his

face.

“You can be a real bitch, you know that?” Chris told Jill as he pulled Joshua onto his lap.

“I’m just warning him. It’s best he finds out now instead of when we’re given the boot.”

“Save your warnings. They’re not necessary.” He put his arm around Joshua. He hated this bullshit that Candy did to them. His

mother did her fair share of bullshit throughout the years, but at least he could tell when someone genuinely cared about him.

“H-h-he lied?” Joshua looked up at him through a rim of tears. Chris swore inwardly. Jill was lucky that he didn’t hit girls.

“No, he didn’t lie to you. If you want to ask Dad to adopt you I’ll go with you. If for some reason he can’t like maybe Grandma

is going to do it or something you and I are brothers no matter what, okay?”

Joshua smiled weakly and stopped crying. “Really? You’ll be my brother?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t want Grandma to adopt me. I want her to be my Grandma and Ephraim to be my Dad.”

“What about Madison? Did you think about that? If he actually marries her, which I doubt he’ll go through with it, she’ll be

your step-mother.” Jill really could be a bitch. So much like Candy sometimes it was scary. He hoped she didn’t follow other

traits.

That didn’t seem to disturb Joshua at all. “So what? I already see her as my mom. She’s not really my sister so it won’t bother

me.” His eyes shot to Chris. “Can we ask tonight?”

“Sure.”

“Kids, I think your food is here. Go answer the door,” Grandma said as she walked down the hall. They heard her busily

talking on the phone as she passed.

Chris placed Joshua on his feet. “Food, let’s go.” He grabbed his wallet and knelt down. “Alright, climb up.” Joshua didn’t

need to be told twice. He jumped on Chris’s back with a choke hold around the neck.

He threw an annoyed look at Jill. “Let’s go, you can carry the pizza.” With that he took off running, making Joshua laugh and

screech the whole way.

“Alright team work. I’ll bend and you open the door.”

Okay!” Joshua said excitedly.

Chris bent over and heard Joshua open the door followed by Jill’s scream and felt Joshua tighten his grip around his neck.

Chris looked up to see the barrel of a gun aimed at him.

“Stand up and move back, now,” the man said in a crisp military tone.

Chris stood up slowly, keeping his eye on the man in front of him. “Slide down Josh and stay behind me.” Josh did as he was

asked. His little hands gripped Chris’s back pants pocket tightly.

“Move back,” the man said, again. Chris slowly backed up, giving Joshua time to move.

“Is anyone else in the house?” the man asked as six armed men flanked him into the house.

Before Chris could lie, Grandma walked down the stairs and Candy walked out of the parlor. He hadn’t known she was there.

"You two women, come here and join them” He used his gun to gesture his request.

Candy's eyes took in the men and guns and began to sob. “I’m not with them! I don’t live here. Just let me leave and I won’t say

anything.”

“Join the group or I'll shoot you, bitch.” He leveled the gun on her. She stumbled into the middle of the foyer and threw her

arms around Jill. “Oh my god!” she sobbed against Jill who was reaching out blindly for Joshua to pull him behind her, but the

boy wouldn't give up his hold on Chris' pants.

“What’s going on here?” Grandma demanded.

“Everyone, take off your crosses now,” he demanded. The men broke off to search the house.

Chris pulled his cross off and tossed it forward. Joshua, Jill and Grandma did the same. The man kicked the crosses towards

the wall.

“All clear,” he called out. Then with an evil grin he said, “I’m inviting you in.”

“About time,” a familiar voice said.

“Oh shit,” Chris muttered.

The blonde bitch stopped in front of them. Chris’ eyes dropped to where her stub should be. Damn it, her hand had grown back.

“What? You’re not happy to see me?”

“To be honest? No, not really,” Chris answered.

“Chris, do you know them?” Grandma asked.

“Don’t worry, Grandma. I’ll take care of it,” he said firmly.

Caroline laughed. “Oh Chris, you are so funny. We both know that before the night is over I’m going to tear your family limb

from limb.”

“Oh god,” Candy said before she passed out. Jill did her best to catch her but in the end could only guide her to the ground.

“We’ll kill her first,” Caroline ordered. A man stepped over to Candy. As soon as his hand touched her arm she jumped back.

“Ah, a little faker. Good to know.”

She looked Chris over. “Where’s Ephraim?”

“Fuck you.”

Caroline ran her fingers over his jaw and sighed heavily. “Shoot him.” She stepped to the side. Chris pushed Joshua back hard

and stepped forward. The searing pain in his chest sent him collapsing to the ground before he heard the sound of the gunshot.

Chapter 29

“I love you, Ephraim,” Madison said between kisses. Her hand darted down to the fly of his pants. She gripped him, giving him

a gentle tug. “One more time?”

“Baby, I have to get Chris and get ready for patrol.” He hated leaving her now that they’d made up. “Plus, we should really

save some of it for the wedding night.” He wiggled his eyebrows.

Madison giggled at his leering gesture. “I guess I have a lot to do anyway.”

“Yes.” He grinned arrogantly. “You have an entire wedding to plan and pull off in less than twenty-four hours.” She bit her

bottom lip nervously at his words. “But, if I know Eleanor, and I think I do, she’s probably upstairs planning a wedding for

tomorrow even as we speak.”

“You think so?”

“Yes, she’s been itching for this wedding for quite some time. Now that you’re pregnant she’ll want to rush it to make sure

neither of us changes our minds.” He kissed her lips gently.

“I won’t.”

“That’s very good to know,” his voice was hoarse, more intense.

Madison flattened her palm against the growing hardness when a loud piercing beep made her jump back with a yelp. Without

a word, Ephraim reached into his pocket and took out his Sentinel phone. The light flashing was green.

“Shit,” he muttered. “Looks like we’re heading out sooner than later.” He pressed his thumb to the small piece of glass on the

back of the phone and waited for it to scan his fingerprint. With another small beep the phone slid open.

“Where are you going?” Madison asked curiously.

“One sec..I just have to…there.” A text message with the Sentinel’s name that was in trouble, current location and directions

from him to the Sentinel was given. “Oh fuck.”

“What
?” she asked anxiously.

“It’s here. Chris is in trouble.” He swore under his breath as he walked to the weapons area.

“Maybe it’s an accident. Joshua or maybe Jill were playing with it and set it off.”

He shook his head. “That phone never leaves his sight. He’s very good about that. Besides, no one can open his phone except

for him or another Sentinel. It’s also impossible to set off the emergency signal by accident. He has to press his finger on the

scanner while pressing eleven twenty-five.”

“The day every Sentinel is born,” she stated.

“Exactly. They're upstairs right now. Someone let them in the house. I need to get up there before someone gets hurt.” He

poured a bottle of holy water over his head, allowing it to drip down his back to his jeans.

Madison watched as he attached two ankle holsters with a gun already secured in both to each foot. He placed a large gun in

the front of his waistband and a matching one in back.

“I thought bullets didn’t kill vampires.” Her voice shook.

“They don’t. These are for Minions.”

“But they’re human!”

He nodded. “They’re also slaves and probably upstairs. They gave up their rights as far as the Sentinel is concerned when they

took their oaths. In my opinion they gave up their lives when they came after my family.” He pocketed a cross and several

small bottles of holy water.

Finally he pulled on a bullet proof vest. She knew it wasn’t meant to save his life, but to stop anything from slowing him down.

A bullet in the heart could knock him out for several hours as she learned several months ago.

She reached for one. “I’m going, too.”

His hand wrapped around her wrist. “No, you’re to stay here. I need to know you’re safe.”

“Ephraim, you said I can’t die and nothing can hurt the baby. I’m going.”

Hard cold blue eyes met hers. “You can’t die, you’re right. It’s another thing to suffer pain with absolutely no relief. You are

not going. I will not have you hurt. You will stay down here and wait. I’m going to try and get the kids down here safely.” He

pulled out his phone again. She watched as he pressed his thumb to the screen while typing in four numbers.

“What are you doing?”

“Two Sentinels asking for help in the same location will get a bigger response. I’m leaving this phone with you. If something

should happen to prevent me from coming back for you they will find you.”

She knew what he meant. He meant if they managed to take him away. “You’re not going to let yourself get taken, are you?” She

eyed him accusingly.

“No, but if they leave the house with anyone I’ll have to go.” He pressed a swift kiss to her forehead. “Just please stay here.”