Jill turned just in time to see Slade grab the stick that was coming toward her face. Jill jumped up just as Slade threw it with a fierce scowl. “She was not hurting him, Mrs. Nichols.” Slade glared down at her, a tick in his jaw plainly visible. “You need to calm down. You’re scaring your son.” Slade nodded toward Seth, who stood just behind her with fear on his face.
“Don’t you dare tell me what to do on my own property, you filthy…thing,” Jill’s mom spat in anger and fear. She didn’t even try to hide the disgust shining brightly from her eyes.
Jill stepped between Slade and her mom. “Don’t you talk to him like that!” Jill hissed. She had never talked to her parents with disrespect, but she’d be damned if her mom would treat Slade like this. Not happening. “He, along with the other VC Warriors, have done nothing but help me, your daughter. A daughter you discarded when I needed you most and why? Because of fear? Do you realize how afraid I have been going through this alone, without my family? Why? Why do you hate me so much?”
Her mother didn’t say anything, didn’t even look a tiny bit remorseful.
Looking around at everyone staring at her, she purposely avoided Slade’s eyes. “You have always been embarrassed of me.” Jill felt her emotions bubbling up and knew she had to get the hell out of there, but the words just kept flowing out of her mouth. Things she had wanted to say for years clogged her throat with a bitter taste. “God forbid, anyone find out not only is your youngest daughter illiterate, but she’s a half-breed vampire. I was never good enough.” She had always thought her mother was beautiful, but at that moment, she was seeing a totally different person in her mother and there was nothing beautiful about either.
Her mom’s face showed she didn’t like being called out; a sneer thinned her lips. “You’re the reason he had his heart attack.” Her mother’s voice grew low enough that only Jill, Trevor and Slade could hear her. “So, if you love him, stay away.”
“Mom!” Trevor stared at his mom with shock, and then went to grab Jill’s arm as she turned to walk away. “Jill, stop!”
“Don’t!” she warned, not trusting herself. But she stopped suddenly, not knowing when she would see her brother again. Turning, she hugged him tightly without saying a word.
“She needed to hear the truth.” Jill heard her mom saying as she headed toward her dad, totally ignoring Janie and her fiancé.
The sadness in her dad’s eyes almost did her in, but she had to hold it back. Hell would fly if she started crying blood; her mom would probably want to stake her. Reaching down, she slowly wrapped her arms around her dad, praying he didn’t flinch away. He didn’t. “I love you, Dad, and I will be back to see you if that’s okay?” Her heart flipped when he hugged her back just as tightly. “I don’t want to cause problems for you with Mom.”
“You let me take care of your mother, Jelly Bean.” He kissed her cheek. “I’m sorry. I should have—”
Jill shook her head, smiling sadly as she pulled away, newly loving the nickname she had hated in the past. “No, things are the way they should be. All you need to do is take care of yourself.” She straightened and forced a smile on her face. Her gaze found Seth. “That little guy over there needs you. We all need you.”
Clearing her throat when he squeezed her hand, she reluctantly pulled away and went toward Seth, but stopped when her mom grabbed his little arm, pulling him behind her. His face peeked around her leg, his eyes sad and confused. Jill smiled, hiding her fangs the best she could and waved. His lips curved into a small smile as he gave a little wave with his free hand.
Sable and Bebe followed her and Slade to the bike. Without a word to them, she hugged both dogs tightly before hopping on the back of the bike behind Slade, wishing with everything she had she could wrap him in her arms and disappear, but she couldn’t. She was alone. Looking back at what used to be her family, she realized she would probably be alone for the rest of her life. If her family didn’t love her, what made her think anyone else would? Taking a deep breath, she looked away. Never one to throw a pity party for herself, she lifted her chin, straightened her spine and looked straight ahead.
Chapter 3