“Okay you two. No partying in Mom’s room. She needs her rest,” Meg teased. “Can I have a kiss, Danny?” she asked leaning in to offer her cheek to the little boy. This was a new trick Danny was learning. He first puckered his lips into the cutest duckbill then leaned over to Meg and made a loud wet, smacking sound leaving a big wet spot on her face.
Meg giggled, delighted in Danny’s affection. Her efforts to help him heal from the traumas of his life at the Facility were really paying off. He was forming attachments with not just herself, Alik and Maze, but the other members of the family, too.
That little boy is such a sweet blessing, Meg thought as they made their way out of the hospital doors and out to the minivan. She turned around to look back at her brothers one last time and saw Alik teaching Danny how to wave his little hand goodbye. Meg’s heart swelled with love.
It’s probably a good thing for Danny to be there to cheer up mom.
Meg knew her mother felt love at first sight for the little boy.
Everyone was quiet during the trek back to the minivan in the Dallas hospital’s parking lot. Spring was quickly warming into an early hot and humid Texas summer. It was the kind of sunny day that required sunglasses. Usually Farrow would love to watch the thick puffy clouds as they drifted across the blue sky, but today her thoughts were elsewhere.
Theo moved to the driver’s side door while Meg climbed into the front passenger seat. Evan clamored into the back, leaving the door ajar for Farrow.
“You coming?” Evan called to the girl who held her hand by her lips, her eyes staring back at the hospital.
“You know, I don’t think I am.”
“Are you okay?” Meg turned in her seat to look at the beautiful metahuman.
“Oh, sure,” she said dismissively. “It’s just that I think I want to stay with Alik and Danny, if that’s okay with you,” Farrow looked around the van but her eyes stopped on Meg’s waiting for her approval.
“I think the boys would like to have your company.” Meg nodded reassuringly.
“Sounds fine with me,” Dr. Andrews replied. “If you’re ready to come back before Alik’s shift is up, just call, and I’ll come back to get you.”
“Thank you Dr. Andrews,” Farrow smiled shyly as she reached out to shut the door of the minivan.
Meg couldn’t help but read Farrow’s emotions as she watched her former would-be assassin jog excitedly back up the hill so she could spend some time with Alik.
“I think Farrow may have a little crush on Alik.” Theo turned to Meg with raised brows as though revealing some huge secret. Meg couldn’t help but chuckle at the clueless doctor.
“Maybe Alik has a crush on Farrow,” Meg offered with a smile and an innocent shrug of her shoulders.
“You think?”
“Well, I am the empath.”
Theo’s surprised expression was too much for Meg. Even as the van’s air conditioner tried desperately to blow cool air against the stifling Texas heat, Meg burst into laughter at Theo’s naiveté.
Chapter 27 Donovan vs. Kenneth
“Let me get this straight,” Senator Donovan Arkdone seethed, “everyone escaped, again? Even after they came into your precious Facility? Right under your nose, Kenneth?”
“You have no idea the lengths I’ve gone through to have those assets returned and exact vengeance on that wretch who dared steal them from me!” A piece of torn flesh wagged from the corner of his jaw, a droplet of blood was nearly ready to free itself from the tip.
Arkdone stood in the master suite of one of his many luxurious homes, his cell phone pressed to his ear. This house was on the West Coast and had a magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean. He was watching the salty waters lap on the pebble beach like claws of a giant beast desperate to climb out of the depths but too weak to accomplish anything of any real significance.
He glanced at the mirrored wall to his right and turned to admire himself while he let Kenneth Williams rant for another few minutes before calmly pointing out what both knew to be absolute truth.
“I have been more than patient allowing you to use your tactics to exact revenge and recompense. You have failed time and again, and I’ve lost patience with you.” Arkdone’s voice was so low it was nearly a rasping whisper. “I have plans for those metahumans myself. They are mine now.”
“You can’t do that, Donovan!” Kenneth seethed.
“I have given you thirteen years, Williams. I’m done waiting for the return on my initial investment,” Arkdone growled back. “You failed for the last time. You will not question me, Dr. Williams. The wheels are already turning and you, my dear old friend, must sit back and watch me dine on your enemies.”
“We are colleagues, Donovan. You can’t trump me!” Hysteria reached two clawed hands into his throat causing him to sound strangled.
“It’s already done. My decision is final and, unlike you, Doctor, once I decide something, it damn well gets done right the first time.” Donovan’s voice was shrewd, calculating and incendiary.
Kenneth paled, his bloody jaw snapping shut in his instant panic. That droplet flew to paint a piece of paper on his desk blackish red.