“Same here.” His relief was only obvious through our mark. He reached for my bags but I grinned and pulled them away.
“Bad boy,” I chastised in a teasing voice that made me want to hurl. “You can’t ruin my surprises by learning what’s inside.”
“Take your things upstairs. The family is waiting in the formal room. When you’re settled meet us there.”
Crapedy, crap. No warm up. Taken from the pit and thrown straight into the fire.
Paine stepped back and I started walking in an all too familiar path, one I wasn’t ready to take. I hadn’t entered Disco’s bedroom since the night it had all went to hell between us. Ethan remained just behind me until we reached my destination. I hesitated at the door, staring at the handle, when he placed his hand on my shoulder.
“Going inside the bedroom is the easy part. Remember that.”
I sighed, shoulders drooping. “Way to make me feel better.”
“I’m just preparing you for what’s coming. You knew this wouldn’t be easy.”
The metal doorknob was cold against my palm, sending an electric tremor up my spine. Before I could question it, I turned my wrist and opened the door. Goose must have realized I was back in the zone because he released my shoulder and resumed his trip to his room. I stepped inside Disco’s personal space and closed the door behind me.
I froze, surprised by what I found.
Aside from the placement of the furniture, everything was different. The bed, desk, and even the curtains had been replaced. The large bed had a large headboard carved with roses and vines, matching the imposing desk situated across from it. The linens were also new, the pillows and comforter a lovely shade of crimson.
Shaking off my shock, I peered around.
The fireplace was clean, no ash or charred wood inside. It was as though everything had been taken from the room and replaced. I hated myself for the relief I experienced, as well as for the jealousy I felt. Had Disco changed things to remove memories of the two of us inside his private chambers? Thinking of other human hosts seeing to Disco’s hungers and warming his bed during my absence didn’t sit well with me. I might be mad, and I might have continued pushing him away, but I still considered him mine.
How fucked up was that?
It didn’t take long for me to come out of my stupor and put my things against the wall, on the left side of the bed. It was the place I’d slept when my relationship with Disco was on the up and up. Bittersweet memories threatened to surface, but I denied them, keeping my focus on the suitcase. The large rectangular unit with hidden areas had cost more money than I cared to think about, but it was worth every penny. Unless any of the vampires in the residence got nosey, my personal arsenal would remain out of sight.
I considered removing something—a gun, a cross, some holy water—but quickly decided my butterfly knife and rosary were more than adequate protection. If I went downstairs cocked and loaded it probably wouldn’t do me any favors.
After I’d taken a look in the bathroom mirror—which, to my relief, remained as I remembered—I calmed my nerves and steeled myself for what was to come. I walked to the bedroom door and opened it. Goose was waiting for me in the hallway. If he was nervous, it didn’t show, but I’d learned a very long time ago that the man was a hell of an actor when necessary.
“The bedroom,” I said, glancing back. “It’s—”
“Different,” he replied, cutting me short, staring at me. “The night you left…when Gabriel went upstairs and you were gone…” His face conveyed sorrow and sympathy. “He destroyed everything. He ordered the furniture burned and had everything replaced.”
Holy fucking shit.
“Why?” I asked, struck stupid by what Disco had done.