“You'll never find her,” Eliza said, an edge to her voice.
Garik grinned. “You underestimate my skills. You see, not only have we found her, she's now a guest at Deer Creek.”
Thorpe's hand reacted before his brain had time to process it and he backhanded Garik in the jaw. Garik's head snapped back from the force and he clutched his chin in agony. He shot Thorpe a homicidal glare. Thorpe could see it took his brother all he had not to rip his head off.
Thorpe regretted doing it but not because the prick didn't deserve it- Oh, he deserves much more. He just feared what Garik would do in revenge. He held a grudge like a stone glued to his ass; he never forgot, and he rarely forgave.
“I'll let that one slide,” Garik said through gritted teeth. He rubbed his reddened jaw and sat himself down on the matching black, leather armchair opposite the one Thorpe had occupied moments ago.
Thorpe frowned at his brother, arms folded.
He wouldn't sit down so Garik continued to speak. “I don't understand why you kept her from us. Do you hate us that much?”
Thorpe gazed at him dubiously. “I don't hate you.” His voice was stiff. It was hard to speak nicely to his brother after years of bitterness. “I don't hate any of you. I lived that life and it's not what I want, or wanted, for my daughters.”
“So you blame us for Lora's death?” Garik retorted.
Thorpe's jaw locked tight and he turned his head in irritation, enveloping his grief.
“How were we to know? You lied to us. We thought she was a pureblood. If we'd have known otherwise, we'd never have let her- we'd never have even taken her!”
“Enough!” Thorpe roared. His face aged as it exposed his grief.
Eliza stepped towards her husband, grabbing his hand from behind and squeezing it gently. He half turned and produced a smile for her, but it was full of sorrow.
Eliza turned to skewer Garik in place. “What did you do to her? Did you kidnap her?” she questioned.
Garik scowled. “You abandoned her knowing what she was and what she was capable of, and yet you make me out to be the bad guy?”
“Answer the question, Garik!” she snapped.
Garik tutted her. “Can you imagine the damage she could have done had she Changed before we found her? Without any knowledge of how to control it? Didn't you ever think what that would do to her?” He sighed. “It's lucky we found her when we did.”
“Garik,” Thorpe pleaded, “don't do this. I've lost one daughter, don't take my other one too. Think of her, think of us. Please.”
Garik frowned at him, glanced down awkwardly, then glared at his brother. “You gave up your right to speak for her when you abandoned her to a human family.”
“I didn't know what else to do.”
“You can't wish this away, Thorpe. She is what she is; you know better than to pretend otherwise. It's dangerous. We'll help her, teach her what we know and when she's ready, she can go about her business. Leave if she chooses. I'm sure she'll be interested to meet you two.”
The dark amusement in his voice enraged Eliza. “Get out,” she commanded.
Garik raised an intrigued brow. “The truth comes out in the end, eh, Liza?”
“OUT!” she exploded.
Thorpe strutted towards his brother until the two men were right in each other's faces.
Garik leered at him, egging his brother on like he had done ever since they were boys.
Thorpe growled, “I think it's time you left.”
Garik stared for a long moment before he released a haughty breath. “Well, thanks for having me.” He headed for the hallway.
Eliza followed slowly, Thorpe on his brother's heels.
“I suggest you rethink your complete dislike of our community if you plan on seeing your daughter... for the second time in your life.”
“Don't push me, Garik,” Thorpe warned.
Garik smiled. It wasn't a pleasant expression. “You know, before today I thought you didn't have it in you, but after you nearly knocked my head off, I guess you proved me wrong.”
“Just because I live amongst humanity doesn't mean I've forgotten how to fight back, and don't you forget it.”
Garik countered Thorpe's threat with his own. “Oh, believe me... I won't.” The words were sinister in the once welcoming hallway.
Garik caught Eliza standing half hidden by the lounge door. Their eyes met. He regarded her for a long moment before saying in his politest voice, “Nice seeing you, Liza.”
She turned her face away.
Garik then locked his gaze on his brother. They stared at each other intently for a short moment before he concluded, “Thorpe.” He then stepped over the threshold of the open door and swung round to face his younger brother.
“Garik,” came Thorpe's response before he shut the door hard in Garik's face.
Thorpe peered out the window as his brother turned and headed for his black Jeep.
*
“John? It's Thorpe.”
“I've been trying to get hold of you!” came John's strained voice on the other end.