“No, you’re only half right on that. You’re human, yes, but you’re not going to die. Not so long as I live. Hugo either. When I took you into my heart you became a part of me. My blood will give you the ability to heal much faster; you’re going to be able to move quicker too. Not like I can, but fast. Your body will be able to take more as well. A bullet to the body, so long as it’s not to the heart, will not kill you. A shot to the head will kill you, if it’s in the right place. Otherwise, you are like this superhuman. Broken bones will only take hours to heal rather than weeks, and you’ll never get sick again, not from the flu or even any kind of diseases, including cancer.”
He didn’t move when she took his hand off the reader, but she knew he was thinking. Vinnie wasn’t sure if he was upset or not…he had the most unreadable face she’d ever seen. But the longer he stood there, the more nervous she got, until he pulled her to him and kissed her like he meant it. Breathless when he lifted his head, all she could do was smile at him before she trusted herself to speak again.
“What was that for?” Instead of answering her, he kissed her again, taking his time as he tasted her, her body craving what he was giving her. “Mitch, I have to rest, but if you keep that up, you’re not leaving here.”
“I wanted to tell you that...while I’m not sure if I love you yet, I do care for you a great deal. And this gift that you’ve given me, I will not abuse it.” He kissed her again, and using the reader, left the room, closing the door softly behind him. She stood there, frustrated and happy at the same time. She was going to make him pay for this.
Going to her bed, she stripped down and lay on the covers. She had a mate. She also had a father who was coming for her, a mother that was in on it, and an aunt that hated her almost as much as she did her. But for so many reasons, Vinnie didn’t care about all that. She had a mate. And that was all she could focus on.
“Child, I must have a word with you.” Vinnie sat up on the bed when her grandmother appeared. She wasn’t really there, but her image was just as clear as if she was. “Your mother is in with Horatio. And Millicent is there as well, but I’m not finding her in on any of the things that they’re about.”
“How did you find out?” As far as Vinnie was concerned, if her grandmother said it, it was a fact. “And what are their plans?”
“I don’t know what they think they’re going to do, but they want this house and all that’s in it. Not you, of course. That would just be too good. No, this house. What does it have that you can think of?” She told her of the tunnels behind the wall that Luther had shown them. “I would...that would be a way to get around the city if they opened up there. Do you suppose they can? And once they have it...what do you suppose they want this house for at this time?”
“I have no idea. Really, I don’t. We looked, but there are so many tunnels that we had to back track a great deal.” She suggested that she send down Hugo. “That’s a wonderful idea. He could do it. Sniff his way around better than we could. I’ll send him now.”
“Good. And while you’re at it, have that young man of yours move in with you.” She told her that he’d moved in today. “You’re wonderfully smart, my dear. How did your parents never see that before?”
“They’re too wrapped up in whatever Father was doing to care, I guess.” Her grandmother agreed with her. “But this is my house and I’m not giving it up without a fight. But what I don’t understand is, when Luther put it up for sale, they were offered it first. And when they told him that they weren’t interested, I got it. Is it because I own it that it bothers them so much?”
“I think, and as much as it pains me to say this, I think they want it because they’re selfish people who would take candy from a baby should they want it. Hell, my dear, even if they didn’t want it, they’d take it.” Her grandmother looked around, then back at her. “Mason said to tell you that he’s got a few of his buddies looking out for your man as well. I think that’s a wonderful idea. I’ve also sent him to watch over the others of the household as well. There is no reason for them to be hurt in the crossfire, so to speak.”
“Thank you. But I’d let Steele know if I were you. He’s a nice enough man, but I’d not like to have him as an enemy. He seems...you know that controlled sort of anger that you say I have?” Her grandmother said that she did. “I think Steele is better at it. He has this angry calmness about him that scares me and impresses me. But I’d tell him.” She said she would first thing.
After they discussed a few more things, her grandmother started to leave. But Vinnie called her back for one more thing. It was something that she’d been thinking about for some time. And after talking it over with Mitch, he thought it was a good idea as well. The house needed more people in it, he told her.
“Come live with us.” Her grandmother looked so shocked that she stared open mouthed at her as Vinnie continued. “We would love to have you here. And this place is certainly big enough for us to live here and never see each other. There are four other apartments down here with mine you’d be able to stay in. And that way you can get to know Mitch a little better.”