Dawn Redeemed

Evan settled into the pillows and curled up on his mom's good shoulder. At first he timidly nibbled on the edge of the cookie, watching the crumbs fall onto the fancy comforter beneath him. "Are you and Dad going to make up?"

Ruby sighed a resigned breath. Obviously, Hanning didn't trust her with their son. The truth of that fact hurt more deeply than any wound. "I don't know, Evan. I hope so. I really messed up didn't I." She closed her eyes and rubbed her cheek against her son's sleek patch of black hair.

Evan wrinkled his nose and swallowed down the last bite of cookie. "I still love you, Mom."

Ruby swallowed hard and hugged Evan tighter than she ever had before. Today, she'd almost lost him and Hanning. Her selfishness had almost cost her more than her pride. Perhaps, she hadn't seen the full cost of her actions, yet. Hanning might be alive, but as lost to her as Ramon had been. She would be mourning another man that she loved, not because death had caused the final separation between them, but because of her own stupidity.

She hadn't spoken to Shayla. The accusation in Shayla's eyes left little to be said. She'd hurt her sister deeply. The thread that held them together and made them more than just sisters sharing similar biology was in danger of being severed forever.

Ruby didn't know how to repair all the damage she'd caused. The pack had taken her in and provided care for her. But, they didn't trust her. Nobody did. Even with her son in her arms, surrounded with those like her, she'd never felt more alone.

Thank God, she still had Evan. With all a child's innocence, he'd forgiven her. He loved her. To him, she was still mommy. From now on, she'd take the greatest of care of him and treat him like the treasure he was. "I love you too, Baby."

Shayla lightly rapped her knuckles on the closed door and waited patiently for an answer. Finally, after a long silent wait, a male voice grunted in response. "Hanning?"

Hanning was on his belly, stretched out under a light layer of covers. Having the good doctor take a look at his ass was not exactly the highlight of his day. The wound itched and the bandages pulled on the hair of his buttocks and his posterior thigh. Ruby had certainly done a number on him. Not only had she taken a figurative hunk out of his ass but a literal one too. That pissed him off all the more. "What?" he grumbled.

"I wanted to talk to you for a minute," Shayla gently closed the door behind her and adjusted a dozing R.J. in her arms as she took a seat on the edge of the bed.

"So talk," Hanning barked in irritation.

"Have you had a chance to think about what you're going to say to Ruby?"

I'm trying not to think about her at all," Hanning grumbled. "I could have killed Evan today. If Carter hadn't gotten in between Ruby and I when he did, I might have." Hanning groaned as he rolled over onto his back. "I would have killed her, you know."

"I know. She knew that too. Why do you think she risked everything to come back now?"

Hanning sucked in a breath and stretched out his leg. "I don't know."

Shayla nodded, "In all our planning to protect R.J. and Evan, we forgot to ask the most fundamental of questions. Why. Don't you want to find out?"

"I'm not up to talking to her. I don't know if I ever will be. She ripped Evan and I to shreds. For years she resented me, lied to me, and I never suspected a thing."

"Who are you really mad at, Hanning?"

"The both of us, I suppose. If I'd known how she felt. I might have been able to do something about it. Somehow made her love me."

Shayla stroked R.J's soft downy hair, lost in thought. "Hanning, what if she does love you? What if she came back because of you? Could you ever forgive her?"

"Don't ask me that question."

"You do love her don't you."

Hanning didn't bother to make a comment about Shayla's observance. He rolled over on his side and tugged the covers up over his shoulder. Unfortunately, he did love his wife. After the hell she'd put him through, he still loved her. Damn him for that. "Sometimes love doesn't mean a thing."

"I know." Shayla got up and walked out of the room, leaving Hanning to his brooding. There was no need for further clarification of the pact between them. As much as Hanning might love Ruby. He loved his son more. If Ruby threatened Evan, Hanning would finish what started on the yard hours ago. He would kill her, no amount of love would stop him from doing what he had to do to keep his son safe.

Ruby sat up in the bed as she heard footsteps approaching from the hallway. Evan cuddled beside her with his head resting on her lap. Bits of chocolate smeared across his chin from the cookie. Carter stood in the corner of the room, silently watching her with Evan. Ruby focused on the door as the knob turned and her sister walked in.

Shayla shot Carter a reassuring smile and plopped R.J. in his arms. "Why don't you take Evan and R.J. and get them ready for bed. I need to have some girl time with my sister."

Carter waited patiently for Evan to finish delivering a round of slobbery little boy kisses. R.J. was fidgety in his arms, sensing the tension between the two sisters in the air. He propped the baby up on his shoulder and rested a hand atop Evan's head, steering him for the door. He didn't like leaving Shayla alone with Ruby. But, he knew that arguing with Shayla wouldn't do him any good. He shot Ruby what he hoped was a frightening warning glare as he closed the door behind him.

Shayla settled for a wingback chair positioned at the edge of the bed rather than sitting on the bed. A silent moment ticked by as she found a comfortable position and propped her elbows up on the thickly padded chair arms. "Hanning won't speak to you yet."

"I understand," Ruby said hesitantly.

Shayla gathered up her hair into a ponytail in her fist. She did that whenever she was nervous. "He could have killed you."

Ruby nodded and her hand automatically went to her injured shoulder. "I thought he was going to."

"What are you doing here? I get the distinct impression that you didn't come here to make an appeal to Nash for R.J. and Evan, so why are you here?"

"You're right, I didn't come back to take the kids away. I did a lot of soul searching those long days in Texas. I wandered the empty streets and peeked in vacant windows. There wasn't anything there, at least not for me, nothing but memories. I had to go back and confront my ghosts before I could move forward.

"Shayla, I've wronged you. All these years, I resented you and what you had with Ramon. I thought it was because I was still in love with him. I was wrong. I loved him, once upon a time, that's true, but I don't love him now. I was in love with the idea, with what I thought you had and I didn't. A choice.

"What Hanning and I had, we had by choice. Some mad scientist in a lab might have matched us genetically, and duty might have brought us together. But, it wasn't the reason we stayed together. I just didn't see it, any of it at the time.

"I am sorry for how I've hurt you. I ask for your forgiveness. I was wrong to condemn you for what you have with Carter. You do deserve every chance for happiness. I fear I've grossly misjudged him...and you. What he did for Evan today, he did out of love. I didn't think a vampire could have any capacity to love. Now I see that it wasn't him that didn't have the ability to love, but me."

Tears rolled off Shayla's cheeks and dripped in fat drops off her chin onto her shirt, making a pattern of wet splotches on the cotton. She scooted to the edge of her seat and stretched her open fingers across the comforter. Humbled and contrite, Ruby had come back, not to hurt anybody, but to beg forgiveness and a chance to set things right again. A smile stretched across Shayla's face as Ruby reached out her fingers and laced them through hers. "You'll always be my sister."

Ruby couldn't stop the deluge of tears from falling. The tears were refreshing as rainfall on parched, dry land. There was a strength in Shayla's grip that Ruby hadn't known her sister possessed. Shayla had suffered plenty in her lifetime. Yet, she'd never given up or taken the time to feel sorry for herself. Shayla had the strength to move on and bravely tackle life by the horns.

Ruby had let years of self-pity and resentment consume her like a black cancer. The cancer didn't stop at her, but ate away at Hanning, bite by toxic bite. Ruby could lean on Shayla and borrow her strength. She could rely on her baby sister to keep her afloat when she didn't have the strength to tread water. Even though Ruby did not possess Shayla's strength or force of will. She'd be there for Shayla with the depth of commitment that she'd never had before. After all, they were sisters, and blood was thicker than water.

Hanning hobbled around the small confines of his bedroom. His body was busily healing itself. The wounds itched mercilessly as a result of the rapid tissue regeneration taking place under the miserable bandage. The incessant itching was a source of irritation, but it wasn't really what was robbing him of sleep. Ruby was just down the hall. Why was it that all the misery in his life could in some way be connected to that woman?

A growl of frustration escaped his lips. He could march down that hallway and storm his way into her room and wrap his hands around her scrawny little neck and end the source of his ceaseless angst. Sounded good to him. He could take the edge off his frustration and fuck her until she couldn't walk straight. His cock tented the front of his sleep pants in agreement with that plan. He stared down at the bulge disdainfully. Not tonight. Not ever. The fires of Hell couldn't thaw out that frigid bitch.

He was hurt, frustrated, and angry. Her sister's observations certainly hadn't helped, not one little bit. So what? He loved his wife. As a husband, wasn't he supposed to? Wasn't that his job? He made a fist and drove it into the drywall. Bits of dust and debris showered the floor. He reminded himself that he wasn't her husband, not any more. She wasn't his wife. Whatever shallow resemblance of a relationship that they had was over and done with. He should hate her. He simply didn't have the strength to conjure up the acidic emotion in his heart.

With one glare, Hanning stifled any protest the guard standing at Ruby's door might have issued. Twisting the doorknob with a hard jerk, he threw open the door and barged his way inside, slamming the door with a loud bang behind him.

"Hanning?"

"I had a paternity test done. I know Evan is mine. Why did you lie to me?"

Ruby shrank beneath the covers. "I can explain."

Hanning towered over her menacingly and crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm listening."

Chapter 74

Erica settled under the covers and sighed deeply. Thoughts played ping pong in her mind. Groaning, she rolled over on her belly and kicked her legs, trying to find a cool place in the sheets. The sun block hadn't been enough and her skin was hot, tingly, and tight with the beginnings of a very nice sunburn. She'd never had a tan in her life. She'd turn an amazing shade of tomato red, every freckle would pop out like a connect the dots puzzle, and then she'd peel like a lizard.

Her brain refused to shut down and give her a break. She was in love with a man that she didn't know. Torr was better at evading questions than the CIA. What was he hiding and why? Her cousin and BFF was a vampire. And wasn't that a whole separate issue with questions that she hadn't even thought of yet. One thing was for certain. Erica's mother left with her in tow to protect her...from what? Exactly what role did she have to play in all of this? Alex said they were the good guys. They drank blood. Human blood. And they were the good guys? Just exactly how bad were the bad guys?

Alex had cryptically implied that the family had always been involved with the Sons. What did that have to do with her and Fallon? Erica wondered if she was expected to become a walking juice box if Alex or one of her friends got hungry. The skin on Erica's back and arms goose pimpled painfully. Had her mother known the whole of the awful truth of their family's hidden purpose and legacy?

On the surface everything seemed so normal. Moore county was just a sleepy little place with one tiny town surrounded by woods, sprawling acres of farmland, and one giant secret. No one would ever suspect what happened behind closed doors and pulled shades. Just exactly how many people were in on Alex's little secret? How many willingly offered their necks to keep that secret?

Erica's aunt and uncle were hip deep in that secret and not just because of Alex. They knew long before Alex ever came into the picture. Her aunt and uncle, Leigh and Alexander Grey, were the very picture of Midwestern normalcy. Typical empty nesters. And they knew every last gory detail of what went on behind those closed doors and pulled shades. Erica couldn't go to them for answers. Obviously, they weren't of the mindset to share. There wasn't anyone she could ask besides Alex. And there was plenty in what Alex had told her that was left unsaid. Erica wondered just exactly how deep she and Fallon had been drawn into the secret and what, ultimately, it would mean.

Erica lifted her head and scowled at the red glowing digital display on her alarm clock. The witching hour, and she hadn't so much as dozed for a second. She flopped onto her back, wincing at the sting between her shoulder blades. Morning was going to come way too soon. The Monday morning blahs were already setting in and it was only five after midnight.

Her employer, wasn't that something else, another puzzle she had yet to solve. The family was worth millions. Nash acted like money was some trivial detail that he just didn't have time to be bothered by. Of course, when one had money on the grand scale that he did, maybe it was. Thankfully, everything seemed on the up and up so far. There was no evidence of any criminal activity. Just dumb luck and a few wise investments that had amassed into a small fortune.

Luckily for him, she was honest. A different CPA might be tempted to skim a little off the top, maybe a lot. With Nash's haphazard record keeping, he'd never know the difference. But, she didn't steal from clients. Curiosity kept the job fresh and exciting, that and the fact that tomorrow would only be her third day on the job. Admittedly, she was enjoying handling the tattered papers that tracked the family's progress through the decades. A part of her wished that she'd actually met the mastermind behind the fortune, Nashoba Blackstone.

What she wouldn't give to pick his brain for a few minutes. Of course if he were still alive, he'd be well over a hundred years old. About one hundred and twenty-five give or take a few years, if Erica had to hazard a guess. People didn't live that long.

A cool night breeze fluttered the curtains, bringing welcome relief to Erica's slightly seared skin. Life's great mysteries would still be there waiting for her in the morning. Right now, she needed sleep. Desperately. Her mind drifted, finally quieted enough to let her slide into a light dreamless slumber.

Chapter 75

Carter stared down at the sleeping infant tucked snugly in his crib. R.J. was growing up just fine. No hint of Carter's taint to be found in the perfect innocence of this child anywhere. Shayla slept fitfully in the bed across the room. Gently she sighed and turned in her sleep. As a vampire, Carter had certain regenerative properties that allowed him to go for extended periods of time between naps. The older he got, the less sleep he required. Maybe it wasn't his age that made the need for sleep less important, but all the black spots soiling his soul that made sleep almost impossible. In these two innocent souls, perhaps after centuries of condemnation, he'd finally found redemption.

The night outside the open windows glowed with a ethereal blue hue illuminated by the full moon hanging lazily above their heads. A night for dreams and magic. Carter's body had finished repairing the damage and the glass in the window had been skillfully repaired. Shayla's blood kept him healthy and fueled the magic that kept him whole. Not just in a physical sense, but so many other ways. She tamed the beast that roared beneath the surface. He could almost, ALMOST, tolerate himself again.

R.J. whimpered softly and kicked his tiny legs. Carter gently reached down and hoisted him up, cradling R.J.'s head against his shoulder. Each day the baby changed and grew. Before long the baby in his arms would grow up into a little boy, and the little boy into a teenager, and the teenager into a man. What influence his blood might have on that man was yet to be revealed. Carter could only hope that his influence was a good one and that the stain of his past would not leave it's black mark on R.J..

With Shayla's love, Carter could almost believe in the good she saw in him. Somewhere deep inside himself, perhaps a good man did live. Maybe, eventually, Carter wouldn't almost believe, but he would believe full heartedly in that man. Maybe not. Maybe, this gentle life with Shayla and R.J was just a sweet illusion that would someday come crashing down on all of their heads. He pushed aside his doubts and nuzzled R.J, softly humming an old tune whose words he'd long ago forgotten.

"You have news for me boy?" O'Sullivan asked.

David swallowed hard and nodded. He was about to trade one life for another. About to condemn the man who instead of killing him gave him a second chance. He stood absolutely still, doing his best to quell the trembling of his limbs. In vampire years, he was still a baby. But he'd already learned one important lesson, perhaps the most important, never show fear. "I know where Carter is."

O'Sullivan chuckled lightly. "I knew you were intelligent enough unravel the mystery. Do tell, where is my nemesis."

David stuck out his chin. "My sister." There was one other very important thing about vampires that he'd learned early on. They weren't to be trusted. He wasn't going to tell this sadistic prick one damned thing until he was sure his sister was alive.

"Oh yes, I almost forgot." He snapped his fingers and motioned to his guards to retrieve the girl, or what was left of her. He'd kept up to his end of the bargain and the girl was still alive, in a manner of speaking.

Theresa's broken body landed in a crumpled heap at David's feet. She was too weak to so much as groan in protest to the rough treatment her captors had inflicted upon her. Her pale skin was littered with bite marks; puncture wounds oozed trickles of blood and bruises bloomed dark purple across her neck. "Bastard," David hissed under his breath. At least Theresa was alive. Not by much, but still alive. As long as her heart still beat, David could fix her.

"You'd better speak quickly boy. Sis hasn't got much time left. Unless, of course, you want to make her one of us. I'd be happy to perform the necessary services. I find newborns to be such a source of entertainment."

David did what he came to do and afterwards scooped up his sister's limp form in his arms. Any guilt he'd feel would have to wait till later. Right now, his concern was for Theresa and nobody else. She was light as a feather and cold as the grave. No one tried to stop him as he carried her down the long hallway winding to the exit. He was out of time and options. If he waited much longer, he wouldn't be holding his sister, but her lifeless corpse.

Bianca's face was an emotionless mask. She slid with cat like grace from her hiding place in an adjacent room. "To think, I thought the last true Son of a Bitch left on Earth was dead." Although O'Sullivan was a twisted fuck, she could still appreciate his finer attributes. He was a man who stopped at nothing to get what he wanted. As far as she was concerned, it was the only good quality he possessed. She slid her fingers across the expensive fabric of his suit, along the sleek feel of his one of a kind designer shirt, down the buttons, and lower. "Why torture the poor girl. Isn't living life in her state quite enough punishment for a mortal?"