Revisited (Redemption Series) (22 page)

    “No, it’s fine. Come in.” Lily wrapped her fingers around her almost-empty mug. “Kitchens seem to be my nighttime hideaway.”

“As of late, mine, too.” Valentina caressed her barely there belly as she went to the cabinet to look for some crunchy snacks.

“Is everything going okay with the pregnancy?” Lily inquired, wondering if there was an agenda for the unborn child.

“You want to hear the story?” Valentina opened a package of crackers and began to nibble on one.

“Sure.” Lily pushed out the chair across from her and indicated Valentina should sit. 

Valentina sat down, finished one cracker, and started on another. “I’m almost three and a half months along now. When I was just two months, Filipp had me preform a spell.” She shifted in her seat and swallowed down the lump forming in her throat. “It almost killed the baby and me.” She sniffled while rubbing circles on her belly. “The baby doesn’t like my black magic. I could tell from the moment I conceived that my life was changing forever, but I never expected to feel so much love for it and . . . its father.”

Lily had a feeling the child Valentina carried was created for a reason, and she wanted to know what it was. “How long have you and Liam been together?” she asked as nonchalantly as possible, before taking another sip from her mug.

“A few days.”

Lily’s mug hit the table with a thud as the shock of the revelation hit her like a lightning bolt.

Valentina shook her head. “I know. Strange, right?” 

“A bit, I’d say.”

Valentina finished the cracker and pushed the rest away from her. “Filipp and Debir took me in after I lost my parents. I didn’t have anybody. I was an angry teenager with a whole lot of power and no idea how to direct it. Unfortunately, Filipp pointed me in the wrong direction.”

“He taught you how to hone your black magic?”

Valentina nodded and clenched the shirt covering her belly in her fist. “Yes. I knew almost nothing at that point. My mother had never accepted her gift and rarely let me visit my grandmother once I started developing powers. It scared my mother, so she hid my abilities from me. I do remember my grandmother vividly, though. I saw her for the last time when I was about seven years old.”

“Oh, I see.”

“After Filipp and Debir took me in, I was so grateful; I would have done anything for them. I got a supreme rush from everything I was experiencing. Filipp began planning this current situation about a year ago, I think. Filipp found Liam shortly after that. He kept us apart, never telling Liam of my existence. From a distance, I observed Liam and began feeling things I hadn’t felt in years. I cared about him. I wanted him safe. I wanted him with me.”

“You fell in love with him before you ever spoke with him?”

“Yes.” Valentina nodded. “When Filipp started talking about how I would be the perfect mother to help carry on the Ahbmonite line, I jumped at the chance. Filipp wanted to build another branch of his family tree starting with this little one. I don’t think he expected these results.” She smiled, remembering the first time she and Liam came face to face. “The moment Filipp let me meet him, I felt my child—our child—pulling us together. It was as if it was always meant to be.”

“What were Filipp’s plans for the baby?”

“Um . . . he wanted to have another hold on Liam.” Valentina remembered Filipp’s glowing face when he described the plan to her. “Liam had been very much like me after his parents died—his parents were all he had. Liam knew about the vampire aspect of his heritage, and went looking for a way to be turned. It wasn’t hard for Filipp to find him as he had kept tabs on Liam’s family for years. In the end, Liam was just as eager as I was to follow Filipp’s lead.”

“They set me up in Vegas,” Lily whispered.

“Yes. When the simplest plan didn’t work, they went with plan B.”

“I take it that’s where Gideon stepped in?”

Valentina instantly paled. She swallowed hard and began to cough. Lily sped to the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of water. She opened it, then offered it to her. Several gulps later, Valentina had calmed down.

“Are you all right?”

Valentina nodded nervously as she took a few slow sips. “Yes.” She chuckled anxiously. “I’d actually forgotten about him. Oh, what a mess.”

“Indeed, but . . . do you know where Gideon is now?”

Valentina lifted her head to meet Lily’s cinnamon gaze with her own onyx one. “Not exactly.” She had to think quickly. Liam and Debir hadn’t discussed with her how they were going to handle Gideon. She was sure he was with Becca somewhere very close. Valentina collected her thoughts and came up with what she thought was a plausible story. “The plan was once Liam was turned and you were gone, Gideon would sweep in and rescue Becca.”

“But Abe and Ryan got to her first?”

“Yes.” Valentina nodded. “I think Gideon’s off pouting somewhere since Liam got what he wanted, but he got the raw end of the deal.”

“Well, we know Gideon’s taken on a new body. Other than that, we have nothing to go on.”

Valentina tried to keep her expression in check as she spoke. “Gideon acts like a spoiled child when he doesn’t get his way. That seems to be when he’s at his most dangerous.”

Lily could feel the deception as it hung in the air. She was positive Valentina had lied to her about Gideon, but she wasn’t sure why. Her thoughts were broken when she felt a gust of air lift her hair off her neck and over her head. She turned and saw Liam kneeling at Valentina’s side.

“You scared the hell out of me. Your scent has changed somewhat since we got here. I had trouble finding you.” Liam slipped his arms around Valentina’s waist, and he rested his cheek on her chest.

“Lily and I were just having a talk. The baby was hungry.” Valentina motioned to the half-empty package of crackers on the table.

“Of course he is. Caldwell men have very healthy appetites.”

Valentina pushed him back to look in his eyes. “What makes you so sure we are having a son?” She quirked her brow.

“Since Anton, there have only been single sons. Three generations is a hard line to break.” Liam placed a soft kiss upon her lips before he took a seat beside her.

“Valentina told me you’ve only known about her for a few days?” Lily asked and hoped for a little more information on Gideon.

“Yes. Filipp never told me he had already inseminated someone. I assumed he would sometime in the future, but I had no idea.” Liam lifted Valentina’s hand to his lips and gave it a gentle kiss. “I wish I would have known her before all of this. Maybe I would have been strong enough to walk away with her and not have caused all this trouble.”

Lily nodded. “You have made quite a mess of things, at least where Ian and I are concerned.”

Liam stiffened and Lily took in every aspect of his discomfort before it vanished.

“What happened to Ian . . . it was never my idea.” Liam raked his hand through his hair. “As I traveled to Romania, I had a lot of time to think about what I had done. Then once I met Valentina, I knew I would have to make it up to Ian if we ever got out of this.”

“He and Becca have been keeping to themselves, but I’m sure you’ll have the opportunity.” Lily could sense his sincerity, yet something was still off.

“Maybe you can be the peacekeeper?” Liam asked hopefully.

“I don’t see why not.” 

Valentina yawned widely. “I am guessing the little one is ready to go back to bed.”

“Yes.” Liam stood then scooped Valentina up into his arms.

“I can walk, my love.” She giggled, trying on the new term of endearment.

“I know, but you don’t have to.” Liam turned his attention back to Lily. “Thank you.”

“No problem.” Lily smiled as genuinely as she could.

Liam sped out of the kitchen leaving Valentina’s squeal echoing in the air.

Debir rested in the room provided for him. His existence had changed so drastically in the previous twenty-four hours, and the guilt he carried for over a century was lifted. He couldn’t explain how the relief of cutting his ties with Filipp felt. An abrupt knock at Debir’s door brought on his next challenge.

“We have a problem.” Liam pushed his way through the door as Valentina trailed behind.

The door was securely shut before Debir addressed them. “What is it?”

“Gideon,” Valentina whispered while she wrapped her arms around Liam’s torso.

The other shoe dropped. Debir had been so caught up in getting as far away from Filipp as possible, he had forgotten about his other partner in crime.

“We’ll just have to talk to Gideon; we’ll promise to keep his secret safe. We can’t afford to annoy him as well.” Debir crossed his arms over his chest and clenched his fists.

“It said on the news that Ian was badly beaten. I have no doubt I am the one accused of it.” Liam tightened his grip on Valentina as thoughts of Gideon’s all-consuming power being brought forth to destroy his family consumed him.

“I’ll deal with Gideon. You two just worry about taking care of yourselves and your baby.”

“Are you positive? You can appease him?” Valentina asked, peering at Debir with red-rimmed eyes.

“I will do my best.” Debir stepped forward to cup her cheek in one hand while placing a firm grip on Liam’s shoulder with the other. “I will take care of the three of you. I swear it.”

Liam and Valentina nodded. They understood Debir’s vigilance. Finally, hope was hovering on the horizon.

Debir let the two of them go and ushered them back to their room to get some rest. Once they were gone, he settled in to form a plan of his own. He pulled out his phone and dialed a number he had used only twice before.

Three distinct rings and a strong female voice answered. “Yes?”

“Mr. Ore, please.”

A slight whir was heard from the other end of the line before the voice came back on. “Voice identified. Debir. Your call will now be completed as directed.”

The silence was somewhat deafening as Debir waited for Mr. Ore to pick up. He knew his idea might not be well received, but it was time. They all needed to wipe the slate clean and start over.

“Ore.” The voice was cool and clipped.

“It’s Debir.”

“Debir?” Mr. Ore shuffled papers on the other end of the line before he asked, “What’s going on?”

“Filipp went too far this time. I left Romania and took Liam and Valentina with me. We are in Balestrino with Lily.” Debir huffed in exhaustion.

“I had feared as much when we had to enact Project Rejuvenation on Lily.” Mr. Ore groaned thinking about all the details that went into the creation and maintaining of the chip. 

Debir could hear the sound of teeth gnashing from the other end of the line. 

“You brought her back?”

“Of course I did.” Mr. Ore scoffed at the very idea that he would willingly let Lily slip away. “After Rebecca’s blood hadn’t brought her all the way back, we had no other choice.”

“I’m glad you did.” Debir took a deep breath before he launched into his true concern. “I have another reason for calling. Gideon is here also.”

“Gideon! How the hell did that happen?” A loud crash and then Mr. Ore was back on the line. “You have to get rid of him.”

“That would be a little tricky since his new vessel is Ian Holt.”

“Of all that is mother fucking holy!”

Debir could imagine the destruction Mr. Ore rained on his office as he heard a loud crack. He was sure the mahogany desk had just been split in two. “That was not part of the plan, but it happened. Now we need to deal with Gideon being here with us.”

There was a moment of silence as the two men contemplated what could be done to destroy, or at least tame, a beast that had been around since time began.

“Sam knows what to do. Holt will be a casualty and I’m sorry about that, but I don’t see any other way,” Ore said.

Debir swallowed hard as he realized the devastating truth. “You’re right, of course, but I think it would be best if you are here, too.”

“You know that’s not a possibility.” Mr. Ore snarled.

“I’m tired of hiding. Aren’t you?” When there was no reply, Debir went on. “I know at first you thought you were doing what was best for all of us. Hell, after The Blood Feast I agreed with the new personality you had created for yourself.”

“I don’t need your approval.” The ire was evident in every syllable Mr. Ore spoke.

“I know, but it’s time to drop the act. Lily needs you here. The only way we have a chance making it out of this ordeal with Gideon and Filipp, is to have you here standing with us. The strength of four vampires would be more advantageous than having three.” As the seconds ticked by, Debir wasn’t sure the direct approach was the best after all.

“I’ll be there soon.”

Debir exhaled. “With you here, Filipp and his army won’t stand a chance.”

“Let us pray you’re right.”