“I’m sure if you even so much as look constipated Ulric will cart you off.” Erryn rolled her eyes.
“He is a touch overprotective.” Which she didn’t mind at all. It was nice to be coddled.
Erryn put her on the treadmill next at a brisk pace to watch her blood pressure and heart rate. “How’s things with your family?”
Honey had spoken to her about the interrogations she’d had to endure for taking an extended trip with a man they didn’t know. And didn’t she know that was how women disappeared?
The question led to Honey grimacing. “Given I’ve never gone this long without a visit, they’re really starting to question my disappearance, even with the regular phone calls and pictures. My mom started in on me because I missed her kitchen sink spaghetti sauce.” Made with all the leftover vegetables in the garden as they shut it down for the season. “I don’t know how long I can keep putting them off.” They’d created a story based on her practice being vandalized that led to Ulric whisking her away after their fake cruise for a vacation to cottage country while contractors fixed her clinic. And then they’d stayed longer because a local vet had taken ill and Honey offered to help out.
“Do you think they’ll call the cops?”
“They might.”
“How do we alleviate their fears?”
“Honestly, nothing short of seeing me in person.”
“Leaving here comes with a lot of risk.”
“Does it?” Honey asked. “Nothing’s happened since the break-ins.”
“Because they might be waiting for you to pop your head out.”
“What makes you so sure?” Honey didn’t know where Erryn’s paranoia came from.
To her surprise, Erryn actually answered. “There are fractures within the Cabal.”
“What are they split on?” How interesting and the first Erryn mentioned it.
“Some think it’s time we updated some of our rules.”
“But the other half likes things as they are.” Honey made the jump of logic. “They’re the ones who would stick to the ‘no pregnancy’ rule. But at the same time, why come after me if they think I won’t survive anyhow?”
“Did that rogue want to kill you?” Erryn questioned. “Don’t forget. Ulric interrupted before we ever discerned intent.”
Honey pursed her lips. “I guess we don’t know, but at the same time, it was one guy and nothing since. There must be a way to see my parents and reassure them I’m fine.” Her phone calls were routed through a cell tower far from their location. She never gave her parents any actual details about where she was staying. Just made-up stories about cats she’d seen as the replacement vet.
Meanwhile, the only pet in the house—one very active feline—didn’t require any kind of aid at all.
“If you go visit, what are the chances your mom keeps your face out of social media?” Mom liked to document every single life moment.
Ulric had been super apologetic, but as he pointed out, “As a guy who specializes in security, there are a ton of problems with you going for a visit. The first and foremost being your mom posts everything. Your visit would be on there for anyone to see. What if it brings down danger on your family?”
“I don’t know if they’ll stay patient much longer, not to mention how long do we need to hide?”
“Ask Ulric.”
“I’m asking you because we both know you call the shots.”
“The Cabal has tasked me with getting you through this pregnancy, and that includes keeping you safe from anyone who would attack.”
“What if it was just a crime of chance with no bearing on me at all? Home invasions happen for all kinds of reasons.”
“Are you really that desperate to see your family?”
Honey nodded. “I see my mom a few times a month usually. We usually get pedicures every third Saturday.”
Erryn leaned back in her seat. “I think I have an idea for you to see your parents. What if we brought them here?”
The suggestion rounded Honey’s mouth. “Here?”
“Yes. Just the two of them, brought via a roundabout route.”
The idea excited, but Honey quickly sobered. “Won’t they think it’s weird when they realize we never leave and that you and Quinn are living with us?”
“I’ll be Ulric’s sister. Quinn can pretend to be my boyfriend for a few days,” Erryn suggested.
“Aren’t you worried they’ll be followed?”
“We can handle that part by ensuring we get them an escort and having Dorian play with their vehicle’s nav system. We’ll also get their phone signals redirected before they leave.”
“How soon can I see them?” She couldn’t deny being eager.
“We’ll have to coordinate with Quinn. I’d say just after the full moon.”
Only things didn’t work out as planned.
21
The phone call came the day before the full moon. Honey’s mom was hysterical. Ulric only caught bits and pieces as Honey paced and asked low questions as she squeezed her eyes shut.
“…what hospital is he in?” Pause. Honey’s mouth rounded as she exclaimed, “What do you mean he’s at home? What exactly is wrong with him?”
“You have to come right away,” was all her mother said before she hung up.
“What the fuck?” A rare expletive left Honey’s lips. She dialed her mother right back. No one answered.
She shot him a glance. “Something is wrong.”
“Yes.” No denying it, even as the whole thing smelled off to him.
“Mom said Dad hurt himself. And that it was urgent. I had to come right away. But if he’s injured, why is he at home?” She flung her hands.
He pointed out the obvious. “Because it’s a story to lure us.”
She whirled to eye him. “Duh. I know that. None of what she said made sense, which is why we have to go.”
“We?” He huffed. “You aren’t going anywhere.”
“You don’t get to tell me what I can or cannot do. It’s my parents.” She dialed again. It answered to a whining screech that had her holding the cellphone away from her head. It then went silent.
She brought it back into view and muttered, “My phone just died.” As in wouldn’t even turn on. She tried plugging it in to charge, but even that did nothing to revive it.
Ulric knew then and there he had no choice. Even as the protector in him screamed, trap! he dragged her close and murmured, “Pack an overnight bag. We’re going on a road trip.”
The news didn’t go over well with the doctor.
“Excuse me, but you can’t do that,” Silver retorted.
“Weren’t you the one who told her you’d make something happen?”
“After the full moon,” Erryn advised. “Which is tomorrow night. That doesn’t give you much time to drive there and get back.”
“You’re positive the baby is going to react to the moon?” he asked.
Erryn nodded.
“Then I make sure she stays inside, and we don’t expose her to the moon at all. The same plan we had for here.”