“Not until I get an explanation.”
She raised her eyes to Dominic. He nodded, then lifted a hand. “Por favore, there is no need for the weapon.” He stiffened, as if bracing for Creek’s next move. “I paid your bond price.”
Creek held the crossbow where it was. “I didn’t ask you to do that.”
“No.” Dominic lifted his chin. “Your grandmother did.”
Creek let the crossbow drop. “Why would you do that, Mawmaw? I will never be able to work that off.” She’d doomed him to the same life he’d just left. Always owing, never able to get free.
“There is nothing to work off,” Dominic corrected. “The debt was owed to your grandmother. She simply asked me to do this with the funds instead.”
Creek stared at his grandmother and slowly shook his head. “You’d better start from the beginning.”
Still yawning, Chrysabelle padded through the hall toward the sound of sniffling that had woken her. She found Lilith sitting up in bed, sucking her thumb, cheeks wet with tears. Chrysabelle sat on the bed next to her and took hold of the little girl’s free hand. “What’s wrong, pumpkin?”
“Mama,” she sobbed. “I want mama. Wanna go home.”
Chrysabelle opened her mouth, but there was no answer for this problem. Not one that involved Tatiana. “We’re going to take you home soon, baby. Don’t cry, okay? I’ll be right back.”
She hurried out into the hall. “Mal? Where are you?” There were voices in the kitchen. His and Damian’s. And laughter. Good to know they were getting along. She headed down the steps.
“I’m here,” he answered, meeting her in the living room. “You didn’t sleep very long.”
“Lilith was crying. It woke me up.” She sighed. “She wants her mother and to go home.”
Mal nodded. “Poor kid. She’s been through a lot. You get dressed, I’ll tell Jerem we need the car.”
“Thanks.” She ran back upstairs and dug through the bags Fi had brought her, utterly grateful for them. At this point, she doubted her belly would fit into any of her old comarré trousers. She came back downstairs in new maternity jeans and an ivory tunic sweater, Lilith’s little hand firmly in hers. “Is the car here?”
Velimai and Damian were sitting in the living room.
Just pulling up, Velimai signed.
“You want us to go with you?” her brother asked.
“No, thanks. We won’t be long. Sun will be up soon anyway.”
Mal opened the front door. “Ready?”
She nodded, then looked down at the child beside her. “Let’s go, honey. Let’s get you home.”
Thumb secured in her mouth, Lilith followed gamely along and finally let go of Chrysabelle’s hand to hop into the car. Chrysabelle went in after her, then Mal. Lilith patted the seat beside her and commanded, “Sit.”
“Me?” Chrysabelle asked.
“Uh-uh. Hims.” Lilith pointed to Mal.
“Yes, ma’am.” Mal did as he was told. He grinned at Chrysabelle. “Bossy, isn’t she? Kind of reminds me of someone…”
“Hush,” Chrysabelle whispered, laughing a little. Mal was a different man with Lilith. A man who was going to be the exact kind of father she’d dreamed he’d be. Sweet, gentle, protective, loving. Her smile grew. Actually, he was the same with Lilith as he was with her. “You’re so good with her.”
A flicker of sadness shot silver through his eyes. “Sophia was…” He swallowed. “She was everything good in my life. The thought of being a father again…” He glanced out the window. “I feel like I’m getting a second chance.”
“I know.” Sentiment made her voice husky. Her hand drifted to her stomach. There were more emotions in her soul than words in her brain. “I know.”
She sat watching Mal and Lilith until Jerem finally pulled the car to a stop. He powered down the glass divider. “We’re here. Mal, if you want, I’ll go in with Chrysabelle.”
He nodded. “I want.” He looked at Chrysabelle. “You have your blades?”
She patted her sides. “One on each hip, but it’s not going to come to that.” She reached out to Lilith. “Time to go home.”
Lilith tugged on Mal’s hand. “Him come.”
“I can’t, Lilith. Only very special people can go into that building and I’m not one of them, but you are. You and Miss Chrysabelle, okay?”
She stuck her lip out. “No kay.”
He took her small face in his hands. “You’ll see us again. I promise. Now be a good girl and go with Miss Chrysabelle.”
Lilith threw her arms around him. He hugged her back, then handed her over. “I hate that I can’t go in there with you. Anything happens and you need me, I’m coming in. To hell with the consequences.”
Jerem opened the door and held out his hand to Chrysabelle. She passed Lilith to him, then scooted closer to the door. “Nothing bad is going to happen. Promise.” She kissed his cheek and got out. Jerem shut the door.
She glanced at him. “Stay behind me, okay?”
“Will do,” Jerem said. “I know you want to handle this alone.”
“That and I don’t want any unnecessary casualties.” When he nodded, she turned her attention to the building in front of her.