Ashes (Dark in You 3)

“Yes, we can go home.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Knox was buttoning his shirt a few days later when Harper walked into the closet, streaks of lemon paint on her face and clothes. She looked so damn cute that he had to smile. Then he noticed she was carrying a hamper. “What’s that you have there, baby?”

“It’s a gift basket from Lou.” She held up a card that read, ‘Some stuff for Baby L.’ “I found it on the dining room table.”

It was the third gift that Lou had sent. Knox sighed. “I’m not sure there’s any way to get him to stop.”

Harper pulled out little white hats, booties, bodysuits, mittens, and sleepsuits from the basket. As she unfolded one particular bodysuit, she sighed and then turned it to face him. It read, ‘This Baby Got Back.’

His mouth quirked in spite of his annoyance. As she put down the hamper, Knox pulled her close and breathed in her scent. “I missed you.” He kissed her, licking into her mouth, enjoying her taste. He’d been in his office most of the night while Harper enjoyed a visit from Jolene, Martina, and Beck. His demon had been an absolute pain in the ass the whole time because it didn’t like not being near her.

Harper let out a little grunt and put a hand to the side of her rounded stomach. “This kid sure can kick.”

Knox smiled. “Did you think there was any chance that you and I would produce a docile baby?”

“I guess not.”

He replaced her hand with his, feeling a thud. “Personally, I think it’s protesting that you want to leave the house,” he joked. He’d hoped to visit the Sanders and McCauley without her, but he hadn’t expected her to stay behind.

Harper’s jaw set. “I’m coming with you. Deal with it, Thorne. If it makes you feel any better, the stuff I ordered for the nursery will be delivered tomorrow. That means I’ll be pretty busy over the next couple of days, so you won’t have to worry about me leaving the house.”

On the one hand, that did make him feel better. On the other hand… “I don’t want you to feel confined or suffocated.”

“So far, I don’t.”

“Good.” Looking at the streaks of paint on her face, he smiled. “You have no idea how cute you look right now.” He kissed her again, ending it with a bite to her lower lip. “Finished painting?”

“There’s a little left to do. Keenan’s agreed to finish it for me while we go visit the Sanders.” She rubbed Knox’s upper arms. “I need to take a quick shower.”

“If I wasn’t almost dressed, I’d shower with you.”

She smiled and pressed a kiss to his throat. “I won’t be long.”

It was no more than an hour later that they pulled up outside the Sanders’ house. Like last time, both Levi and Tanner decided to accompany them inside. Wyatt opened the door, looking weary and resigned. He’d clearly been expecting them.

Having led them into the kitchen, he said, “Congratulations on the pregnancy.”

“Thank you,” said Harper.

“We heard what happened to Pamela and Rupert.” Muttering a curse, Wyatt scrubbed a hand down his face. “I saw the crime scene photos. It was bad. Look, I’m guessing you suspect McCauley of being involved and I’m not surprised. If they’d died from a house fire, I’d suspect him too. But stabbing them to death?” Wyatt shook his head. “He’s just a boy.”

“You’re right, he is,” said Knox, positioning himself close to Harper – protective and possessive. His demon didn’t like her being around these people, and it watched Wyatt as it would a cobra.

“But…?”

“But it’s odd that the family seems to be dropping like flies.”

Harper absentmindedly put a protective hand on her stomach. “How’s he been?”

“No different.” Wyatt sighed. “Linda dotes on him, but she gets no thanks for it.”

“Where is Linda?” Harper glanced at the doorway.

“In the backyard, hanging up the laundry. She doesn’t know you’re here yet.”

“Somebody does.” Harper tipped her chin toward the doorway, where McCauley’s shadow could be seen, plain as day. “You might as well come in, kid.”

The boy slowly entered the room, his movements mechanical.

Knox turned to face him, still staying close to Harper. “Hello, McCauley.”

“Hello,” he said simply. He looked up at Wyatt. “May I have a drink of water, please?”

Harper almost shuddered. He was so polite it was actually freaky.

Wyatt’s smile was forced. “Sure.” As Wyatt filled a glass with water, McCauley turned to Harper.

She felt his mind brush against hers and narrowed her eyes. “That was very rude.” Demons might be tactile, but they were fussy about who had the permission to touch them, whether physically or psychically. That was largely why her own demon was pissed.

What did he do? Knox asked.

Touched my mind. As Knox went rigid beside her, she curled her hand around his arm. Don’t give him a reaction. “You should be careful,” she told McCauley. “A lot of demons would retaliate big time over something like that.”

The kid seemed completely unaffected by her warning. “You won’t hurt me.”

Harper arched a brow. “You sure about that?”

“You won’t,” he stated confidently. “But your child will.”

The words chilled her blood, but she didn’t jump to the baby’s defense, curious if that was what the little cambion wanted. Her demon bared its teeth – it didn’t like the boy one teensy, weensy bit.

He took the glass of water from Wyatt. “Thank you.”

Knox spoke before McCauley could turn to leave. “I came to tell you that, unfortunately, Pamela and Rupert won’t be coming back to see you.”

“I know, sir. Linda and Wyatt told me that they’re dead.”

Knox tilted his head. “You must be very upset to hear they’re gone.”

The boy nodded, then turned back to Harper. “Are you going to give your baby away?”

She shook her head. “No.”

“Even though it’s bad?”

“The baby isn’t bad,” she told him.

“My demon says it is.”

“I’ll bet your demon says everyone’s bad,” she said. “It doesn’t want to share you. Does it want to hurt the people who are good to you? Does it get jealous?”

McCauley didn’t answer, but his shoulders stiffened.

“Was it jealous of your relationship with Pamela and Rupert?” she asked.

“Of course not,” he said, tone flat. “Why would it be?”

Harper exchanged a look with Knox. At first, I thought he and the demon wanted revenge, she told Knox. What if the demon just wants rid of any competition to its parental role?

At that moment, Linda walked into the room carrying a laundry basket. She’d obviously heard their voices, because she didn’t look surprised to see them. Her smile of greeting was strained. “McCauley, why don’t you go on upstairs?”

With one last look at Harper, he turned and left the room as robotically as he’d entered. Only once they’d heard his bedroom door close did Linda speak again.

“I suppose a ‘congratulations’ is in order.” Envy was stamped all over her face as she stared at Harper’s baby bump. Before anyone could thank her, Linda quickly added, “I’m guessing you’re here about the Winters.” She placed the basket on the table. “Stabbed to death in their own home… Awful. Tragic.” She swallowed. “McCauley already knows. We told him. It’s sad that he won’t have his biological family in his life.”

“Is it?” asked Knox.

Linda’s attention snapped to him. “Of course.”

He twisted his mouth. “You had no problems with him building a relationship with Pamela and Rupert?”

Linda tugged on her sweater. “I won’t deny that I’d like to keep McCauley here, but I wouldn’t begrudge him a relationship with the Winters.”