“Sure we will,” she muttered. “I’m going home tonight. I refuse to be locked in a tiny hotel room with you ever again.”
“We’ll have a suite tonight,” he assured her. “That room was only temporary.”
“Not happening.” Jerking her arm from his grip, she turned and flashed her badge at the security guard on duty before Stygian did the same.
“The hell it isn’t. Haven’t you seen yet that your home isn’t secure, Liza?”
“I’ve seen that unless I lock myself in a box I’ll never be safe again.” She didn’t like the surge of fear that raced through her at the knowledge.
“That’s not necessarily true,” he assured her as he led her to the bank of elevators.
“Isn’t it?” Suddenly, a sense of weariness overshadowed the anger. “Come on, Stygian, you know it’s true. Once the Genetics Council targets a victim, they disappear, one way or the other. That, or they’ve ended up married to a Breed and placed behind the walls of Sanctuary or Haven. They don’t have little brick houses with white picket fences—”
“Not true.” The elevator opened, empty for a change, and they stepped inside. “There are several couples living in residential America. Adapting isn’t always necessary, but possible.”
She shot him a knowing look.
“Tarek and Lyra Jordan don’t count.” She sighed. “That residential street has become yet another Breed-designated area with more than three-quarters of the homes taken by Breed couples where one partner or the other is Breed.”
His lips tightened.
“Tell me I can go home when all this is over and just adapt a little bit and be safe.”
His jaw flexed as his expression darkened.
Liza didn’t say more. There was nothing more to say, she had made her point. Her life would never be the same and they both knew it.
They arrived on the third and last floor of the Nation’s headquarters with a soft ping of the elevator.
A second later, the doors slid open silently.
And Liza nearly punched the button to return to the lobby.
“Liza.” Her mother jumped from the settee in the receiving lounge, her expressive blue eyes filled with fear and concern as Stygian led Liza from the elevator.
Almost as though he were aware of her inclination to run.
Jane Johnson rushed to her, her arms wrapping around her as Liza returned the embrace, her eyes closing for one thankful moment as her mother’s warmth and love surrounded her.
“We came home as soon as possible.” Her mother held her shoulders as she leaned back, her blue eyes filled with tears as she cupped Liza’s cheek, her soft hand trembling as she tucked the side of Liza’s hair back over her shoulder.
It was a habit her mother had. She would tuck Liza’s hair back as though to be certain she could see her entire face. “Are you okay, baby? Daddy and I were terrified when Jonas Wyatt called last night.”
“Mom, I’m fine.” She hadn’t realized how hurt she had been when Jonas Wyatt had told her that her parents had agreed to stay in New York if the Breeds provided her protection. A part of her had known her parents would come running no matter their trust in her, simply because they loved her. The idea that they weren’t coming home had caused a hidden ache to begin building inside her, one she had refused to acknowledge until now.
She hadn’t known until this moment how much she had needed her parents.
“That Jonas Wyatt just kept talking right over your father as though he wasn’t even speaking,” Jane told her irritably, a frown creasing her delicate face. “So he just shut up and let the director talk and agreed to the protection, and whatever else that arrogant man was promising. Then he hung up the phone and we left. Of course, you know I was packing as they spoke.” She laughed in delight as she then slid her arm around her daughter’s waist and pulled Liza to her affectionately. “As though we’d ever stay away at such a time.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Liza stopped and let her mother hug her again, feeling a security she’d always depended so heavily on.
Her parents were always there, and their love had always been assured. Liza realized that the past days’ uncertainties had been worse simply because she had known her parents weren’t close enough to touch, to run to.
“And here’s your father.” Jane released her, stopping long enough to give her a loving kiss on her cheek before Liza saw her father moving from Ray Martinez’s office.
Tall and broad, at fifty-six her father was still a handsome, powerful man.
A full head of dark blond hair was cut to a short, almost military length, while the hard, chiseled features of his face softened at the sight of his daughter.
Liza didn’t wait.
She moved quickly across the room to find herself enveloped in her father’s strong arms as he bent to receive her.
“Daddy,” she whispered, uncertain of what to say as his arms tightened around her.
“I have you, baby.” She felt his kiss at her brow, the warmth of his love and concern.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t stronger,” she whispered against his chest. “I’m sorry I couldn’t figure this out before they called you.”
She’d never wanted the life she chose to worry her parents, and had prayed she would have the training she needed if she ever came against a situation that would endanger her life.
“Sweetheart,” he chastised her gently as he cupped the back of her head and held her to his heart. “It wouldn’t matter if you were my daughter, or my son or how strong you were, I’d come running the minute I knew you were in trouble. Don’t you know that?”
She had always known it, and that knowledge had always given her a confidence that had helped her make more than one decision in her life.
“You and Momma didn’t have to come back so soon,” she said, knowing that the quickly hidden feeling of loss she had felt when Jonas told her they weren’t coming would have only built inside her.
“Didn’t I?” He pulled back to stare down at her with one of those soft, approving smiles that always filled her with such a sense of accomplishment. “Sweetheart, a battalion of Coyotes couldn’t have kept me away.” He kissed her brow again before looking over her shoulder. “I understand I have this young man to thank for your safety?”