“I appreciate your misguided faith that I won’t hurt anyone, but I can’t take the risk, James. Sandy has Matt, Eliza, and many other children that stay here while their parents are out. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if something happened to them. I need to leave,” she explained.
“You can’t leave,” he told her adamantly then started to say something then stopped. “A. J. isn’t going anywhere and he needs you,” he said instead.
“James I didn’t mean to leave town,” she told him. “I meant to leave the house and I was wondering if you would take care of A. J. until this clears up.”
“Where are you going to stay if you’re not leaving town?” He asked, seemingly ignoring her request.
“I thought that little hotel on the edge of town should be good. There shouldn’t be that many people staying there,” She explained and suddenly James’s whole expression changed.
“I’ve got a better idea!” He announced. “You’ll come stay at my place,” he told her and she looked at him with surprise. “There’s not that many people living there and the apartments on each side are empty so the Aequivalere could probably set up something there.”
“What about A. J?” She asked, not believing that she was actually considering it.
“He can stay with Sandy. She’d love to watch him until this all blows over,” He reasoned and she sighed while thinking it over.
“I guess it doesn’t sound too bad of an idea,” She admitted slowly though she wasn’t too sure about staying with James in his house, but she didn’t have a whole lot of options. She couldn’t put the children at risk. “Alright we can do it that way if you want but you don’t have to James. The hotel will work just fine, you don’t owe me anything.”
“I know I don’t owe you anything,” he shot back a little harshly. “I want to do this because I think it’s the best solution,” he added more calmly.
“Alright, I’ll go let everyone else know,” she said with a shrug and got up.
Once she told everyone the plan, most seemed to agree that it was a good idea expect Tony and Sandy. “This is your home! You shouldn’t have to leave,” Sandy argued.
“Yeah, mom’s right. You don’t have to leave,” Tony jumped in, but he missed Liz’s skeptical expression. “We can protect you just fine from here.”
“I’m not saying I feel unwelcome guys or that I doubt your abilities. Tony, but there are too many innocent lives, lives that couldn’t even begin to defend themselves if there was an attack on this house. I couldn’t live with myself is something happened to Eliza or Matt,” Lily explained. After some debate everyone finally came to agree with her or agreed to go along with the plan. In ten minutes, she had packed and was standing in the hallway with her family.
“He can sleep in his own bed, but we’ve always shared a room,” Lily explained to Sandy about A. J. “He’s never been away from me one whole night. You’ll stay with him won’t you Sandy. He might get scared being completely alone,” she went on, trying hard not to sound as worried as she felt.
“Lily, it’s okay. He’ll be alright. He’s already asleep and should be for the whole night,” Sandy replied with a small smile.
“I’ll be back tomorrow bright and early to check on him okay. You’ll tell him right Sandy… that I’ll be back?” she asked, feeling like she was abandoning her son just like her parents had her.
“Lily it’s alright. He’s not going to think you’ve left him,” Sandy told her.
“Okay, I can do this,” Lily said more to herself than anyone else. Her instincts told her to stay by A. J.’s side but she knew it was the best if he wasn’t around her. She didn’t think Silvano knew about him and Lily didn’t want him to. She shifted her the strap to her back on her shoulder then left the house.
Lily had only reached the porch steps before she stopped again, nearly crippled with the need to go back and check on A. J. “Come on Lily,” James told her softly and placed his hands on her shoulders. “It’s getting late and you’ve had a rough day.” When she didn’t move, he gently forced her down the steps and towards his truck. He’ll be alright, Lily told herself as the approached the truck.
“Alright here is the plan,” Dorin said, walking up to them. “Cesar and Donovan will be in one of the empty apartments. During the day I don’t think there is any danger, Silvano usually prefers to have only vampires as his Gophers. During the night the risk will most likely be minimal until Sunday when he returns to attempt to strengthen the bond,” the vampire explained.
“I’m assuming he wants to make a full fledge bond, making her completely susceptible to his will and to do that she must drink from him three times with intervals of forty-eight hours between them. Charlie will visit Lily regularly to make sure she’s alright,” Dorin explained and tapped his temple at the last part.
It made a pit in Lily’s stomach grow realizing she could become the modern day version of Renfield. “What’s a diplomatic expert going to know how she is?” James asked and before Lily could make up some excuse Dorin opened his big mouth.
“He’s not a diplomatic liaison, expert or whatever. That’s just what Lily said so she wouldn’t have to admit that she’s been seeing a psychiatrist on a weekly basis since she has been in Montana,” Dorin replied and James looked surprised. Lily groaned then glared at the vampire.
“Excuse me that was privileged information Mr. Stancu!” Lily hissed angrily. “If you two are done gossiping about me like two little old ladies I’d like to leave,” She snapped.