Welcome to the Cassadines: Book II of Kismet

Chapter Nine

***Possibilities***

By the time Lucky reached Emily's hospital room, she was fast asleep. He didn't dare wake her, but he couldn't bring himself to leave either. Grabbing two chairs and positioning them into a makeshift bed, Lucky created a resting place. When he awoke the next morning, Emily was looking at him with a curious smile on her face.

"Good morning?" He said as the heat inflamed his face. His hand rubbed across his face and he stood. "Did I snore?"

"No," she replied. "Good morning to you, too. Why were you... Did you stay here all night?"

"Yeah." He shrugged. "When I stopped by, you were already asleep so I just...stayed."

"Well, it's nice to wake up to a friendly face."

The words struck him deeply. He didn't mean for it to be abrupt, but he couldn't stop himself. "Is that all I am? Just a friendly face?"

Pink roses tinged her alabaster cheeks. She looked away from him. Her fingers dug into the coverlet, pulling it close around her. "Lucky, you know you're one of my best friends."

Since he started it, there was no way he would back out now. "But is that all I am?"

"Lucky..."

"Don't dance around my question," he said almost pleading. "You know what I mean." He perched on the bed beside her. His large hand closed around her slender fingers. "Are you feeling me, Em? It's changed for you, too, hasn't it?"

She lifted her head and met his gaze. Unshed tears glistened in the brown eyes that stared back at him. "Yeah, it's different...but there's Zander."

"Yeah and here I am," he said softly.

Lucky bent forward. He pressed his lips to hers, caressing her mouth more than kissing it. Then, he left.

**

Animal blood?

One culprit came to Zarek's mind. He didn't want to believe she could stoop so low, but when it came to his mother, he left nothing to chance. Was it too much to ask that he could live his life in peace? That he and Dara could be happy together without incident?

"Are you okay?"

Dara came up behind him and closed her arms around his waist. His hands covered hers as she rested her cheek against his back. The gentle caress made him wish they weren't fully clothed. Her skin was soft and a single touch grounded him in ways he doubted she could ever imagine.

"No, I'm not," he answered, circling around to face her and pull her into his embrace. "I would rather you stayed home today."

"And all the days to follow, I bet," she said. "I can't live my life in hiding, Zarek. Stefan was generous to give me a bodyguard. I promise not to give the guy the slip. Isn't that compromise enough?"

"No, but suppose I don't have a choice in this. You will do what you damn well please."

She smiled. "You know me well." Her smile faded as she added, "Are you sure that nothing else is bothering you?"

He shrugged off his thoughts about his mother. "I am most certain."

They shared several kisses and hugs before they parted ways. Zarek watched as Dara and her driver took off. When they turned at the end of the block, he and his bodyguard headed for the main thoroughfare.

Traffic was light that morning. They reached the women's correctional facility sooner than Zarek anticipated. He hadn't formulated how he wanted to confront his mother on this issue. Perhaps it would be better to speak with her freely. Philana would recognize a practiced speech and would do her best to throw him off kilter.