Hidden Paths: Vampire Revenge

Chapter Sixteen

Trey pulled up to the house. He sat and stared at the house. Ray was still waiting on the steps. Showing his loyalty to Isabella. They'd been gone hours. Yet, there he had sat and waited. He got up slowly when he saw them pull up.

"I'll stall him for as long as I can. There's some property he's been wanting to see in Napa Valley. I will take him there," Trey said.

"Be careful," Isabella said to him.

"I don't want you to worry about me. I'll be fine. I won't let on. It'll be like it always has been. You do what you need to do. Take the time to get to know Antonio, if you wish. Enjoy your man. Be happy while you can. We'll deal with the ugliness later."

"I can't pretend it hasn't happened."

"Do. Forget it for awhile. Be happy just for once. I saw a flicker of it in your eyes when I saw you with Ray. I want to see that again in you, if only for a little while."

"I'm sorry I doubted you."

"I know what you think of me sometimes. I know what I think of myself. I want to be better. I do. I'm so tired of the games..." he said with a sigh.

"I know. Me too."

"Just call me if you need me, ok?"

"I will," she answered with a smile. He kissed her cheek. "Bye, Papi."

He smiled. "You haven't called me that in five hundred years."

"Kind of hard to do considering you look like my brother not my father."

"I miss it," he said looking at her.

"Me too," she smiled softly.

"Go on," he told her touching her cheek. Isabella got out of the car. He watched her go to the front porch and Ray take her in his arms. He knew she would be safe with him.

"How'd he take it?" Ray asked still holding her watching Trey speed away.

"Too well. It scares me."

"Why's that?"

Isabella shook her head. "He wants to give me time to get to know Tony, to be with you, to be happy, he said."

"You deserve to be happy," he said kissing her cheek.

"I'm worried he's going to do something."

"You worry too much, Isabella. Can't you take his advice and be happy for awhile?"

Isabella sat down on the steps. "I want to try, Ray. I do. I have too many images in my head of what Max has done," Isabella said rubbing her forehead.

He kissed her there. "Let's try to get them out," Ray said hugging her.

"Everything ok?" Tony asked as Isabella and Ray came into the living room.

"Everything's fine," she answered kissing him on the cheek.

"What's that for?"

"For putting up with me. I'm sorry I've been so upset lately. Trey and I ... well, we've had things to work out. They're better now."

"That's good to hear," he said taking a sip of his wine.

"You're back in time for dinner, if you'd like some," Emily said as she set the table.

"I think I'll just have some wine with Tony, if you don't mind."

"I'll get you a glass," Emily said nodding and went into the kitchen. She breathed to steady her self of the images that had been flashing through her head all day. Isabella's barriers had broken down and she'd seen everything from Isabella's mind. All of Emily's predictions were verified. It made her sick to her stomach at what Tony's old friend had done to him, to his son, his granddaughter.