Stone In Love

Chapter 54

"Please, don't leave the premises, Reese." Vincent's face was grave as he lectured me before leaving for the Lassiter domus. "Unless the building is on fire, I need you to remain here until I get home. Can I trust you to do that?"

He locked me in his granite stare, and I had to work hard not to flinch. Did he think I had plans to take on the demons alone? "Go take care of family business, Vincent. I'll be fine. I don't want you distracted with thoughts of me. It's not like I'm going to use the balcony to test out my new wings."

Vincent tucked me into his chest and squeezed, forcing half the air out of my lungs. "I know you feel guilty about your parentage, but it's not your fault. We're going to work this out. Don't worry about the domus meeting."

"Are you going to tell them about my grandfather?" I pulled away to look at his face. I needed to know how he felt, and his taciturn expression told me nothing.

"I don't know. I'm going to wing it, as they say." His fingers found my chin and he tugged on it. "I love you, Reese. Nothing or no one will change my feelings for you." He leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss on my lips, searing them with the passion that always simmered beneath his tough exterior. "I will be back before four AM."

I stared at the door to Vincent's apartment long after his departure, and when my brain was convinced he wasn't returning any time soon, I retreated to the couch and sat next to Bonnie and Clyde. They looked so carefree, curled up nose to nose as they slumbered. I had never envied a dog so much as I did now. I certainly didn't envy Vincent. He had the welfare of an entire family to consider, something he admitted to doing a poor job of ever since I entered the picture.

And now we had this game changing secret between us. I knew Vincent had to be swimming in guilt. If the other gollums found out we were hiding my true parentage they might cast Vincent out of the domus for treason. I couldn't let that happen. I knew Vincent loved me deeply, as I did him, but the obstacles were mounting like a wall, a wall to keep enemies apart or lovers from finding their happily ever after.

The other domi would see me as a liability once they learned the truth. They didn't have an allegiance to me. Hybrids were pond scum. They were outcasts. What kind of life did hybrids lead anyway? Christoph said they were rare. Was I the only one alive today? Surely not.

My thoughts led me to my adopted family. The parents who raised and loved me. Would I ever have that normalcy in my life again? Would my visits home always be under heavy guard? The demons knew where my Mom and Dad lived. Even if we managed to save Mr. Pearlman's life, my parents could be their next target if I didn't give myself up.

I glanced at the front door, waiting for someone to walk in, but I knew Amelia and Griffin were the only Valentinos around, and the apartment felt eerily quiet after entertaining so many bodies just a few hours ago. While everyone had gone to great lengths to treat me like family, their attitudes were sure to change soon enough. Before I could talk myself out of it, I pushed up from the couch and walked to the kitchen counter to rummage for a pen and paper. The note I scribbled was as much for me as it was for Vincent.

Vincent, 

From the moment we met, you have owned me, and I mean that in a good way. You are my alpha and my omega, the dark to my light, the road leading to my happiness. I will never stop loving you. But one of us has to face the hard facts that we are not meant to be together. The health and prosperity of the Valentino domus would be at risk if I stayed, and we both know why.

I also need to protect my family from further threats. The demons are not going to stop hunting me until they catch me. Christoph said that Cecile and my grandfather just want to talk to me. It may be a trap or it may not. I believe I have an ally in Christoph, and whether or not you agree, I think he will protect me from anyone who tries to do me harm.