My Darkest Shadow

Chapter 15

Tapping at the front door woke me early the next morning. Disoriented for a moment, I shrunk away when I realized my head rested on Kael's bare shoulder. Long breaths and relaxed expression told me the knocking hadn't woken him. In the daylight, the bluish green around his left eye extended onto his cheek and temple. There was swelling on his jaw line, and the beginning of welts on his neck disappeared from view where he leaned against the wall. I shuddered, considering what Madeline had done to him.

Groggy, I wondered why my head pounded. A deep sadness had settled in my heart. Remembering, I fell back against the wall with a thud. Nausea swept through me. Arthur lied to me all those years, pretending to be the caring father figure I'd wanted. All that time, he'd likely had some diabolical plan for me instead.

Last night was blurry. I'd been a mess, fighting tears and trying to rationalize my adoption. After the morphine took effect, Kael hadn't been in much better shape. We'd talk about Arthur today, piece together what we knew and try to anticipate what he could be planning, knowing now that Maria's adoption must have a role in his plan.

Kael would need to know about Ava and her maternal connection to me, but I dreaded the conversation. How to approach the subject and explain the omission was difficult. Ava had been convincing and manipulating. She'd been confident that the secret should be kept and for some reason I had complied.

Kael shuddered and I looked over to him, remembering more of last night. I'd told him something about him breaking the man's neck in Madeline's. It was my way of closing the subject of what was bothering me that he couldn't remember. Thinking back, he hadn't looked surprised at my story, but more regretful that I'd witnessed it.

Part of me suspected that he hadn't bought my explanation either. There'd been doubt in his eye, but I had sold it well. That situation had bothered me. Genuinely, I wondered if that had brought on my gorey nightmares as much as his kiss.

The knocking started again. The person was incessant. Lost in my thoughts, I'd forgotten them. Waking Kael was unnecessary. The fear of discovery that had plagued me the first couple days had subsided. No one knew we were here, and the most likely visitor in this part of town was a lost tourist.

At six or seven in the morning, the sun was still low in the sky. Chilled morning air drifted through the gaps in the floorboards as I tiptoed barefooted to the window, peeking out between yellowed lace curtains. No one was visible, so I went out to the main room. The knocking had seemed impatient. It was unlikely they'd leave so easily. The gun was a precaution tucked behind me as I went to the front door.

The door swung wide, and the gun came to my waist. The man was half on the porch, half in the shrubs, peering unabashedly in the bedroom window. So disoriented, I had never considered the most likely visitor. Seeing him relieved me.

"Garrett!" I squealed, pleased.

He looked well. Black hair combed, broad smile, casual khakis, blue cotton shirt, and tall cylinder thermos of hot liquid all gave the impression of a man of leisure. Thankfully, it didn't appear that Ava had taken our escape out on him.

I put my finger to my lips and closed the door, keeping us on the porch. "He's asleep," I whispered. Folding my arms, I squinted up at him. Coming here was a risk. Considering he had helped develop but hadn't favored this back up plan, I was surprised to see him but didn't show it. "I thought you might come," I said, slyly. "You have to believe me. This was the right thing to do, Gar."

Garrett shook his head."I don't know, Harper. Ava's furious and there will be hell to pay." As he studied me, his eyes narrowed, but he smiled a little. "I know what you're thinking. Give me some credit. I wasn't followed."