His mouth pinches into a tight line, his gaze darkening. “My parents sold me to him when I was sixteen to pay off a debt.” I gasp. “I wasn’t a very willing slave and Diego got sick of trying to beat me into submission so we came to an agreement. I’d give him five years of servitude, do whatever he asked when he asked it, in exchange for my freedom.”
“Oh, my God.”
He shrugs. “I only had a year to go before the terms of our arrangement were up. I don’t like the guy. Hate him, in fact. But I’m not an idiot either. I’ve known the score from day one and have been biding my time. Now the Pack will take care of him and I’m out. Free at last.” He smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes.
I place a hand on his arm. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”
He cups my cheek and licks his bottom lip. “No. But I did. I knew what he was capable of and I never warned you. I’m sorry. I thought if I stayed close, maybe…” He shakes his head and his hand drops back down to his side as he repositions César in his other arm.
“I’m fine. And whatever Diego did before, you couldn’t have known. None of us knew he was capable of something like this.”
He nods, but he doesn’t look convinced. “Your mom is trying to come up with something to offer the Pack in exchange for his release, or at the very least, his life. She has nothing. And the Seethe won’t do much despite public appearances. They care more about individuals than the collective, and Diego was a bottom feeder. They’ll sacrifice him to the wolves in an undead heartbeat.”
“Good.” Diego can rot for all I care.
“It’s just…” he hesitates. “Your mom is going to get sucked into paranormal politics. As a human, that’s a dangerous place to be. I cautioned her before I left, but she’s determined to fight for Diego. She’s going to wind up hurt or worse, indebted to a vampire like I was.”
Moisture pools in the corners of my eyes and I blink it away. I know my mother. She’s going to do what she wants and me telling her she’s making a mistake isn’t going to change her mind. I’ll do it anyway the next time I speak to her, but I know a losing battle when I see one.
“So…” I trail off, unsure what it is that I’m asking exactly.
Jae holds one arm out while his other supports César’s weight. I step into his embrace, relishing the security and comfort of just being held. His familiar scent of sandalwood and spiced pomegranate envelopes me in a blanket of comfort. “I’m here for you. Whatever you need,” he says with conviction.
I slowly pull away and stare up into his eyes, a fierce determination on his face. “We’re not your problem,” I tell him.
His jaw tightens. “You’re my friend. That’s reason enough to give a damn about your well-being. I know my relationship with Diego was fake. But our friendship, what you and I have, that’s real.”
Fair enough but, “I’m not sure there’s really anything you can—”
“Move in with me,” he says, his words taking me aback.
“What?”
He hands César back to me and shoves his hands into his pockets, squaring his shoulders. “Move in with me.”
I can’t be hearing him right.
“Your mom is working with the vampires. That means they’re going to be around more. Invited inside. You and César aren’t safe here.”
“You don’t know that. She—”
He shakes his head. “I do know that. I know because I was there while they were planning. The Seethe won’t do much, but sinking their hooks into your mother—who happens to have a strong hydrokinetic for a daughter—is an opportunity they won’t pass up on. You’re not safe here.”
Before he finishes, I’m shaking my head. “I—I can’t move in with you,” I say, though what choice do I have if what he says is true? If Mom starts inviting a bunch of vampires in with open arms, I can’t stay here. I won’t risk César like that. It was scary enough with Diego, but he and Mom were together before I got pregnant. The transition happened much more naturally.
I need to talk to my mother. Explain why getting involved with vampires would be a terrible idea. We haven’t talked since she ran out to follow Diego. I need to call her. Convince her that he isn’t someone worth saving and explain the danger she’s putting us in if she continues down this path.
“Jo—”
I raise a hand to stop him. “I’ll think about it,” I tell him, and I will. “But the vampires aren’t here yet.” With any luck, I’ll be able to change my mother’s mind. I have to believe César’s and my safety matter enough to at least keep the vampires away from our home. “Let’s just hold off a bit and see what happens.”
He doesn’t look happy but he nods. “Okay. But if you need anything—”
“I know. And thank you. You have no idea how much I appreciate that.” I’ve made friends at school, but they’re new. Fragile. It’s not like I can call Isa or Meiying and ask to move in with them. And while KeAnna would want to help, no way would her family approve given I’m not a shifter. I’m grateful I have Jae at least.
He looks around the room, spotting the garbage bag and bucket of bloody water. “I know he was taken by the Pack and is accused of attempted murder against a student at Hellbound High. Wanna fill me in on the rest?”
For whatever reason, I completely unload all of last night’s events on Jae. From the second everyone arrived to Jordy finding out he’s César’s father. It takes twenty minutes to give him all the details and when I finally finish, he’s wide-eyed with a stunned expression on his face.