Lover Uncloaked (Stealth Guardians #1) - By Unknown Page 0,110
at stake, and if giving them a fighting chance to resist the influence of the demons meant she had to take this step, then she would do it. She had no right to be selfish.
By the time they pulled up in front of her parents’ house in Aiden’s car, she and Aiden had gone through everything that would happen that day. She reached for the door handle when he clasped his hand over hers.
She looked back at him.
“You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever met.”
Leila smiled, his admission warming her heart. “Because you make me strong.”
As they got out of the car and walked up the driveway hand in hand, she felt a prickling sensation at her back and tensed.
“Don’t turn around,” he murmured under his breath.
“Are they watching us?”
“Yes. Are you afraid?”
“Yes,” she answered. There was no need to lie. Fear was good, Aiden had told her. It would keep her on her toes and ultimately safe.
When she reached the door, she didn’t have a chance to even ring the bell. The door was torn open, and Nancy greeted her enthusiastically.
“Leila! My dear! We were all so worried about what we saw on TV. Are you all right?”
Leila forced a charming smile and gave the housekeeper a quick hug before squeezing past her into the house.
“No worries, Nancy. It was all a big misunderstanding. I’m sure the news will report in a few hours that I had nothing to do with what happened at Inter Pharma.”
“Ah, that’s a relief!” Nancy said as she eyed Aiden who now closed the entrance door and stood in the hallway.
“Oh, sorry, this is my boyfriend, Aiden. Aiden, this is Nancy, my parents’ caregiver.” She knew that half of the introduction wasn’t necessary. Aiden already knew everything there was to know about Nancy.
He shook Nancy’s hand, flashing a boyish grin. “So pleased to meet you. Leila talks about you all the time. You take such good care of her parents.”
Nancy blushed and made a dismissive hand movement. “Oh, they’re so easy to work for.”
“Where are they?” Leila looked down the hallway, listening for their voices.
“In the den. Your dad is reading the paper, and your mother is watching TV.”
The walk down the hallway felt longer than ever before. Would they recognize her today? Her father maybe. He often seemed more lucid than her mother. Would she know today that her daughter was visiting, or would it be like it was when she’d called from the massage parlor? Leila prayed that this was a good day for both of them.
“I’ll make us some tea,” Nancy chirped and headed for the kitchen.
“We can’t stay long,” Leila called after the caregiver.
“Your parents are due their tea anyway. It’s no bother.” Then she disappeared into the kitchen.
Aiden squeezed her hand in reassurance. She nodded at him, then slowly walked into the den. Her mother sat on the couch, staring at the TV, a soap blaring from it. Her father sat in his favorite armchair, folding a newspaper and putting it on a side table. He looked up and straight at her.
For a moment she stood there frozen in place, waiting. She searched her father’s blue eyes for a sign of recognition.
“Leila?” he suddenly said and rose hesitantly.
She ran toward him and threw her arms around him. He hugged her to him.
“Thank you, thank you,” she whispered. “Oh, Dad, it’s so good to see you.” She raised her head to look at him.
“You haven’t visited in a long time,” he admonished.
She decided not to tell him that she’d spent half a day with him and her mother only two weeks earlier. “I know, Dad. I’m sorry.”
“Well, at least you’re here now.” Then he looked past her, releasing her from his embrace. “You brought a friend?”
Leila turned. “That’s Aiden, Dad.”
Her father nodded. “Hello.”
“Sir, it’s a pleasure meeting you.”
“How is Mom?” Leila asked and cast a look at her mother who was still staring into the TV as if she hadn’t even heard the conversation that was taking place not five feet away from her.
Her father shrugged. “Fine, I guess.”
Leila took a few tentative steps toward the couch, then crouched down in front of her.
“Hi, Mom.”
Her mother stared back at her, then moved to the side to look past her at the TV.
“Mom, it’s Leila, I’m here to visit.”
She gave Leila an inquisitive glance before training her eyes back onto her TV show. Leila took her hand and squeezed it, trying to hold back the tears that started to well up in