and I took a moment to compose myself before following after. We had work to do.
27
It turned out there wasn’t much else to talk about. I couldn’t face going back down into the basement to see Thomas, especially since the woman would most likely still be in her cell. Even if she wasn’t, the blood would be there. I couldn’t handle that right then.
Nathan spent most of the conversation glaring at everyone and everything. It was clear he thought more had gone on in the bedroom than what really had. I knew I should have said something, told him that nothing had happened, yet I was getting a perverse sense of pleasure seeing him squirm. It served him right, really. He didn’t need to be concerned about my business anyway.
Eventually, it was decided there was little else we could do that night. Jonathan offered to let me spend the day in the Den, but I declined. I could almost feel Thomas below. It would drive me crazy knowing he was locked up somewhere beneath me.
I decided the best course of action would be for me to go home and try to relax. Maybe talking to Ethan would help me figure out how in the hell I was going to help Thomas get better. None of us had any ideas. It had taken Thomas this long to get to where he was now. It could take years more before he improved further.
Jonathan walked me to the door, earning more foul looks from Nathan. Pablo, of course, had to join in, glaring from an alcove as we headed for the stairs. Maybe the two of them could get together and form an anti-Kat group where they could say all the nasty things they wanted about me. Whatever made them happy, right?
Jonathan assured me he wouldn’t tell Adrian anything. He also promised to explain the woman’s death away as an accident. Davin wouldn’t let the truth slip, he was sure. Not if the vampire wanted his night under the stars.
I thanked him and hurried away before he decided to try to resume our little moment in the bedroom. I could tell the thought had crossed his mind. As much as I might have enjoyed seeing what it was like, it would be too much of a distraction. Besides, if I let him get that close again, I wasn’t so sure I would be able to stop him from going further.
Still, the thought of what might have been made the walk back to the Den’s garage lonely. Each step weighed on me. I knew I had done the right thing in capturing Thomas, in leaving the Den when I had. I just needed time to figure out what to do next.
I mounted my Honda and tore out of the garage as if I could outrun my thoughts. I needed to get away. The farther I went, the better it would be for everyone.
I found myself turning away from home and heading toward Delai. I could get away from everything there. I could almost hear the town calling to me. The place scared me a little, but at the same time, it made me feel good. What would one more night hurt?
The wind buffeted me as I sped along, intent on fleeing from my troubles. If Thomas hadn’t been involved, I think I would have been okay. With him at the center of all of this, I was a mess inside. I could hardly tell which way was up.
I slowed, realizing running away wasn’t going to help anyone. Thomas needed me. Ethan would be waiting for me. I couldn’t abandon either of them like that.
A strange sense of relief flowed over me as I did a U-turn, earning a few honks and curses, and headed toward home. It was as if I had escaped putting myself in even more danger without realizing it. Once all of this was over, I could consider paying Delai another visit. Maybe I could take Thomas. Maybe we’d both find a place to belong.
It was still pretty dark when I rode up my driveway. The living room light was on, and I pulled into the garage feeling guilty. I should have taken more time out of my night to spend with Ethan. He could use the company just as much as I could. And while I could just up and leave any time I wanted, Ethan couldn’t. Just leaving the house gave him a massive panic attack.
I hurried inside and