That conversation stopped when the women walked in.
Pierce looked at her. “Well? What’s the verdict?”
“That’s what I want to talk about.” She leaned on the counter. “Charlie, has a child like Rixaline ever existed before?”
“Not that I’m aware of, and there’s no mention of a child being born of fae and vampire in any of the archives I’ve been able to access. I’ve come across the word ‘dhamfir,’ but it’s always used in a hypothetical way. I’d say she’s a very unique creature.”
“And a very endangered one, if everything she says is true about the fae wanting her dead, which I don’t doubt based on what I’ve heard so far.” Donna looked at Pierce and Temo. “Rixaline says King Dredward has called for her death.”
“Sounds about right,” Pierce said. “He’s not known for his peaceful disposition. And her refusing to do his bidding and subsequently running away would be considered high treason, I’m sure.”
“Any way to verify her story and the king’s feeling about her?”
Temo nodded. “I know some people who have fae connections. I can reach out to them.”
Donna met his gaze. “Do it and tell me as soon as possible what you find out.”
He pulled out his phone. “On it.”
She turned to Charlie next. “What’s the standard procedure for a sanctuary case like this?”
“There’s never been a sanctuary case like this, but in a standard situation, we typically take a statement, and then the governor decides the outcome. In this case, we need to do a little more than that. The fae are the sworn enemy of the vampires. They’d like nothing better than to harvest every single vampire on the face of the earth. Granting Rixaline sanctuary would antagonize them even more.”
“I expect it will,” Donna said.
Charlie sighed. “Also, I hate to say it, but this could be a trap. The fae want to use her to find vampires, and she’s found one. We have to be careful.”
“I agree,” Donna said. “But there’s got to be a balance between caution and compassion. We can’t turn her out. Not with a death sentence hanging over her head.”
“Agreed,” Pierce said.
Charlie glanced at him, then Donna. “And if Temo finds out there is no such death sentence? That she might be some kind of a Trojan horse?”
Donna took a moment. “Then we deal with her like we would a traitor.”
“You know that will potentially involve the Immortus Concilio again.”
Donna straightened and put on a smile. “They probably miss me anyway.”
Pierce snorted softly. “You have an interesting way of looking at things. Does that mean you’re giving her sanctuary?”
Donna didn’t hesitate. “Yes. I’m not putting a seventeen-year-old child on the street. You saw her. Does she look like she’s faring well? She needs a shower and food and some undisturbed sleep in a place she feels safe. We can give her that. And if something arises that indicates she’s not what she seems…we’ll deal with it.”
“You want her in the other apartment, I assume?” Charlie’s expression held too many emotions to process.
Donna understood anyway. Charlie was a little scared to host a girl who belonged, at least in part, to a species more bloodthirsty than any other on the planet. Sleeping a few rooms away from someone like that would give anyone second thoughts. But at the same time, Donna could see concern for the girl and worry in her admin’s face.
Donna shook her head. “No, I’m the one making this decision, so she ought to sleep in one of the penthouse guest rooms. That’s only fair.”
Temo frowned. “No way, boss. She sleeps downstairs with us, and the door at the stairs will be locked. We could even lock down the penthouse elevator.”
“I appreciate you looking out for me, but I can handle this. I don’t think she’s some infiltrator sent to kill us all in our sleep. I really don’t. I have two kids of my own, and I understand them well enough to know that girl in there is hurting. That look in her eyes? That’s honest pain.” Donna took a moment, then motioned to Charlie. “Come on, let’s go tell her.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Charlie followed her back to the conference room.
Donna opened the doors and strode in.
Rixaline was asleep with her head on the table. She woke with a start at the sound of the doors, jumping out of the chair to crouch against the wall.
Donna’s heart nearly broke. Those weren’t the actions of a killer. That was the response of someone who was used to being hunted. “It’s okay, Rixaline. It’s just Charlie and me.”
Her wildly beating heart was almost visible under the thin T-shirt stretched over her birdlike frame. Slowly, she rose to her feet. “Sorry. Habit.”
“I’m sure. Would you like to get a shower and get cleaned up before the pizza gets here?”
Rixaline stared at her, blinking a few times. “Are you…letting me stay?”
Donna nodded. “Until I have a reason not to, I am granting you sanctuary. But if you break this trust that I’ve extended, you will stand before the council. Vampires aren’t any kinder to traitors than the fae are.”
Charlie cleared her throat. “Actually, they are.”
“Point taken,” Donna said. She looked at the girl again. “Do you understand?”
Rixaline nodded. “Yes.” A tentative smile bent her mouth. “I won’t break your trust, I promise. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Now come on, I’ll show you to your room.”
By the time the pizza came, Rixaline had showered and dressed in a pair of Donna’s leggings and one of her oversize sweatshirts.
She looked remarkably different. Not just because she was no longer dirty, but because she wasn’t a tightly wound spring ready to uncoil at the next sign of trouble.
Donna had changed, too, leaving her suit and heels behind for yoga pants, a T-shirt, and a big cardigan. Temo, Charlie, and Pierce had all changed into lounge clothes as well and now gathered in the big lounge, aka living room, to watch a movie and eat pizza.
The family vibe of the little gathering, however odd an assortment of folks it was, warmed Donna’s heart. She realized how much she missed her children and how absolutely necessary it was for her to talk to them and tell them the incredible details of her new life.
The worry was there, of course. Finding out your mother was a vampire wasn’t covered in any life skills class either of them had ever taken.
But they were good kids who knew a lot about the world, thanks to their criminal father. Donna had high hopes that the changes in her life wouldn’t throw them for long.
And so, as she settled in to eat and be entertained, she held on to that thought.
On one side of her was Pierce, then Charlie. On the other, Rixaline, then Temo. The movie was a fast-paced comedy, but Rixaline lasted for only ten minutes after she’d finished her fourth slice of pizza. Then her head slumped to one side, and she fell asleep.
They let her. It was clear that she was a child in great need. Donna knew, as a rational human being and a woman who’d spent twenty-seven years living with the mob, how terrible and conniving people could be. But her heart as a sister and a mother demanded she care for this child until given a solid reason not to.
She wondered what Cammie, also known as Sister Mary Lazarus Immaculata, would have to say about the orphan she’d just taken in.
Donna wanted to think Cammie would be pleased. Maybe she’d call her tomorrow and see.
After she called her children and told them the news she’d been dreading. But waiting wasn’t going to make that news easier to bear.
Twenty minutes later, something buzzed, and Temo pulled out his phone. He spent a few minutes staring at the screen, then grabbed the remote and hit pause. He looked over at Donna, holding his screen toward her. “I have confirmation, boss. Not only has the king called for her death, he’s put up half a million as a reward. A full million if she’s brought back alive.”
Donna glan
ced at Pierce and Charlie, then back at Temo. “We need to make sure our security is strong. Whatever that means. I’m sure what’s here is very good, but I don’t want to take any chances.”
He nodded. “On it first thing.”
“Thank you. Thanks for getting that information too. I think we can all rest a little easier now.”
They went back to watching the movie then, and when the credits rolled, Rixaline was still asleep.
Temo got up. “I’ll carry her in.”
“Thanks,” Donna said. She walked with him and helped tucked the girl in. Then she closed the door, and they went back to the kitchen together. Pierce and Charlie were in there. She looked at them. “You two still aren’t convinced, are you?”
Pierce glanced at Charlie before answering. “I wouldn’t say we’re unconvinced. Just cautious.”
“I understand that. I am, too, honestly.” She smiled at Charlie. “Lock the door between the apartments when you turn in.” Then she turned to Pierce. “You can sleep downstairs if you like. It won’t hurt my feelings.”
“Not a chance I’m leaving you up here alone.”
Temo shrugged. “Maybe we should all sleep up here.”
Donna hesitated. “Look, there’s a small window when we’re all asleep. The three of you will be up before me since I go to bed later and sleep longer. I don’t think there’s anything to worry about.”
Charlie smiled, but Donna could tell the expression hadn’t come easily. “How about this? We can turn on the monitoring system. If her bedroom door opens, we’ll know about it. Everyone keep their phones on, and I’ll make sure the notifications are set to go out wide. Then, for that few hours we’re all sleeping, we won’t have to keep one eye open.”
Donna hadn’t been planning on it anyway, but she nodded. “Good with me. Pierce? Temo?”
They both nodded.
“Make it so, Charlie. Now, I’m getting a glass of wine and going to read. Sun will be up in a couple hours, and tomorrow’s going to be an incredibly busy day. And not just because of our houseguest. I’ll see you all when I get up. Good night.”
“Good night, Governor.” Charlie brought her laptop to life and started working on the monitoring system.
“Night, boss.” Temo hooked his thumb toward the living room. “I’m going to grab the last of that pineapple pizza.”
Donna laughed as she walked toward her room. “All yours.”
Pierce fell into step alongside her. “She makes you think about Christina, doesn’t she?”
Donna nodded. “She does. How can I turn that child away?”
“You can’t.”
“But you still think I’m making a mistake.”
“No, I don’t. But to think this situation isn’t going to cause problems at some point is foolish.”
“I agree. We just need to anticipate those problems. And be proactive about them.”
“Good. That’s smart. But then, so are you.” He laughed. “And thank you for not telling me I’m overstepping.”
She snorted softly. “You probably are, but I value your opinion, so I don’t mind. Anything else you want to tell me before I turn in?”
They stopped at her bedroom door.
“Just that I think your heart is uncommonly large, and while I don’t want to dissuade you from being the kind, generous person you naturally are, you’re the governor now. Puts a new wrinkle in things.”
“I know. Trust me.”
“I do.”
She leaned against the jamb and crossed her arms. “Any suggestions?”
“No. And I feel like I should be offering you something. But this is new ground for me too.” He smiled sweetly. “I don’t want this job to change you, Belladonna. Not for the worse. You’re wonderful the way you are.”
“Thanks.” She leaned up and kissed his cheek. “I promise to call you if I need you.”
“Okay. Maybe I’ll come up with some suggestions overnight. Sleep well.”
“You too.” She went into her room and closed the door. Pierce was right that taking Rixaline in was going to cause problems, but Donna knew all about those. She’d been dealing with them her entire adult life.
Thing about problems was they always had solutions. Sometimes those solutions were hard. Sometimes they were easy. Neither were they guaranteed to make everyone happy. Sometimes, in the Villachi family, solutions were permanent.
Donna’s real hope was not to avoid problems, but to find solutions that didn’t result in anyone dying.
If she could manage that, she’d call it a win.
If she couldn’t manage it, then maybe this wasn’t the job for her.
Chapter Fourteen
Donna woke up to her phone pinging, screen flashing. She rubbed at the sleep in her eyes before checking the screen. Sunrise was still forty-five minutes away.
More important, Rixaline’s door had opened.
Phone in hand, Donna grabbed her robe and threw it on as she bolted for the guest room.
But a cold light in the kitchen stopped her. The refrigerator was open, silhouetting the slender frame of one half-fae girl.
Donna sent a quick text to everyone. I’m handling it. She’s just hungry. Then she dropped her phone into her robe pocket.
“Hey,” she said softly.
Rixaline jumped away from the fridge, leaving the door open. “You scared me.”
“Sorry. I tried not to.”
Rixaline swallowed. “I, uh, I’m pretty easy to startle.”
“After what you’ve been through? I’m sure.” Donna tipped her head toward the fridge. “Hungry?”
Rixaline shut the refrigerator. “Nah, I’m okay. Sorry, I’ll go back to my room.”
Donna doubted Rixaline’s claim very much. In fact, she was willing to bet hunger was what had woken the girl. “You know what I always used to crave in the middle of the night when I was human?”
“What?”
“One of two things. Cake. Or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on white bread. Both with a big glass of cold milk. Of course, I never ate either of them because, as a human woman, I was more concerned with my weight than my stomach growling. Being able to eat what I like has been one of the best perks of becoming a vampire.”
Rixaline smiled. “I like cake. I stole a piece once. But I’ve never had peanut butter and jelly.”
Donna’s brows rose. “Never? What did the fae feed you?”
“A lot of porridge. A lot of watered-down soup. Rice with gravy and sometimes scraps of meat.” She stuck her tongue out. “Nothing good, but then, I was treated like a servant.”
“How they expected you to help them under those circumstances—”
“They said if I helped, I’d get better food. A nice room. Time outside.” She shook her head. “I never believed them.”
“Good for you. And now, you need to taste a PB&J.” Donna flipped on the under-cabinet lights so they weren’t completely in the dark. “Sit down and get comfy.”
Rixaline did as Donna told her to. Donna got to work, pulling out ingredients, some of which took some searching because she wasn’t used to this kitchen yet. But at last she had everything assembled. She laid out the bread on paper plates before slathering the slices with creamy peanut butter and strawberry jam, then slapped the sides together and poured two big glasses of ice-cold milk.
She slid a plate to Rixaline, then put the second plate in front of the empty spot next to her. Donna carried the glasses of milk to her seat. She put one in front of the girl and one at her own place. As she settled in to eat, she took a good look at the sandwiches she’d made. “Rats.”
“What’s wrong?” Rixaline asked.
“I should have cut them in half.”
“Won’t taste any different.”
Donna snorted. “No, I suppose they won’t. All right. Have a taste and see what you think.”
Rixaline took a big bite. She either wasn’t afraid to try new things or was still so hungry she didn’t care. But her eyes
lit up as she chewed. Then she smiled. “Dith ith good.”
“Peanut butter really makes your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth, doesn’t it?” Laughing, Donna took a bite of her own sandwich.
The two were silent while they ate. Rixaline finished her sandwich and her milk before Donna got halfway through hers.
She glanced over at the girl. “You want another one? Or would you like to go for the cake now?”
Rixaline stared at her in disbelief. “I can have cake too?”
“Honey, you can have whatever you’d like. I don’t want you to be hungry.” Donna got up and retrieved the large cake box she’d seen in the pantry when she’d been looking for peanut butter. She lifted the lid enough to check that the top of the cake didn’t say Happy Birthday, Temo or Welcome, Governor or something else that would mark it as off-limits. Although, technically, if it had said Welcome, Governor, she’d be perfectly within her rights to eat it.
Regardless, no such writing. Good enough for her. As far as she was concerned, the cake was fair game. And if it was supposed to be for something special, they could just get another one.
It was cake, not a donated organ.
She put the box on the counter, opened it up, and lifted out the confection inside. Seeing it in all its glory made her sugar-loving heart skip a beat. “Hello there, gorgeous.”
White buttercream frosting was decorated with swirls of chocolate ganache. More chocolate dripped down the sides. Half of a peanut butter cup stuck out of each chocolate swirl, and the scent of peanut butter and sugar was nearly overpowering in the best possible way.
“It’s so pretty,” Rixaline said. “Are you sure we’re allowed to eat it?”
Donna looked at her. “You know I’m the governor, right?”
Rixaline laughed, a soft, sweet sound that made Donna’s heart lighter for hearing it. “Yes, ma’am.”
“I say we can eat it, so that’s that.”
“What kind is it?”
“My guess, judging by the decorations, is probably peanut butter and chocolate. You good with more peanut butter?”
“Definitely.”
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