I patted her hand. “That’s mean. May I ask what rule Victor set for them?”
“I don’t mind. It wouldn’t hurt for you to know,” Jennifer paused, looked at me, and then continued. “Victor was furious. He told William, his mistress had better keep to herself. If he saw her anywhere near Tony or me, he would destroy her and burn the pieces. William assured Victor he would keep her away from us. If he didn’t Victor would see to it William burned too. Victor allows William to hunt at night, but he has to lock Charlotte in her coffin before he leaves to make sure I’m safe.”
My heart went out for Jennifer. “She hasn’t tried to…”
“No, she hasn’t. Jason is a Dhampir like Tony.
I knew it, I thought keeping a straight face.
They will do anything to protect their family. Victor hired him to take care of me when he’s at work or has to go away on a business trip.” She looked down when she spoke of Jason. “He’s my nephew. Tony’s cousin,” she paused. “Jason is Jan’s boy.”
“I thought Jan didn’t have any children.”
“She only had Jason. When our family was here visiting the summer I met Victor, Jan met a man like Victor. She went with him to his house to meet his family, or so she thought. When they arrived he raped her several times. She only told me what happened. When it was time for her to have the baby, we went to the hospital telling our parents we were spending the weekend over at our Aunt’s. Our aunt was good about keeping secrets and helped cover up Jan’s pregnancy. After she had the baby, she gave him to our aunt. Our aunt raised him here in England so nothing would slip out about what happened. I never told a soul until now.”
“So, I’m the only one you’ve told.”
“Yes, Tony doesn’t know that he has a cousin. Jason doesn’t know I’m his aunt, but it’s our secret now Jess.”
I nodded once.
Tony came back into the den with a smile when he noticed us on the sofa. “I knew you two would get along. I talked with father, and he talked with William. William said he would keep Charlotte away for the rest of our stay.”
I really wanted to go home, but I also wanted to visit with Jennifer. Putting all fears of Charlotte behind me, I decided Jason and Tony would keep me safe. I was tired, and it was late. Excusing myself I went to our bedroom, sat on the bed and waited for Tony to finish his business with his father. I didn’t find it odd for Victor to stay away from me. I understood. He was a vampire, and I was a human. He could easily take me into immortality.
I slept, and felt refreshed in the morning. I showered, dressed and had my usual breakfast.
Tony went with his father to the blood bank to discuss business. Jennifer and I went shopping.
“You didn’t happen to mention Jason to Tony?” she asked.
“No, I didn’t,” I said, looking at Jennifer. “It’s our secret.”
We shopped all over London. I found a Cartier watch for Tony with a calendar and a second hand. Jennifer had the limo driver drive by the blood bank so I could see the place Victor owned. “Do you think I could meet Victor?” I asked
“I don’t think so dear. He keeps to himself when humans are around. He doesn’t want to slip, if you know what I mean.”
“But you’re human. How does he keep from turning you?”
Jennifer moved a scarf from around her neck showing me a bite mark. “This is a love mark, and we’ll leave it at that,” she said, putting her scarf back around her neck.
“I’m sorry. That was none of my business,” I said, embarrassed.
“It’s okay, dear. We all love our partners differently.”
The rest of our week went by fast. I enjoyed my vacation, but I was ready to go home. Tony and I said our goodbyes and headed to the airport.
Chapter Thirteen
The plane took off, and I felt more at ease. Thirteen hours and I would be home. Thinking of William and Charlotte sent chills up my spine again.
“Will they come looking for me?” I whispered, to keep the other passengers from hearing.
“They shouldn’t. Recalling our conversations, I don’t recall anyone saying where we lived. We should be safe.”
I was feeling uneasy about William and Charlotte. They knew I had a rose scent, only because Tony mentioned it, and Charlotte wanted an up close whiff.
“Why don’t they bother your mother?”
“My father laid down the law about my mother. They leave my mother alone or die. Jason resides in the house to make sure my mother is protected from them. William tries his best to detour Charlotte, but Charlotte always gets what she wants.”
I laid my head against Tony’s arm. Eventually I drifted off to sleep.
“We’re home,” Tony whispered in my ear.
“We’re home.” Portland looked good to me. It was a two-hour drive to Mayville. I was in happy to be in Oregon. Tony turned the corner onto our street and I screamed. My house was no longer a house. It was burnt to the ground along with my car Tony had bought me.
Tony’s house was still standing. That was good thing. We’d have to live there until my house was rebuilt.
Tony whipped the car around and headed to the police station.
The dispatcher was sitting behind her desk when we walked in. “May I help you?” she said, with a smile.
I didn’t smile. I couldn’t speak from the shock of seeing my house and car burnt to a crisp. I sat down in the lobby and started crying.
“We’d like to speak to Detective Cooke or Sean,” Tony said. “Our house and Jess’ car are burnt to the ground.”
The dispatcher called Detective Sean to the police station on the radio. She looked up from the desk and told us, “Detective Sean will be here shortly.”
Tony sat beside me wrapping his arm around me. I leaned my head on his shoulder and cried. Tony did his best to console me, but the tears kept flowing.
Detective Sean walked into the station and come straight to where we were sitting.
“Jess and I got back today from our vacation to see our house and her car burnt to a crisp. We came here immediately.
“Jess, Tony, I am truly sorry about the house and car. If I had a way to get a hold of you, I would have let you know the minute it happened,” Detective Sean said.
“When did it happen?” Tony asked.
“A week after you left,” he said, keeping his composure.
I cried harder hearing that. The house my parents built and raised me in held so many memories and treasures. Now it was all gone.
“Do you have any idea who might have done this?” Tony asked angry.
“We have no leads, I’m sorry.”
Tony helped me up from the chair and to the car. I cried all the way to his house. Getting out of the car at Tony’s house, I looked back at my house. Tony tried his hardest to keep me from looking, but I looked anyway. I went straight to the bedroom I had used to recuperate in a year ago. I cried until I couldn’t cry anymore. Soon I fell asleep.
I woke up to Tony sitting on the edge of the bed. “I called the insurance company. The agent will be here around one,” he said, putting his hand on my shoulder. “Will you be up to talking to them?”
“I have to be,” I said, sitting up.
“You don’t have to be anything.”
“I need to. What time is it?” I asked, looking for the clock.
“It’s just after noon. Why?” he asked.
I grinned; hoping flames danced in my eyes, grabbed Tony heading to his neck with light kisses.
He groaned and said, “The insurance adjustor will be here shortly.”
I nodded yes, releasing my grip from him.
Tony stayed in the bedroom, as I took my shower. Memories of my parent’s home overwhelmed me. Mom and Dad sitting in the living room watching television, telling me to sit down so they could see; Daddy called me his little princess; Mom cooking in the kitchen when Dad got home from work; Mom and I working in the garden; both of them tucking me in at night—every memory hit me at o
nce, and I started crying.
Tony came into the bathroom and helped me from the shower to the bed. “Jess, it hurts, I know,” cradling me in his arms, leaning his head against mine. I cried remembering all the memories.
Soon a knock was at the door. Tony got up to answer it.
“Hi, my name is Sue McFinley; I’ll be your insurance adjustor,” she said, entering the house.
Drying up my tears and getting dressed, I went to the living room and introduced myself. “Hi, Sue, my name is Jessica. My policy was in the house.”
“Jessica—”
“Please call me Jess,” I interrupted her.
“Jess,” she said, clearing her throat, “I have a copy of your policy here with me,” she said, handing the policy to me. We all sat down.
I looked over the policy but couldn’t focus through the tears. Tony took the policy from me and looked it over.
“Jess,” Sue politely interrupted. “Your house was covered for a lot more than it was worth. The value of your home is thirty-two thousand, but your policy has it covered for one hundred and twenty thousand. Your parents never changed the amount. The contents were covered for twenty-five thousand. I have your check here,” she continued and took a piece of paper out of her briefcase. “We knew you and Tony were away on vacation from the police. So, instead of making you wait, we went ahead and issued one,” she, said handing me the check, which I gave to Tony. “I’m so sorry for your loss,” she said, getting another sheet of paper out of her briefcase. “I need you to sign this. It states you received the check.”
Tony took the paper, read it to me and I signed on the line.
“Thank you, Jess,” Sue said, heading for the door.
Tony laid the check on the end table and showed Mrs. McFinley to her car.
When he returned, I was sitting on the sofa just staring. Tony joined me and asked, “Are you okay, sweetie?” putting my hair back behind my ear.
“I want the house built back exactly like it was when my parents built it,” I said, looking up at him. “Where’s a pen and paper? I’ll draw it out.”
Tony got up, went over to a desk against the wall in the dining room and I followed him sitting at the table. He handed me the pen and paper, I drew the outline of the house exactly like it was embedded in my mind.
“We’ll go to Portland tomorrow, if you want, and see the house builders,” he offered.
“I’d like that. What about my car?” I asked.
“I’ve already called the insurance adjustor. They should be here—” He was interrupted by a knock on the door. “That should be them now,” he said, getting up from the table.
Tony went out on the porch. I went to the door and watched Tony with the insurance man walking toward my house. Stepping out on the porch, I held my stomach looking at the pile of metal that used to be my car. The insurance man shook his head. Tony and the insurance man walked back to Tony’s house.
“Mr. Murrell, this is Jess,” Tony introduced us.
“I’m sorry about your car and house,” Mr. Murrell apologized.
“Thank you,” I said.
“Mr. Mureaux, insurance will cover the full cost of the car. Would you like to have the same car or a check drawn up?” he asked Tony.
Tony looked at me. He knew I’d like to have another Mercedes CLK, but I wasn’t going to ask him to get me one. I wanted Tony to do what he thought was best. “I’ll get back to you on that,” he told Mr. Murrell.
When Mr. Murrell left, I stood on the porch looking at the mess at the end of the street. I didn’t cry or shed a tear. I inhaled deep, turned around, and went in the house straight to the phone and called a cleanup crew to clean up the house. Getting the phone book, I started looking in the yellow pages for a clean-up service.
“Who are you calling?” Tony asked me.
“I’m calling a cleaning crew to come clean up the house so I can have it built again.”
“We don’t have to rush,” he said, taking the phone out of my hand and leading me to the sofa.
“Tony, I need to have the house cleaned up as soon as possible. I can’t bare to look at it the way it is. Every time I leave the house, I’ll always look. I would rather see an empty lot instead of charred wood.”
“I see your point,” he said, getting up to get the phone book.
Norton’s Clean-Up Service in Portland arranged with Tony to clean up my house and the car, starting in a couple of days.
Tony went to the car and brought back our suitcases.
I started a load of laundry so I’d have something to wear to Portland. Tony encouraged me to eat. In the kitchen, I found some spaghetti and meatballs. Normally I had garlic bread with the spaghetti, but Tony didn’t care for the smell. He wasn’t afraid of it, it just stunk to him.
Let’s go to Portland now and see a house builder,” I said. “I’m ready for my life to get back to normal. We headed to Portland stopping at Marshall’s Discount Mart to purchase a trunk load of clothes for us before heading to Log Cabin Home Builders. We met with Mr. Curtis the owner.
He showed us a book of log cabin homes, but it didn’t have my parents’ house in it. I pulled out my drawing and showed him. “This is what I want built,” I said. “Exactly to this drawing,” I added.
He looked at the drawing and smiled. “I do believe we can build this for you,” he said, getting up heading over to a filing cabinet. Pulling out a book, he opened it to a log cabin home, laying it in front of us. “I believe this is the home, is it not.”
Tony and I looked at the drawing and the picture in the book. It was exactly the same. I beamed all over. I’m going to have my house built. I reached for Tony’s leg squeezing. He looked at me and knew this was the house.
“Would you like me to start the paperwork so you can apply for a loan?” Mr. Curtis asked.
Tony looked at me and I nodded once. “Mr. Curtis, we won’t need a loan. We have the money the insurance gave us,” Tony said, proudly. “If you don’t mind me asking, how much is this going to cost?”
“Roughly forty-thousand, you’ll have to hire an electrician to wire the house. Do you need time to discuss it?” he asked, getting up from his chair.
“No, we’re decided,” Tony said.
Mr. Curtis sat down, opened his desk drawer and pulled out a folder. He opened it up and started writing.
How long before you can start building, and how long will it take to finish it?” I asked.
“We have no other jobs lined up at the moment,” he said, looking between us. “Of course, we’ll need a down payment of 10 percent, and the balance upon completion of the home. So if that’s all in order we could start in a week and have it built within two months,” he said, getting up. “Would you care for some coffee?”
“I would love some, thank you,” I said.
“Sir, would you care for some?”
“No, I’m fine, thanks.”
When Mr. Curtis was out of the room, I looked at Tony. “I have to have this house exactly like it was before. No corners cut,” I whispered to Tony.
Mr. Curtis came back in with my coffee. “Mr. Curtis, this home has to be built exactly to Jess’s specifications. The house she lost was the house her parents built. It has to be according to her wishes,” Tony told him.
“Mr. Mureaux, I can assure you it will be built to your satisfaction. Every detail will be discussed before, during, and after. I guarantee it will be built to your satisfaction without any flaws,” he said, smiling.
“Mr. Curtis, I believe we have a deal then,” Tony told him.
Mr. Curtis filled out the necessary papers. Tony and I signed on the dotted line. I took out my checkbook and wrote a check for 10 percent down. We shook hands and left.
When we got home, I went to the kitchen and made a ham sandwich, grabbed a bag of chips, and sat down at the table. Tony came up behind me and kissed the top of my head. “Are you happy?” he asked. I nodded because I had a mouth full.
We heard a truck comi
ng down our road. Tony went to the door. “It’s the cleaning crew. They didn’t waste time getting here,” he said.
I smiled. After finishing the sandwich, I went to join Tony on the porch. “Are you okay?” he asked, with a worried look.
“I’m fine,” I said.
“The cleaning crew is finished removing the house. They’re taking the car too,” he told me. “You never did say if you wanted another one or not.”
“You get me what you want. I’m happy just having you. All the material things are just that. Material.”
Tony wrapped his arms around me putting his forehead against mine. “You are one amazing woman. I’m glad I found you, but you need to indulge me when it comes to gifts.”
“Why?” I asked.
“You’re going to receive a lot more of them,” he said and then kissed me before I could say anything.
Within two weeks the empty lot was looking more like a house. I sat on the porch everyday watching the progress. Tony came out on the porch as Mr. Curtis walked up.
“We finished laying the concrete and putting the bolts in for the walls. We’ll return in a couple of days to start on the walls,” he said.
“Thank you,” Tony said.
Mr. Curtis left.
“Can we go and look at it?” I asked.
Tony filled a flask, put it in his back pocket, took my hand and we walked over to my house. I smiled knowing it wouldn’t be long before I was back at home.
Mr. Curtis was right on schedule with the house. Six weeks later and except for a few finishing touches, they were done. Tony and I walked into the house. My living room, kitchen, hall bathroom, both bedrooms, and my personal bathroom were according to my specifications. I was home.
The next morning three delivery trucks pulled up, unloaded furniture Tony had ordered for the house. The canopy bed I loved was delivered too. We moved back in that night.
Tony had a three-car garage built beside the house and surprised me with a Mercedes CLK. He had a refrigerator put in the garage for his personal use. My Tony was the best.
Tony hired landscapers to do the yard. In the backyard now, stood a gazebo with a wrought iron table and four chairs in it. Beside the gazebo a small pond stocked with gold fish. Instead of fescue grass, Bermuda grass was planted all around the house. A wishing well planter was placed in the front with squirrels running up one side like they were chasing each other. There was a white picket fence with a gate at the front, and a six-foot privacy fence ran down the sides and back of the yard.
Dhampir Secrets Page 19