Tessa

by Gabelman, Teresa

  “Fuck you,” the rogue said after a second, then spat on the ground toward Jared.

  “Excellent choice,” Jared replied, then gave the woman a nod. She took the hint and took off back into the house. Taking advantage of the confused look on the rogue’s face at his comment, Jared rushed him.

  Jared toyed with the bastard for longer than necessary, even took a few hits just for the hell of it. Yeah, that was his mood at the moment. The rogue ran at him, but Jared was ready. Sidestepping, he caught the guy by the shirt and lifted him over his head, held him for a few seconds, then slammed him as hard as he could on the ground.

  Stomping his boot on the guy’s chest, Jared glared down at him. “You surrender yet?” He pushed down harder when the guy didn’t answer.

  “Yes,” the asshole finally managed to get out of his damaged mouth.

  “Damn, man.” Sid walked over, looking down at the guy under Jared’s foot. “What the hell did you do to him? His face literally looks like raw hamburger.”

  “Late to the party as usual.” Jared lifted his foot off the rogue’s chest, then looked toward Blaze. “The woman he dragged out of the house is inside. I’m sure she’s okay but shaken up.”

  Blaze nodded, heading toward the house. “On it.”

  “This our guy?” Sid glared down at the man who just lay there, not even attempting to get up.

  “Seems to be,” Jared replied, glancing at the house. “Same MO, dragging victim outside… check. Blood-lust stupid… check.”

  Sid sighed, just as his phone rang. “Yo,” he answered, then frowned. “Yeah, he’s here. I’ll tell him.”

  “What?” Jared had heard the change in Sid’s voice, and his first thought went to Tessa.

  “That was Sloan. He got a call from Sydney.” Sid reached down and picked the guy up by the shirt. “You need to get to University Hospital.” Sid reassured him quickly; they never said names in front of strangers.

  Jared knew it was Gramps because Sydney had been taking care of Gramps since the day they brought him in to the VC to live. “Dammit!”

  “Go. We got this and then we’ll be there,” Sid said, but Jared was already running for his bike.

  Hitting Tessa’s number as he ran, he cursed when it went to voice mail after a few rings. At least she had the fucking thing turned on now. Jumping on his bike, he took off. Thankfully he wasn’t far from the hospital, but Jared still hurried. He didn’t want Tessa facing this alone. Whatever was going on in their relationship, he would always be there for her in times like this. She wouldn’t be okay if she lost her grandfather. Jared hated to feel helpless, but that’s exactly how he felt at this moment.

  Jared could do almost everything for Tessa, but this was one thing that was out of his control. Damn, his eyes watered, but he blinked them away. Gramps had become a big part of their lives, not just his, but the rest of the Warriors’. Even with his dementia, vampires were able to bypass that mental block, which had been a blessing for Adam and Tessa. Adam was right, though—Gramps had been going downhill the last month. The older man had been harder to reach, slower to respond. He also knew Tessa realized this but had remained positive that her gramps would live a much longer life.

  Pulling into the hospital, he found the closest parking spot, then took off into a jog. He hadn’t seen Tessa’s car, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t here. Once inside, he headed toward the ER and there she was, standing among her brother as well as the Warriors who had made it, but she looked so very lost and alone.

  His eyes saw only her as his feet quickly took him to her. Just before he got to her, she glanced his way and the relief he saw in her eyes slammed into him like a brick. Breaking away from the crowd, she walked directly into his arms where she belonged.

  “I’ve got you,” Jared whispered into her hair. His eyes rose to see Sloan shaking his head.

  “They won’t let me see him,” she said into his chest. “They won’t let me back with him. I know he’s scared, Jared. I’m close to pulling my vampire card and going crazy on somebody.”

  Her words made him smile. “Let me try before we resort to that.” Jared lifted her face up to his. He wiped a red tear that escaped the corner of one eye. He led her over to Adam, then headed toward the desk. “Excuse me.”

  The older woman sighed then looked up from the computer. “I cannot let anyone back until they give me the okay.”

  Jared leaned down toward the nurse. “I’d like for you to pick up that phone, call whoever you need to call, and get the okay.” Jared narrowed his eyes slightly. “Because if you don’t, there is no one in this building who can stop us from taking matters into our own hands.”

  Slade came out at the moment, waving Adam and Tessa over. He looked at Jared with a cocked eyebrow. “Stop harassing the staff,” Slade warned, then shook his head at Jared’s unspoken question.

  Jared followed Slade, Tessa, and Adam into a room. Slade closed the door behind him, and by the look on Slade’s face, the news wasn’t good.

  “He’s had a massive stroke,” Slade said, but Adam nodded, and Jared knew he had already read Slade. “Sydney did everything in his power to get him help, but the damage had been done and there would have been no way to stop it.”

  “Can I see him?” Tessa’s voice sounded so lost and weak that Jared wanted to shelter her from her pain.

  Slade nodded, but stopped her from leaving. “He’s ready to go, Tessa,” Slade said as gently as he could. “He’s barely there as it is and very hard to reach, but he wants to see you both.”

  Tessa nodded with a sniff, then turned to Adam. “Call Dad.” She whispered, even though she didn’t want him anywhere near Gramps it wasn’t right not to let him know what was going on with his father. As much as she hated to do it, it wasn’t her call to keep a son away from his dying father. If he started shit there were plenty here who would take Frank out.

  “I already did.” Adam frowned, as if that was the last thing he wanted to do.

  Jared once again followed them, entering a room. Slade checked a few things, but then slipped out the door. Adam walked to the bed first, with Tessa following. Jared stayed back to give them time with Gramps. Seeing death more times than he could count, Jared knew it was here and just waiting for the older man to let go. Jared’s eyes went straight to Tessa. If anything could destroy her, this very well could. Once this was over, he would make everything right with Tessa once and for all. She deserved his best, and his best was definitely not what he had been giving her. He didn’t even feel worthy, actually never had. She was so much better than him, deserved much more than he had given her to this point. Shame filled him as a very weak voice buzzed in his mind.

  “You take care of my granddaughter,” Gramps’s weakened voice filled his head. “And you are worthy, Jared. If you weren’t, I never would have allowed you to marry her, even in my state. This is it for me. This, you know. I am now expecting you to take care of her. Let her be who she needs to be, young man, and the woman she truly is will be beyond your wildest dreams. Goodbye, Jared Kincaid. You’re a good man.”

  “I won’t let you down,” Jared answered back, wondering if Gramps heard.

  “I don’t doubt you, so stop doubting yourself.”

  Jared’s throat tightened with emotion; he even blinked a few tears away. He had hours of conversations with this amazing human being, and damn, he was going to miss it, miss him more than he ever realized he would.

  “Don’t make me come back and haunt you.”

  Jared chuckled quietly at the last words this amazing man would ever speak to him. It was a bittersweet moment, and he was sure more moments like that were to come.

  Chapter 12

  Tessa sat next to Gramps and held his frail hand. She knew Adam was communicating to him, so she remained silent as she just stared into his pale, wise face which was now drooped from the stroke. His eyes were barely open and she knew he was struggling to keep them that way until he was finished. How was she going to go on without
him? He had always been her strength, her champion in all things, even when she was young and dumb. She knew this day was coming, tried to prepare herself, yet it was here, and she wasn’t anywhere close to ready to say goodbye.

  In the last month, he had been hard to communicate with. She had been so jealous of the vampires who could, but thankfully talked to him through them until she was turned then she could have conversations with him. It has been one of the best blessings in her life. One of the first things she’d done as a vampire was rush to her gramps’s side and talked to him. Not a day passed that she didn’t see her grandfather. He knew it all. She told him everything, even her turbulent ups and downs with Jared.

  Looking down at his hand, she frowned. Once a strong man, he was now thin and frail with age and sickness. Once his mobility had diminished, his physical strength had too. When she rubbed her thumb along his paper-thin skin, she felt a slight squeeze. Glancing up, she saw he was looking at her.

  “Don’t be sad for me, Tessa.” Her grandfather’s voice filled her mind. “It’s time, and I’m ready. I’m sorry to be leaving you, but I’m ready.”

  “But what if I’m not.” Tessa wanted to be strong for him, she really did, but that little girl was so near the surface it was hard not to let her out. “What am I going to do without you?”

  “Great things.” Gramps’s voice grew stronger. “You are destined for great things, Tessa. I’ve always known this about you. I’ve never said this to you, but I am now. What my son put you, Adam, and your beautiful mother through is something I will always be sorry for, but I am glad he met your mother because, without her, I would not have had you or Adam in my life.”

  “There is so much I want to say.” Tessa felt the tears flow.

  “Don’t stop talking to me, Tessa.” Her grandfather’s eyes started to close. “I will always be with you.”

  “I love you, Gramps,” Tessa said in her mind, as well as whispered out loud.

  “Love you too, girl. Now bring the rest in.” His voice grew weaker. “I’m ready to say goodbye, and I have a lot of goodbyes to speak, thanks to you and Adam. I thought I would die a lonely old man, but you both brought these wonderful people into my life, and I want them to know how much I’ve appreciated them.”

  Tessa glanced at Adam, who nodded and left after placing a kiss on Gramps’s forehead. She stood and did the same, but remained at his side. Even as every Warrior and mate made their way to her grandfather’s side, she kept contact with him. Finally, it was Jared’s turn.

  This time, she did look over and saw the sadness on Jared’s face as he stared down at Gramps. It was not long before Jared made a fist and slammed it into his chest holding it there. The noise in the room startled her as she glanced around to see every single Warrior doing the same. Under their breath, they recited something she didn’t understand, and that’s when she felt her grandfather’s hand relax in hers.

  He was gone.

  Despair rocked her core as her legs wobbled. Jared was behind her before they could give out and pulled her back against him. He didn’t try to make her leave; he just supported her with his body.

  Tessa didn’t know how long they stood there, didn’t really care. Nurses came in and out but gave them the respect of allowing them to stay. She knew she had Slade to thank for that.

  “Dad?” Her father’s voice broke the silence of the room. She stiffened as she glanced at Adam, whose eyes darkened dangerously. She wondered if hers were as black. Frank rushed to the bed, knocking Adam back.

  Tessa could smell the alcohol on her dad even from where she stood. Her father grabbed Gramps’s lifeless hand, and Tessa wanted nothing more than to rip her father’s grip away from her grandfather but controlled herself.

  “He’s gone, Mr. Pride.” Slade stepped in, which Tessa was thankful for. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

  Frank dropped his father’s hand, and Tessa knew what was coming next by the way her father’s head snapped toward her.

  “You!” He pointed at her. “You kept me from him.”

  Tessa shook her head, refusing to say anything. It wasn’t worth it. With Gramps gone, she had no tie to Frank Pride. Some would say she did, but she would disagree. Blood did not make a family.

  “Actually, I called you as soon as I got the call.” Adam’s voice was deep and angry. “So don’t go accusing Tessa. If anyone, you need to accuse me, but you won’t, will you?”

  “Adam, not here,” Tessa whispered, shaking her head. Knowing she had to give her grandfather one more kiss, she stepped out of Jared’s hold. Walking to the bed, she leaned down and kissed Gramps on the forehead. “I love you.”

  Before she could straighten up, Frank leaned toward her and backhanded her across the face. It was as if the room as one headed toward Frank. Every Warrior, even Slade growled, moving quickly, but Tessa held up her hands.

  “Stop!” she shouted and was surprised they listened, even Jared. She turned toward her father. “That is the last time you will ever lay hands on me and live.” Tessa hissed the words as she pointed in his face, as he’d done to her. “And how dare you do that over Gramps. Get yourself sober and cleaned up because until you do just that, no one will tell you anything about his funeral.”

  “You can’t do that!” Frank slurred, his voice loud.

  “Oh, I can and I will,” Tessa shot back. “And if by some miracle you do that and come to the funeral of your father drunk, you will not step foot inside. I will not allow you to disrespect him that way.”

  “Who do you think you’re talking to?” Her father glared at her, the hatred in his eyes real.

  “A drunk who didn’t deserve a man like Gramps as a father.” Tessa leaned toward him. “Today, I just saved your life. Next time I won’t.”

  Turning, Tessa looked at all the Warriors with gratitude, then to Jared, who was staring at her cheek. She knew it was swollen and had to be blaring red, because it hurt.

  “You okay?” Adam looked at her cheek and grimaced.

  “Don’t leave Gramps alone with him, please,” Tessa begged Adam. “I have to go make some phone calls, but I’ll be back.”

  The Warriors opened a path for her to walk out. She didn’t even know if Jared followed or not, but she needed to go to the bathroom. Rushing toward the sign, she hurried inside, went into a stall and partially collapsed onto the toilet. Slapping both hands over her mouth, she lost it. Hard sobs overtook her body as the tears flowed freely down her face.

  The pain of loss was so overwhelming she felt lightheaded. Tessa had no clue how long she sat on the toilet, but the amount of toilet paper used to try to stop her tears littered the floor around her. Leaning her head back, she tried to control herself, but her insides shook so badly she didn’t know if she’d ever feel normal again.

  Having things to take care of, she stood, cleaned up her mess by tossing the paper in the toilet, then flushed. Once in front of the mirror, she gasped at the sight of herself. She looked broken, and in truth, she felt that way. Her face crumbled again, and the tears rolled down her face. She let them. Best do it here than out there.

  * * *

  Jared let Tessa go because there was no way in hell he was going to walk out of this room without killing that son of a bitch. As soon as the door shut behind Tessa, Jared turned and stalked toward Frank, who looked at him in wide-eyed surprise. Grabbing him around the throat, Jared forcefully moved him away from Gramps’s bed and toward the wall on the other side of the room. Frank’s feet didn’t even touch the floor.

  The Warriors made a wall around them so anyone walking in wouldn’t see what was happening, even Sloan. Jared slammed him against the wall three times before he got inches from his face. “You need to fucking disappear.” Jared’s tone was dead serious, his eyes raging with anger. “I will give you one fucking day, and then I hunt you down. Out of respect to Adam and Tessa’s grandfather, I will not kill you in this room, though not one fucking person here would stop me, but I know Tessa wouldn’t want that f
or Gramps. But make no mistake, I will kill you for the pain you have inflicted on Tessa, as well as Adam. Make no fucking mistake that I will get away with it. I’m a trained killer who despises bullies. I am a killer who knows your name, motherfucker. You will never harm her again. I will wipe every bad memory of you from her mind. Is that understood?”

  “You can’t do this,” Frank mumbled in fear. He seemed to have sobered up real quick. “They are my kids. That is my father. I have the right—”

  “You lost any right you had as a son and a father the day you picked up that bottle and started beating your wife and kids, you sorry son of a bitch.” Jared choked him harder, enjoying the fear and bulging of the bastard’s eyes. “I expect you to be thanking me for letting you live for the moment because…. No wait, you should be thanking your daughter for you being alive at this very moment since she is the only reason. To me, I’m looking at a dead man walking.”

  Jared knew the scumbag was terrified. He could smell it, so could every Warrior in the room. “I want to be at my father’s funeral.” Frank actually whined and looked like he tried to shed a tear, but it just wouldn’t come.

  “The only way you’ll be showing up at the funeral is in a casket, if there’s anything left of you.” Jared snarled, baring his fangs.

  “Adam?” Frank tried to pull the “poor dad” card with Adam. “You know I’ve always tried.”

  “If he doesn’t kill you, I will.” Adam’s tone was even and strong.

  “One day,” Jared warned him as he squeezed his throat even tighter, wanting nothing more than to end his life then and there for laying a hand on Tessa. When Frank began to choke, Jared let go with a push. “Make sure this piece of shit leaves the property.”

  Sid and Duncan dragged Frank from the room. Adam watched, his face full of anger. He looked at Jared. “Thanks.”