Chapter 7

• “Lee!” Ann and Maria rushed to me, almost knocking me over. They hugged me tight, not as tight as Ash did but tight enough to hurt my already throbbing ribs.
• “Careful with her, she just woke up.” Ash spoke softly behind me. I could feel his fingers on the small of my back, probably prepared to catch me if I fell or passed out again.
• I pulled out of their embrace and turned my head, just enough for him to see my sarcastic expression. “It’s a miracle, he speaks!” My voice echoed the sarcasm. His eyes mere slits glared at me. I couldn’t help but smile victoriously.
• “What?” Maria asked confused. I turned to her; she was shifting her gaze between Ash and me.
• “He’s giving me the silent treatment. Apparently, I’m not taking my fainting spells seriously enough,” I answered her.
• “We are taking you to the hospital!” Ann commanded.
• Before I could say anything, three voices boomed harshly, “No!” It was Joe, Billy and my dad. Ash said nothing he didn’t even react.
• “Hi, honey, how are you feeling?” Dave stepped around Ann and came up to me and gave me a hug, and then stepped back. I thought he would pull me out of Ash’s hold but he didn’t, he left me where I was.
• “Extremely tired of hearing those words, but other than that, I’m good.” I felt uneasy watching the tense faces around me. I felt guilty being the reason behind it but there was no way I was going to hospital. Earlier on I would have volunteered but the pain was gone and I felt fine, not great but fine. That was as good as a clean bill of health to me.
• Ash pulled me back to stand closer to him.
• “We are taking her to the hospital!” Ann shouted in Dave’s face. Maria pulled her behind.
• “You know we can’t do that!” Billy was standing face to face with Ann, matching her temper.
• “You didn’t see her in pain. She was screaming as if someone was tearing her apart!” Ann’s face creased like she was about to cry.
• I placed my hand over the bump in my belly shivering at the memory of the pain. Ash’s hand spread over my waist, his thumb and middle finger each touching the edge of my waist.
• “You are her father, you saw the pain she was in, why won’t you let her get checked out!” Ann directed her anger at my dad again.
• There was a flash in my mind as I stared at my dad. I saw myself screaming, coiling and rolling on the floor writhing in pain. I shut my eyes tight and turned away. Seeing it was nowhere close to feeling it, but it wasn’t easier either.
• Ash stepped closer and stood at my side. He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me closer, tucking me under his arm. I looked up at him; his face was twisted, as if he was in pain. Someone must have told him but I was glad he didn’t see it, he would have been far worse than he was right now.
• I smiled up at him before I turned back to Ann. “Ann, I’m fine.”
• “You said you had the pain before, but today’s was far worse right?”
• I nodded. More like a hundred times worse.
• “What’s to say the pain won’t be twice as worse tomorrow? What if you don’t wake up next time?”
• I cringed at her words. I swallowed the big lump of fear in my throat. I was ready to take on anything but not that, not again. The thought of a quick death seemed like a better option than the pain.
• “Ann, stop it, you’re scaring her,” Ash hissed out his warning through clenched teeth. He was beginning to lose his temper.
• “You wanted her to see exactly how serious this was, so it’s good that she’s scared,” Ann barked at Ash, then she turned to me. “Are you going to come with me or not?”
• “What if she goes and they realize the venom in her blood, how are you going to explain that?” Maria spoke softly behind Ann.
• “I’ll take my chances.”
• “I’m her father and I say no!” My dad roared at Ann, it only made her madder.
• “Maria and I raised her, and I’m not going to lose her because of a myth come to life. We have always lived in the real world, and the pain she was in could mean there are a number of serious things wrong with her which cannot be wished away because the big bad wolf said so!” Ann walked past us and into the house.
• “They’re locked in my safe,” Ash called out behind her.
• Ann came back in a huff. “Give me my gun, Ash!”
• “No. You’re not going to shoot your way out of here. Joe is a doctor he’ll take a look at her. Joe.”
• Joe nodded. He stood up and reached his hand for mine. I didn’t take it. The tension had gotten heavier, kicking in my protective instincts. The gun talks only made me more alert and put me on the defensive. I looked at the guys, assessing their distance from Maria and me. I wasn’t worried about Ann; she was behind Ash and me, safe.
• Joe looked at the others then at Ash. He was about to move towards Maria but my hand jerked up and caught his, stopping him from moving any closer to her. His eyes shifted from my hand to Ash. I didn’t turn to look at their silent exchange I kept my eyes securely on Joe, keeping the others in my peripheral view.
• No one move. Everyone take a step away from Maria, slowly, except for you, Joe.
• I knew those words weren’t spoken out loud. They sounded exactly the way Joe’s and Billy’s did in the kitchen when I first got here.
• My dad and Billy did as instructed. I felt a little relaxed but I still kept my grip and gaze on Joe. I was glad they had obeyed Ash’s silent command.
• Ash kissed my forehead, making his way down to my ear and whispered, “Relax, mi amor. Relax.” He slowly reached for my hand and carefully pried it from Joe’s. He pulled it and tucked it behind him. Joe took a step back. Maria looked at all of us confused, and then she walked into the house.
• I followed her with my gaze; she disappeared calling out Ann’s name. I loosened my muscles and relaxed, glad the girls were far away from whatever danger I had picked up on. I leaned into Ash feeling weak. The whole two minutes of tension had taken a lot out of me.
• “Would you like something to eat?” Ash spoke softly to me. I nodded.
• “You know I wouldn’t hurt her.” Joe spoke firmly.
• I looked at him, his face was relaxed, a smile curved at the edge of his lips. I felt guilty for reacting the way I did, but I needed to be sure. “Sorry.”
• “No worries. Let me check you out, but I must confess I haven’t practiced medicine in a long time…”
• I chuckled remembering Dad’s story. “Since World War One. If Ann hears you she’ll have a fit, so don’t say it out loud.”
• He laughed then walked into the house. We turned and went in behind him.
• “By the way, I heard that, the silent command,” I whispered to Ash.
• “When did you figure it out?” Ash answered, his voice cool. He wasn’t surprised at all instead I was the confused one.
• “What do you mean?”
• “You’ve been answering and eavesdropping on our thoughts for weeks.”