Hupotasso (Vampire Bachelor Games #2)

68

68

I stand on the edge of her empty grave, shovel over my shoulder, and look across to Jag where he stands in the same pose.

Inside Mother’s empty coffin is a photograph of her on a yacht somewhere in the South Pacific. It’s dated two weeks after her ‘death,’ and she looks to be in excellent health. In the background is the specialist who’d told me she was dying. I have no idea how they faked her death, but she’s very much alive and well. Or she was when this photograph was taken. God knows how she is now, months later, given that Viper wouldn’t negotiate. I can only hope the man I spoke to a few hours ago wasn’t lying.

Without pause I pull out Viper’s phone and re-dial the number.

“We have a deal.”

When I hang up I shake my head as Jag begins to fill in the grave.

“Stop.”

He pauses and looks up.

“What?”

“Jag, I owe you an apology.”

“For what?”

“Where do I start?”

“Just leave it,” he shakes his head, resuming shovelling.

“No. It has to be said. I’ve done a great deal of soul-searching since I left Mother’s hospital room. I know how unfair and unjust I’ve been to Angie, but also to you.”

“Falcon, we’ve all made mistakes…”

“No. You knew I was wrong about Angie and tried to convince me from day one. I was too stubborn to listen, blinded by paranoia and, if I’m honest, fear. I thought you wanted me to admit I had feelings for her so that you could justify your own feelings for Coquette.”

Jag snorts and stops to lean on his shovel and shake his head.

“I know,” I sigh. “It was another selfish way for me to try and deny how I was feeling. But Mother’s death, or what I believed to be her death, made me realise that it's not impossible for us to love humans. I love my mother, and try as I might to deny it, I feel the same for Angie. You didn’t want to prove that to me to justify your love for Coquette, or your devastation at her loss — you only wanted the best for me, as did Mother. You wanted me to be happy and to know what love is.”

“Falcon,” he clears his throat. “Stop.”

“No, it’s been a long time coming,” I sigh. “You’ve always wanted that for me. I should never have doubted you. I can always count on you. I hope you can forgive me for my abominable behaviour. I don’t want to be my father, and I need a kick up the ass sometimes to remind me of how to behave honourably.”

“Honourably,” he murmurs, shaking his head. “Falcon…”

“Come,” I shake my head. “I’ll send my men to finish this job. Let’s get home and have a drink. Then we have two women to find. Two special women who I realise I can’t live without.”

He stares at me for a long, long moment, before shaking his head, throwing down his shovel, and following me to the car.