CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
“Hello, Father,” I smiled in happiness and stepped inside my parents’ home. I hugged him around his neck. “I’ve missed you!”
The morning had been horrible.
But the afternoon was perking up.
We’d burned golem bodies for three hours straight, and there was still a mess in the yard. We would have to go back tomorrow morning. Finn and I weren’t going to work this week, grieving days, but we would be working nonetheless.
The other corporate kings had taken the same route, and they were there this morning helping to repair Poppy’s house. The stucco was being redone, and the roof was being repaired. All-in-all, everyone was keeping themselves busy.
Father enfolded me in his embrace, smiling against my hair, whispering in excitement, “I see you brought a friend with you.”
If only he knew about a shifter’s hearing.
“I did.” I leaned back and released him, our brief embrace complete. “I hope you don’t mind Finn stopping in with me. I need more clothes than what Mother sent me. And I need another bracelet. You wasted your money on the last one. It doesn’t power up.”
I held out the box for the faulty bracelet.
Father accepted it but set it aside on the foyer table. He pushed his hand out, and stated, “Mr. Baker, it’s lovely to see you again.” His brows rose high on his forehead. “Or shall I call you Finn, as my daughter does?”
“Mr. Baker will do for now.” Finn flicked a finger at the box he had abandoned with ease. “Will you be exchanging that bracelet soon? Or should Mina and I stop by New City Hall and purchase a new one for her?”
It was hard to do anything in the world without a bracelet, including buying food. The fact I had gone without for a few days was ridiculous. “I brought it back so you could exchange it. But if you really don’t have the time, we can stop by New City Hall. I can pay Finn back once I have a bracelet.”
Father’s lashes fluttered. “Oh, no. It’s not due to time or financial issues—”
“Then what is it about?” Finn asked quietly. He cocked his head. “Is there an issue your daughter needs to be informed of?”
My lips pinched.
The businessman had come out to play. The one who ruled over everyone. But this was my father.
I nudged his leg with mine, the subtlest of motions.
Father cleared his throat, clearly intimidated. “No, she already knows this. This is one of the original dwellings of New City. The power outlets are different than a newer home, which yours is. The bracelet we bought her—before you called—is specific to our home’s power outlet.”
I chuckled. “Oh, I forgot about that.”
“I did too,” he hushed. “And your mother. It didn’t dawn on us until before bed last night—when your Mother started fretting about you not calling. We remembered then.”
Finn grunted.
Father pulled his shoulders up, the same impressive height as the shifter next to me. “I don’t appreciate you breathing down my neck.”
My eyes widened in shock.
Father tilted his head toward our front door. “I don’t care who you are, Mr. Baker. No one speaks to me as you did in my own home. This space, it’s my domain. So why don’t you step outside, and once Mina has her bags packed, she’ll meet you at the end of the street.”
My mouth snapped shut.
This was his home.
Finn’s lips started to curl at the edges, in a too pleased expression. “That didn’t take long.” He lifted his left hand and pounded my father’s shoulder a few times. “I can see where Mina gets it from.”
I cleared my throat when no one moved. “I believe he still wants you to leave, Finn.”
“I was only playing,” Finn muttered, his blues aligning with my father’s. “You have my apologies if I offended you.”
“I don’t like to be played with.” He huffed. “But you may stay if Mina’s says it’s okay.”
“Of course,” I mumbled. “And where’s Mother? I have a surprise for her.”
Mother peeked her head around the corner. “A surprise?”
My lips trembled. “Mother…”
She waved a dismissive hand as she walked toward us. “I had no idea you were here.” She wiggled her fingers at me, showing the dried blue paint on them. “I just came out from my art room to get a drink.”
Finn nodded his head the tiniest smidge.
She was honest this time.
I dug into my pockets and Finn’s back right pocket. Then I held up the items for her. “I found these.”
Mother started repeatedly blinking until a tear slid down her cheek.
“Odette?” Father grabbed her elbow and pulled her closer to him. He tipped her face up so he could stare down at her at the perfect angle for both of them. “Are you not well?”
“I’m fine,” Mother whispered and then directed her attention to the items I had. “Those are the things that were stolen from me.”
She pointed at the hairbrush. “My mother gave that to me when I was little.” A flick to the earrings. “Those were my grandmother’s.” A last flick to the necklace. “That is the ‘something old’ I wore on our wedding day. Except for the picture that’s new in it.”
He rubbed Mother’s arms. “I’m happy Mina found them then.”
Mother wiggled her blue fingers at me again. “Put those on the table for me, so I don’t have to clean them later.”
I placed them there carefully, never understanding the meaning behind her mementos.
“Mother, I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Finn leaned down, and murmured, “We should probably start packing your items soon. It’ll probably take a little while.”
I nodded. “I agree.”
Mother stared straight at me. “You’re still fine?”
“I am.” I smirked. “Better than fine, actually.”
Her blink was slow. “That’s good to hear.”
I nodded and pulled Finn up the stairs with me, my parents watching us as we walked away. “So what do you think?”
“I think I like your father. I think your father likes certain aspects of me. I think your mother still hates me. I really like your mother—a great role model and parent.”
I snorted. “Did you miss anything?”
“Yes. Your father is down there right now saying extremely inappropriate things to your mother about their evening plans tonight.”
My chest heaved with my laughter. “I told you about them.”
“I hadn’t quite believed it.”
I leaned toward him, and whispered, “Do you know what I want?”
He kissed the top of my head. “Tell me.”
I stopped in front of my bedroom door and placed my hand on the doorknob. “I want you to fuck me on my bed in here for a final goodbye to this house. Since I’m officially all yours.”
He pressed his muscled chest against mine, his blue eyes dilating with need. “Whatever you want, my precious Mina. I’m yours.”
THE END