Chapter Twenty-Eight
Tony awoke to the sounds of laughter coming from somewhere down the hall. He rolled from the bed and padded through the foyer to have a look.
Abbie strolled through the corridor, grinning at a comment Naura had made. The two of them obviously found something humorous while he’d been tossing and turning for the past hour.
His gaze zeroed in on Naura, and his breath caught. She’d cut her hair. It hung in layers around her shoulders, framing her face with bangs she hadn’t had before.
Her eyes were rimmed with dark makeup, enhancing their jade-green beauty. But nothing prepared him for the ruby-red color of her lips.
She had obviously been with Abbie since he’d abandoned his eavesdropping post.
The tank top Naura wore was a size too small, and her jeans hung low on her hips, displaying her belly button and entirely too much skin.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he growled as they approached.
Abbie stood on tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “We are going to have dinner with the king and some of his men. You should join us.”
Tony jerked his thumb in Naura’s direction. “She’s going to dinner dressed like that?”
Naura took a step forward. “What is wrong with how I am dressed?”
“Nothing, if you want the entire Bracadyte guard sniffing around you like dogs in heat,” he ground out. “I suggest you go change.”
Naura’s chin lifted. “You do not have the right to suggest that I do anything, Anthony Vaughn. Nor do you have the authority.”
Tony couldn’t bear to look at Naura another second without the temptation of throwing her over his shoulder and tying her to his bed. The woman could piss him off faster than anyone he’d ever known. But son of a bitch, she was beautiful, he thought, as he ground his teeth in anger.
He rested his hands on his hips and shifted his attention back to his niece. “You did this to her?”
Abbie had the audacity to grin. “Guilty as charged. Doesn’t she look amazing? I can’t wait until everyone sees her.”
Taking hold of Naura’s hand, Abbie sent Tony a wink. “Now if you will excuse us, we’re famished.”
Tony could only stand there in silence as they trailed off toward the great hall, sashaying in their tight-fitting jeans as if they had not a care in the world.
“Son of a bitch.” He spun around and entered his apartment to grab his shoes. He’d be damned if he would allow Naura to traipse around in that getup without him with her.
* * * *
Hauke entered the great hall and scanned the room for his mate. He found her seated to the left of the king with his sister sitting to her right.
“Abbie?” he mentally summoned, hanging back in the shadows to keep from calling attention to himself.
She paused with her fork near her mouth, but she didn’t look up. “My love?”
“Would you mind excusing yourself from the group when you have finished your meal? I must speak with you.”
“I was just nibbling on dessert. You’re not going to eat?”
He hesitated. “Once we have spoken. I will await you in the hall.”
Backing out of the room, Hauke returned to the hall and leaned against its stone surface.
He’d noticed the changes in his sister, but he’d question her about that at another time. Hauke was only grateful that she’d survived.
“You’re home.” Abbie beamed, rushing into his arms. “I was so worried.”
Hauke held her close, basking in her sweet scent before pulling back and kissing her soft lips. “I missed you, soul of my soul.”
She kissed him back with a passion that staggered him.
“I want to love you for hours,” Hauke assured her, brushing his lips across hers once more. “But we must talk first.”
She leaned back far enough to search his eyes. “What is it? Where’s Henry?”
“I do not know where he is. I can only tell you that we found traces of human blood in the water near the boats.”
“Oh, my God,” Abbie whispered, moisture forming in her eyes. “Do you think it was Henry’s?”
Hauke briefly closed his eyes before opening them and cupping his mate’s beautiful face. “I cannot be certain of it, but Vaulcron and I both believe the blood to be Henry’s.”
Tears spilled over to track down her cheeks. “What if he’s dead, Hauke? What if those bastards killed him?”
“Shhhh,” he crooned, pulling her back into his arms. “We do not know that he is dead. Vaulcron has left for Cuba to pick up more supplies. He has assured me that he will bring back information on your father.”
“But how can he find out anything about Henry in Cuba?”
“Miguel is not without resources, my mate. If he does not have news of Henry, he will obtain it without difficulty. Do not worry until there is cause to do so.”
Abbie nodded and wiped the tears from her eyes. “Thank you for going after him, Hauke.”
“You would have done the same for me.”
“There is nothing that I wouldn’t do for you,” she swore, laying her hand against his cheek. “You must be hungry. Come to the great hall and eat before it’s all gone.”
Hauke’s heart warmed. “I love you, keeper of my soul.”
“And I love you, Hauke. So much it makes my chest ache.”
Following Abbie into the great hall, Hauke said a silent prayer to whatever gods were listening for the return of his mate’s father. Be he alive…or dead.