Chapter Thirty-Two
“Is it true?” Abbie asked as Hauke entered their foyer. “Vaulcron has returned from Cuba?”
Hauke nodded and reached for a piece of bread fresh from the stone oven. “He returned this morning.”
Abbie smacked his hand, forcing him to back away from the bread. “That is for dinner, and we are having guests. You’ll just have to wait.”
She dried her hands on a dish towel and swallowed her apprehension. “Did he find out anything about Henry?”
“I have only spoken with Vaulcron briefly, but he did say that your father was injured and is being kept at St. Mathews General Hospital where he underwent a surgical procedure.”
Abbie’s stomach flipped. “Is he all right? Surgery for what?”
“Calm down, my mate. He did not have details. That is all he could tell me.”
Tears filled Abbie’s eyes.” I need to see him, Hauke. If he dies…”
“There is nothing you can do for him, love. You cannot see him without risking your own life, and that is something I am not willing to allow.”
She dropped unceremoniously into a chair. “There has to be a way.”
“I will speak with Vaulcron as soon as he is rested.”
Relief poured through Abbie. “Invite him to dinner. I want to hear what he has to say.”
“Very well. I will invite him, but only if I can have a piece of that bread.” He nodded toward the rolls now cooling on the counter.
Abbie closed her eyes and prayed for patience. Hauke was worse than Arcanum when it came to food.
She cracked open her lids and caught him inching toward the bread. “Go ahead. But only take one, you big, bottomless pit.”
Hauke snagged the roll with a grin. “It is your fault, my beautiful mate. You are the one responsible for introducing me to your human foods.”
Abbie laughed. She couldn’t help it. “Point taken.”
* * * *
“Come in,” Abbie called as Tony and Naura stood at the entrance to her apartment. “Hauke is dressing Arcanum. He’ll be out in a minute.”
Tony grinned as he stepped through the foyer and entered Abbie’s makeshift kitchen. “You’ve turned into a regular Suzy Homemaker.”
Abbie was too stunned to speak. Her uncle had actually smiled for the first time in years. His face glowed with health, and his eyes sparkled with happiness.
She finally found her voice. “Yeah well, you’ll be happy to know that I made your favorite.”
“Meatloaf?”
Abbie didn’t miss that Tony pulled out Naura’s chair or the way his hand lingered on her shoulder after she sat.
“More like baked fish. But I did make mashed potatoes and gravy,” Abbie offered, pointing at the huge pots of food on the stone stove. “I must admit, they’re instant potatoes, but it’s all I can get when Vaulcron makes his surface runs.”
Naura beamed. “I have never tasted mashed potatoes.”
“Vaulcron will be here shortly,” Hauke announced, trailing into the room with Arcanum in his arms.
The baby wriggled and squealed, holding his arms out for Naura.
“Come to your favorite aunt,” Naura crooned, plucking the child from his father’s embrace.
Hauke released his bundle of joy and bent to kiss the top of his mate’s head. “Technically, she is his only aunt.”
Naura narrowed her eyes. “I heard that.”
Abbie glanced at Tony to gauge his reaction to being in the same room with Arcanum, and her heart squeezed. The look on his face reflected his pain.
“Uncle Tony. How long are you going to be with us?” Abbie inquired, attempting to take his mind off his painful past. “I mean, are you staying a while or planning to return to the surface?”
Abbie noticed Naura’s pause in baby talk as if she waited for Tony’s response. She didn’t have long to wait.
“I’ll be heading back up soon,” Tony confirmed without looking in Naura’s direction. “I have something to take care of before I grab my things and return to Aukrabah.”
Naura beamed. “You are going to make Aukrabah your home?”
“Unless you don’t want me,” he teased, chucking her on the chin.
Hauke’s sister flew out of her chair and wrapped her free arm around Tony’s neck, pulling his face against hers.
“Is there something that you two are not telling me?” Hauke demanded, plucking his son from his sister’s arms.
Tony stepped in front of Naura, forcing her to release her hold on his neck. “I didn’t realize I needed permission to mate with your sister.”
“Mate?” Abbie gasped, dropping the ladle she held.
Tony raised an eyebrow. “Is that going to be a problem?”
Abbie threw her arms around her uncle and kissed his scarred cheek. “No problem at all. Right, Hauke?”
When Hauke only stood there, staring at her uncle, Abbie backed up and nudged him with her elbow. Hard.
A smile suddenly lit Hauke’s face. “You cannot be intimidated, Vaughn. That is good. I am happy for my sister that she found a strong mate who can keep her safe.”
Tony grinned. “As if she would let me. But it was a nice sentiment.”
Laughter erupted inside the small kitchen, warming Abbie’s heart. She picked up her fallen ladle and rinsed it in the stone sink. “Everyone have a seat. Dinner is served.”
* * * *
Bruce Ortega swallowed his frustration and pointed to a chair across from his desk. “Have a seat, Mr. Jefferies.”
“Please, call me Doug.”
“Okay, Doug. What can I do for you?”
Jefferies sat and crossed his legs, resting his ankle on his knee. “I’ve been notified of Doctor Sutherland’s progress. I flew in as soon as I heard.”
Bruce ground his teeth in irritation. “I don’t know who you spoke with, sir, but there has been no progress. We took him off the drugs that kept him in a coma, but as of yet, he has not regained consciousness.”
“Then, he is not trying to communicate?”
“Sir. He has only begun to breathe on his own, and that is not without a struggle.”
“I’d like to see him,” Doug persisted, pinning Ortega with a daunting stare.
Not to be intimidated, Bruce crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back in his chair. “I’m afraid that’s not possible.”
Jefferies didn’t blink. “You do realize that I’m here by order of the president. I don’t need permission to see the patient. I’m in here now strictly as a courtesy.”
Ortega blew out a breath and stood. He would let the asshole see Henry for a minute but nothing more. He wouldn’t risk Sutherland’s life for anyone. Not even the president.
“Right this way.” Bruce left the room without waiting to see if Jefferies followed.
The secretary of Homeland Security caught up with him in a few quick strides. “I understand your reluctance, Doctor Ortega. But your patient holds the key to finding a cure for the damnable virus that’s spreading through the country like wildfire.”
“You mean, my patient holds the key to the government getting their hands on his daughter.”
“Abbigail Sutherland is the key, Doctor Ortega.”
Bruce stopped outside Henry’s door and faced Jefferies. “You have two minutes. And as for Abbie being the key to all this? I think we both know that’s horse shit.”
The sound of machines in use could be heard as Bruce and Jefferies entered Henry’s room.
Bruce sidled up to the foot of Sutherland’s bed and picked up his chart as Jefferies moved to stand next to Henry’s head.
“Doctor Sutherland?” Doug rumbled, touching Henry on the shoulder. “Doctor Sutherland, can you hear me?”
Henry moaned and muttered something in his sleep.
“What was that?” Jefferies coaxed, leaning in closer.
Another sound came from Sutherland’s throat. His monitor began to beep and his heart rate accelerated.
“That’s enough,” Bruce barked, moving to adjust the monitor.
Jefferies shook Henry’s shoulder. “Where are the aliens, Doctor Sutherland?”
Henry’s eyes flew open, wild and unfocused. “She gave birth down there,” he wheezed, pulling at his IV. “She birthed one of those things.”
Bruce pushed his way in between Henry and Jefferies. “Get out. Can’t you see he’s in distress?”
Doug stumbled back, grabbing onto the railing for support. “Answer me, Doctor Sutherland. Where are they?”
“He has fangs,” Henry managed to choke out before great racking coughs consumed him, spraying blood onto the sheets. His body began to convulse, and his eyes rolled back in his head.
“Get the crash cart,” Bruce yelled at the nurse rushing into the room. “He’s coding.”