“Are you okay, Vanni? Ignore our idiot brother. He didn’t mean any of that. We’ve just been really worried. We’ve heard a lot of conflicting things.”

Vanni blinked back the tears. “Count meant it. He’s angry.”

“Okay, so he did.” Mia paused and a smacking sound could be heard. Count cursed. “Stop that. Try to take it again and I’ll scratch the shit out of you,” Mia threatened. “I wasn’t kidding about your breath. You smell like ass. Go brush your teeth.”

“I’m getting your husband,” Count taunted.

“Go do that. He’s afraid of my fingernails too when I’m pissed. Try to grab the phone one more time and you’re going to bleed,” Mia warned. “And don’t breathe on my husband. What the hell did you eat?”

“Please don’t fight,” Vanni urged.

“Hang on.” Mia slammed a door. “Ha! It’s locked, jerk!” Her voice lowered. “I’m in the bathroom. He wouldn’t dare kick it down. You should see this place they have us staying in. It’s ritzy as hell. The door probably costs more than his beloved rusted piece-of-junk car he calls a classic.”

“I’m so sorry,” Vanni whispered.

“It’s done. I just hate that we couldn’t talk to you before. Why were you avoiding our calls over the weekend? What is really going on, Vanni?”

“I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”

“It’s okay. Are you okay? That’s the most important thing.”

“I am.”

“How are you holding up? I can’t imagine what you’re going through.”

“I’m fine.” She wasn’t about to share her sex injuries, which were making her ass and thighs ache. “It’s just been kind of a nightmare with the press and with the Woods Church.”

“The security team said the Woods Church was a threat to us and that’s why we’re here. I knew that family was shit once I found out who the father was. They are a bunch of lunatics. What did Carl do to you? Did he hit you? I didn’t like that ass**le. He was too smooth and controlling.”

That astonished Vanni. “I thought you liked him as much as the rest of the family did.”

“I was being nice. I’ve racked my brain thinking why you’d end up getting tanked in a bar and picking up some guy you didn’t know from Adam. I know you too well. Carl either cheated on you or hit you. Which one was it?”

She couldn’t tell her sister the entire story so she hedged over the main parts but shared how he’d tricked her into going to the convention and the way he’d treated her. “I was done. I didn’t mean for that to happen in the bar but I don’t regret it.” That was the truth. “Smiley is here with me. He’s wonderful.”

The silence at the other end of the phone connection became uncomfortable. Her sister finally spoke. “Can he hear what I’m saying?”

“No. I’m alone right now.”

“Are you being held there against your will?”

“No.” Vanni sat up and winced, forgetting her soreness. “Smiley is amazing. The NSO is protecting me from Carl’s dad and his crazy worshipers. They are saying I was drugged and forced to, um, you know.”

“I know. We heard. That’s what I told Count after we watched the news earlier today. You looked happy but scared. I like the way that guy you’re with was so protective of you.”

“Today?”

“When the NSO took you shopping. It was all over the news.”

Vanni’s gaze drifted to the TV on the dresser. She was tempted to turn it on to see if they were playing the footage but she resisted. “It turned kind of hairy when all those people showed up but I’m fine. Really.”

“What kind of threat are you looking at from the Woods Church? Do they want revenge because you dumped Carl? I remember that one religious group who tried to burn a woman alive in front of the gates of the NSO for sleeping with a New Species.” Mia’s voice quavered. “Are they going to want to kill you?”

“Maybe. They are crazy, Mia. I’m safe here though.”

“Thank god. Don’t leave there.”

“I won’t.”

“This Smiley guy is treating you well? He looked pretty concerned today.”

“Yes. He’s really sweet and wonderful.”

“I’m glad to hear it. Count is fit to be tied but don’t let him get to you. You know how our brother is. It’s his twisted and controlling way to be a big ass**le when he’s worried. He had a complex as a kid and now he has a badge so he thinks he knows everything. I don’t have to cook or clean so I’m looking at this like a free vacation with a lot of security guards. I just wish they hadn’t given us connecting suites because two more days of listening to our brother and I’m going to consider tossing Count out a window to see if he turns into a bat and can fly.”

Vanni chuckled. It was an old joke. “Thanks, Mia. I was afraid you’d be mad at me too.”

“I’m just worried. You do what your security team says. They seem to know their stuff. They had us packed and hustled out of our homes in short order and put us in the penthouse suites of this hotel. We have the entire top floor so we’re safe.”

“I was worried.”

“We’re more worried about you. You aren’t exactly tough.”