Chapter26
1307 Words
My Adam’s apple bobbed nervously. Luna Tiffeny’s beautiful honey-brown eyes flashed a deadly warning. Her cute nose turned up and her forehead wrinkled cutely. And as much as I find her even more beautiful when she’s mad. I find myself on thin ice. Was it something I said?
“SISSY?!” she yelled, repeating the name I spoke instead of Hanna. “SISSY?! How can you remember the nickname I GAVE HER, but you don’t remember ME?”
“I…uh,” I fumbled over, finding the words. My free hand rubbed over my face.
Jewel let go of Luna Tiffeny and grabbed onto me. Her dark blue eyes widened with fright. She buried her head in my side. Lila Montgomery watched the exchange with concern, but also with amusement.
“Stop yelling at my DADDY!” Jewel shouted. That’s the first time she’s called me that.
Her words flew like an arrow and pierced Luna Tiffeny’s heart. She stumbled backward and slumped on the sofa, gripping her heart. Dr. Lila Montgomery scooted closer to check on her. My chest tightened slightly watching the attack on Luna Tiffeny. My feet want to go to her, but they are stuck.
“Sergeant, Luna Hanna’s room is the first door on the left, down the hall,” Dr. Montgomery noted.
“Thank you,” I said, nodding. “C’mon, Jewel, let’s pay Luna Hanna a visit.”
She nodded and followed close behind me.
Luna Hanna Lowell’s private quarters
I knocked loudly on the thick oak door. It wasn’t surprising to see the custom artwork carved on it to match the one on Dylan’s and my pocket knife. The door's design included a wolf's head in the foreground, a moon, a mountain range with a river, and trees were added. I was going to knock again, but a voice interrupted my actions.
“You’ll need to crack the door open and speak,” Lila Montgomery’s motherly voice advised.
“Okay,” I muttered to myself.
The door handle was the lever type. I pushed down and heard the soft click of the latch letting loose. The heavy door easily moved a few inches. I poked my head inside. It was a large room, ADA-fitted for her wheelchair. Hanna had the curtains pulled closed on the large windows. The lights were out. My wolf's eyes spotted a lump in the middle of a large hospital bed. The cocoon of blankets wiggled and a low grunt escaped from within it. True to form, a foot poked out from under the tangled covers. The huddled mass turned towards me and spoke.
“Sergeant?” the quiet, hoarse voice asked.
“Hey, Sissy,” I replied. “May I come in?”
“Have you become a blood-sucker?” Hanna, ever the smart-ass, teased.
“It would ‘suck’ if I did,” I replied.
“You may cross my threshold, Great Bearer of the Badge.” She giggled.
“Thank you, M’lady,” I retorted, bowing slightly. “Would you like the door left open?”
She nodded, “Please.”
We respectfully entered her room. Jewel hid behind me. The natural light from the hallway shone across her bed. Hanna struggled, getting herself untangled from the blanket cocoon. I turned on the table lamp on her nightstand and helped free her from her fluffy bonds.
“Thanks, Sergeant,” she said. “What brings you here?”
“The files Wolfdale City PD needs you to look over for us,” I reminded her, handing her the fat file case. It plopped onto her lap.
“Right! I forgot about those,” she noted. “How soon would you like my analyst on them?”
“As usual, the sooner the better,” I advised. “Call the station and ask for homicide.”
“Or… you could give me one of your business cards,” she reminded me.
“If I had them on me, I’d gladly give you one.”
Jewel, who hid behind me, moved, casting an extra shadow on the bed.
“Sergeant, is there someone behind you?” she inquired. She pointed at the shadow.
“Only my daughter,” I boasted, giving Hanna a goofy grin.
“Your daughter?” she asked. “I don’t understand…”
“I’m a little fuzzy on the exact details,” I explained. “But, yeah, I have a daughter. Jewel…”
My little gem poked her head out from behind me. Her messy auburn-color hair stuck out first, followed by her face. Hanna’s eyes went wide and her mouth gaped open as she struggled to get air. She gripped the blankets tight, causing her knuckles to whiten.
“Hanna, what’s wrong?” My cousin asked from the doorway, slightly out of breath. “What happened here?” Cue the mate bond!
“I don’t know. I only introduced my daughter to your mate,” I answered, holding tightly to Jewel.
Dylan rushed to Hanna’s side and held her in a tight embrace.
“It’s okay,” he whispered to her. “I’m here. I got you.”
During this time, Tiffeny and Lila Montgomery came to Hanna’s aid. They stood outside her room, looking in. Dr. Montgomery motioned to Jewel to come to her. I gave Jewel the okay to do so.
“But…” she protested.
“You’ll be okay,” I reassured her. “You can trust her. Go on.”
Jewel hesitantly went with Dr. Montgomery; they headed toward the living area. Tiffeny hung around the doorway, in case she was needed.
Once Hanna’s anxiety attack passed, Dylan turned to me again and said, “Henry said you needed to speak to both of us. Why didn’t you wait until I was ready? We could have avoided this."
“Sorry…” I let out a frustrated sigh. “I’m in a bit of a hurry. Jewel needs help with her homework, and I’m trying to find a tutor for her.”
“I can tutor her,” Tiffeny volunteered, speaking from the doorway.
“Why?” I ran my hand through my hair.
“She’s your daughter. You care about her…and I want to help,” she nervously explained. “If that’s okay with Hanna.”
Hanna nodded to her cousin. “You wouldn’t be Birdy if you didn’t care,” she teased.
I know. I know. This should be easy. I should remember where I got the idea for calling Hanna ‘Sissy’...But I don’t. Honestly, it just feels natural for me to say it.
“I don’t mind. I’ll be busy looking over what’s in this file case,” she grumbled, continuing.
Tiffeny smiled brightly, causing her beautiful honey-brown eyes to sparkle. “I noticed your daughter—”
“Jewel.”
“---Jewel, has her backpack with her. Does she have her homework on her?” Tiff inquired.
“She does…and thank you,” I replied.
“It looks like more needs to be discussed. I’ll leave you three to it and see what I can do to help Jewel with her homework,” Tiff commented, turning to leave.
Shutting the door, I asked, “May I sit down?” With Dylan and Hanna’s permission, I sat at the end of the bed.
“What’s with secrecy?” Dylan pressed. “What else is going on?”
“Hmm, how can I put this?” I pondered, rubbing my chin.
“Enough with the suspense. Spit it out, Sergeant,” Hanna chided.
“Fine.” I let out another frustrating sigh. “The information I have concerns your Chief Security Officer, Cole Grayson.”
Hanna, having her arms crossed, leaned into Dylan’s one-arm embrace. They both let out a heavy sigh and in unison said, “Great.”
- Writer
