Ashes(93)

With one last look at Harper, he turned and left the room as robotically as he'd entered. Only once they'd heard his bedroom door close did Linda speak again.



"I suppose a ‘congratulations' is in order." Envy was stamped all over her face as she stared at Harper's baby bump. Before anyone could thank her, Linda quickly added, "I'm guessing you're here about the Winters." She placed the basket on the table. "Stabbed to death in their own home …  Awful. Tragic." She swallowed. "McCauley already knows. We told him. It's sad that he won't have his biological family in his life."



"Is it?" asked Knox.



Linda's attention snapped to him. "Of course."



He twisted his mouth. "You had no problems with him building a relationship with Pamela and Rupert?"



Linda tugged on her sweater. "I won't deny that I'd like to keep McCauley here, but I wouldn't begrudge him a relationship with the Winters."



"Then why did you offer them money to stay away from him?" Knox sensed Wyatt's surprise, but he kept his eyes on Linda.



She spluttered. "I did no such thing."



"I have a witness that says you did."



Realization flashed across her face. "Daniel is mistaken. It wasn't like that."



"You didn't try to bribe them?"



"It was a test. I wanted to know if they wanted him in their lives for the right reason. Pamela turned down my offer, and I apologized for making it." She gestured to the doorway. "So, if that's all -"



"Don't ever dare dismiss me, Linda," Knox clipped. The woman blanched, but it didn't appease his demon at all. 



Wyatt straightened, reflexively bristling, but he was wise enough not to interfere.



"You've overstepped a few times since McCauley came to stay here," Knox added. "They were minor slips, so I overlooked them. It appears that I shouldn't have."



Linda's eyes darted from Knox to Wyatt and back again, but her mate didn't speak up for her. "I'm sorry. Truly. I'm just a little emotional right now. He's just a boy. I want to protect him, as any mother should – biological or adopted."



"I never once led you to believe that McCauley would stay here permanently."



Her mouth fell open in surprise. "He's happy here."



"Happy?" echoed Harper, frowning. "What makes you think so?"



Linda licked her lips. "He's settled. He's content. Tell them, Wyatt." But Wyatt didn't. He looked at the floor, clearly knowing better than to lie to his Primes.



Knox stared at Linda. "You truly believe that you have a bond with McCauley?"



"It was slow coming but, yes, I believe we're starting to connect."



"Then you're in danger. Surely you've noticed that McCauley's behavior is not normal." Seeing that she was about to object, Knox snapped, "Don't try bullshitting me, Linda. Open your fucking eyes. He is nothing like your average child, not even a traumatized child."



"He has trouble connecting with others, yes, but should we really expect anything else? His biological mother gave him away, and his human mother both neglected and tried to kill him."



"Yes, neither of his mothers were there for him," said Knox. "From what I understand, his human father was no better. So, taking into account the behavior he displays, who do think stepped in and raised him?"



The implication sank in, and Linda shook her head sadly.



"Maybe you're right and McCauley isn't dangerous, but his demon is. And I think his demon wants rid of anyone it believes is a threat to its parental role. You and Wyatt are threats."



She wrapped her arms around herself. "But he hasn't tried to hurt us."



"Really? Not once."



Her eyes slid away. "They were accidents."



"He burned her hand with hellfire when she tried to stroke his hair," Wyatt said. "He shoved her hard when she once tried to kiss him. Just yesterday, she tumbled down the stairs mere moments after he growled at her to get out of his room."



"It was his demon, not him," Linda insisted.



"Which supports my point." Knox stepped forward. "You want a child, Linda? There are plenty out there who need a home and would accept and return the love you have to offer. McCauley can't be that child for you. If you were honest, you would admit that you don't love him; you love the idea of having a child."



Squeezing her eyes closed, Linda said nothing. Finally, she opened them. The denial had been replaced by a sad acceptance. "Where will you take him?"



"It's best that you don't know that," Harper told her.