We can’t name our daughter that, Jack. I know you love it, but it sounds too much like my name. I don’t want people thinking I’m so egotistical that I need my little girl to remind everyone who her momma is.
Lauren, my love, my life, your little girl will be as amazing as you are, and she’ll be proud to let everyone know who her momma is.
Jack Miller, don’t try to sweet talk me. Jack… stop that! You letch!
Jack… Jack… I love you…
He rubbed his cheek over the downy soft skin of his little girl’s head. “Your name is Larissa, little girl. I know it fits you, and I think your momma would agree.”
Later, and soon, he’d have the outside to deal with. Later was telling four boys they no longer had a momma who would love and care for them. Later was dealing with a world that went to hell and figuring out how to bring it back. Later. But now, there was only this moment with his precious baby girl.
Welcome to our family, Larissa Joy.
Chapter Two
26 years later
She is connected to the future of your Clan. Guard her well.
Three months.
Three months he stood sentry, crouched in the shadows of the building across from her.
Three months he watched, waiting for her importance to become clear, to explain why she was brought into his life.
Three months she consumed his every waking moment.
She was in the living room, picking up the clutter which accumulated over the day. She danced as she went about her task, her hips moving in sinuous rhythm to the song heard through the open door of her balcony – the beat heavy, the female singer’s voice soft and alluring and darkly sexual.
The fingers of his right hand curled, claws raking over his palm.
The autumn night had taken on the crispness that spoke of winter arriving soon. Humans were more sensitive to temperature than his kind, but the cold seemed not to bother her. After finishing her task, she walked out on the balcony and sat on the metal chair that stood flush with the outside wall. The thin sweater she wore offered little protection from the chill but she made no move to go back inside. She wrapped her arms around her middle and stretched long legs in front of her, crossing them at the ankles.
He burrowed deeper into the shadows, more habit than fear she would notice him.
Her long hair spilled behind her, a color he had only seen once before when he flew over a wheat field on a blinding summer day. Her face contained no harsh lines. It was all soft curves, heart-shaped with the fullest mouth, one that made her appear to always be on the verge of pouting. Her body was ripe, her sweater and jeans tight over lush curves.
She was so innocent to the dangers of this world, so unprepared to deal with any danger. Why did her Clan let her live away from them? They must know how exposed she left herself, what a tempting target she made. Her father had been a fool to let her leave the safety of his house.
Her phone rang. She took it from her pants pocket. Her side of the conversation was loud in the still evening. “Hello? Dad, hi.”
After several moments her laughter rang out, light and airy and free. Tension eased from him, the bunched muscles in his back loosening. Her face was animated, enjoyment evident as she talked with her father. She confused him, but in this one thing they were the same – absolute loyalty to their Clan.
Then she groaned. “I’m going to be grading papers. I told you Mrs. Wajkowski’s appendix burst, right? Well, the substitute they brought in is overwhelmed and I volunteered to help her out.”
She would never refuse anything her family asked of her, so she tried to get them to rescind their invitations when she didn’t like the request. What now was her father asking of her?
She rubbed the back of her neck, the motion causing her chest to thrust out, bringing the neckline of her sweater a fraction lower. “No, I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Nick yet, and I’m sure he’s a very nice guy.”
Now the reason for the invitation became clear. Her father often tried to match her with suitable mates, though without success thus far. They were too forward in their attentions. None crossed the line with her, but one had frightened her with his disregard for her words and the way he towered over her. That man would never go near her again.
“Can’t any of the brothers fill out the poker game? Make it all precinct guys?” she asked, but her defeated tone told him she would be going to her father’s home tonight. She snorted at something her father said, saying in return, “Are you trying to tell me you happened to schedule all four on the Friday night shift and not a soul said anything to you?”
Whatever her father said caused her to roll her eyes, but she responded as expected. “Okay Dad, I’ll be over a little later. I do have a few things to do first, so you’ll have to survive a little while without me.” A beat of time. “I’m always cute, and no, I’m not changing into a skirt.” A few more moments of her father speaking, then with exasperation on her features, she said, “Love you Dad, buh-bye.”