chapter 18

Tatina POV

I thought my life was finally getting better and here I am trapped in the

middle of something I do not understand yet again. I am scared but I

know I have to be strong. I have to figure out how I can help and just

do it. Mr. Craig was so kind to me. Maybe he was only kind to me to

get me in bed. Maybe he was planning to breed me and get rid of me.

Jayne POV

I only wanted to help Tatina and Craig. I thought by suggesting Tatina

to Craig he would see something in her and maybe feel better. I know

he has been hurting since Julie died, but nothing excuses this behavior.

If he is hurting women I could never forgive him. My main purpose will

be to help Tatina and to make sure she is taken care of. She doesn't

deserve any of this. She doesn't deserve what her parents did to her or

this. She will get the life she deserves. I will see to it.

I look over at her in the other bed sleeping soundly. I know she is

worried. I do not want her to have a single worry. Here we are asking

her to go back to the house. How can we ask her to go back into that

house knowing what Craig and that damn LILA are doing to women? I

will be close but I cannot be there watching all the time.

We have another day to explore the city. I am sure Glenn will be close

by to help prep her for what is to come. I am not sure if I should text

Craig or not. He may think it is odd if I do not text him. I will text him

later and let him know we are having fun. Maybe he will tell me

everything on his own. Maybe I can help him. Maybe not. I have to do

what is right for Tatina first and foremost.

"Jayne," Tatina says softly.

"Yes, sweetie. Are you okay?" I ask.

I get out of the bed and walk over to her bed. I sit on the side of the

bed.

"I am scared,” Tatina says.

I brush the hair out of her face. "Honey I am here for you. You do not

have to go back into that house. Whatever Craig is mixed up in you can

just walk away from it," I tell her.

"I cannot let him hurt any more girls. They deserve more than to end up

a breeder to some vampire. That could have been me. I could have

ended up being raped and breeding babies for some vampire. I cannot

let this happen,” Tatina says.

How brave she is. How can someone so young be so brave? "I will be

right beside you through this," I say.

"I know you will," she says.

“Let's not worry about this right now. I want you to have one day. Just

one day where you don't have to worry. Tomorrow I am taking on a

carriage tour. We are going to have fun and not think about any of

this," I say.

"You are too kind to me,” Tatina says.

"Get some sleep,” I tell her.

She covers herself up, rolls over, and goes back to sleep quickly. What a

heavy load for a young woman to have to carry. If Craig hurts her if will

not have to worry about the vampire authority, I will kill him myself.

My phone rings. I get up from Tatina's bed to check it. I pick it up off

the nightstand. It is Craig.

"Hello," I say.

"Hey, I know it's late. I wanted to check on her. I tried to text you but

you did not answer," Craig says.

"We are fine. We went out to eat. We walked around the city. I took her

to the Blue's Bar. She is having a great time. I am taking her on a

carriage tour tomorrow," I say.

I try to sound as normal as possible.

"Great. I knew you would show her a good time," he says.

"Is everything okay Craig. You sound a little worried?" I ask.

"No No, No Everything is perfect. She is perfect. I am happy for the first

time in a long time," he says.

"I am happy to hear that. I wanted something good to come out of her

situation. Listen, I am taking some time off. I want to be close to her

while she settles in. Is that okay with you?" I ask.

"Yeah Yeah. I would happy to have you around,” Craig says.

"Craig I know I have not been around much since Julie died. I want to

be here for you now," I say.

"I would like that," he says.

"I am going to get some sleep. I and Tatina have a big day tomorrow. I

will text you tomorrow. You should come into the city tomorrow night

and eat dinner with us," I say.

"I will. Text me the details,” he says.

"Talk to you then, bye," I say.

I need to look Craig in the eye. I need to see if he is hiding something

from me. I need to know. For now, I need to get some sleep so I can

make sure Tatina has a good day before she has to go back.

I put my phone back on charge. I pull the covers back and get into the

bed. I curl up to go to sleep.

"Goodnight Tatina," I say softly.