“Mind? I didn’t even know about it.” She smiled, but her heart sank. She’d wanted him to stay here. To share the house. But maybe that was selfish. And not something he was interested in. “And it’s not up to me anyway. It belongs to both of us. If you want to live there, then that’s what you should do.” Her smile faltered. “Venetian Island rings a bell with me for some reason, but I can’t recall it now. Either way, if that’s what you want, I’m happy for you.”
He pointed to the back of the house. “You know you can see Venetian from here. It’s just the next island up. We can go back and forth by boat.”
“Have you visited the place yet?”
“No, I wanted to talk to you about it first.”
She tipped her head. “And are you taking Amylia with you?”
He laughed. “Don’t think I don’t hear the sly tone in your voice. I might. It’s not like that between us, but she has become a friend and we certainly know what the other one is going through. Besides, you know I feel responsible for her.”
Velimai came out from the kitchen. Breakfast is almost ready if you’re hungry.
Chrysabelle’s stomach growled. “Famished.” She hooked her arm through Damian’s. “I’m so glad you’re here.” The only upside of him moving out was that she could keep the secret of the baby a little while longer if she wanted to, but that seemed a small victory. He was her family. Fi was right. He deserved to know, but telling him scared her. Things were so good between them; she hated to do anything to ruin it. Would he understand? “There’s something I want to talk to you about after breakfast, okay?”
“You got it.” He patted her hand as they walked into the kitchen. “You need any help with the rest of your plan for Tatiana?”
“I might.” She sat as Velimai brought platters to the table. “Do you know about the comarré ability to open portals?”
“You mean like the secret doors and passageways beneath the noble estates?” He filled both their glasses with orange juice from a pitcher.
“Something like that, except it involves blood.” She took a sip. “I’m going to open one tonight and use it to travel to the Garden of Eden.”
His eyes widened. “Really?”
She nodded. “You’re welcome to watch if you’d like. It’s probably not a bad skill for you to learn. I’m going to prepare a few things, catch a few hours of sleep, and then I’ll be ready.” She took a plate of bacon from Velimai, who then sat across from Damian.
“I wouldn’t miss it.” He helped himself to a slice of raisin toast. “Is that what you wanted to talk to me about?”
“Yes.” Coward. “No.” She put her fork down and made herself look him in the eyes. Just say it. “I’m pregnant.”
He stopped buttering his toast and stared at her.
She looked down at her plate. “I know, it’s a lot to take in, but you’re my brother and you should know. You’d figure it out in a few more weeks anyway, the way I’m starting to show.”
“It’s Mal’s?” He put the bread down. “Of course it’s Mal’s. Stupid question. Are you okay?” He glanced at Velimai. “You already knew about this?”
“She knew,” Chrysabelle answered. “She figured it out before I did. And yes, I’m okay. Mal’s feelings for me have returned and things are wonderful between us. I just want to know how you feel about it.”
A slow, unsteady smile built on his face. “I’m… I’m going to be an uncle.”
Setting everything up and getting Vernadetto to arrive had taken a few hours, but he and a few of his officers had finally joined Doc in his office. Doc stood to shake his hand as he came in. “Thanks for coming, Chief. I promise you, this will be worth your while.” He nodded to Creek, already there. “I understand you know Creek already. He’s the one who helped me figure this out.”
Creek stood and shook the chief’s extended hand. “Chief.”
Vernadetto looked at him. “You staying out of trouble’s way?”
“If by trouble, you mean the mayor, then yes.”
Vernadetto snorted. “She has gone in an interesting direction.”
Doc held a hand up, trying to shift the conversation before Creek revealed too much. Until Doc knew the outcome of this meeting, the file Creek had given him might be his only leverage. “Let’s focus on what’s about to happen. After you and your men set up in the conference room, I’ll call Remo up here. Creek and I will lay the evidence out and see what happens. You’ll be able to follow along on the tablet in there thanks to the camera we set up.”
Vernadetto nodded. “And if he doesn’t give us something we can use?”
Doc glanced at the officers. “If it comes down to it, we may use some… extra persuasion.”
Creek crossed his arms. “You have a problem with that?”
Vernadetto shrugged. “If you can do it without leaving marks, that would be better. Harder to prove if there’s nothing to show.”
“Got it.” Doc opened the door to the conference room. “I hope to Bast this works.”
The officers filed in, Vernadetto behind them. “For Fiona’s sake, I hope so too.”
Doc shut the door, then went to his desk, hit the speaker button on his phone, and punched in a number. It rang twice before Remo picked up.