Becoming My Ex’s Mother in Law by Aurora Starling

Chapter 60

After the doctor gave me a clean bill of health, I was discharged, and Andrew drove me to the mansion in his Aston Martin. Jeffrey followed closely behind us. I remained quiet the entire trip, my head leaning against the window as 1 thought over everything that had happened in the last 24 hours,

Even with a guard on me, someone had ambushed me and kidnapped me. I was nearly killed by vampires-vampires, for Goddess’s sake! They fed on me and nearly killed me with their venom.

I felt where the bite marks would have been if I hadn’t healed so quickly. I trembled as the image of them towering over me flashed through my mind.

I could still feel the sharp pain of Frederick’s fangs in my n*eck. Their stench and cold touch haunted me. I had never encountered anything so unnatural in my entire life, and I prayed to the Moon Goddess that I never would again.

I didn’t know what I would have done if Jeffrey and Andrew hadn’t shown up so miraculously. I hadn’t been so close to death since Bob tried to rape me. I shrunk into myself at the thought.

What had I done to deserve so many close brushes with death so close together?

I was shaken from my thoughts as Andrew buzzed us through the gates and drove up to the mansion. As soon as we parked, I immediately went to unbuckle my seatbelt, but Andrew’s hand on my arm stilled me.

“Crystal, are you okay?”

Instinctually, I wanted to say “yes”, but I knew that wasn’t the truth. Instead, I shook my head and choked back my tears.

“No, I’m not. How can I face the world again?

Andrew grabbed my chin and tilted my face up toward him.

“I told you that I am going to find out who did this, and I will, if it’s the last thing I do.”

“What about the vampires that got away? They have my scent now

“They will never get you here in the city. I will see to it

He brushed my hair out of my face.

“You trust me, right?” he asked.

“With my life.”

“Then trust that those who harmed you will never touch you again, not if I have something to do with it.”

The ones you know about, I thought.

I nodded.

“Okay. I trust you.”

Andrew k*ssed me tenderly on the forehead before releasing me.

We left the car and entered the mansion, hand-in-hand. Jeffrey came in behind us. Just like before, Parker met us at the door, awaiting orders.

“Parker, please get Ms. Blanchard’s room ready and have a light snack prepared for the three of us. Andrew looked from me to Jeffrey. “I don’t know about you two, but I’m starving.”

“Right away, Your Highness,” Parker said with a bow. “Anything else?”

“Yes, are my daughter and Bob home?”

I cringed just at the sound of Bob’s name, but Andrew didn’t seem to notice.

“Lisa is, but Bob still seems to be out. Would you like to see her?”

“No, I’m sure that she’s resting by now, and I would rather not-

“Father!”

Andrew chuckled.

“Never mind. That will be all, Parker.”

“Very good. Your Highness.”

With another bow. Parker left the foyer as Lisa appeared.

“Father, where have you been? I’ve been waiting to have dinner so that we-”

The smile on Lisa’s face disappeared the moment that she saw me. Her l*p raised in a snarl, and her eyes flared with murderous intent.

“What is she doing here?” she sneered.

“Lisa, be kind. Crystal has been through quite the ordeal, and she needs somewhere safe to heal

Lisa crossed her arms over her chest.

“What could have possibly happened?”

Andrew looked to me, as if asking permission. I nodded my consent for him to tell my story.

“She was kidnapped yesterday and abandoned in vampire territory. If Jeffrey hadn’t called me and we hadn’t found her in time, she would be vampire food right now.”

I flinched at his blunt wording, but I knew that he was only trying to get Lisa to understand the gravity of the situation. I watched Lisa’s reaction, and I was surprised to see the shock on her face as her eyes widened and her skin paled. Maybe she hadn’t known what Bob was going to do, after all.

“I’m I’m so sorry,” she said, the sincerity in her voice evident. “Are you all right?”

“I was bitten, but your father and Jeffrey got me to a hospital in time to get some antivenom,” I said. “Thank you for asking”

“Did you say that you hadn’t eaten yet?” Andrew asked Lisa. “We were about to go eat a little something in the dining room, if you wanted to join us.”

“No, I’m not hungry,” Lisa said, suddenly demure. “I’m just going to go to my bedroom and wait for Bob to come home.”

“Are you sure? Are you okay, sugar pie?” Andrew asked, reaching forward to touch Lisa’s shoulder.

Lisa shrugged off her father’s hand.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just a bit tired, that’s all.”

“Oh, okay, Sweet dreams.”

“Goodnight, Father.”

Lisa turned around, purposefully avoiding making eye contact with me.

“Goodnight, Lisa,” I said under my breath.

The next morning, instead of taking me to work, Andrew took me to the police station to meet with a sketch artist. Andrew would not let me out of his sight, even as we went back into the chief of police’s office for more privacy. Frankly, I was glad for his overprotectiveness; barring the sketch artist, everyone at the police station was a bit intimidating.

As I gave the artist my detailed description of each of my captors, the chief of police-Chief Callaghan-hovered over the artist’s shoulder. He shifted between watching me and watching the drawings as they came to life, an odd look in his eyes as the sketches grew more detailed. By the time the artist finished the third sketch, recognition dawned across Chief Callaghan’s face.

“Are you sure that these sketches are accurate?” Chief Callaghan asked, holding the drawings out to me.

I looked over the sketches for about the fifth time. They were amazingly detailed and realistic. It was as though the artist had reached into my memory and pulled the kidnappers’ image straight out of mind.

“Yes, I’m certain,” I said.

“These are the Hannigan Brothers and their cousin Ciaran Murphy. They’re well-known drug dealers. We’ve been trying to bust them for years but have never been able to get any solid evidence against them.”

Andrew stood behind me and glared at the sketches.

“I don’t care what else they’ve done. I want them brought in for Crystal’s kidnapping, immediately.

“Understood.”

Chief Callaghan reached for the walkie-talkie on his shoulder.

“I want an APB to be put out on Finn Hannigan, Brian Hannigan, and Ciaran Murphy. The suspects are believed to be armed and dangerous. Approach with caution.”

Andrew put his hands on my shoulders and rubbed them gently.

“Don’t worry, Crystal. These people are the best that the city has to offer. They will catch your kidnappers”

I stared at the sketches in front of me, but I knew that they were only the tip of the iceberg.

“I hope they do,” I said. “I really hope they do.”