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Ethan even found himself talking about the family he lost, a topic he avoided under almost all circumstances. Marcus felt safe, though.
Just as there had been no more kissing, there had been no more important talking either. Carl had stopped contacting Ethan, for which he was grateful. Each night, he hurried from Marcus’s home to his apartment, looking over his shoulder the entire time. He also installed a little more security in his apartment to watch for anyone breaking in while he wasn’t there. But the League had been quiet so far.
It didn’t change the fact that he needed to tell Marcus about the Humans Protecting Humans League and his assignment at the town house. He’d briefly considered tucking that secret away and not telling him. If the League never did anything, then there was no reason to stir up trouble. But that was a coward’s way out. Marcus deserved the truth.
He just didn’t know when to tell him. Marcus already seemed extremely stressed about the move as well as something else he wasn’t telling Ethan. He could feel it building. It was like looking on the horizon and seeing a wall of dark clouds crawling closer day by day. Ethan didn’t want to add to the problems weighing on Marcus.
Right now, he was leaning toward telling Marcus after the move was completed. He would be more relaxed. One problem would be solved, and he could breathe a little easier.
Or was he still being a coward?
Growling to himself, Ethan turned to fold up another box as he continued to work his way through the library. A high-pitched yelp escaped him when he saw a short but elegant-looking woman watching him from the doorway.
“Oh God, sorry!” Ethan gasped, pressing his hand to his chest as if he were trying to keep it from jumping out of his chest.
She giggled, her smile sweet and kind. “I apologize. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
Ethan gave a dismissive little wave. “No worries. I tend to get lost in thought while I’m working. Oblivious to the whole world.”
“I heard you working in here and I thought you were Amy, but I forgot that she doesn’t work for my son any longer.”
Ethan’s heart ramped up again and he fought the urge to take a step backward when he suddenly realized who he was talking to. There was only one other woman who might appear in Marcus’s home and that was Janice. But this wasn’t the stern woman who interviewed him. This was a lovely woman with black hair that was graced with a few random strands of gray and too-familiar blue eyes.
This was Julianna, Marcus’s mother.
The woman who instilled in Marcus and his brothers a deep love of music.
The woman who had clawed at Bel, trying to rip his heart from his chest with her bare hands.
But…she didn’t look like the woman he remembered from his childhood nightmares. This wasn’t the blood-stained woman calling for him after murdering his family.
No.
That couldn’t be right.
It had made sense after seeing what she’d done to Bel, her own son. Of course this woman had escaped her captors and gone on a blood-soaked rampage that ended in the deaths of more than a dozen people. It had to be her.
“Are you okay?” she asked softly. Ethan hadn’t realized he’d gone quiet as he stared at her like she was the angel of death. Well, she was sort of, but not the one he’d been looking for.
“Sorry. Tired, I guess,” he chuckled. He wiped his hands on his pants and slowly crossed the room. When he was within a few feet, he extended his hand. “I’m Ethan Cline. Mr. Varik hired me about a month ago to pack up his house for his move and to work as his assistant.”
He was proud that his hand didn’t tremble. She seemed fine right now. Not murderous in the least. And if she was here, Marcus had to be somewhere in the house as well. Marcus would hear him if he screamed for help, right?
Of course, if she was here, it meant that it was now dark outside. Fuck. How late was it? He’d completely lost track of time. He’d promised Marcus that he’d leave on time tonight rather than staying late. Obviously, that was because his family was stopping by for some unknown reason.
“Julianna Varik.” She took his hand without hesitation, smiling warmly at him. “I’m Marcus’s mother.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Varik. Is there anything I can help you with?”
“Oh, no! I didn’t mean to disturb you. I just heard someone moving about and was curious who else was here.”
“You’re not disturbing me at all. Actually, I just realized how late it was.” He pulled out his phone and confirmed that it was well after eight in the evening. So damn late. Marcus was not going to be pleased, but Ethan couldn’t bring himself to fully regret his absentmindedness. It meant that he got to meet Julianna. That was the only way he was going to remove the last of the doubt and questions from his mind about her and his past.
