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“I won’t keep you,” Julianna said. She started to move toward the door. “It was a pleasure to meet you.”
“I was wondering…” Ethan quickly said, stopping her. “Were you the one to teach Marcus how to play the piano?”
Her expression instantly brightened, and it was like she was shining in her joy. “You’ve heard him play?”
“Yes. It was amazing.” Which was the honest truth. Marcus’s skill behind the piano was stunning. His nimble fingers flew across the keys, moving like the instrument was simply an extension of his body. He didn’t need to mention that the one time he’d heard Marcus play was at the request of his injured brother to soothe him.
“Well, he actually had several tutors growing up that taught him and his brothers to play instruments. I was just there to encourage him and find him new sheet music when he mastered the songs he had. All my boys are just so skilled.”
“You must be so proud of them.”
She nodded, taking another step into the room. “I am. I am a very lucky mother to have four such amazing and talented sons.”
“I think Marcus, I mean, Mr. Varik, is very lucky to have you. He speaks very highly of you.”
A rosy blush rose to her cheeks and she gave a little shake of her head. “Your mother must be proud to have raised such a kind child.”
“I like to think she would be,” Ethan murmured softly.
“Would be?”
“My mother was killed when I was very young.”
Julianna gasped softly, her cheeks losing their blush. She took a step toward Ethan with her hand outstretched toward him. “I’m so very sorry. That’s just horrible.”
“Thank you. If you don’t mind me saying so, you remind me of her a little bit. You’re kind like she was. Similar smile too.” He paused and looked down at the carpet for a moment, trying to gather together the courage to continue. He felt dirty and underhanded, but he had to know. Had to know the truth. He had his doubts, but he had to finally remove all the doubts from his mind.
“We…we used to play hide-n-seek in the house when I was little. Me and my two sisters,” he continued. “Did you ever play that with your sons?”
Juliana laughed and Ethan looked up at her. “I did, actually.”
“Did you ever sing ‘Come out, come out, wherever you are,’ as you sought them?”
Her brow furrowed a little in thought. “I…I don’t think I did.”
“Would you mind saying it now? You just remind me of her, and…I guess I just kind of miss that moment.”
Juliana’s smile was wide, but there was no missing the sad look in her eyes. “Come out, come out, wherever you are,” she sang.
Ethan blinked back tears. Her voice was like that of an angel, sweet and pure. So very perfect. And nothing like the woman who tried to hunt him down in his own apartment.
This wasn’t the woman that slaughtered his parents and sisters. She wasn’t the one who killed several families in his apartment building. She wasn’t the one.
He’d known it from the moment that she walked into the room. Probably known it from the moment he heard Bel and Rafe speak. Known it since Marcus had told him about their dedication to Julianna. She would never have had the chance to escape her sons and go on a blood-soaked rampage.
And he put Marcus and his entire family in danger because he’d been so damn desperate to find his family’s killer. It wasn’t fair. Not to him. Not to Marcus. He should never have fallen in with Carl and the stupid League. He was never going to find the vampire that destroyed his life. And if it meant that he didn’t potentially destroy another innocent family in his search, he’d just learn to accept it.
“Ethan?” Julianna said.
Ethan’s head popped up and he was surprised to find her standing only a couple of feet away. She slowly reached out and placed her small hand on his arm, her touch so gentle and cautious. For a moment, his brain rejected all the things that Marcus had told him about her. This couldn’t be the same woman who hurt Bel. She was warm and loving. She’d never hurt one of her sons. It would kill her to harm her boys. Ethan could see that.
But then maybe Marcus was right. It wasn’t her attacking her sons. The illness twisted and warped her mind, stealing her consciousness away and replacing it with that of a monster.
“Are you okay?” she asked, pulling him from his swirling thoughts.
“Yes. Sorry. You have an amazing voice,” he murmured.
“Like your mother’s?”
Ethan barked out a harsh laugh. He pressed the heel of his palms to his eyes, wiping away unshed tears. “Oh God, no! I loved my mother, but she had a horrible singing voice. She loved to sing along to the radio while she cleaned. Dogs would howl, but she didn’t care. She just loved music and singing.”
