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I get to the driveway, and Reaper wraps an arm around my shoulders, guides me up to the front doors and through the threshold. All I can hear are murmurs that sound more like buzzing noises as Reaper shows me through the cute little house, and I realize as we pass a picture that it’s Lana’s house.
Oh no.
I spot Daemon and Hendrik standing close together. Daemon’s arm wrapped around his son’s shoulders. The look on both their faces is one I don’t think I’ll ever forget. I know Daemon didn’t love Lana, not in that way, but they were friends. Parents. They cared for each other.
Without thinking, I move to both of them. Daemon’s eyes lift, coming to mine when he notices me. I wrap my arms around them the instant I’m close enough to do so.
“She’s gone,” Daemon whispers, burrowing his face in my shoulder.
“What?” I ask, unsure I heard him correctly.
“Lana. She’s gone.”
The words penetrate, hitting me in the chest like a knife slamming into it.
No. No. No.
I tighten my arms around him and Hendrik, words unable to be voiced. For them, I want to cry. I don’t like either man or son hurting like this.
“Daemon.”
I pull away slightly in order for Daemon to face whoever called his name. I twist, seeing Trey, the officer from last night. The one who questioned me. Daemon explained to me that Trey was Lana’s brother.
“Trey,” Daemon rasps.
“Can we talk?” he asks, looking down at Hendrik and back.
“Whatever it is, Hendrik has a right to know too.”
Nodding, Trey looks apprehensive and sighs. “You know Lana. Nearly as well as I do.”
“Spit it out, man.”
I flinch at the harsh gravely tone of my man’s voice.
“Lana found out she had breast cancer. Docs said the prognosis was too far along for treatment.”
I suck in a breath at this news.
“Come again?” Daemon demands tersely.
“She didn’t want you to know. Fuck. I didn’t even find out until a couple of days ago, but she asked me to keep it to myself. She said she was gonna tell you. I told her she needed to do it soon.” Trey grimaces and shakes his head. “You know how stubborn Lana was. Didn’t want anyone pitying her or thinking less of her.”
“She should have told me. Told us,” Hendrik whispers, his breath hitching.
“Yeah, kiddo, your mom should have told ya.”
“I . . . I wouldn’t have . . .”
“Hendrik, don’t, buddy. Your mom wouldn’t want you to do the whole pity thing. It’s why she didn’t tell you. She didn’t want you to feel the pain alongside her. Yes, she was wrong for doing it, but she did it because she loved you,” Trey says, stopping Hendrik from what he was going to say.
“What now?” Daemon grunts.
“They’re gonna take her to the morgue. She already had her wishes taken care of with the funeral home. We just need to go handle them and figure the rest out.”
“Right.” Daemon nods and releases a harsh breath. “Let’s get this done.”
“Daemon,” I whisper, getting his attention.
