"Then who ... what happened?"
Burnett cupped the cold glass in his palm, but didn't sip from it. If it wasn't blood, he seldom drank anything except the strong coffee she'd seen him consume on some mornings. "After Mario was reported having been seen in Fallen, there was an incident. We aren't sure it's connected."
"Was anyone hurt?" The words stung as they left her lips, but somehow she knew with certainty someone hadn't walked away unscathed.
He turned the glass in his hands twice before answering. "Helen was attacked."
Kylie's breath caught. Helen, a half fae, was the shyest, most docile person at Shadow Falls. Who in the hell would hurt her? The answer bounced back like an unwanted echo. Mario.
"Is she ... okay?" The word alive lingered on her lips, but she feared saying it because, damn it, it would have hurt too much.
"Yes," he answered. "She's going to be fine. And we don't even know if any of this is connected."
"So it wasn't this Mario, seeking Kylie," her grandfather said.
She looked at her grandfather and then said the obvious. "Burnett wouldn't be here if he didn't suspect that."
Burnett begrudgingly nodded. "We suspect it." He glanced at Kylie. "But there is really no proof to substantiate it. She was attacked from behind. She can't remember what happened."
"How bad is she?" Kylie asked, praying Helen wouldn't have scars-emotional or physical.
"She's stronger than any of us thought." He hesitated. "Her injuries were serious, but not life threatening. As you can imagine, Jonathon isn't leaving her side. Her parents are there at the hospital and there have been some awkward moments. Apparently, Helen hasn't told them of her newfound love."
Kylie envisioned the tall, lanky, and pierced vampire holding Helen's hand while her parents looked on. "I can also imagine that he's beyond pissed and wants revenge."
"I see you know Jonathon very well." The slightest hint of a smile passed Burnett's lips. But the smile didn't linger. "We have guards at the hospital, just in case the attacker returns."
"Should I go there?" Kylie asked.
"No," Burnett and her grandfather said at the same time.
Burnett continued. "If it was Mario, this could have been his ploy to get you to go to the hospital."
The thought that she and she alone was the reason Helen had been attacked sent an achy feeling crowding into her chest. Then anger crawled in and found its own spot in the tight space. She was so damned tired of people suffering at Mario's hand because of her. But how could she stop it? That was the million-dollar question and one Kylie decided needed to be answered. And sooner rather than later.
Burnett sat up straighter and refocused on her grandfather. "It was after Helen's attack that I got worried about Kylie's safety. I figured if I could find you then I'm sure he can. I think Kylie would be safer back at the camp."
"And I don't agree," her grandfather said.
"You don't agree?" Burnett seethed out the question. "Mario has made it clear, he wants Kylie to either join his group of rogue chameleons or he plans to kill her. He's threatened by her power as a protector."
"Again, I know this," her grandfather insisted. "You are not the only one who Kylie confides in. But if this attack on the other girl was to draw Kylie out, then it means he doesn't know where she is.""But for how long?" Burnett asked. "Mario isn't one to let up."
"Perhaps, but if he's already found his way into the camp to get to this girl, why would you have me believe that he couldn't do it again to get to Kylie?"
"But-" Kylie spoke up, yet Burnett's direct glance at her seemed to ask for her to let him deal with this. She clamped her mouth shut, although it irked her to do it.
"I see your concerns," Burnett said. "However, the attack didn't take place on camp grounds." He gave the glass of tea another twirl in his hands and looked down at the amber-colored liquid as if debating whether to drink it. Then he raised his gaze. "Another factor to consider is that we have more bodies to help fight this rogue and his followers. And while I know the idea probably enrages you, I also have the FRU's assistance. With the office in Fallen, near the camp, I can have a hundred trained people there in a matter of minutes."
Her grandfather frowned. "You are right, it enrages me." He paused and Kylie saw him grinding his teeth before he spoke again. "I must tell you that the only reason I sit at the table with you is because my granddaughter holds you in such high regard. In the absence of her real father and the situation of her home life, you have in many ways stepped into the role of a father figure for her."
Burnett ran his finger over the condensation of his tea, almost as if uncomfortable at hearing how highly Kylie thought of him.
"I pray you deserve her respect." Her grandfather breathed in again. "That said, your logic here confuses me. You claim to be keeping my granddaughter from the FRU and yet you would call them to assist in protecting her. How is this feasible?"
"I'm assisting in preventing them from testing her simply because I'm not sure the tests are one hundred percent without risks. I believe their eagerness to find answers might prevent them from completely considering Kylie's best interest. But please don't take this to mean that I think they are capable of doing what they did to others in the past. The FRU isn't perfect, Mr. Summers, no organization is, or ever will be, but it's not the same organization that it was back then."
Silence filled the room. The tension hung thick in the air.
"Let me take Kylie back to Shadow Falls where I believe she is the safest," Burnett continued. "I will have guards waiting and watching for Mario to make his move. When he does, we will be ready. We will catch him and put a stop to this once and for all."
"And we can do the same," her grandfather added, his tone tight again.
Burnett's grimace deepened. "Look me in the eyes and tell me honestly that you believe you and your people are capable of handling this."
Her grandfather laced his fingers together-tight-and set his gripped hands on the table. Then he stared at his hands as if weighing Burnett's words.
When he raised his gaze, he met Kylie's eyes, and then returned his frown to Burnett. "I do not agree with your plan, nor your assessment of my or my people's ability to protect one of our own. Albeit I may be holding on to my prejudices of the past. Prejudices I am certain will be a part of me until I take my last breath."