Read Online Eden's Charms by Jaclyn Tracey - Free Book Online Page B

lost the contents of his bladder down his leg, out his shoe and all over the floor into a sloppy puddle.
    “Damn, he’s not house-broken,” Julian said one inch away from Ethan’s face. A little closer and he could have kissed him…or bit off his nose. The latter being Julian’s choice.
    Actually everyone’s but Ethan’s choice. Not that Ethan wanted to kiss the man, but if it were a choice between his nose or his dignity? Well, having just peed all over himself, the point seemed moot.
    “Ladies, Savanah’s in the carport screaming obscenities because I locked her in there for her own safety. Would you please go release her?” André tried to scoot the women out.
    Getting her last digs in, Jovan yelled, “I don’t care what happens to you—” She poked Ethan in the breastbone “—as long as it isn’t in this room. My paint hasn’t dried yet, and I don’t want any bloodstains or evidence. Do you hear me, Grimmy?”
    Julian shot his hands into the air and mouthed, “What? Me?”
    Ethan’s rosy complexion took a drastic turn for the worse.
    Watching him dry-heave she vowed, “If you even think of vomiting in this room I’ll kill you myself. Swallow it. André, get him out of here.” Jovan jammed Ethan’s mouth shut. “You ever touch my daughter again, I’ll turn you into the bull she said you were. And you’ll be castrated first.”
    “It’s called payback, Mom.” Ethan’s salmon appetizer left a rancid puddle of pink chunks on the floor.
    “Kid, you’ve done something I haven’t seen in a century. You broke open a beehive and my little queen’s about to take a chunk out of your hide,” André chided.
    “Who the hell are you people?” Ethan asked as he tried to wipe his chin off on his shirt.
    “Raven is my sister, and she is neither pregnant nor lactating.” André spun Ethan to face him. “Now, what makes you think my sister had a baby and why would you of all people want it? You’re not leaving here ’til we have answers. Please, humor me, and tell me you didn’t sleep with her.”
    “Me? No, but I know who did.”
    “Actually, Ands, he’s not leaving here period. We can’t let him go.” Julian winked behind Ethan’s back. But we can have some fun with him until we figure out what to do. The kid reeks of vampire.
    André wasn’t entirely certain he really didn’t want the little twerp buried in the woods.
    “Who’s Savanah? Is she the beauty from the restaurant?”
    André picked up a poker from the fireplace, and jabbed the rod’s tip into Ethan’s side. “It is not your turn to ask the questions. It is your turn to answer them. Who sent you here?” He prodded Ethan’s gut harder.
    “I’m claiming the fifth.”
    “He’s all your, Jules. Take him to the tack room.” André stormed from the room, his temper ready to stick around and finish the kid off. He found his wife and daughter in the kitchen.
    “Papa, what happened? Who’s upstairs?”
    André put his finger gently on his daughter’s lip and kissed her forehead. “We need to find out where this kid gets his information. Why would he think Raven had a baby?”
    “Who?” Savanah asked again.
    Jovan reached out to André, and whispered in his mind. We need to talk when we’re alone. Something’s very wrong. The boy’s mind is tainted by a vampire. He doesn’t realize his free will has been bought, and he’s now an indentured servant. He’s dangerous. For her daughter’s ears she inclined her head to the pantry. “We can make the truth serum up. Won’t take but a few minutes. We’ll meet you in the stables.”
    “Cherié, why the truth serum if you can detect lies?”
    “Because he will lie ’til the cows come home to protect his master.” Jovan kissed André on the corner of his lip.
    “Here we go again.” Savanah knew it. “One kiss leads to another, and I’ll be waiting all evening to get to the stables.” Savanah pried her mother from her father. “Come on, Mum. I want to see who