3

Later that night I was dressed up a bit and Zeno couldn't hide his curiosity… And confusion why he had to be up at four in the morning his time.

I showed him where I was and understanding lit up his eyes. "You mentioned this gallery and one of the artists who is part of this showing. You said they were an up-and-coming artist in Chicago, so I got tickets to the event, and your Father's Day present is we're going to pick out your gift together and virtually enjoy this."

"You are such a gem, Daughter. Truly. Yes, let me make coffee now that I understand so I am fully awake with you."

"He is so excited," Alena whispered to me as if Zeno wouldn't hear.

Good. We all needed more fun.

Even if it woke us at four in the morning.

I put in one of the earbuds paired to my phone and so did Orson since he was big into art. I wasn't about to be that rude person who had my phone on speaker to disturb others. My security would be assuring people that we weren't livestreaming or recording anything, simply a private call with my dad when there was an ocean between us.

I had my phone the correct way so he would see the art but I would still get to see his excited face on the video call. It was cute the way Alena was snuggled up with him to enjoy this as well.

I listened as he talked about brushstrokes and intent, the pressure and pallets. He talked about the feeling and headspace of the artists. Orson replied a lot and agreed or countered with his own opinion, the two of them peas in the same pod and having a great time.

"We are boring you, Daughter," Zeno worried after an hour of it.

"No, not at all," I promised him, flipping the phone around so he saw me and could feel assured. "I could listen to you talk for hours about all of this. Seeing it from both your perspectives is really educational and cool."

"But?" Orson pushed.

I shrugged. "I just don't have anything to add. I don't—I'm not knowledgeable about art. It doesn't speak to me and—I'm not sophisticated enough to be able to speak on any of this. I don't really think there's anything wrong with saying that either. I completely enjoy being here and sharing this with you though."

"Daughter, oh daughter mine, no one who speaks nine languages fluently could ever be called unsophisticated in anything ," Zeno gently chastised. "This is simply not your medium for art to speak to you."

"Ten actually now," Orson corrected. "The ancients from France say she's way beyond conversational now that she's been working with them. They all laughed when she said she's conversational and said she's fluent. Ten languages is unreal to me."

"Thanks," I chuckled but then thought about what Zeno said. "I think the ones that speak to me are the ones where you could see the difference. I saw a lot of street painters when I had an assignment in New Orleans. That was what I loved. You could see what they saw and then the difference of their perspective.

"Or a few I saw they started hours ago and the lighting changing as they painted were pretty. That idea that you sat there the whole time and the city or busy Bourbon Street passed you by while you didn't move. Those are the ones I feel. Paintings of skylines where I can see what they do but then feel their mood or point of view. I think that's what I need to feel it, feel their moment."

"You are very profound, Seraphine," Alena praised. "I like it very much. You want to be more involved with the artist to appreciate their work. Yes, I can see that. And I have always wanted to see the street painters of New Orleans. I hear some are akin to Parisian street artists. We will get permission from that Alpha and take a weekend once you can fly again."

I agreed because that sounded like heaven. A four-day weekend just to eat and walk around, enjoy life, and be tourists.

I had never really done that. I'd tried a few times in Vegas but… Yeah, nothing ever went to plan.

Two from the same artist really spoke to Zeno most, it was obvious from how exuberant he became talking about them. Alena was flagging me behind her mate's back and it was hard not to laugh because there was a view of what their camera was showing in the corner of their phone as well.

"My love, I can see you giving our daughter gestures," Zeno finally busted her. "Seraphine is rather bright and I'm sure already flagged her security to acquire one of the paintings."

Both actually.

One could be for Christmas.

"I love you both so much," I chuckled, touched they were so excited for this fun and liked my idea. I had been hesitant and thought it might be cringe… But clearly not.

It was about two and a half hours before they had to get up for their day and their own Father's Day festivities. Zeno apologized again for talking so much, but I waved it off.

"Honestly, I just have to wear better shoes next time," I joked. "I always forget that standing in heels is harder than walking around in them. I'm not sure why, but—I had a great time, Dad. Really."

"Good, good. Us too. All of our love to you."

"Wait, I need one word with Mom before we disconnect," I cut in before he hung up. I ducked down a corner and disconnected the video call like an idiot trying to switch to just a voice call.

Duh.

Luckily, Alena simply called me right back. "What did you need?"

"I didn't want to talk about this with Dad, especially not today," I hedged. "And I don't want to celebrate Clayton on Father's Day. He is not a dad—not my dad anymore and not Topher's either. He doesn't deserve that title."

"But given what you learned about that beast , you feel as if you should do something."

"Yes." I sighed. "It's stupid, right? I feel like he should at least get a steak from us or something for not letting us die or tossing Topher out a damn window after his wife died. Like how low is that bar for—"

"You have a good heart, Daughter. Never change that. Yes, I will handle it and make it clear that it's not for Father's Day, but no matter all of his crimes, he wouldn't allow his children to be—he didn't allow you to have an accident . He kept that beast at bay. He brought Topher to you to be accepted and loved. He was given other allowances, but this is quick, just from you both."

"Thanks, Mom. And thanks for not judging me for this."

"No, I think—you always have to be grateful, Seraphine. The world is too hard and cruel. We have too much to bear. The moment we stop being grateful that we can keep shouldering what we do or we survived another year is when we become the monsters. Never forget that."

"I love you."

"We love you more. Thank you for this. Your father is practically glowing with joy and happiness that someone appreciates his dorky side. Your sisters do not."

"They've had more years of it," I reminded her, hoping she'd tell him. "You guys find my quirks charming too that others get sick of. I'm sure in thirty years I might be over talking art with Zeno as well since it's not my thing."

"You make a smart point and one I will bring up with him. Yes, we all need more common ground. Sleep well. Your grandmother will be there soon so let her help."

"I will, I promise." We finished up and I glanced to find Carter and he swore the purchase was all done. Good. They would be delivered to the building tomorrow.

Even better since they were bigger paintings and I didn't want to have to deal with getting a truck over to get them.

I heard something bad right as our SUVs pulled up. I had my heels off and handed over to Orson in the next second and was racing off. It was only a couple blocks away, so I arrived fast.

Right as the woman landed too hard on the ground.

Most would think to check on her first as the victim, but as a wolf I knew there were three heartbeats in that vehicle… And it was a carjacking.

I flew to grab the guy about to close the driver's door as Carter positioned himself in front of the SUV, and I saw one of the other ancients already getting someone else out of the passenger's seat. I had his gun away from him and pointed at him before he could even realize what was going on.

"Already calling it in," Carter told me.

"Are you okay?" I asked the woman as I kept my gaze on the man. I hadn't checked him for other weapons or anything, so I wasn't taking any chances.

"No, I think he dislocated my arm," she cried. "My baby. Please check on my baby."

"His heart is steady and he's calm," I told her.

"I see the little bugger from the front and he's just glancing around, ma'am," Carter added.

"Thank you," she rasped… Before turning a bit and kicking the guy who was now on the ground too. "You carjack a mom with her baby in the car? I told you that my boy was in the back and you said you didn't fucking care!"

"Ma'am, he's talking to dispatch and your baby can hear you yelling," I reminded her. "And I'd move away from him until police get here to secure him."

She scooted away, gingerly holding her shoulder but frowned at me. "I thought you were the police?"

"FBI, so this isn't our thing," I corrected.

"You can't arrest me and you pull my gun on me, bitch?" the guy on the ground seethed, pushing up like he was going to make a move.

"Bitch, I can arrest you, but I just hand you over," I drawled. I wanted to roll my eyes at myself. Why was I explaining myself to this fool? "Don't move means don't fucking move. I can still shoot you."

A patrol car was ridiculously close for how fast response time was. Seriously, like a couple blocks at most.

Carter moved towards them with his badge out. "We were out at an event a few blocks away and heard it."

"I'm Division Chief Seraphine Thomas," I added.

"I recognize you, Chief Thomas," one of the officers replied. "Though you weren't shoeless last time we met."

"Running in heels is a bitch," I joked. "I didn't check him. I wanted to make sure I was between him and the kid in the vehicle."

"This new trend of jacking cars and not caring that kids are in them is even more disgusting than jacking cars at gunpoint," he complained. "Can your friend cover me while I check him?"

"Yes, I can," Carter accepted.

His partner did the same for the other guy, and five minutes later they were both cuffed in the back of their cruiser. The ambulance pulled up at the scene and I winced, looking at the mom.

"How's your insurance?" I shrugged when she frowned at me. "Isn't an ambulance ride like six grand even with insurance now? I can drive your SUV to the hospital and leave it parked there so you have a way to get home when you're done. The ER is expensive enough."

She blinked at me some more. "Why do people say you're such a bitch? Seriously?"

I smiled while the others there winced or looked at her like she was the bitch. I thought she was endearing and amusing given she was in a shit ton of pain. "I lack a sensitivity chip normally getting shit done or focusing on facts and I don't play nice with idiots."

"Girl, none of us should. Yes, that would be amazing if you don't mind. My boyfriend can get a ride to meet us there and help with the baby."

Perfect. I checked they could take her statement there, but Carter changed it so he was driving her SUV and I went with my security to follow.

Fair enough.

We ended up playing with the baby who was about the same age as Topher while we gave our statements to different officers. Then I wished the woman luck and headed out. Her boyfriend had arrived by then and thanked us for helping and could take care of his son, so everything was settled pretty well.

We headed home and I was glad there was food coming with us, even better that it was sushi.

Though feeding sushi to supes was stupid expensive.

"We need to open a sushi place just for supes with the seafood farm seafood and at a discounted rate so we all stop spending so much on fucking sushi when it's so fucking good for us and what we need," I grumbled as we got on the elevator. "Even Dain is fine with me eating it all of the time and my stupid diet that—I bet he'd let me eat less stupid kale if I had more seaweed."

"That's actually a fantastic idea and solves what to do with the storefronts in one of the new buildings," Orson said.

Needless to say, I gave him a look that he needed to elaborate on that.

"Wait, first feed," Carter said quietly, nodding for me to kiss Orson.

Something neither of us were opposed to. And he was right, I was hungry for more than food and being cranky. I took huge sips as Orson took the kiss up several levels, his hands all over me.

It was nice to feel desired, but I honestly wasn't in the mood for sex.

I hadn't been for a while which was always a problem when I was a siren, but she had been very understanding and accepting of that since we'd met Stacey. She was worried about me as well since I'd tuned out for a night and let her take over.

Luckily, Orson picked up on that and toned it back down, leaning his forehead to mine. "One of the buildings you own in the Loop has over a dozen stores on the first floor, not just a lobby. I heard Simone talking about it and the nightmare it was going to be because the tenants aren't happy about the change in ownership."

I leaned back and smiled. "Oh, I bet because they liked that the previous owners hated supes and they do too. It's in some super pricey area and—"

Carter snorted. "All of the Loop is super pricey, Sera."

Yeah, fair enough.

I listened to the rest and thanked Orson for filling me in. I gave him another kiss as I stepped off the elevator with my food, laughing when he bitched he wanted to come with and give me a rubdown.

Carter shoved them back into the elevator and followed with me though. He kissed my shoulder when we reached my door. "I was planning on having you for dessert, darling."

I nodded, not wanting to give him the bullshit of being tired. I was tired. That wasn't the bullshit.

I was always tired.

But that wasn't the reason I wasn't in the mood for sex… And Carter could normally talk me out of feeling that. So I wasn't about to doubt him.

I texted Simone asking about the deets and if she had a moment. She video called me holding a glass of wine and a towel on.

"Seriously, you guys take the whole Alpha calling and jumping to it a bit too seriously," I said with a groan.

She laughed. "I'm Alpha too, but we finished our fun and I was curious."

"I could have kept going," Harris said from the background.

She laughed again when I made a gagging face. "I needed a break, Michael. Now fill me in, and what has Orson been telling you?"

So I did, making it clear that no one was snitching or running to Mom basically.

"Yes, we want all of the stores out, but the problem is it's not going to just be only supes in that building, just supes allowed now. We assume most will not renew their leases when they find out us evil supes will be there as well, but—it's tricky."

"Right, but their leases don't have it in there that there are certain stores or what they have access to like that. Just that there are stores and perks like the gym. We have the gym listed in the lease but not the equipment." I smirked when her eyes flashed shock. "So that's the way around it, and if the stores are problems, they're out. There's always a way."

"Dain said the same," she promised.

"We need a supe-friendly lawyer for all of this with you that's not Dain. It's big enough that we should have one but a human not attached to us. Dain is too visible and immediately people will know it's me."

"He said the same."

"Good. Lastly, we need to make at least this sushi place membership-only. That's legal. And we make one of the requirements that you have to contribute to a tithe. That makes it shifters, and the vamps do chip in somehow because they're under me. That's the legal workaround. I also think we should have—there used to be a place—"

"Slow down and eat some. Not all of us are as intelligent and have such fast-moving brains as you, Sera," she said without any malice. She'd already set down her wineglass and was typing notes in her phone.

Fair enough.

"Okay, I'm ready for your next genius," she told me after I'd eaten five rolls.

No, she didn't take that long to type. I shoveled my food in that fast.

"There used to be a place by my apartment where you made your own take-and-bake meals," I told Simone. "The menu would change weekly. And you could change things up, so like I didn't ever add jalape?os to the Mexican stuff. But I'm thinking of something like that. Or how Dain keeps having all of the chefs make me everything freezer meals."

"I know what you're talking about. It was the option before Home Chef and all the delivery places."

"Yes, but those are more expensive and meant for a couple, not a family and definitely not supes." I rolled my eyes when Carter snickered. Yeah, the normal wolf or vamp would eat like six of those dinners. "But bulk everything is always cheaper. I'm thinking like egg bakes that people could adjust and have for the week or however long.

"Stuff to help out. Even Brian's mom made us those baked pasta trays with all the meat and—she'll probably never give up that recipe, but we can do our own. Just something to help people and make it adjustable. I know some hate ricotta or prefer vodka sauce—"

"Yes, yes, you're making me hungry."

"Me too, and it's a fucking great idea, Sera. Simone was talking about it a few years ago, but everything was so fucked with Vlad and… Yeah," Harris said from the background.

"Yeah," I agreed.

"But you can't have them all be supe businesses, Sera," Harris warned. "That would bust you way too fast."

"He's right," Carter agreed.

"If it was me and with the money you have," Harris continued. "I'd get some franchises in there. You could have Taco Bell, Krispy Kreme, and whatever cool fit in there. A smoothie bowl place you love, but places safe for the kids to get after-school jobs who would be protected by managers we know. They'd have to interact with normal people not the bubbles they work in now."

"That's brilliant, Harris," I praised. That was one of my biggest frustrations trying to gently acclimate even the boys to life. They were thriving in their current situations, but there was no on-ramp to more. Even Ashley who was ready but we couldn't just drop into real life.

Well, more than college, and there had been too many blowups there already even with all the "safety" we were promised.

"Papa Murphy's take-and-bake pizza would be great too," I muttered. "We could sneak in some sort of reward card for supes. I'm sure there's something we could do for discounts."

"I will get on all of this with Dain to start especially on a human attorney for us to use as a shield as we have been using Jimmy Havers," Simone promised. "Enjoy your night and food."

I thanked her and apologized for interrupting her fun before hanging up.

We finished food and then Carter talked me into some fun… That wasn't sex. He gave me a shower that was actually focused on getting clean.

Mostly. There were kisses and a lot of touching, but he wanted to spoil me. That was clear. Then he had me wear some facial mask thing while he took care of my hair. I dozed off because I woke when he tucked me into bed.

And I had pretty nails. He knew my secret that I loved having pretty nails but hated the annoyance of getting them done or that I always, always messed them up when I left the salon.

I held up my hand and frowned. "This isn't normal polish."

"No, I bought gel polish for you and then a lamp thing so it sets perfectly and you can't ding it," he told me. "I'll make room to tuck it away in your bathroom, I promise."

"Thanks, Carter." I gave him a soft kiss.

"Thanks for not being mad at me," he whispered, not letting me hide when I wanted to. "I didn't know the right answer. I'm sorry, Sera. Please don't shut me out when I try so damn hard."

"You do. You try so much harder than they do and they say they love me forever," I admitted, letting out the petty and hurt I felt. I pulled his arm around me once we were in bed and blinked back tears.

But at least I slept soundly in his arms feeling his love.