Above Skyler’s bent head, Francesca’s black gaze met Gabriel’s dark one in mute understanding. Both of them easily read the teenager’s thoughts. Gabriel smiled his reassurance, wishing he could take Francesca into his arms and hold her close within the shelter of his heart and his mind, in the shelter of his body. She always thought of others, always wanted to help those in need, and her compassion was slowly rubbing off on him.
“I love you very much, Francesca.” The emotion was so intense, the words spilled over from his mind, into hers.
Francesca felt the color rising in her cheeks. Gabriel could make her feel like a teenager, her heart fluttering at the brush of his hand. Sometimes he allowed himself to be so vulnerable. It was a very unusual trait in a Carpathian male.
His soft laughter echoed in her mind as she opened the front door. “You do not know the first thing about the Carpathian male.”
Francesca gave him her haughtiest look when what she really wanted was to fling herself into his arms. Instead she smiled a welcome at the couple standing on her porch. “Please come in. Aidan sent word to expect you. It’s very kind of you to help us out when we are in such great need.”
The man stepped forward with an easy smile and held out his hand deliberately to Gabriel. “I’m Santino and this is my wife, Brasilia.” He was clearly at ease despite the fact that he suspected what they were. He was completely unafraid to have Gabriel “read” him, and Gabriel liked him for that.
Santino was a good man with a sense of duty and a determination to do whatever it took to protect his family. He had been through sieges with vampires and their minions and knew the danger and what it took for the hunters to protect humans and Carpathians. He had willingly joined the ranks of the fighters by accepting the responsibility that came with knowing that vampires really existed. He had a quiet confidence about him, an air of capability that Gabriel liked immediately.
Gabriel could almost see Francesca’s inward sigh of relief. Skyler was very quiet during the introductions, her face very pale, but both Santino and his wife were extraordinarily gentle with her. Drusilla was a small woman, with much the same build as Skyler, only rounder and soft-looking. She was more nervous than her husband, but neither Carpathian could detect anything other than sincere compassion for Skyler and determination to be of assistance to a child in distress. Francesca liked her immediately for that. Skyler obviously read only good in the couple because she began to slowly relax, loosening her death grip on their hands and even managing a faint smile once or twice in the course of the conversation.
Francesca showed the couple around the house, purposely excluding Skyler’s bedroom. It was important the young woman felt she had her own privacy, a sanctuary no one would intrude on without permission or invitation. Drusilla was particularly happy with the kitchen and garden area. Santino was unhappy with the easy access from the street. To him protecting the household was a logistical nightmare. Both spoke French fluently with a distinctly American accent.
It was impossible not to feel at home and at peace in Francesca’s home. There was something soothing and tranquil about the house. Drusilla smiled at her husband, suddenly happy with the decision they had made. It had not been an easy one. Their two children were in college and th