"Nulli Secunfus" is Latin for "Second to None"
*~*~*
Giles held the door open for Olivia as they arrived at the Hyperian. Even that quick intake of the atmosphere let them know that something was terribly wrong. Olivia set her bag aside and called out. "Chandra?"
Her call was met with thundering steps coming down the stairs. They both turned to see Angel hustling down to them. "She's here?"
Giles narrowed his eyes. "You don't know if she is?"
"She sort of, ran away…"
Olivia gasped. "Ran away? Why?"
Cordelia came out from the inner office. "Giles!" She ran up and gave him a hug.
He returned the hug awkwardly. "Uh, hello, Cordelia."
She beamed a smile to him before heading over to the coffee pot. "Coffee anyone? Or maybe tea. You're all British. Tea. I'll get some water."
Giles followed Cordelia with his eyes before turning to Angel with a glare. "What's happened?"
Angel sighed. "There was this demon and…" He motioned to the couch. "You might want to sit down."
*~*~*
Cordelia filled the teakettle and turned to put on the stove but bumped right into Lindsey instead. "Hey!" she yelped.
He placed his hands on her shoulders to steady her. "Sorry."
She swallowed as she looked into his eyes. "It's okay. Just don't let it happen again."
He lifted the kettle from her hand and set it aside. "Cordelia, I think we should talk."
She shook her head. "No. No way. You are not going to do this. I will not have a Xander Harris repeat."
"A what?"
She shook her head again and quickly moved to the kettle and the stove. "Lindsey, this can't work. We don't mesh at all. We are totally un-mix-y things."
He wrapped his arms around her from behind. "Then how come we feel like this?" he whispered in her ear.
She closed her eyes and let out a shaky breath. "Please go."
He nodded and left the kitchen.
*~*~*
Giles and Olivia stared at Angel as Lindsey entered the lobby. "Hello?" the lawyer announced his presence.
Angel turned and grumbled. "Lindsey, this is Giles and Olivia. Guys, this is Lindsey."
Lindsey shook their hands in turn. "Clients?"
Angel shook his head. "Watchers."
"Oh." He glanced at the front door. "So they know about Vegas."
"Vegas?" Olivia asked.
He turned to her. "I knew her back when she was a little girl."
"She still is a little girl," Giles corrected. "A little girl who is probably very scared and very alone when she needs her friends the most." He stood. "We have to find her."
"We're on that, Giles." Angel agreed.
"Oh, I see very well how on top of things you are. You bloody idiot." He took off his glasses to clean them. "Do you realize how many people would take advantage of a slayer in a weakened state like that?"
*~*~*
Chandra shifted the bag on her shoulder and wiped her eyes. She didn't really want to leave, but she knew she had to. She gasped when the black limo pulled out in front of her. The dark tinted window rolled down to reveal a smiling brunette. "Need a lift?" the woman asked.
Chandra moved from one foot to the other. "Haven't you heard about giving rides to strangers?"
"I know who you are, Chandra." She opened the door. "Come in. We'll get a bite to eat and talk."
Curious, she slid into the limo.
*~*~*
Lindsey slammed the phone down and bolted for his bag. "They have her."
Angel stood. "Who?"
"Wolfram and Hart. That was a spy I have there. They brought her in less than an hour ago." He turned towards the stairs. "FAITH!"
Faith jogged her way down. "What's up?"
Cordelia grabbed her bag as well. "I just paged Gunn."
Faith paused. "He's not here?"
Angel shook his head. "He left after breakfast."
Giles scratched his head. "Who are Wolfram and Hart?"
All eyes went to Lindsey who sighed. "Long version or short?"
*~*~*
Lilah led Chandra up to her office and closed the door. "May I get you something to drink?" She walked over to the mini bar.
"I can't have any alcohol." Chandra chucked her bag aside and sat down.
"The baby. Of course. Would you like some juice?"
"Apple if you have it. Thank you."
Lilah smiled and handed her a glass before sitting down behind her desk. "As you see, I already know quite a bit about you."
"Quite a bit? You know my name and that I'm prego. I don't think that's quite a bit, as you put it." She sipped the juice. "What do you want?"
"Now really, it's about what you want."
"Huh?"
Lilah smiled wider. "We here at Wolfram and Hart are interested in nothing but your well being. We're here to help you with any of your needs. We will supply a home and help with all of your medical costs."
"Just as long as you get the baby, right?"
"You would still be a major part of the baby's life. You can stay as long as you'd like." She stood. "Chandra, you'd have people here who tend to your every need." She came around in front of the slayer. "We'll protect you."
Chandra swallowed. "One thing that has to be in the contract."
"What's that?"
"Angel must be kept away unless I say so."
Lilah smiled.
*~*~*
Angel Investigations was piling weapons into the lobby. Giles and Olivia were sorting most of them by size. Angel was pulling everything out of the weapons closet, Cordelia was loading crossbows with Gunn while Faith sharpened stakes. Lindsey was on the phone with his contact.
"Lilah. Damnit I knew I should have let them kill her. Okay, is she in her office? Right. The usual? Good. I wonder if they've bothered to cancel it out. No? Good. Keep me informed. Thanks." Lindsey hung up the phone and turned to the others. "She's in WH's main building right now but they're planning on transporting her to a safe house."
Angel picked up an axe and turned it in his hand. "Let's go then."
Faith snorted. "Uh, daylight?"
"Uh, sewers?" Angel mocked.
"Faith is right. Angel should stay here," Giles announced. "This is not a fighting situation yet. And I think that for Chandra's sake we should keep things as non-violent as possible."
Olivia nodded. "We can't risk getting her hurt."
"Shh." Angel perked up and sniffed the air. "Someone's here."
All seven of them tensed. Lindsey carefully put Cordelia behind him to protect her. Giles did the same for Olivia as they scanned the lobby area.
"Where?" Gunn asked.
Angel slinked like a cat on it's prey towards the basement door before flinging it open to receive a boot to the face. He stumbled backwards for a moment before vamping and snarling as he prepared to return the gesture to his attacker.
"Stop!" Faith cried as she ran up. "Adriana!"
Adriana stood perfectly still, her fighting stance ridged and hard, her eyes focused on the vampire. "Sorry," she said as she straightened her jacket and loosened up.
Faith looked confused. "What are you doing here?"
She smiled to Faith. "Seeing you is a bonus." Her smile faded as she looked to Angel. "You let Wolfram and Hart have the baby."
Giles walked up to them. "You know about the child?"
"That's part of the reason I'm here. The powers sent me for the child. I'm here to train the child once it's born. Kinda like a Watcher from the PTB's." She made her way to the arsenal and the rest of the group. "What's going on?"
"We're going after her." Angel crossed his arms.
"Not like this." Adriana looked around at all of them. "You mean you don't know? She went to Wolfram and Hart of her own accord. They didn't force her."
Olivia's eyes widened. "What? But that's impossible!"
"It happened. Something drove her there. I'm just not sure what."
Giles glared at Angel. "What have you done?"
Adriana raised her hand. "Wait. Now blaming is not going to help. We just have to figure out how to get the child back. We can't barge into that place. They have forces there even I can't battle." She looked to the watchers. "Giles, have you heard anything that might be useful to get in there?"
"No. I…" He paused. "How do you know my name?"
"What? You told me."
"No, I didn't." His eyes narrowed. "Faith, did you tell Adriana where you live?"
Faith's mouth hung open. "No…"
Angel held to his axe. "Who are you?"
Adriana sighed. "I promise I'm on the good. If you're really curious then take me to see the green guy. But I can't tell you everything."
Cordelia stepped up. "Hey, let's just work together right now to get Chandra out."
Lindsey nodded. "Agreed."
"We have to wait till they move her." Adriana surveyed the scene. "Okay, so it looks like the fighters are Faith, Angel, and me. Bookworms are the oldies. And we have you two." She pointed to Lindsey and Cordelia. "Who just sit around and look pretty."
"Hey!" Cordelia picked up a crossbow. "Wanna see how pretty you look with an arrow in you?"
She smiled. "Fire. Good. You'll help."
Lindsey crossed his arms. "You think that you can take her from Wolfram and Hart?"
"I can't. We can."
*~*~*
Chandra looked around her new apartment in awe. Lilah watched from the doorway with a grin. "Will this be suitable?"
She nodded. "This is really mine?"
"Wolfram and Hart want only the best for you. We've stocked up the fridge as well and you have pay-per-view cable if you'd like to use it." Lilah set a key on an end table. "Is there anything else you'll need?"
"Yeah." She grinned at the lawyer. "I need a friend. Lindsey. I want him here."
Lilah lost her smile. "What?"
"I want a friend here. He's like a brother to me."
"Of course. I'll see that he makes it here personally." Lilah bit the inside of her cheek in an attempt to keep from saying what she really wanted to.
"And I don't want him hurt. I know you two have a past." She flopped down in front of the TV.
"A past?" Lilah stepped closer. "What do you know?"
Chandra raised her right hand. "Evil hand! Hey Charlie…" She giggled and turned on the TV, flipping aimlessly. "Hope he didn't bruise your ass."
Lilah narrowed her eyes and headed for the door. Being reminded that Wolfram and Hart wanted Lindsey and not her was never pleasant. And having a spunky little slayer point it out and rub it in her face wasn't adding to the joy.
*~*~*
Lindsey jogged out to his truck to pull some more papers from the glove box when he heard a voice he was hoping he'd never have to again.
"Hello."
He stood and turned to face Lilah who was alone to his surprise. She had her arms crossed in front of her and she didn't look amused.
"Lilah," he smiled. "Good to… okay, it's not good to see you."
"Likewise, but this is business." She sighed. "The little twit wants you."
He furrowed his brow. "What?"
"Chandra. She wants to have you around."
"So you'll take me to her?" His mind started churning, hoping that this was the chance to rescue her.
"One way or another." Lilah smiled as the baseball bat came down on the back of his head, knocking him out.
*~*~*
Cordelia paced in the lobby, Adriana, Gunn and Faith watching her. "He just was going out to his truck. What could have happened? I mean, it's just outside. And now he's gone? He didn't even take his guitar." Her eyes grew wide. "What if he was mugged? What if he was killed or taken to be somebody's little bitch!"
Faith chuckled under her breath. "Cordy, chill. I'm sure it's nothing that serious."
Olivia, Angel and Giles came out from the back office. "What's going on?" Giles asked.
Adriana stood. "Wolfram and Hart have Lindsey now as well. This time by force."
Cordelia turned to her, still in a panic. "What? How do you know? Why didn't you tell me? Us. I mean us. What are you?"
"I'm just taking a guess." She walked out to his truck, the others minus Angel followed into the sunlight. "Look at this." She pointed to blood on the ground. "While you've been panicking about your lover I've put two and two together."
"He is NOT my lover." Cordelia's face went worried. "That's his blood? He's hurt?" Her face scrunched in pain.
"I'm sure he's fine, Cordelia."
"No." She held on to her head. "Not now."
Gunn braced her up. "Incoming."
Giles swooped her up in his arms and carried her into the lobby. "Cordelia, what do you see?"
She screamed and clinched her head as tears rolled down her cheeks. "Stop!"
Angel rushed to her side with a cool cloth and put it to her forehead. "Cordy?"
She thrashed around, making Giles lose his hold and set her on the couch. Her cries turned into pitiful whimpers. "Fifth… fifth and Hollywood. A girl in trouble. Go!"
Gunn and Faith bolted out the door. Adriana knelt by Cordelia's side. "The visions hurt you?" She looked confused. "They aren't supposed to."
She wiped some tears from her eyes. "Will you let them know that?"
Adriana took her hand. "I will." She closed her eyes and the others took a breath as a strange blue glow began to surround the two of them. As it faded, Adriana opened her eyes with a look of sorrow. "I'm sorry. There's nothing I can do. This wasn't meant to be. You aren't meant to have these."
Cordelia closed her eyes. "Go away."
Adriana nodded and stepped back, motioning to Angel to follow her. Once secluded, she swallowed and whispered: "She's dying."
*~*~*
"CJ? Wake up. Come on. Wake up."
Lindsey opened his eyes to look into Chandra's. "Vegas?"
She gave a sigh of relief. "I warned them that if they ever hurt you again…"
He sat up. "Chandra, this isn't safe. What are you doing with them?"
She looked down. "They won't hurt me. They can't. But they'll hurt you. So if you're here with me I can watch over you."
Lindsey took a look at the apartment W&H had furnished for her. His old apartment. How ironic. "Vegas, you don't know what these people are capable of."
"But you do. You know. And you know that they will treat me like a Goddess."
"Until the baby's born and they dispose of you." He stood slowly. "Will they let you leave for walks at least?"
She nodded. "Yes. I can come and go. I'm not a prisoner."
"You are." He took her shoulders gently. "This is not good. These people are evil to the core." His eyes softened. "I don't want you hurt."
"We all have evil in us, Lindsey." She took a hold of his right hand, the replacement hand. "Even you."
He took his hand back. "But you don't have to embrace it."
Her eyes darkened slightly and she grinned. "Maybe I want to."
*~*~*
Giles held the door open for Olivia as they arrived at the Hyperian. Even that quick intake of the atmosphere let them know that something was terribly wrong. Olivia set her bag aside and called out. "Chandra?"
Her call was met with thundering steps coming down the stairs. They both turned to see Angel hustling down to them. "She's here?"
Giles narrowed his eyes. "You don't know if she is?"
"She sort of, ran away…"
Olivia gasped. "Ran away? Why?"
Cordelia came out from the inner office. "Giles!" She ran up and gave him a hug.
He returned the hug awkwardly. "Uh, hello, Cordelia."
She beamed a smile to him before heading over to the coffee pot. "Coffee anyone? Or maybe tea. You're all British. Tea. I'll get some water."
Giles followed Cordelia with his eyes before turning to Angel with a glare. "What's happened?"
Angel sighed. "There was this demon and…" He motioned to the couch. "You might want to sit down."
*~*~*
Cordelia filled the teakettle and turned to put on the stove but bumped right into Lindsey instead. "Hey!" she yelped.
He placed his hands on her shoulders to steady her. "Sorry."
She swallowed as she looked into his eyes. "It's okay. Just don't let it happen again."
He lifted the kettle from her hand and set it aside. "Cordelia, I think we should talk."
She shook her head. "No. No way. You are not going to do this. I will not have a Xander Harris repeat."
"A what?"
She shook her head again and quickly moved to the kettle and the stove. "Lindsey, this can't work. We don't mesh at all. We are totally un-mix-y things."
He wrapped his arms around her from behind. "Then how come we feel like this?" he whispered in her ear.
She closed her eyes and let out a shaky breath. "Please go."
He nodded and left the kitchen.
*~*~*
Giles and Olivia stared at Angel as Lindsey entered the lobby. "Hello?" the lawyer announced his presence.
Angel turned and grumbled. "Lindsey, this is Giles and Olivia. Guys, this is Lindsey."
Lindsey shook their hands in turn. "Clients?"
Angel shook his head. "Watchers."
"Oh." He glanced at the front door. "So they know about Vegas."
"Vegas?" Olivia asked.
He turned to her. "I knew her back when she was a little girl."
"She still is a little girl," Giles corrected. "A little girl who is probably very scared and very alone when she needs her friends the most." He stood. "We have to find her."
"We're on that, Giles." Angel agreed.
"Oh, I see very well how on top of things you are. You bloody idiot." He took off his glasses to clean them. "Do you realize how many people would take advantage of a slayer in a weakened state like that?"
*~*~*
Chandra shifted the bag on her shoulder and wiped her eyes. She didn't really want to leave, but she knew she had to. She gasped when the black limo pulled out in front of her. The dark tinted window rolled down to reveal a smiling brunette. "Need a lift?" the woman asked.
Chandra moved from one foot to the other. "Haven't you heard about giving rides to strangers?"
"I know who you are, Chandra." She opened the door. "Come in. We'll get a bite to eat and talk."
Curious, she slid into the limo.
*~*~*
Lindsey slammed the phone down and bolted for his bag. "They have her."
Angel stood. "Who?"
"Wolfram and Hart. That was a spy I have there. They brought her in less than an hour ago." He turned towards the stairs. "FAITH!"
Faith jogged her way down. "What's up?"
Cordelia grabbed her bag as well. "I just paged Gunn."
Faith paused. "He's not here?"
Angel shook his head. "He left after breakfast."
Giles scratched his head. "Who are Wolfram and Hart?"
All eyes went to Lindsey who sighed. "Long version or short?"
*~*~*
Lilah led Chandra up to her office and closed the door. "May I get you something to drink?" She walked over to the mini bar.
"I can't have any alcohol." Chandra chucked her bag aside and sat down.
"The baby. Of course. Would you like some juice?"
"Apple if you have it. Thank you."
Lilah smiled and handed her a glass before sitting down behind her desk. "As you see, I already know quite a bit about you."
"Quite a bit? You know my name and that I'm prego. I don't think that's quite a bit, as you put it." She sipped the juice. "What do you want?"
"Now really, it's about what you want."
"Huh?"
Lilah smiled wider. "We here at Wolfram and Hart are interested in nothing but your well being. We're here to help you with any of your needs. We will supply a home and help with all of your medical costs."
"Just as long as you get the baby, right?"
"You would still be a major part of the baby's life. You can stay as long as you'd like." She stood. "Chandra, you'd have people here who tend to your every need." She came around in front of the slayer. "We'll protect you."
Chandra swallowed. "One thing that has to be in the contract."
"What's that?"
"Angel must be kept away unless I say so."
Lilah smiled.
*~*~*
Angel Investigations was piling weapons into the lobby. Giles and Olivia were sorting most of them by size. Angel was pulling everything out of the weapons closet, Cordelia was loading crossbows with Gunn while Faith sharpened stakes. Lindsey was on the phone with his contact.
"Lilah. Damnit I knew I should have let them kill her. Okay, is she in her office? Right. The usual? Good. I wonder if they've bothered to cancel it out. No? Good. Keep me informed. Thanks." Lindsey hung up the phone and turned to the others. "She's in WH's main building right now but they're planning on transporting her to a safe house."
Angel picked up an axe and turned it in his hand. "Let's go then."
Faith snorted. "Uh, daylight?"
"Uh, sewers?" Angel mocked.
"Faith is right. Angel should stay here," Giles announced. "This is not a fighting situation yet. And I think that for Chandra's sake we should keep things as non-violent as possible."
Olivia nodded. "We can't risk getting her hurt."
"Shh." Angel perked up and sniffed the air. "Someone's here."
All seven of them tensed. Lindsey carefully put Cordelia behind him to protect her. Giles did the same for Olivia as they scanned the lobby area.
"Where?" Gunn asked.
Angel slinked like a cat on it's prey towards the basement door before flinging it open to receive a boot to the face. He stumbled backwards for a moment before vamping and snarling as he prepared to return the gesture to his attacker.
"Stop!" Faith cried as she ran up. "Adriana!"
Adriana stood perfectly still, her fighting stance ridged and hard, her eyes focused on the vampire. "Sorry," she said as she straightened her jacket and loosened up.
Faith looked confused. "What are you doing here?"
She smiled to Faith. "Seeing you is a bonus." Her smile faded as she looked to Angel. "You let Wolfram and Hart have the baby."
Giles walked up to them. "You know about the child?"
"That's part of the reason I'm here. The powers sent me for the child. I'm here to train the child once it's born. Kinda like a Watcher from the PTB's." She made her way to the arsenal and the rest of the group. "What's going on?"
"We're going after her." Angel crossed his arms.
"Not like this." Adriana looked around at all of them. "You mean you don't know? She went to Wolfram and Hart of her own accord. They didn't force her."
Olivia's eyes widened. "What? But that's impossible!"
"It happened. Something drove her there. I'm just not sure what."
Giles glared at Angel. "What have you done?"
Adriana raised her hand. "Wait. Now blaming is not going to help. We just have to figure out how to get the child back. We can't barge into that place. They have forces there even I can't battle." She looked to the watchers. "Giles, have you heard anything that might be useful to get in there?"
"No. I…" He paused. "How do you know my name?"
"What? You told me."
"No, I didn't." His eyes narrowed. "Faith, did you tell Adriana where you live?"
Faith's mouth hung open. "No…"
Angel held to his axe. "Who are you?"
Adriana sighed. "I promise I'm on the good. If you're really curious then take me to see the green guy. But I can't tell you everything."
Cordelia stepped up. "Hey, let's just work together right now to get Chandra out."
Lindsey nodded. "Agreed."
"We have to wait till they move her." Adriana surveyed the scene. "Okay, so it looks like the fighters are Faith, Angel, and me. Bookworms are the oldies. And we have you two." She pointed to Lindsey and Cordelia. "Who just sit around and look pretty."
"Hey!" Cordelia picked up a crossbow. "Wanna see how pretty you look with an arrow in you?"
She smiled. "Fire. Good. You'll help."
Lindsey crossed his arms. "You think that you can take her from Wolfram and Hart?"
"I can't. We can."
*~*~*
Chandra looked around her new apartment in awe. Lilah watched from the doorway with a grin. "Will this be suitable?"
She nodded. "This is really mine?"
"Wolfram and Hart want only the best for you. We've stocked up the fridge as well and you have pay-per-view cable if you'd like to use it." Lilah set a key on an end table. "Is there anything else you'll need?"
"Yeah." She grinned at the lawyer. "I need a friend. Lindsey. I want him here."
Lilah lost her smile. "What?"
"I want a friend here. He's like a brother to me."
"Of course. I'll see that he makes it here personally." Lilah bit the inside of her cheek in an attempt to keep from saying what she really wanted to.
"And I don't want him hurt. I know you two have a past." She flopped down in front of the TV.
"A past?" Lilah stepped closer. "What do you know?"
Chandra raised her right hand. "Evil hand! Hey Charlie…" She giggled and turned on the TV, flipping aimlessly. "Hope he didn't bruise your ass."
Lilah narrowed her eyes and headed for the door. Being reminded that Wolfram and Hart wanted Lindsey and not her was never pleasant. And having a spunky little slayer point it out and rub it in her face wasn't adding to the joy.
*~*~*
Lindsey jogged out to his truck to pull some more papers from the glove box when he heard a voice he was hoping he'd never have to again.
"Hello."
He stood and turned to face Lilah who was alone to his surprise. She had her arms crossed in front of her and she didn't look amused.
"Lilah," he smiled. "Good to… okay, it's not good to see you."
"Likewise, but this is business." She sighed. "The little twit wants you."
He furrowed his brow. "What?"
"Chandra. She wants to have you around."
"So you'll take me to her?" His mind started churning, hoping that this was the chance to rescue her.
"One way or another." Lilah smiled as the baseball bat came down on the back of his head, knocking him out.
*~*~*
Cordelia paced in the lobby, Adriana, Gunn and Faith watching her. "He just was going out to his truck. What could have happened? I mean, it's just outside. And now he's gone? He didn't even take his guitar." Her eyes grew wide. "What if he was mugged? What if he was killed or taken to be somebody's little bitch!"
Faith chuckled under her breath. "Cordy, chill. I'm sure it's nothing that serious."
Olivia, Angel and Giles came out from the back office. "What's going on?" Giles asked.
Adriana stood. "Wolfram and Hart have Lindsey now as well. This time by force."
Cordelia turned to her, still in a panic. "What? How do you know? Why didn't you tell me? Us. I mean us. What are you?"
"I'm just taking a guess." She walked out to his truck, the others minus Angel followed into the sunlight. "Look at this." She pointed to blood on the ground. "While you've been panicking about your lover I've put two and two together."
"He is NOT my lover." Cordelia's face went worried. "That's his blood? He's hurt?" Her face scrunched in pain.
"I'm sure he's fine, Cordelia."
"No." She held on to her head. "Not now."
Gunn braced her up. "Incoming."
Giles swooped her up in his arms and carried her into the lobby. "Cordelia, what do you see?"
She screamed and clinched her head as tears rolled down her cheeks. "Stop!"
Angel rushed to her side with a cool cloth and put it to her forehead. "Cordy?"
She thrashed around, making Giles lose his hold and set her on the couch. Her cries turned into pitiful whimpers. "Fifth… fifth and Hollywood. A girl in trouble. Go!"
Gunn and Faith bolted out the door. Adriana knelt by Cordelia's side. "The visions hurt you?" She looked confused. "They aren't supposed to."
She wiped some tears from her eyes. "Will you let them know that?"
Adriana took her hand. "I will." She closed her eyes and the others took a breath as a strange blue glow began to surround the two of them. As it faded, Adriana opened her eyes with a look of sorrow. "I'm sorry. There's nothing I can do. This wasn't meant to be. You aren't meant to have these."
Cordelia closed her eyes. "Go away."
Adriana nodded and stepped back, motioning to Angel to follow her. Once secluded, she swallowed and whispered: "She's dying."
*~*~*
"CJ? Wake up. Come on. Wake up."
Lindsey opened his eyes to look into Chandra's. "Vegas?"
She gave a sigh of relief. "I warned them that if they ever hurt you again…"
He sat up. "Chandra, this isn't safe. What are you doing with them?"
She looked down. "They won't hurt me. They can't. But they'll hurt you. So if you're here with me I can watch over you."
Lindsey took a look at the apartment W&H had furnished for her. His old apartment. How ironic. "Vegas, you don't know what these people are capable of."
"But you do. You know. And you know that they will treat me like a Goddess."
"Until the baby's born and they dispose of you." He stood slowly. "Will they let you leave for walks at least?"
She nodded. "Yes. I can come and go. I'm not a prisoner."
"You are." He took her shoulders gently. "This is not good. These people are evil to the core." His eyes softened. "I don't want you hurt."
"We all have evil in us, Lindsey." She took a hold of his right hand, the replacement hand. "Even you."
He took his hand back. "But you don't have to embrace it."
Her eyes darkened slightly and she grinned. "Maybe I want to."