"I'm sorry," Lily said.
"What for?" I asked.
"It was a weird thing to ask, wasn't it? Most people would wish you to keep each other happy, but here I am, asking you to protect him."
She sighed. "I know it's shameless of me, and if we were like any other normal family, I would want nothing more than your happiness."
I knew exactly what she meant. I didn't grow up in a normal family either. While other children had parents who loved them, I was roaming the streets, sleeping wherever my legs got me. While they were learning in school to become someone in life, I was learning how to kill. While they were throwing parties in college, I had gone on my first mission.
She adjusted her beanie. "Has he said anything about his dad?"
I nodded. "A bit."
She stared at me. "What did he say?"
I could hear the anxiety in her voice.
"Just that he was a dangerous man."
I didn't think Damon told her about having dinner with Alan, so I left that part out.
"Ah, I see," her eyes shook.
She bit her lip nervously. I could tell she wanted to say something but was wondering if she should say it or not.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Damon has dissociative amnesia," she turned to me.
I blinked. "What?"
"There's a part of his memory that he lost. He went through something so traumatic as a kid that his brain shut out some of those painful memories."
"What happened to him?" I asked.
She shook her head, the tears falling down her cheek.
"I don't know either. My son went through such trauma, and I wasn't there to protect him. What kind of mother does that make me?" she sobbed.
I pulled her in a hug and rubbed her back gently. There was nothing I could say that could soothe her.
She pulled away and sniffed. "Doctors said it's unlikely he'll get those memories back unless some other trauma forces it out," she grabbed my arm.
"Do not let that happen," her eyes searched mine frantically.
I held her hand gently. "I won't. Lily, I don't care about Damon's past. All I care about is the man with me right now."
Her anxiety abated as a smile spread across her face. "I'm glad to hear that."
Damon came back just in time and handed her the latte. She wiped her eyes quickly and grabbed it. He sensed her mood and stared at me.
"What were you guys talking about?" he asked.
He passed me the iced coffee.
What kind of trauma did he face that made him wipe out a part of his memory?
"What do you think?" I teased.
"Will you talk, or should I get it out of you?" he asked.
I saw the look on his face, and I dropped the cup quickly.
"You wouldn't."
"Wanna bet?" he stood up.
I pulled away from him and ran. He caught up to me quickly and wrapped me in his arms.
Those damn long legs.
His fingers found my weak spot—an inch away from my belly button— as he tickled me.
"Damon, stop" I laughed.
"Tell me," he said.
"Fine, we were talking about you," I giggled.
"What about me?"
"Let the poor girl go," Lily called, smiling.
"Not until she fesses up."
I laughed loudly, his fingers torturing me in the worse way possible.
"Okay, okay, fine."
He paused.
"First, let me go and then I'll tell you."
He let me go, just as my phone rang.
My smile froze when I saw the caller.
Tony.
I held up a finger to Damon and he nodded. He walked back to Lily.
I picked the call. "Hello."
"Where are you?" he asked.
"Home."
A pause. "You're home?"
"Where else would I be?" I glanced at Damon.
Tony sighed. "Did you convince him to take up the offer?"
"I'm working on it," I said, gripping my hair.
Damon waved me over.
"You don't have much time. Either you figure it out or I step in," he threatened.
"I got it," I said, my voice rising an octave. "So, do nothing."
"It's my mission. I'll see it through."
"You have a week," he ended the call.
"Fuck!" I cussed under my breath and turned.
I paused when a car caught my eye. It was parked under a tree a few yards away from me. I squinted closely, I'd seen it somewhere before.
I gasped. It was the same car I saw behind us.
They followed us.
"Shit."
I should have noticed. I should have realized we were being followed and done something about it earlier but I was too immersed in my happiness to notice the danger that lurked behind us. We were compromised.
Who was it?
Tony? Alan? That Raven mercenary?
The car drove away, and I stood still watching it go, unable to do anything.
"Ivy!" Damon called.
"Coming," I said.
I had a really bad feeling.