Louise looked around the foyer of Patrick's house. She had never seen the like other than in magazines and on television, but this was real. It struck her for the first time that people really did live like some of the people on television. She looked at the immaculate floor and kicked her shoes off then looked at the walls that were covered with beautiful paintings that had to be replicates.
"Louise?" Patrick called, "You don't have to take your shoes off unless you want to."
"You live here?" she asked seeming not to hear the statement about the shoes.
"Yes this is Kevyn's and my home and now yours for as long as you wish it to be." Patrick replied taking her bag from her. "Come on, I'll show you where things are and introduce you to any staff that's still here."
Louise looked over at Kevyn who seemed as surprised as she was but was doing a better job at hiding it. The sisters held hands as they followed Patrick through the house stopping any staff person that he saw. Finally, they were at the bottom of the stairs.
"Louise, your rooms are upstairs but you are free to go to any part of the house. If you need something and we don't have it just ask and it'll be taken care of."
Louise could only nod as she looked around her still not believing that she would be living here at least for a while with Kevyn and Patrick. They followed Patrick up the stairs where he waited for them to catch up before going into a room.
"This is your bedroom." Patrick said setting her bag down. "If you don't like how it's decorated, feel free to change anything that you don't like."
Louise and Kevyn looked around the room that would have held Louise's bedroom at least five times. The walls were an eggshell white with white borders and had paintings on the wall. The king-sized bed was already turned back with chocolates on the pillow.
"There's plenty of closet and dresser space and as I said, make yourself at home." Patrick said as he walked through the room. "The bathroom is here and it's fully stocked with towels and thing s like that."
"This is all so beautiful!" Louise exclaimed as she took in the large tub complete with jets and the shower that looked as if it could hold six people without a problem.
"I'm glad that you like it." Patrick said with a smile, "Are you alright for a few moments? I would like to show Kevyn our rooms."
"I'm fine." Louise replied as she continued to look around the room as if she was in a dream.
Patrick took Kevyn's hand and led her from Louise's room to the stairs.
"Our rooms are downstairs in the basement if you want to call it that." Patrick said as they walked. "Tomorrow I'll give a more thorough tour but there is a room that I want to show you."
Up until this point Kevyn hadn't spoken. She like Louise knew that people lived like this but she had never seen it in person. She allowed Patrick to lead her into a room that looked like a small movie theater complete with a concession stand just like at a real movie theater.
"Remember those championship parties that you talked about having?" he asked.
"Yes." Kevyn whispered.
"This is where they would happen, the screen goes up and there's a large screen television behind it."
"You lived here alone?" Kevyn asked.
"I did until you and Louise." Patrick replied taking her into his arms, "What's wrong?" he asked when Kevyn didn't say anything.
"Nothing, I just... this is all new to me I guess." she replied.
"You're lying." Patrick said kissing her, "tell me the truth."
Kevyn hesitated before speaking, "I just don't want you thinking that I'm here because you have money."
"Kevyn, I know that." Patrick said.
"And Louise, she really likes you and she's not here because of your money either...."
Patrick interrupted her with a kiss, "Stop worrying, I know that you love me and that even if I had no money that you would still be with me. As far as Louise goes, I like her too; she's as easy to read as you are. Now let's go to our rooms.
He led her from the theater to a set of stairs that led downstairs.
"Lights" he said softly and the stairway was illuminated with the soft glow of the overhead lights. They made a right at the bottom of the stairs and walked until they reached an ornately decorated door.
"This is the entrance to our rooms." Patrick said as he opened the door. He took Kevyn's hand and pulled her inside. "If there's anything that you don't like just say the word and it will be taken care of." he said as he watched her look around the room.
The room was even bigger than Louise's and had an office in addition to a small kitchenette. The bathroom was larger as well. The counter had all of the skin and hair care products that she used lined up in a row.
"Did I forget anything?" Patrick asked.
"No." Kevyn whispered.
Patrick put his arms around her from behind and nibbled at her neck, "I can't wait to get you into that bed....."
Patrick swore when his cell phone rang. He looked at the caller ID and saw that it was Ethan. With one arm around Kevyn, he listened as Ethan told him about Veronica's kidnapping. Kevyn turned in his arms, wrapped her arms around his waist, and waited.
Patrick hung up and blew out a breath. He hadn't wanted Kevyn and Louise to meet their new family like this....
"Patrick what's happening?" Kevyn asked.
"My niece Veronica has been kidnapped."
"Oh my god! Do you know by whom?" she asked.
Patrick hesitated, "Yes... not his name but, Kevyn, it's the mate to one of the women that one of us raped."
"What? Why did he take Veronica?" she asked confused.
"He wants us to suffer as he has...."
"He's going to kill her?" Kevyn asked shocked.
"Unless we find her first." Patrick replied, "I'm sorry baby but I've got to get over there, you can stay here with Louise if you want...."
"I'm going with you." Kevyn interrupted and I'm sure that Louise will want to as well."
When Patrick started to protest, Kevyn interrupted him, "What did you tell me about mates and being able to depend on each other?"
"Kevyn, I'm sorry." Patrick said.
"It's alright now let's get Louise and go."
******
