Chapter Thirty-nine

Tyler sat with them when he got there, making himself a plate too. “Well, I see why you ran out of comfortable clothes. That’ll happen if you let others wear your clothing.” His green eyes watched Bram, who ate quietly, though Izabella was avoiding his glance and blushing furiously. Bram was working on her much more quickly than usual. And he was being kind to her, which was surprising for him.

“She slept with dad last night.” Devon announced.

Tyler’s mouth fell open in shock. Bram shook his head, smirking, and Izabella looked like she was about to die from embarrassment. “Really? Wow, you guys are taking things a hell of a lot faster than I thought you would.”

“It wasn’t like that.” Bram rolled his eyes. “She was scared after last night and didn’t want to be alone. Devon was in the bed too, so nothing happened.” He rinsed his plate and started cleaning the kitchen.

“Oh, I’ve got that.” Izabella jumped up, resting her hand on his arm. “You go talk with Tyler, I’ll clean the kitchen.”

His hand caressed her cheek, “Thank you. I appreciate that. I’m sure Tyler will too.”

Tyler didn’t miss the way she looked at him when she thought he wasn’t looking. Poor girl had it bad and didn’t even realize it. Bram too. This was a first for him, but he seemed happier than he’d been in a long time. “I’m actually going to have you come down to my place. There’s some things we need to discuss in private.”

Bram looked nervously at him. “Alright. Will you be okay with Devon for a while?” He turned back looking at Izabella.

She waved him away, “We’ll be fine. Go ahead. It sounds important. It was good to see you again, Tyler.”

Tyler nodded at her, waiving as he stepped out the front door. He was already heading down the stairs when Bram followed behind. “I’m not going to like what you’re here to tell me am I?” Bram asked Tyler’s back.

“You’re not.” Tyler agreed, “I don’t like any of it.” He let them in his apartment, grabbed a couple glasses of whiskey and sat Bram down in the living room. “So, those guys from last night? They were all young vamps. I don’t think they knew who you were, but the wrong people are looking for you now. They are part of one of the new gangs in the area. I think they went after that shop because of Izabella. For her to make us, two ancients, act like fresh bloods, she’s got to be irresistible to the younger vampires. The gang is known as the ‘Bloods’ and they’re looking for the two of you. I suggest making sure you’re not out in the area after dark for a while. At least not with her.”

Bram swore, drinking down the glass. “How many have been asking about her?”

“Enough to bring us the unwanted attention of the Elders if anyone figures out your involved with her or Devon.” Tyler frowned, swirling his whiskey. “We’ll want to start being more careful. You’re already on their list of undesirables. If they find out you’re willingly living among humans and treating them as your equals, they’re not going to look the other way. They’ve wanted to take you down long enough that they’ll use any excuse they can. They won’t care that Devon’s a kid, or that she’s innocent. They’ll kill them the moment they get the chance.”

Tyler watched as Bram became more agitated. “Those ancient bastards. Why can’t they mind their own shit and just leave us be?”

“You know they’re terrified that you will be able to impregnate a woman. After everything your mom did so that she could carry you, the son of Dracula no less. When he disappeared, they worried that you were the one behind it. Which means that you would be able to kill each of them. You know they’ll always be interested in what you’re doing because of that.” Tyler sighed. “Wouldn’t that be something? A vampire child. I always wondered how your parents did it.”

Bram frowned at him. “I don’t particularly care, and they can stay gone for all of eternity for all I care. I don’t know what they wanted a kid for. Considering they only left me locked up, and the only socialization I got that first hundred years was them or their damn lackies beating me bloody.” He stood up, pacing in the living room. “Don’t they realize that if they just leave me the hell alone they wouldn’t have any reason to care what I am doing.”

“You know that’s not how our kind work. Why would they think you’re different? Especially when it looks like you’re just continually gaining more and more wealth and power. They’ll use Devon against you. Raising a human to become a vampire is also not a common thing. They’ll question your motives with that too.” Tyler got up, pouring himself another glass. “Yesterday was risky. Just make sure you’re careful with both of them from here on out. You ousted yourself pretty well last night. Questions will continue to be asked. There’s no reason seven vampires should be killed while humans are walking away.”

Bram found himself in a rotten mood. Everything finally felt like it was going well, and now that a little light had finally found its way into his life, he had to worry about who was watching him. Tyler was right though, this wasn’t something their community would overlook. Many would be pissed. And enough of them knew he lived in the area that they were bound to think he’d had a hand in it. Many of them were not friends, and if they thought for a minute that they could get their hands on a child he was raising, or worse, a woman he had feelings for? The wolves in the back yard were scarier than the lions across the ocean right now.

How would he be able to protect them? He knew there wasn’t a simple answer he could give Izabella to keep her and Devon inside the apartment while he worked. He would have to think of which one of his men he could trust with them. At least until this all blew over.

“Gavin’s probably pissed then?”

“His head is practically on the chopping block already. He’s not happy. This much attention isn’t good for any of us. And if anyone realizes that you have a damn army of us working for you, it’ll only turn up the heat all that much more. And he already blames you for his troubles.” Bram nodded. “I was able to cheer him up after we learned this last night though.” Tyler gave him a dubious smile. “You’re luck he has an affinity for blonde haired, green eyed guys. He’s pretty enchanting himself.”

Bram chuckled, “Took one for the team, huh?”

“Nope. This one was simply for myself. It just happened to work in your favor too. And if anyone took it, it was him.”

“I assumed, you never liked being bottom. I’m going to head back up, unless there’s something else we need to discuss?” Tyler shook his head. “You coming up or heading back to work?”

“I’m actually heading back to my other apartment. I left Gavin in the shower, and wanted to enjoy a little more free time before we both have to get back to it.”

“Well then, you go and have yourself some fun. I think I might take them out shopping for a while. I need clothes, she needs some too, and I need to start buying things for the kids. I just want to make sure they’re up to it.”

Tyler waived, walking toward the elevator and Bram headed back upstairs. The kitchen was cleaned and Devon and Izabella were not in the living room or dinning room. He peeked into Devon’s room and saw the boy playing his new game. She was crawling around on the floor picking things up and looking through his drawers, probably trying to figure out where everything belonged.

She was gorgeous, and his heart fluttered as he watched her cleaning his son’s room. What if he could have children? He’d been with women before, but only Millie was human and still alive. And he was positive she took care of making sure she couldn’t have children. He’d never really thought about it before. It had been beaten into him that it was something that should never happen.

“Did you like sleeping with my dad?” Devon asked, he was playing the game, but clearly his mind was elsewhere.

“Your dad is a very sweet guy. I do really like him. He makes me feel… safe.” Bram left the doorway, pressing his back against the wall. Safe wasn’t usually something he made people feel. He liked that she felt safe around him. “Though I really like him, that won’t happen again. It was embarrassing, and I think I made him uncomfortable. I was just scared I think. I don’t want to complicate things here for you or him, so I promise, we’ll act more like employee and boss.” That made Bram frown. He didn’t want that kind of relationship with her.

He wanted so much more. Swearing under his breath, he knocked his head against the wall gently. “I’m back.” He called, walking down the hall. “I’m going to shower and great dressed for the day.”

“You need a shower too.” He heard her tell Devon. “Three days is far too long. You should have had one last night. So I don’t want to hear it.”


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