Chapter Eighty

Despite Bram’s fear, no one met them on the stairwell and they made it down to the lobby without issue. When the man standing behind the lobby counter saw them come out, he rushed forward. Bram’s hostile blue eyes shooting to him stopped him in his tracks. “Sir? Do you need me to call for help? The police or 911?”

His eyes watched the children huddled around Izabella. Locking on her as Bram swept by him. “We’re fine.”

“Ma’am?” He asked quietly as Izabella walked by.

“Sorry, the guy he’s carrying had a seizure. We are just worried. He’ll be okay though.” She smiled, “We just need to take him back to our house so that he’s not alone. We’re all fine. Thank you for your concern.” She wondered if anyone upstairs would notice the broken-down door. If they did, it would be bad considering the blood that was everywhere. And the bodies that would likely be in the bedroom. She couldn’t imagine that Bram had bothered to clean any of it up.

As they got to the door, Bram handed Gavin over to Gabe. Stepping outside, he checked before waiving them to follow. Jen grabbed the door holding it open. Gabe went first, then Izabella, with the children following. Jen bringing up the rear. Bram hovered close to her, and Devon didn’t step far from her side. Sarah clung to him. Jen was holding onto the monkeys.

“Can one of you drive? I think it would be best if I tried to feed Gavin again.” His body still felt like ice and it was very concerning. Though the wound on his neck was now gone and the hole in his chest had almost disappeareed. He could only hope that once those were healed, he would be too.

“I’ll drive.” Izabella agreed, climbing behind the wheel as Gabe climbed in the back, resting Gavin on the back seat. Bram took Rose, ushering Devon and Sarah into the car. As he sat Rose on one of the middle seats, a cry from behind him brought his attention around.

“Bram!”

“Daddy!”

Slamming the door closed Bram screamed, “Go! Now!” He was gone a moment later, and Izabella took off. Gabe stumbled in the back, falling onto Gavin and Devon. Sarah cried out, and Rose giggled. Izabella pulled the address from her pocket, stopping at a red light.

A group of people on the side of the road smiled at their van, starting to walk forward. Though she hesitated for a moment, she quickly pushed through the red light, avoiding the traffic and took off again. Circling around the square, she looked in the rearview, “Gabe! I don’t know where to go?”

“Just keep moving. I’m coming up!” He teetered and fell sideways as she took a sharp turn, seeing another group up the road that looked similar to those from earlier. Problem was, she had no idea who was dangerous and who wasn’t. She also wished she had half a clue where Bram was, and where the heck she was supposed to be going.

Gabe climbed into the passenger seat, immediately digging through the compartments of the van. “Are you looking for something?”

“Yeah, a GPS would be great right about now.” He said, pulling an old looking hunk of grey something from the center console.

“I have my phone.” Izabella said, getting in the right lane because there were fewer cars.

“No, he has an older satellite one. They’re safer. No one will be able to track it where they could on your phone.” Something hit the side of the van, and Izabella swerved into the other lane. The car she almost hit honked at her. Gabe grabbed the paper from Izabella, folding it in half and sat on it. Just as he did, one of the windows in the back, passenger side, busted open. Sarah screamed. It was the window closest to her. Gabe turned in his seat, but it was Devon who pulled out a dagger, which looked almost identical to the one Bram used, impaling the arm that came through trying to grab the little girl. “Way to go, Devon!” Gabe cheered, falling back into his seat, imputing the information of the safe house into the GPS.

Izabella wanted to tell Devon to get back in his seat, but couldn’t bring herself to do so. He was currently hunkered down between his sisters, Gavin had fallen sideways on the back seat, and the dagger was on the floor, being held by the boy. Once again, in the face of danger, he was far more prepared than she was. She couldn’t help but assume that Devon had been trained for this day.

“Go left, Iz!” Gabe yelled, and she did. But she took the right lane, cutting everyone else off at the last minute. At least in the city, most people didn’t drive fast, and everyone drove, ready for the asshole who would pull stupid moves like she had just done.

“Wait, Gabe. Shouldn’t we wait until Bram meets up with us again? He doesn’t know the location, and he’s hopefully got the other four with him. We can’t tell if we’re being followed without him or not. I don’t think going there yet is a good idea.” Another smack on the side of the van hit, this one on the other side, but the window they went after was Izabella’s. Iz ended up half on the curb, and took the right hand turn too sharply. She screamed as the van shifted sideways a moment and fell back down on the road. The vampire at her window sneered at her, and a small hand, wielding a dagger flicked out from between the seat and door. Blood sprayed at Izabella as the blade hit the vampire in the throat and he fell off the side of the van, rolling in the road behind them.

Three more thuds succeeded in landing on the van. Gabe swore, tucking the old GPS between his legs as an arm shot through his already open window grabbing him by the throat. Devon nearly gave her a heart attack as he flung himself from the back of the van, digging his dagger into the arm holding Gabe. He swore, loudly, as the other arm of the vampire snagged the dagger and threw it behind him, out the window. The only good thing that came of it was the vampire let go of Gabe.

“Ah, you’re the one we want.” The vampire was half through the window reaching for Devon as Gabe leaned forward, biting the vampire’s neck. Nothing happened. He turned, baring his teeth at Gabe a moment before he was sucked back out the window. A moment later, Bram was at the driver’s side window.

“I’m coming in.” He climbed through, pushing Izabella from the driver’s seat. As she tried to get into the back of the van, Bram took over driving for her flawlessly. He was far more aggressive in his driving than Izabella had been, and when the vampires attacked, he was far faster getting rid of them no matter which window they came in from. “Devon, under Sarah’s seat, there’s a compartment.”

It was hours’ worth of driving and evading vampires before Bram finally thought it was safe to stop at the address Millie provided. “Where are Jen, Missy, Alex, and Mable?” Izabella wrung her hands, wanting desperately to see the others.

Bram frowned, looking back at her. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t recover them. I will, I just…” his hand went through his already unruly hair, “need more time.” Izabella sobbed, quietly. Now there were five people missing because of this. She was fully aware of where his heart lay. She knew, deep down, he would look for Tyler first.

“I did put out an MIA. I asked for help from those I believe I can still trust. I can’t say that will solve it, but hopefully, we’ll have some loners looking for them. The price for their safe return is substantial.” His brows folded deeply over his already dark eyes. “Let’s get you inside. I need to move the van quickly.”

Gabe grabbed Gavin, carrying him in. Izabella still had Rose, Devon, and Sarah. Gabe hadn’t spoken since he learned that Bram wasn’t able to save Jen. “I’m sorry.” Izabella looked at Gabe. “I would do anything to make sure she’s safe.” She said, walking into the dark building with him.

“I know you would. I guess, this is what it is. If it were reversed, I would have gone with them too. I think Jen did it on purpose.” He said, walking inside with her. Izabella couldn’t disagree. Jen loved those kids. Honestly, they all did. “But, you have to worry about Bram. If we don’t have him, we have nothing.”

Iz couldn’t argue as the van drove away from the building. Devon lifted Rose into his arms, faltering, and followed them into the building. As she held the door for them, she reached out, taking Rose from the boy. “Go get the door for Gabe.” Devon nodded, running ahead.

A woman, dressed in a yellow and orange day dress, nodded as they entered. “Four feeds and a room. Just as you asked. I tried to get as many blankets as possible, considering the situation.” Her dark eyes were already narrowed on Izabella. “You’re the virgin?”

Izabella didn’t want to tell her anything. Not considering the conversation she had with Jen after Bram sent the teen after her. “I’m his mate.” She declared, though she wondered if she should have. The woman only nodded.

“I’m Millie.” That made Izabella feel better. She knew Bram wouldn’t have asked her for help if he didn’t trust her.