Chapter Eighty-one

The voluptuous Millie smiled, put her hands on the curve of her hips. “You can put Gavin down there in the corner. It’s the only bed, but I assume he needs it more than anyone else. The feeders are in the room to your right. Don’t go in there though. Let the vamps take care of that.” She circled around Izabella, looking her up and down. “So, he gave you the ability to call me, are you able to pay me as well? I don’t like hanging out in these places. The sooner I go, the better for everyone.”

Izabella could feel herself shaking. They didn’t have the kids. He hadn’t brought them back, and she’d been too scared to ask while they were running. After he’d come back, she could feel the anger rolling off him. “That’s not necessary.” She turned, watching Bram walk through the door into the small room. He dropped a large black bag by the door. His hand was in his jacket, and he pulled his checkbook out. It was written out and held for Millie to take before he even made it to them. Izabella wrapped her arms around her chest, watching the exchange. “Thank you, Millie. I’ll double the fee for your troubles. I know you don’t like it when we pull you into the center of things. If you need something from me, you need only let me know.”

She frowned at him. “Yes, well, don’t be a stranger, love.” Her hand touched his chest briefly before moving to the door with her hand raised.

Bram moved toward her, opening his arms, but she took a step back. “You should probably check on Gavin.” She said, looking away as her shoulders slumped.

His eyes were dark as they looked over at where Gavin lay, still as pale and silent as before. “Yes, I should. You look—”

“I’ll be fine.” She said. “I’m worried about the children, there’s nothing that can change that. But you have the ability to still try to help him.” She wouldn’t look at him though. She glanced at Gabe, who was now pacing in the small space in the room. The light was dim, and the room had a chill. Feeling a hand on her elbow, she turned, Bram was behind her, watching her with worry.

“I’m so sorry.” He engulfed her in his arms, holding her close. Her anxiety and fear hit her hard, and she started crying into his chest. “I’m so sorry. I’ll get them back, I swear I will.”

Gabe stepped forward, “You should turn me. I’ll go after them.” Fists at his sides. Green eyes glaring Bram down.

“No.” Bram said sharply. “You’re too young.”

“Bull shit! If it were the other way around—”

“You wouldn’t turn me because you would understand that when you first turn someone, it’s incredibly dangerous and they become volatile. Turning you, at this age, and with the rage burning inside of you would do you a disservice.” Bram’s arm swept him up and down, “I don’t like that they’re gone anymore than you, but there’s nothing I can do without putting everyone else in this room at greater risk!” Bram hollered. His anger and the tremble in his voice had Izabella backing away, holding her face in her hands.

“Please! Stop!” As she started to fall to her knees, Bram grabbed her, but she pushed at him. Letting her go like he’d been burned, he watched in agony as she fell onto her rump. “Please. We can’t fight. We just can’t.”

“What about your mother?” Gabe snapped, “If you’d let her come—”

“Things could have gone a whole lot worse. I know you’re angry, Gabe, but you’re too new at all this—”

“No.” He said, storming forward. “What I see is a coward who only cares about what he wants. As long as she safe, that’s enough, right? We’ll just give up on…” His voice trailed off as Bram started to crouch, growling deeply in his throat, and baring his fangs.

“Keep going. I dare you.”

Rose ran at Izabella, diving into her lap. A pair of terrified green eyes watched him, voicelessly terrified. “Dad!” Devon said, stepping between them, “Gabe!” He turned back, looking over his shoulder. “You’re scaring mom and Rose. Instead of yelling at each other, how about we talk about what to do?”

Bram went ramrod straight, looking around, surprising even himself. His hand swept his hand through his hair, looking at Izabella nervously. He gave Gabe a chagrined look, “I’m sorry. My nerves are also shot, kiddos. And trust me, Gabe, I swear, I will get them back. They won’t hurt them. Not if they think they can use them against me.” He sighed, looking around the room. “Alright,” he frowned, “Iz?” He reached down, and she took his hand, letting him pull her up.

“I just need some time to wrap my head around what’s going on.” She looked away from him again.

Nodding, he looked over at Gavin. “Okay, then. I’m going to go see how Gavin’s doing.” Sitting beside him on the bed, he started to pull the banket back, checking on his wounds. There was a raw pussy welt over his chest, but the wound itself looked to be healing. On his neck, the bleeding had stopped and the skin there, though also still raw, was stitching itself together. The stab wound on his stomach looked very much like the one on his chest, maybe a little less pussy. “Devon, can you get me some water? There’s a bowl and towel in the bag by the door.” He was poking the wounds, checking them out, watching to see if there was any sort of response from Gavin.

Devon ran to help his dad. Izabella lifted one of the blankets that Millie brought, and wrapped it around her and Rose, sitting on the ground beside Bram’s leg. “Is he looking better?” She asked quietly, looking up.

“Yeah,” Bram reached down, running his fingers through her hair. “I still don’t know how he’ll do, but his body is still healing, so there’s still hope. I’m going to start feeding him again. Lean against me, you must be tired.” He bit into his wrist with the had further away from her so that his hand could gently touch the side of her head. With Rose laying against her, Izabella leaned against his leg and the bed, curling up against him. Sarah curled up against her leg, using one of the spare blankets as a pillow.

“Can I turn the lights off?” Devon asked, look over at the girls.

“Sure, buddy.” Gabe also sat on the floor leaning against the bed. Izabella tried to stay awake as the boys talked about what they would be able to do from here on out, but she did end up falling asleep with her head resting against his thigh. Sarah and Rose were already sleeping. Which left Bram, Devon, and Gabe talking through the night. He explained why turning Gabe right now was the last thing he should do. How when a vampire is first turned, they have the ‘blood lust’ and can barely control how they eat. Also, the fact that Bram had never once turned anyone himself. Unlike his mother and Mihaela, who were also witches, vampires were limited. They weren’t able to be seen out in the sun without magic spells to protect them. So turning him, would also leave them at a disadvantage.

Right now, one of the best things he could do was wait. He had the ultimatum. He knew it was the elders, but he didn’t know where they were keeping Tyler or the kids. That was something he needed to know before he’d be able to act.

Bram licked his wound sometime before the sun rose. He laid Izabella out, tucking a blanket under her head as well as a pillow and slipped out the door. He needed answers, and wasn’t sure where to start looking. At least not yet.