Unable to concentrate on the work matters in front of me, I’d again read through many of the huge, old, musty-smelling books that contained information on The Call on the off-chance that I’d missed something. But it quickly became apparent that I hadn’t. So I’d inhaled another whirlwind’s worth of dust for nothing.
And now I was utterly pissed.
A knock was quickly followed by the entrance of Fletcher. He hardly ever waited for a ‘come in’. Humming to himself, he placed an NST and some crisps on first Jared’s desk and then mine. Busy reading, Jared merely gave Fletcher a nod of thanks. It still made Fletcher melt on the spot. Yes, my PA had a thing for my mate. Who didn’t?
Being an Empath, Fletcher instantly picked up on my mood and shot me an ‘Are you all right?’ look over the rim of his glasses. I forced a smile and nodded, but he didn’t seem convinced. No doubt he’d quiz me later, I thought as I watched him leave the office.
I glanced at Jared to see that he was still reading. You would think he would be just as pissed as me, given his brother’s condition. But no. For the past five days, Jared had been nothing but positive and optimistic. Maybe refusing to accept the possibility that Evan might die was his way of facing it, of dealing with it, and avoid falling apart.
My way of dealing with it? I didn’t have one.
With a groan, I let my head flop down onto the desk. My forehead met the oak with a thud. Ow.
There was a sigh that – annoyingly – had a trace of amusement in it. “Come here, baby.”
“No.” I was quite comfortable where I was.
“Why?” I could hear the smile in his voice.
“I don’t need a reason.”
“Come on, come to me.”
“I’m busy.”
“You’re going to end up with a red mark on your head.”
“So will you if you don’t shut the fuck up.”
He chuckled. “That’s my girl. Now come over here.”
I finally lifted my head. “What do you want?”
“To hold you. I’ve missed you.” He gave me a meaningful look that I easily interpreted. It was fair to say that I had been snappy and impatient with everyone, even him, for the past few days. Rather than taking the let’s-face-this-together approach and allowing us to be each other’s strength, I had emotionally pulled away. It was in my nature to deal with things alone, to disappear into my own head while I worked it out. I was a ‘thinker’, my dad had always said. I’d silently ponder over things, explore the matter in my mind, rather than confide in anyone. It was a good thing, really, since my parents hadn’t exactly been interested in anything I was thinking or feeling. My conception had been an accident, a bad accident, and they had never let me forget it.
But retreating into my own head wasn’t fair to Jared, was it? Not now that we were Bound.
What made me feel even guiltier was that he hadn’t complained, hadn’t even commented on it, despite that he must have wanted me with him one hundred percent right now. He’d given me that time, that space. But that time was apparently over. With a heavy exhale, I rose from my seat and went to him.
He swivelled his chair to face me and gripped my hips, pulling me to stand between his legs. “Hey,” he said gently.
Resting my hands on his shoulders, I bit my lower lip. “I’m sorry.”
Slipping his hands under my t-shirt, he pressed them against my back to pull me closer. “So you’re done?” No judgmental words or looks; only total understanding – now I felt even guiltier. “I know you’re worried about the guys. I wouldn’t expect anything different. But you’re letting the stress of it all get the better of you.” Again there was no judgement there. “I hate seeing you like this.”
I understood, since – likewise – I’d hated seeing him an absolute wreck after the wacko brothers had kidnapped me.
He squeezed my hip gently. “You don’t have to go it alone when shit happens, Sam. Not anymore. I’m here.”
“It’s like a mental reflex, but I’ll work on it.”
“Good, because I want my mate back. I miss her. I miss her giving me attitude, and teasing me, and cursing me to hell and back.”
My smile mirrored his. “And she’s missed you.”
“That’s an extremely good thing because I plan to” He paused at the knock on the door. “Yes?”
“Antonio is here to see you,” announced Fletcher. There was an odd note to his voice that made me frown.
Jared rose to his feet. “Let him in.”
Antonio breezed into the room with his guards and pit-bulls in tow. He also had two unfamiliar Kejas with him. “Sam, Jared…I would like you to meet Eloise Montana and Fredrick Collins.” Really? Because he didn’t sound as if he’d like us to meet them at all. In fact, he didn’t appear pleased about their presence either. “Fredrick is also one of my vampires.”
“I’m the first vampire he ever sired,” added Collins, cocky and self-satisfied by that fact.
I hadn’t met many vampires that had been sired by Antonio, so I was instantly curious about him. The impeccably neat Collins was average height, had short mousey hair, watchful beady eyes, and looked like he’d be right at home in a corner office. And I didn’t like him. It was an immediate feeling that I couldn’t explain. Every instinct I had severely disliked this bloke. His gaze ran over both Jared and I studiously. Something not holy on the side of the angels glinted in those eyes as he focused on Jared.
Moving my attention to the smartly dressed Eloise, I saw that the tall, slim female was staring at Jared and smiling. People stared at him like that all the time, but there was something in her eyes that told me this wasn’t the first time they had met.
Running a hand over her long mane of coal-black hair, she practically purred, “It’s good to see you again, Jared.”
Yep, I was right.
Antonio’s brow puckered. “Oh. I did not realise that you two had already met.”
Without moving her eyes from Jared, she told Antonio, “We met briefly when I came to attend a gathering here many years ago. Despite the meeting being brief, it was certainly memorable.”
In other words, you bonked her.
Um…yeah. He sounded loathed to admit it. It was just the one time and was nothing but a quick fuck. In fact, I was wasted that night. Remember, baby, it was only ever the Heir they wanted.
I mentally rolled my eyes, exasperated that he persisted in believing that his status and his looks were all that women thought he had to offer. But this wasn’t the time to have that conversation again.
“It’s an honour to meet the Heir.” There was a bitter edge to Collins’ words. Ah, jealousy. “You must be very proud to have been selected for the position.”
Eloise slid her gaze to me. Distaste glinted in those eyes. “You must be the famous Sventé everyone’s been talking non-stop about.”
“You have me at a disadvantage,” I told her. “You’ve heard much about me, but I’ve never before heard anything about you.”
Jared cocked his head at Collins, still ignoring Eloise – wise decision. “I can say the same about you, Collins. It’s odd that I’ve never heard of Antonio’s first-born. In fact, in all the time I’ve been here, you’ve never once visited. Not even for the Binding ceremony.”
Collins flushed. “It wasn’t possible. I have…commitments.” The bloke didn’t even visit his own Sire? A Sire who anyone would be lucky to have? What a prick. I’d have proud to have a Sire like Antonio.