Chapter Nine
O ne week later…
“The party went well.” Hugo stretched as he yawned. “Not sure the council was impressed. You’ll be getting a call for sure.”
“I will, but whatever punishment they give me will be worth it.” When Jerome had suggested a moving-in party, Louis hadn’t agreed. At first. His persistent mate had worn him down and he’d eventually given in and now he was glad he had. The vampires had been warned humans would be present and had to be careful but it had turned out okay. Everyone had enjoyed themselves and Jerome had loved having his friends and family there. Plus, he met lots of vampires Louis worked with. Gray, Hugo, Kelvin, Skylar and many others.
The council hadn’t been impressed at all, but they couldn’t stop his mating now that it had happened. Louis knew he’d face his day in front of them so was enjoying the time with Jerome before then.
“Let me know when the next one is. Jerome’s sister is super-hot and asked to see my fangs.”
“Be careful with her. Jerome and Shaun won’t be happy if she gets hurt.”
“I’m not going to hurt her at all.” Hugo pushed the door open and walked into the security office where Gray and Key sat. “Any luck tracing the human kid?”
Gray had informed them all about what Louis had seen and they were all being extra vigilant. The sighting could potentially be a game changer for them, and tracking down the human kid and the one they believed was Maxim’s son had become top priority.
“Not so far. He knows the area well. Knows where all the cameras are so knows how to avoid them or make sure we can’t make out what he looks like if he’s near one.”
“Wonder how long they’ve known each other?” Louis asked as he sat next to Gray, watching him work his magic.
“I wonder if they’re mates.” Key turned around on his chair and faced them. “The human knows who this guy is and what he can do. How many vampires tell humans that?”
“Key’s got a point and that would make sense. It could also be why they’re being careful and making sure we can’t see them.” Louis smiled at Key. “If they’re mates then the human will know everything. He asked to go home, so he knows that we can teleport. The human has to be someone Maxim’s son could trust.”
“So, mate. Won’t that chap Maxim’s ass.” Hugo grinned. “His son, mated to the very thing Maxim hates.” The grin fell off Hugo’s face. “Shit. Poor kid. Finding his mate and having to hide it from his dad.”
“They haven’t mated, then.” Gray tapped on the keyboard. “Maxim would know the second he scented his son.”
“Yeah, he wouldn’t risk his mate’s life, but that’s if they are mates.”
“They kissed,” Louis murmured. “Hugged. I think Key’s right. I think they’re mates.”
“We have a weakness then, that we can use to lure Maxim out. Or lure the son out who will give us Maxim.” Gray raised his hands when Louis and Hugo argued with him. “I’m not advocating us hurting either of them. It appears the son is in a shitty situation, but if we can find out who the human is then maybe we can do something to get to Maxim. We all want that bastard found.”
“We could do something like that.” Key tapped his chin. “I’ll spend some more time searching the area, running analysis. If we can find him, track him, then we could get a name and go from there.” Key shook his head. “Poor kid.”
“Yeah. Imagine your mate being the very species your old man hates. Hey, Gray. How is Henry?”
Gray flipped Hugo off. “Henry is very happy or he was when I left him in bed earlier.” Gray pulled up Hugo’s work week. “Just remember, a few taps from me and you could be working the shittiest area of the city.”
Hugo grinned. “It’s funny and you know it is. If it was anyone else but you, you’d be laughing your ass off too.”
“But it is me, so stop.”
Hugo held his hands up. “Fine. I’ll drop it.”
“You’re smelling all mated, Louis…”
“Like you don’t know about being mated, Gray.” Louis smiled when Gray swiveled on his chair to face him.
“We never did get to talk properly at the party. How long have you known him, and has the council been in contact?”
“I’ve known him since he was twelve and I waited until now to mate him. The council does know but haven’t requested me to attend yet. I’m waiting for it.” Shrugging, Louis added, “I know they’ll punish me, but I waited six years for him. I’ve waited enough and he was of legal age and knew what would happen. We live together now. I’m happy and the council and whatever they decide won’t change that.”
“I’m happy for you too, and it explains why you never went out with anyone. You could have said something. Feel like shit now for giving you a hard time.” Hugo glared at Louis. “All the times I tried to get you to meet someone and you had a mate all along.”
He did feel guilty over that and apologized. “I didn’t want anyone to know. I was waiting for him to grow up.” Louis grinned. “He’s going to be a biochemist.”
“He can work in our labs.” Gray scanned the monitor. “This is where I lose the human kid.” The screen showed an image of him disappearing into an alley. “He always has his face covered.” Sitting back, Gray rubbed his fingers over his lips. “He’s good. Maxim’s son has coached him well.”
“If we could create a timeline of how often they meet we could estimate the next time.” Key pulled up several images on his monitor. “It’ll take time but it could be worth it.”
“Do it, but we can’t let it interfere with our other work.”
“Good thing I can multitask.” Key carried on working, his fingers moving quickly over the keyboard. “I’ll have something ready by the end of the week. Like you said, finding the human could be the start of the end of this, and I want Kelvin to come home and not be stressed.”
“Same here.”
How are your friends? When Jerome didn’t respond, Louis didn’t think much of it. For all he knew, Jerome could be in the lab doing something technical for an assignment that would go right over Louis’ head. His mate was smart and intelligent, and Louis was lucky and proud to have him.
“You want us to go out to that area and have a look?” Louis focused back on the conversation, realizing Hugo now stood and was leaning over Gray’s shoulder, staring at the monitor.
“The alley where Louis first saw them. I know it’s been a couple of days, but have a look around. I’ll get Minho to go by later too.” Gray drummed his fingers on the table. “We need to track him down. He’s the weak link we can exploit. Shit, I hate saying that, but let’s be practical about it. We find the human, we find the son, then we find Maxim.”
“We’ll pop over there. There are no cameras, obviously, given the fact they used that location.” Louis looked at Hugo and willed himself to the location where he’d seen the two meet. Within seconds, Hugo stood next to him. They both walked up and down the alley, not seeing very much.
“Like you said. Good location. No cameras, no windows in the buildings on either side of the alley, and plenty of places to hide away and not be noticed. I’d choose this place in their position.”
Louis squatted on the ground where he’d seen them standing. There was nothing to see, and he sighed as he stood. “We should put a camera up so we can watch this area.”
“Gray’s already on it. Should be in place in the next couple of hours.” Hugo turned slowly on the spot. “I wonder if there are more places like this around here?”
“What shops are close by?”
“A coffee shop.”
Louis spun around, seeing Minho standing behind them. “A warning would be nice, and how do you know about the shop?”
“I’ve been in a few times. It stays open late. There are a few shops around here that do that. People walking past.” Louis watched the entry, seeing a steady stream of people walking past even at the late hour. “I wouldn’t meet here unless there was a specific reason why.”
“We need to find out what it is, then. It was luck I was here and spotted him.”
Louis.
Hey babe. You home yet?
Hurt.
Louis held a hand up, then pointed to his head. Have you had an accident? Where are you?
I thought he was a friend.
“What?” What?
“What’s happening?” Minho stood in front of him. “Your mate?” Louis nodded. “In danger?” He nodded again, trying to reach Jerome, but there was nothing.
“Nothing. He said he’s hurt and he thought he was a friend and now nothing.”
“Head back to Gray and have them pull up CCTV in and around the university. We’ll find him and track him from there.”
“Shit.” Louis nodded, and as soon as he appeared next to Gray, he said, “Jerome’s hurt, and I can’t reach him now. Said he thought he was a friend.” The words came out in a rush, Louis’ heart racing at the thought of something happening to Jerome.
“Slow down and breathe.” Gray pointed to a chair. “Sit and tell me where your mate should be right now.”
Louis did and waited as Key accessed the university’s CCTV. It took several minutes before Key located Jerome and then tracked him as he attended lectures, met friends, and went to the library. After thirty minutes of following Jerome, Louis was beginning to lose patience when Key muttered something.
“What?”
“Jerome met Skylar. I didn’t know they’d become friends.”
Louis watched the monitor, seeing Jerome leave with Skylar. “It’s daytime as well. Notice how he stands in the shadows.” Key tracked their movements until they entered a room and didn’t come out. “They only met at the party we had the other night. Why would he be there?”
“They go in but don’t come out, so I’m guessing Skylar moved them somewhere, but where?” Key glanced at him then back to the monitor. “What did Jerome say to you?”
“That he was hurt and that he thought he was a friend.” Louis bit his bottom lip, staring at the monitor. “Why would he go with him?”
“Maybe Skylar said something to him? Something he wouldn’t think to question?”
Louis tapped the side of his head. “He could have reached out to me.”
“Not if he assumes he’s your friend, and he has no reason to think he isn’t.” Gray swung around and glanced at the monitor then at Louis. “He was at the party you held. He would have no reason to think he was being anything other than a friend. Why would he reach out to you?”
“Shit.” Louis stood and rubbed his face with his hands. “Shit.”
“We need to find Skylar and have a word with him. As you said, Jerome enters but doesn’t leave. We can only assume Skylar moved them.”
“Where though? Jerome said he was hurt.” Louis could feel his heart racing in his chest and took several deep breaths to calm himself. He needed to remain in control now more than ever. Jerome needed him.
“Try talking to him again.”
Jerome? He waited but when nothing happened, he tried again. Jerome? Talk to me. Where are you?
Again nothing and he looked at Gray, shaking his head. “Nothing.”
“He’s either asleep or drugged.” Gray swung back to his computer and pulled up details on Skylar. “He lives here. Why don’t we pop over and pay him a visit? I’d be interested to hear what he has to say about this.”
“Me too. Why Jerome? Why go after him?”
“Hate to say it but what if he’s attracted to Jerome and wants him?” Key shrugged. “We all know when you mate that’s it but what if Skylar can’t accept it? They’ve met once and now he’s potentially kidnapped him.”
“We need to go to his house and question him.” Gray stood and grabbed his coat. “Tell Kelvin to meet us there and continue to try and locate Jerome and Skylar.”
Key nodded. “He’s going there now.”
“Let’s go and find your mate.”