Chapter Five
H ow he got through the meeting he didn’t know. All he knew was pain. His back felt like it was on fire, but he couldn’t show any of it. Showing or admitting to pain was a sign of weakness, and if Maxim knew, Max would be punished again.
“Max. Scout the human.”
“I’ll liaise with security. There’ll be records due to the business he owns.”
“Security is dealing with them. I want you to track him, learn his routine, and Minho’s. Find out for certain they are mated. He’s out in the public, daily. He’s our weak link and we can exploit it.”
“Yes, Sir.”
The meeting droned on, and Max tuned out until he heard hospital. “If we can have one of our vampires inside the hospital that can be our target. They can cause an explosion, a diversion of some sort. They’ll rush to defend it when we attack and that will leave the council members exposed. We take them out. Once they’re gone, the vampires will be in disarray. Easy pickings.”
“The plan has merit. Get all the intel you can on the hospital and staff. Find a weak spot.” Maxim stood. “You know what you have to do.”
Everyone left, including Max, and he teleported to the alley across from the cafe. It was still light outside but the spot he’d moved to was in the shade. He could spend an hour here then go to security. He sank to the floor and dropped his head in his hands, ignoring the pain that lanced through his back. The pressure and stress had his heart racing, beating wildly in his chest. He sucked lungfuls of air in and out, trying to find some calm, but he struggled.
He was only eighteen. Why did he have to be involved in this? He was playing both sides and it was fucking him up. He wanted to grab Rex and leave, but that meant innocent vampires and humans could be hurt.
The pressure in his chest grew until a sob burst free. Wrapping his arms around his waist, Max rocked, crying softly. How long he stayed there crying, he didn’t know, but when he finally calmed, the sky had begun to darken. Wiping his face and nose, Max stood and watched Peter clear tables and switch lights off.
He watched him lock up then glance his way. Max ducked away, turned and jogged down the alley, hissing as pain radiated throughout his body. Once he was in a safe place, he watched Peter scout the area, then Minho appeared. They were clearly mated, as Peter hadn’t used a phone to call Minho, yet Minho knew where to go when he teleported to Peter.
He watched for a few minutes then teleported to security. “They’re a couple. Minho and the human who runs the cafe. I’ve seen them together.”
“Good. We suspected but didn’t have confirmation. If he owns a cafe that means he will be more vulnerable for us to take and use.”
“Agreed. Do you need me to continue following the human?”
“For now, until we have all the information we need.”
“And the attack on the hospital and council members?”
“Progressing. If we need you on that we’ll move you. Report to Maxim.”
Max left and walked to Maxim’s office, his steps automatically slowing. The last thing he wanted to do was see Maxim. He wanted to go back to his room and rest. His back burned with every step he took.
Arriving at Maxim’s office far sooner than he would like, Max knocked on the door and waited. When he heard Maxim shout enter, he took a deep breath and opened the door. Once inside, he stood in the center of the room waiting for Maxim to acknowledge him. Maxim was in charge, and he greeted you when he was ready.
“Max.”
“Sir.”
“Security tells me you’ve confirmed Minho has a mate. We need you to keep track of him. We know where he lives, that his wife passed, and that he has two sons. We go for the sons to get to the father and Minho. I have people watching the eldest now. He’s at college.”
“Yes, Sir.” Max stood and waited.
“You have your orders. Dismissed.”
Max nodded and left the office then teleported to his apartment. He checked for hidden devices, found three and left them in place. If he removed them, they would know, and then Maxim would know. He didn’t need more punishment.
Grabbing some food and a drink, Max shoved them all in a bag and teleported to the cabin. The one place where he felt some measure of safety. Not that he would be able to stay there for long. He had his orders. Checking their security system, he sat on the secondhand sofa they’d bought and ate his food. His back hurt but he knew the healing process was underway.
Once he finished his food, Max tried to relax as best he could without pulling the skin on his back. He ended up laying on his front on the sofa, thinking about his future with Rex. Where they would go, who they would meet. He did this often. It helped to keep him focused. Find out what Maxim was planning, then tell someone. He could have done something years ago, but there were people ready to step into Maxim’s shoes should anything happen to him.
He wanted them all gone.
Once he had details, he’d tell the other vampires, and they could deal with them all. Then he and Rex would be free. That’s all that mattered to him. His mate and keeping him safe. The thought of them finally mating. Being one.
Years, they’d waited. Years, but it had been worth it. Rex’s safety was all that mattered to him. Max knew for certain if he disappeared that Maxim would search for him until he found him and then Rex would suffer. Maybe he was selfish in wanting to keep Rex with him. If he left everyone behind and disappeared no one would suffer. Except Rex, and Max would know. He would feel it.
Even though they weren’t mated, for some reason they could feel strong emotions from the other. They could communicate. That didn’t happen normally. Maybe Rex was right and whoever decided they would be mates had made it this way so they could reach out to each other even though they weren’t mated.
It didn’t matter. Being able to talk to Rex when he needed to had pulled Max through some difficult times. Rex kept him going through the dark days—
His phone rang and Max sighed when he saw Maxim’s name. “Sir.”
“Where are you?”
“I’ve just finished eating and I’m going to the home where Peter lives.”
“You have his address?”
Max stilled. He hadn’t been given it yet. “I’m going to contact our security team to get the information then go.”
“Good. I want a detailed report of his movements.”
“As soon as I have one I’ll report in. I want them gone. They are nothing but scum and delay our inevitable victory.”
“We will have our victory soon.”
Maxim hung up and Max bit his lips. He had an idea of what the plan was. Target the human mates of security so they would be distracted, then go after vulnerable areas and people? An attack at the hospital had been mentioned as well. Was the plan to attack the hospital then go after mates and the council? Maxim had the manpower if Minho and his teams were out of the way. There were far fewer of them than Minho and the others knew. They would have one chance, and if that failed, they would have to disappear and regroup.
There was nothing more that Max wanted than their failure. He could disappear and live his life with Rex without the constant need to check over his shoulder. Being able to spend a full weekend with Rex, or even longer, would be amazing. One day he would be able to. One day this would be over.