Chapter Fourteen
M ax woke to someone shaking his shoulder. He blinked up then looked over at Rex. He was still out, the machines still doing their thing. “They’re talking about taking him off the machines soon. Something about vampire blood.”
“I gave him some of mine. It can help humans heal more if they’re mates.”
“How do you know that?”
“In the books Maxim has. I don’t know why he never destroyed them, but there was a lot of information about humans and vampires.” He looked at Minho who watched him intently. “Do you have them?”
“We’re going through the compound now.”
“Community. He preferred community. We were a community of vampires against the world. We were going to fight and win.”
“Are there more areas we need to search?”
“That was the main location. We all lived in and around Coldwell.”
“Do you have numbers?”
“Of vampires?”
“Yes. Approximate.”
Max blew out his breath, shaking his head slowly. “Maybe one hundred thousand? Coldwell could accommodate that many without it being obvious. Close enough to move to where you were.”
“So, we’re tracking vampires in and around Coldwell only?”
“That I know of. Maxim will have all the information of where they are. I wasn’t part of his inner echelon. I knew if you took him and them out then the ones below the others would potentially disperse. I have all their names, but there were families I never met. When I had free time, I spent it with Rex.”
“He kept it all on a laptop. There were two other locations. One was completely empty when we arrived, the other in the process of leaving.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Max. I’m repeating myself, but you are only eighteen and you were doing this alone. You got us in, and we took the top vampires out. It will take time, but we’ll get them all.”
“They could regroup.” Max didn't want that to happen.
“They need to establish a new area and bring everyone in as they decide who’s in charge. That takes time and effort. Right now they’re isolated until they believe it’s safe to reestablish full contact.”
“Maxim had all their numbers. We were always told to discard our phones if something happened, but some might have kept them for now.”
“Gray and Key are on it, and they’ve pulled in some of the IT group from pretty much all the other businesses vampires own. We’re tracing as many numbers as we can but it’s a slow process.”
“Did you find his safe?”
“No. Do you know where it is?”
“Roughly five miles outside the main building. A metal box in the ground. I don’t know the exact location but it’s somewhere west from the main entrance.” Max rubbed a hand over his face then tried to sit up, Minho helped, and by the time he was resting on the pillows he felt like he’d run a mile. “I should have told you this before.”
“When, exactly?” Minho smiled gently. “You’ve been busy the last couple of nights.”
“I should get up and help.” Max went to push the covers off then the pain from his back and side hit. Slumping back on the bed, Max muttered, “Shit.”
“You were in hand-to-hand combat with three vampires, you then helped take the compound or community or whatever you call it. You fought there, you were caught up in explosions, and you killed Maxim. Your body needs to rest. Vampire or not, your body needs time to recover, and when Rex wakes he’ll want to see you.”
“That’s not fair.”
“True, though. Rex will want to make sure you’re okay. That’s how it is with mates.”
Max scanned the room. “Where’s Peter and Sammy?”
“Gone to sleep. I said I would stay here, and I figured you needed to see a friendly face when you woke.”
“They still hate me?” Great, but what did he expect? Maybe just a little compassion.
“Sammy needs some work, but Peter is more upset about the lies and his son being stabbed. He knows why you both did what you did, but Rex is his son. It’s difficult for Peter to see his son like this. It’s a father’s job to protect his son, and he feels he failed, and he blames you. He knows it’s not your fault, not really, but he’s in a place where he isn’t ready to… forgive you and in some small way forgive Rex. His emotions are unsettled.”
“I don’t know what to say or do.”
“For now, you heal up. You should be able to leave later tonight once they’ve checked you over.”
“Oh.” At least he had the cabin, because that was the only place he could go. He’d lost his home, if you could call it that.
“I found the cabin. The security was good but not Key good. We’re going to upgrade for you. I made sure you’re fully stocked, and I think we’re adding solar panels.”
“Why are you doing this?”
Minho sat on the plastic chair and leaned over, resting his elbows on his thighs. “I told you that you weren’t alone, and I meant it. The cabin is your home now, so I wanted to make sure it was safe and secure. I also removed all traces of vampire activity in the area. We couldn’t have humans stumbling on their bodies.” Minho looked down at his hands. “I think you need a new sofa and bed.” He flashed Max a smile.
“We got what we could afford. We spent a long time cleaning both before we used them, but they were ours.”
Minho nodded. “I understand.” There was a knock on the door and Minho stood and opened it. “He’s awake and talking.”
Opening the door wide, a woman walked in and smiled at Max. “My name is Alma. I’m one of the council members.”
Max scanned the room, looking for another way out. A council member meant something bad was going to happen to him. Hadn’t he gone through enough? “I’m sorry. I’ll go.”
“Why? We haven’t spoken yet.” She sat on the chair Minho had vacated. “I knew Maxim when he was younger. He was different then. Bright, happy, a man who loved his mate.” Alma’s smile was wistful. “Then a human attacked him and killed her.”
“Minho said Yvonne was Maxim’s mate.” This confused him. Yvonne was his mother but not Maxim’s mate?
“He must have met someone else later. His mate’s name was Louise. They loved each other very much and then she was taken from him. He changed after that and wanted us to hunt humans. Some agreed, because humans had caused us pain and loss, but others wanted to let it go and move on. Those who supported Maxim plotted to take over, and it culminated in civil war. Humans were unfortunately affected, but in time we beat them back, then they disappeared. We knew they were still there, and we kept an eye on them. It was only a matter of time before Maxim reappeared.”
“Do you know who Yvonne was? I never met her and there is nothing written about her, either.” Max wanted to know who his mother was. He knew nothing about her and Maxim would never talk about her.
“No, the name doesn’t ring any bells. I can have a look at our records for you. Maybe she is the daughter of a couple who left. I’ll see what I can do for you.”
“I’d like that.” Licking his lips, Max asked, “What’s going to happen to me?”
“Having discussed the situation with our security team,” Alma smiled at Minho who nodded back, “we believe you should stay with us. Only if you want to. We’re aware of the information you provided and the consequences to yourself. You’re a vampire. Your place is here.”
“I only have Rex, and his family is angry—”
“Yeah, well his family is still angry with you, but we won’t leave you without a home.” Peter stood by the door.
“I have the cabin. I can live there.”
“What about an education? What about home cooked meals? We can figure it out. Once Rex is better and back at home, we’ll sort it all out.” Peter came into the room and shut the door. “What sort of man would I be to leave you with nowhere to live?”
“I’m forgiven?”
“Nowhere near, but my son loves you.”
“He told you?” Max furrowed his brow. “He woke up?”
“No but he kept you a secret from me for eight years and you had your love pad out in the woods.“ Minho snorted at love pad and Peter shot him a dark look. “What would you call it?”
“A place they called their home.” Minho smiled. “They’re kids, Peter. They made mistakes, but they were dealing with adult problems while going through puberty. Try to remember that. Neither of them saw this happening.”
“I’m allowed to be angry. My son almost died. I could have been burying him instead of visiting him in the hospital. I’ve already lost someone I loved. I’m not going through that again.”
“I know,” Minho murmured. “I know how much you loved one another, just like they love one another. It was devastating for you when Diane passed. How do you think it felt for Max to hold his dying mate in his arms, trying to keep him alive?”
“You know, sometimes I don’t like you.”
Minho tilted his head and silence descended in the room. “Why don’t we talk while they sort this out?” Alma patted his hand. “You have a place to stay, a mate who will recover. I can enroll you in school to finish your education and if you want to carry on when you finish high school, we can look into colleges for you. Or you may wish to work in security. You seem to have a knack for that. You don’t have to decide anything now. Rest, recover, and spend time with your mate where neither of you are looking over your shoulders.”
“You seem nice about this. I worked for Maxim and now you want to do all of this for me?” Max didn’t understand what was going on. Why was she being so nice?
“I think in time you will see why we’re willing to let you stay.” Alma stood. “As I said. Take whatever time you need. Come and speak to me when you’re ready to begin the rest of your life.”
Alma touched Minho’s arm as she passed, smiled at Peter, and leaned to whisper something in his ear. Peter nodded and watched her leave. “She told you to be nice to me,” Minho told Peter.
“She has a soft spot for you. How do you do it?”
“What can I say? I’m loveable.”
Peter snorted. “You’re something, all right.”
“Yours, Peter.”
“Now I know how cheesy me and Rex sound.”
“That’s my son you’re talking about.” Peter waggled his finger at him. “I don’t have a spare room for you, so we’ll sort something out.”
“What? You want me to live with you? I can stay in Rex’s room.”
Minho gave him a look full of pity as Peter spoke. “Not in my house. When you go to the love pad and I’m not finishing that sentence.”
“We had to hide so much. I don’t want to do that anymore.”
“Peter.”
“Not your call, Minho. My house, my rules.”
Minho winked at Max. “Can we discuss this later?”
“You’re going to try to talk me into it.”
“Who said anything about talking?” Minho looked Peter up and down, and Max shuddered and looked away. He didn’t want to know anything about Peter and Minho having sex. Not at all. Knowing they had sex was more than enough for Max. Now he felt for Rex, walking in on them naked.
A moan drew his attention, and Peter rushed over to Rex’s bed. He brushed the hair off Rex’s forehead. “Rex.”
Rex moaned again then slowly opened his eyes. He licked his lips, and Minho quickly got him some water with a straw in it. “Here. Slow. Take sips.” Rex lifted his head, took a sip, then sank back on his pillow.
“I feel…” He coughed, winced, lifted a hand to his chest. “Hurts.”
“You were stabbed.”
“Max. Where is he?” The words sounded frail, wobbly.
“I’m here.” Rex looked over at him and tried to smile. Max. He closed his eyes and within seconds was asleep again. Max turned, emotions threatening to overwhelm him. He felt a hand on his shoulder, and he shuddered, trying to hold the tears back.
“It’s okay to cry.”
“I don’t want to cry anymore. He’s alive. I wasn’t sure he’d make it.” Max coughed, his throat aching, eyes itching. “I thought…”
“You’d lost him. Me too.” Peter sat on the edge of his bed and held Max’s hand. “I haven’t forgiven you, but I don’t know how else I would have behaved in your place.” Standing, Peter let go of Max’s hand. “I’ll let the nurse know he woke.”
Max closed his eyes and exhaled. His Rex was back.