Chapter 36
Ivan and Jamie found Karl and Kitty just about to walk into the lounge with Jack and Spencer.
“Hey folks,” Jamie said from the doorway.
“You’re back. Are you okay?” Karl asked.
Kitty rushed over and hugged first Jamie and then Ivan.
“I am. Are you okay?” Jamie asked them in concern.
“Yeah,” Karl replied, joining them. “The house went into lockdown, and we had to hide in a secret room behind the fireplace and down a bit.”
“It was a bit scary, as there were no lights in the passageway, but Jack and Spencer kept us safe,” Kitty puts in. “The hidden room was an amazing thought. It was decorated like a woodland, but there were no windows, just the door.”
“I imagine being a secret room, there wouldn’t be any windows,” Jamie replied.
“I was there as well,” Dave said, walking down the hallway to join them. “Plus, my parents, AJ and Charlotte, Louise, and Gavin and the dogs. I promise they were safe.”
“Thank you,” Jamie said, looking from Dave to Jack and Spencer.
“Why was the place locked down?” Jack asked.
“It was just a precaution; some vampires went missing. We found them, but we were worried about everyone here, hence the lockdown,” Ivan told them.
“But this place is surrounded by guards. Why the hiding?” Karl asked.
“It was just a precaution. We didn’t know if anyone was planning to attack the coven, so just to be safe, those that we needed to keep safe were sent to the secret room.”
“But now, Karl, Kitty, we need to talk,” Jamie said. “Can you come up to our bedroom for a bit? ”
“Sure. Jay, should we be scared?” Kitty asked softly, taking Karl’s hand, as they walked up the stairs.
“No, I promise you don’t need to be scared.”
At the top of the stairs, they found Diablo and Bruno laying on their spot. They all stroked them as they passed, and then Ivan opened his bedroom door and waved them in, closing it behind them.
“What? What’s happened?” Karl asked, looking at his brother.
“Okay, there is no easy way to tell you this, but Dad is dead.”
“Good,” Karl said, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Did you kill him, Ivan?” Kitty asked him.
Ivan shook his head. “No, Derrick did. He helped Jamie escape your father in the alley. It looks like he took your father back to where he was staying and killed him there.”
“Kevin was having him buried in an unmarked grave somewhere. I honestly don’t care where, as I’m never likely to visit it,” Jamie paused, looking between them. “Are you both alright?”
“More than,” Karl said. “He almost killed me and you, Jay. I was scared he’d try again, or come after Kitty, but now I don’t have to worry anymore.”
“Kitty,” Ivan said. “You okay, princess?”
Kitty nodded. “Yeah, I mean, he was a crappy father, and I’m glad he’s dead. I wish he hadn’t been murdered, though.”
“What of that Derrick chap?” Karl asked.
“He’s dead as well. Kevin killed him, after kidnapping and drugging his mate,” Ivan replied.
“Plus, you know, kidnapping me,” Jamie put in.
“You were kidnapped? Jay!” Karl exclaimed.
“Hey, it wasn’t like it was my fault,” Jamie protested. “Anyway, he’s deader than dead, so all threats from him are gone.”
“What if the police come looking for dad?” Kitty asked him, biting her lip.
“You can both truthfully say you’ve not seen him since you left home. If they check phone records, they will see he called and spoke with me, but there is no video evidence of us meeting or him beating me up,” Jamie said.
“What do we tell mum?” Karl asked, dropping his arms.
“Nothing, she was in a drunken sleep when we portalled into the house. She might know Dad came looking for us, but who knows? If she tries to contact you, just ignore her call.”
“I can do that,” Karl said. “I doubt she will call, though. I mean, she hasn’t since we left.”
Just then, there was a knock on the door. “Come in,” Ivan called.
The door opened, and Olly and Owen stood there, holding a lot of boxes, some large and some small.
“Deliveries,” Owen said, holding them out.
“Thanks, guys. Can you dump them on the bed?”
“We can,” Owen said, as the two men walked to the bed and put everything down.
“Thanks, Olly, Owen.”
“Have fun,” Olly said as the two men left the room.
“What’s all this?” Jamie asked, looking at the boxes.
Ivan shrugged. “Well, I’ve never had anyone to spend my money on, so I bought you all some gifts.”
Kitty walked to his side and touched his arm, smiling. “Thank you, Ivan.”
“Yeah, thanks, Ivan, but you don’t need to buy us things,” Karl added.
Ivan grinned. “Too late because,” he waved his hand over the bed. “Look what I ordered. If you don’t like anything, it can be changed.”
“We’ll love whatever you got us,” Kitty assured him.
“Those two boxes are TVs,” Jamie pointed to the two large ones.
Ivan nodded. “They are. I’ve got you both the same ones, we can set them up in a bit.
I will also add you both to my streaming services.
I have them all. I also got you both gaming systems and some games.
Plus, I bought all three of you the latest laptops.
I thought you might need them for schoolwork.
I got you one as well, Jay, I thought you might need it for your new job. ”
“Thank you, Ivan,” Kitty said, hugging him.
Karl joined in the hug. “Yeah, thanks, Ivan.”
“I also bought the three of you new phones. I can help transfer everything over for you.”
They pulled back as Jamie touched Ivan’s arm. “This is too much, honey.”
Ivan wrapped an arm around him. “Not really. I honestly don’t really have anyone to spend my money on. It was nice ordering this for you all. I’ve also set up new bank accounts for you both. A monthly direct debit has already been set up, and your new accounts come with children’s credit cards.”
Kitty sniffed and hugged Ivan again, as Karl wiped his eyes and joined the hug.
“Thank you, Ivan,” Karl says softly.
Ivan patted their backs. “We have time before dinner to start setting everything up. What do you say?”
“Please,” Kitty says, stepping back and picking some boxes up.
Ivan effortlessly picked up both televisions and put one in Kitty’s room and the other in Karl’s. “Now, let’s get unpacking and setting everything up.”