Chapter Seven
H e’d had fun with Rex until he’d left to go to another friend’s house to do school work. Peter’s youngest was witty and smart and made Minho laugh, and he asked the most absurd questions. Toilet abilities had been the funniest, and the look on Peter’s face when Rex had asked still made Minho chuckle a week later as he appeared in front of Gray. He’d been fortunate to avoid the office until then. He’d wanted to spend as much time as possible with Peter.
Gray arched an eyebrow when Minho appeared, then his nostrils flared and he laughed. “Damn. Not you, too.”
Minho didn’t care if they could scent the changes in him. He had his mate after all these years and nothing and no one was going to alter that. “Yes, me too.”
“Who is he or she?”
“He is human, as you can tell.”
“Congrats!” Key grinned up at him then stuck his tongue out at Gray. “Not all us humans are assholes.”
“You lot are the exception to the rule and I’ve been good. I haven’t insulted a single human at all today.”
“The day or night is still young.” Key went back to his work. “Who is he?”
“Someone I met many years ago.”
Lifting his head, Key looked at him. “Was he young like Jerome?”
“I met him almost thirty years ago and he was happily married. I didn’t want to interfere in that, so I waited.”
“What changed?” Gray swung around on his chair. “Why now?”
“Diane passed away a couple of years ago. I wanted to give him time to grieve.”
“I think that’s sweet.”
Gray snorted and threw a pen at Key. “It’s pathetic. Waiting around for a human?”
“Ignore him. Henry refused to suck him off when he demanded it. Do they have kids?”
“Two sons. I met one recently. He’s nice.”
“We’re falling like flies here. One went and now look at us. Soon we’ll all be mated to humans.”
“If you were nicer to your human mate, maybe he’d be nicer to you.” Key arched an eyebrow at Gray. “Getting all growly and demanding is only going to piss Henry off.”
Gray gritted his teeth and muttered something under his breath. “You’re good to go out?”
“I am. Usual location, please.”
“Ohhh. Now it makes sense. You always wanted the Knight area because he lives there.”
“No, he works there. He owns a cafe.”
“Does he?” Key’s eyes lit up. “Cakes and pastries as well?” Minho nodded. “Can you bring some back? And coffee, too. I’m on the night shift and I need some sugary goodness to get me through with dumb and dumber here.”
“There is only me and I’m neither of those,” Gray growled.
“No, you’re both of them.” Key fluttered his eyes at Minho. “Please?.” When Minho nodded, Key grinned and went back to work.
Gray snorted and shook his head. “Those apple turnover things would be nice.”
“I’ll see what he has left over when he closes.”
“Hang on.” Key swung back around to face him. “If you met him thirty years ago, how old is he?”
“He’s almost fifty.”
Key’s eyes went wide. “Wow. You waited that long for him. What if his wife hadn’t died?”
“Then I would still be waiting. I had no intention of breaking his marriage apart. What kind of vampire would I be to cause them both pain?”
“But he could have died and you would never have mated him.”
“Yes. I was willing to accept that. As long as he was happy, then I was happy for him.”
“What about you, though? Didn’t it hurt you, seeing him and knowing you couldn’t be with him?” Key leaned forward in his chair, his eyes focused on Minho. “Or did you stay away?”
“I made a decision to watch over him and his family. If I couldn’t be with him then I wanted to make sure he had a good life with those he loved.”
“That’s… It must have been painful for you at times.”
Shrugging, Minho gave Key a small smile. “I accepted it. Peter and Diane had a good life together and raised two boys. It hurts to know he went through the loss of his wife, but now we have the chance to build something together. I don’t regret my decision, Key, and if I was faced with the same situation, I’d do the same thing. Being someone’s mate isn’t about putting my wants and needs first. Being a good mate is also making sure he or she is happy and healthy and content. Peter was all of those with Diane. Why would I take that away from them?”
“But you’re mated now?”
“We are.” Minho nodded.
“He, er, looks, you know, older?” Key fidgeted. “I’m not saying he’s too old, but he’ll look older than you. People will talk.”
“Let them. I don’t care what others think. I only care what Peter thinks. As my mate, he is my priority. Him and his children.”
“You know what? I’m glad you finally have a life with him. It can’t have been easy to step aside and watch him have a family with someone else, yet you did, so yeah. I’m happy for you.” Key turned back to his computer. “You should bring them around one night. I’ll cook.”
“That would be nice. Thank you. This is a new world for them.”
“Oh yeah. Been there, done that.” Key waved his thanks away. “Let me know when you can all make it and we’ll set it up. Usual area, Minho, and don’t forget the coffee and cakes.”
Minho appeared near Peter’s cafe, saw him serving customers, smiling and talking. He took his fill, watching his mate, then began his route of the area. Movement caught his attention and Minho wasn’t sure what it was about the man until he saw him glance to check up and down the street, then disappear into an alley.
Only it wasn’t any man. It was Rex.
Minho moved location and stood by the alley entrance. Glancing around the corner, he watched Rex jog down the alley, then duck into a doorway. Following, Minho made sure to stay far enough away so Rex wouldn’t see him, and when he reached the doorway, he quickly glanced inside, checking the area.
No one appeared, so he moved inside and paused, listening for sounds of movement. His eyes scoped the room, noticing it looked abandoned. Trash littered the floor, the windows dirty, what little furniture there was in the room was overturned, dirty. A single closed door led from the room. A rat scurried past and Minho ignored it, eyes focused on the door.
When he heard and saw nothing, he walked inside and went to the closed door. Listening, he heard nothing and carefully cracked the door open, taking a quick peek, then shut it again. Again, nothing stood out, so Minho entered and paused.
The air had a stale putrid stench, the room empty except for what had to be the rotten corpse of some animal, and if Minho hadn’t seen Rex enter, he would have assumed no one had been inside for months. Walking slowly, he assessed the room, searching it and finding nothing. Maybe it hadn’t been Rex, but someone who looked like him. He couldn’t pick up on his scent, but he wasn’t surprised.
How’s work?
Good. Busy. Just the way I like it.
Is Rex home tonight?
No, he’s staying at Shep’s. They have an assignment due. He messaged me earlier. Why are you asking?
Minho smiled. I could order us something to eat and we could spend the night in bed.
I like the sound of that. What time will you be home?
Minho closed his eyes. Home. With his mate. At one point he’d believed it would never happen, but now he was here living it. I have six hours to go. I need to bring coffee and pastries to Key if you have any left.
I might just have a couple.
I have to go. I’ll see you when you finish.
Minho moved to his next location and stood on the roof, watching the humans below. Time seemed to have slowed to a trickle when he wanted it to rush by like a river. Kelvin appeared and stood next to him, hands in the pockets of his coat. They stood in silence for several minutes, watching the humans and traffic move below them.
“Congratulations.”
Minho nodded his head. “Thank you.”
“I’m glad you finally have him. I understand why you waited.”
“You didn’t know the specifics, but thank you for being there for me.”
Kelvin chuckled softly. “Not sure if I did much. You hold your cards close to your chest, but I now know why.” Kelvin hummed. “A family. Are you ready for that?”
Minho paused, choosing his words carefully. “I’ve watched them grow up. I feel like an uncle in a way. A member of the family, but they don’t know me. Rex is a good kid. Sammy is smart and has his head screwed on straight. They are both a credit to their parents.”
“Uncle is a good way of describing you. I know how you rescued them, saved them when they should have died. I would have done the same in your place if it had been Key.”
“I broke the rules. We shouldn’t interfere.” Minho glanced at Kelvin, who shrugged.
“I broke the rules mating Key.” He smiled slightly, his eyes watching the people below. “Some rules are meant to be broken, and how would you live with yourself knowing you had let your mate and his son die?”
The thought didn’t bear thinking about. “I wouldn’t.”
“Exactly. You saved yourself the day you saved them.” Kelvin inhaled then sighed. “I need to go over to St. Nick’s. There have been some disturbances around there.”
“Need a hand?”
“No, but thanks.” Kelvin disappeared, leaving Minho alone. His phone beeped, and he pulled it out, snorting when he saw Key’s message. Coffee and treats!!
Putting it away, he stepped onto the edge of the building then off, landing on his feet and walking down the sidewalk, mingling with the crowd. He had a couple of hours to scope the area out before heading to Peter’s cafe to grab what Key wanted and then deliver them before Key started calling him. Which he would.
The hours became years and by the time Minho walked into Peter’s cafe he was ready for a drink himself. Thankfully, the darker nights meant he could begin his job at an earlier time, meaning he finished at an earlier time as well. Only a couple of hours to go.
Peter smiled at him, but didn’t speak. He was standing at a table with some older ladies, chuckling at what they were saying.
“Well, Elin’s hubby here had some of that Viagra, but the poor bastard didn’t swallow it quick enough and got a stiff neck!” The women all burst out laughing and Minho smiled.
“That’s nothing. Last week me and Larry were going at it on the sofa and when we finished he had to peel me off. Don’t have sex on leather sofas.”
“How old are you?” Peter asked, laughing.
“Seventy-two and Larry’s three years older. It still works, so why shouldn’t we have sex?”
“Because you always have a bladder infection.” Mildred picked up her coffee and took a sip. “I do miss my James.”
“He should pull out faster, Sarah, then it won’t happen as much.” Elin winked.
Minho choked back a laugh, and now he knew why Peter loved these women. They discussed anything they wanted and didn’t care what others thought.
“We were at the grandkids’ party and one of them asked me to get on Carl like he was a horse. So he gets down on his hands and knees and I can’t lift my leg up. Almost fell over on my ass! The kids and grandkids are all laughing and Carl’s stuck on the floor and I’m flailing about.”
“He’s not bad.” Mildred eyes Minho over her coffee. “I wouldn’t mind having him in my bed.”
Peter choked then laughed. “He’s a friend.”
“Why have you never introduced us before?” Mildred asked, her eyes all over Minho.
“I didn’t think I had to,” Peter rocked on his feet and Minho wondered if he could discreetly leave. “Minho. Come here.”
And that time had passed if it had ever been there for him in the first place. Standing, he walked over to Peter and smiled at the women sitting around the table. Peter introduced him and he nodded to each one. “Hello.”
“Are you single?” Mildred eyed him up and down. “Anyone special in your life?”
“I’m not single.” Now he knew how some women felt. “I came for Key’s coffee. He reminded me.”
“Coffee and cakes coming up.”
Minho went to follow Peter but Sarah shouted at him and patted to the seat next to her. “Tell us how long you’ve been friends. Oh, and are there more that look like you?”
“Sarah!” Mildred hissed, eyes glaring at her.
“I have an older brother, but he doesn’t live around here. He’s not single.”
“Ah that’s a shame. Two of you to stare at would have made my week.” Mildred sipped her coffee. “You know, Peter needs to have someone.”
“Even a man?”
“Be careful,” Elin warned. “If she thinks you two are involved, she may ask for a tape.”
“What?” Minho furrowed his brow. “A tape?”
“You know. The two of you in the bedroom.”
Minho’s eyes shot to Mildred, who smirked. “My James passed a few years ago now.” Sighing heavily, she gave him another look. “Nothing wrong with having a look.”
“And here’s your order.”
Thank you for saving me. Why did it take you so long?
I was enjoying the look of fear on your face.
Minho stood and smiled at Peter, smiling when the women commented on it. “See you later.” As he left the shop, he heard, “Tell us all about him. Are there more who look like him? Have you seen him with his shirt off? Is he ripped?”