Chapter Twelve
P eter arched his back, hands on hips as he stretched. It had been a long day in the cafe but a good day, too. Busy but with enough time between flurries of activity to keep the place tidy and the counter stocked. With the shop now closed, Peter had the chance to clean and tidy up then do a quick check of his inventory so he knew what needed to be purchased the following morning.
Are you finished?
Peter smiled when Minho’s voice drifted through his mind. Just closed now. Need to do the usual end of day jobs then a stock check.
How long will you be?
Why are you asking? Peter’s smile widened. He knew Minho had the day or night off, so would be at his place waiting. That meant Minho had Rex for company. Oh, to be a fly on the wall to watch Minho and Rex together without Peter present.
Rex is asking me about my grave. Where is it? Do I teleport there when I need to restore my energy? Do I carry a box of my grave dirt around with me? Do I have a box full of dirt under the bed?
Peter chuckled as he shook his head. Of course Rex would ask those types of questions. He wouldn’t put it past his son to have been online researching stupid questions to ask to see how Minho would react. Interesting. I never noticed a box of dirt under my bed. Should I check?
Hmm. Why do I think you’re enjoying this?
Because you can feel I am. Peter finished mopping the floor then carried the mop and bucket into the back of the shop. What else is my son asking? As he poured the dirty water away, Peter waited for Minho to answer.
If I knew Vlad Tepes?
Peter paused. Who?
A fifteenth-century voivode, which means prince of a place called Wallachia, a part of Transylvania. He was called Dracula or son of the devil because he liked to torture his victims, usually by impaling them.
He sounds like a nice man. Remind me not to invite him around for lunch. Any other questions?
He’s been researching. Asked me if I can change into a bat.
Peter burst out laughing. “Rex. You do make me laugh.” He’s trying.
Not sure what. When are you coming home? Do you need me to come and get you?
You need me to rescue you from your step-son?
No. He’s entertaining. Hurry home, Peter. I miss you.
Peter felt his body flood with warmth and closed his eyes absorbing the feeling. Minho. Always making sure he knew how much he loved Peter. The heady feeling of having a man or vampire who looked like Minho love him—
“He knows.” The words whispered low next to Peter’s ear caused him to jump, his heart race in his chest. He went to turn, but a hand to the center of his back stopped him.
“Who are you?”
“Watch your back. He’ll come for you at some point. You don’t want him to get his hands on you or your sons.”
Peter spun around but no one stood behind him. Impossible… unless you had the ability to teleport, which meant a vampire.
Minho. Get here now.
“Peter?” Peter rushed through to the front of the shop, moving straight into Minho’s arms. “Hey, you’re shaking. What happened?”
“Someone was in the shop, Minho. Stood behind me. Warned me. Told me he knew and to watch my back and Sammy and Rex’s too. I turned and he had gone. Just disappeared.”
“Vampire, and one of Maxim’s if we’re to believe the message. What can you tell me? Sex? Age? Height from where the voice came from?”
“You can get all of that from a voice behind you? No, don’t bother.” Peter moved out of Minho’s arms and paced in front of him. “Man, young, maybe Sammy’s age. Tall. The voice came near my ear, not too short or tall so around my height. I’m six foot, so around that.”
“Good. You couldn’t see any part of him?”
“No. He stood directly behind me, put his hand on my back to stop me turning.”
“Where did he appear? In the back?” Minho asked as he walked into the back of the shop. Minho walked slowly around the area, then stopped. “I can’t scent anything. No aftershave or deodorant. Cleaning fluid only.”
“Yeah, I’d been cleaning before I did a stock check.”
“Good time to come. He teleported in, warned you, then left. Why warn you, though? No one else who has mated a human has been given a warning.”
“I don’t know. I don’t know many on your team. You know, who do security. Key and Kelvin and Gray. I’ve heard of them but I haven’t met any yet.”
“Something I’ll rectify in time but this…” Minho glanced around the room. “No CCTV in here?”
“Yes!” Peter strode into his office and sat behind the desk. Minho came to stand beside him as Peter pulled up the CCTV feed. “Here it is.”
“Go back until he appears.”
Peter nodded and rewound the feed until he appeared then disappeared. “I’ll play it now.”
“I’ll need a copy of this but let’s watch it first.”
Peter pressed play and he watched the feed along with Minho, seeing the man appear directly behind him. He stood for a minute before Peter saw himself jerk. A full minute and he never noticed. Anything could have happened to him in that time. Anything. Pausing it, he rubbed his chest, his breathing fast and shallow. “Shit. He could have killed me. I never knew he was there.”
“He’s good. Been taught well.”
“No that’s not it. I never even felt his presence. Not for one second. I only knew he was there because he spoke. I could be dead, Minho. Dead before I was even aware I was in danger. Shit.”
Minho spun him around and placed a hand on the back of Peter’s head. “Legs spread, head down low. Take deep breaths. Come on, Peter. You can do this.”
Peter closed his eyes, taking long deep breaths until he felt like he had some control again. “Shit.”
“You back with me?” Minho ran his fingers through Peter’s hair. “I can watch the rest on my own if you don’t want to watch it.”
“I shouldn’t have reacted like that. He did nothing to me, but realizing he could have and I wouldn’t have known until it was too late? That’s overwhelming.” Peter sat up and stared into Minho’s hazel eyes. “You need to teach me how to be aware of my surroundings.”
“This is a safe place to you, so why would you be on guard here? He came to warn you, not harm you, but I will show you whatever it is you need to know. I won’t have you defenseless either.”
“He knows about me, and he knows about the boys. So they need to know too.”
“I’ll make sure of it.” Minho leaned down and kissed Peter. “Want to watch the rest?”
“Yes and no, but I will because I have to.” Peter inhaled deeply then slowly released it. “Let’s do this.” Pressing play again, he leaned closer to the monitor and watched the man place his hand on Peter’s back. A few seconds later he was gone. It was another few seconds before Peter left the room. Pressing stop, Peter leaned back in his chair and looked up at Minho. “What are your thoughts on this?”
“Exactly what he said. He came to warn you and to let you know Maxim knows of your existence. The question I have is why? Why would he risk being exposed to warn you? Maxim isn’t known for showing kindness to anyone under him. This man risked torture and abuse, maybe even death.”
“Maybe my coffee is just that good.”
Minho snorted. “It is very good coffee. Let’s get this place locked up then go home. We can talk more about this there, and we need to give Gray or Key access so they can copy and do their research into this man.”
“Not that we captured his face. Bit like that kid who we’ve seen around here.” Peter looked at Minho. “Could they be one and the same?”
“Gray and Key will do all of that. It’s what they get paid for. What do you have left to do?” Minho asked as he pulled his phone free.
“A little bit of cleaning, then checking the stock.”
“I’ll call Gray now so he can run a search on what you have here. They’ll find details we won’t see.” It took less than a minute for Peter to give Gray what he needed and for Gray to access Peter’s system. Watching the cursor move around without Peter doing it felt a little strange, but he knew it had to be done.
Minho pulled him up from the chair and gently moved him from his office. “Let them deal with this now. Show me what needs doing and I’ll help you.”
Peter shook his head. “I can do this tomorrow. I’ll come in early and finish off. I want to go home now, Minho.”
Minho kissed and softly. “I’ll help. Lock up and I’ll take us home.”
Peter made sure everywhere was secure then took the hand Minho held out to him. A second later he stood in his kitchen and sagged against Minho, who held him tight. He stood and let the other man take his weight, knowing Minho wouldn’t let him fall.
“Can’t you two get a room?”
Peter stiffened in Minho’s arms then straightened. “Hello Rex.”
“Dad. Like get some privacy? Do I have to see you two mushing faces?”
Peter slowly turned. “What? Mush faces?”
“You know kissing? In front of me.”
Peter somehow resisted the urge to roll his eyes. You know you want to roll them.
Not helping, Minho. “Rex. Tell me how I’m supposed to know when you’re in the kitchen when I’m at the shop? Should I put a camera in here?”
“No!” Rex practically shouted.
“That’s quite a reaction,” Minho murmured. “Have you been doing something in here you don’t want Peter to know about?”
Rex glared at Minho. “No, but I’m sure you two have. I don’t need to hear you two having sex. My dad having sex at his age. Why don’t you just have it mentally and send those emotions to each other?”
“How do you know how deep the connection can go?”
Peter shot a glance at Minho then looked back at Rex. “You mentioned it?” Rex shrugged, stood and left the kitchen.
“Maybe I did say something.” Peter shrugged. He couldn’t remember what he had and hadn’t said recently. Their life had changed with Minho coming into it and he may have mentioned how deep the connection went. “Do you want something to eat?”
Minho looked at him then dropped his eyes to his neck. “Later.”
Peter sucked in a breath, his body responding to the heated look on Minho’s face. “Actual food, Minho. We can do that later.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
“With everything happening, you should move in.”
“We have discussed this but we don’t have to rush.”
“We’re mated, and with the situation as it stands, it makes sense. You have the skills to keep us protected.”
Peter realized he’d said something wrong when he saw Minho’s face go blank. All expression leaving it. “Minho—”
“I think I might be insulted.” Minho disappeared without saying another word, leaving Peter staring in shock at the empty space he’d been standing in.
Minho? I didn’t mean to insult you.
I’m sure you didn’t but I’d like some time alone. I’ll contact you soon.
I’m sorry.
I know. I love you, Peter, even when I’m not happy.
Peter closed his eyes and sighed deeply. He hadn’t meant it to come out the way it had but he’d said those words and he couldn’t take them back. Stay safe. I’ll be here waiting for you.
I’ll see you soon.
Peter actually felt Minho’s presence leave him, a feeling that left him strangely empty inside. He’d become used to having the warmth Minho sent him constantly there and now… nothing. Siting at the table, Peter closed his eyes. He’d made a mistake but he’d make it up to Minho when he was ready to talk. All he could do now was wait.