Page 30 of Protected by the Vampire

“Oops,” Kieran cried as he stumbled over nothing. If it wasn’t for Nox sweeping him up, he would have hit the floor hard. Kieran laughed. “Thanks, Nox.”

Deacon dropped the bag to the floor and met my gaze. “Soren talked to me. The bag is full of things that will help.”

I nodded. “Thanks. Let me know if I owe you anythin’.”

“Nothing.”

“This place is really nice,” Kieran said, drawing my attention.

Prez grinned. “Appreciate it. We like it.”

The group slipped into an easy conversation about the old hotel, though Nox didn’t comment much, just listened.

It sucked we couldn’t tell Monkey and Coms about everything. There were only a select few who knew about supernaturals, and they were either bonded, bound by bloodline, sworn by an unbreakable oath for one reason or another, or had proven they wouldn’t abuse the truth.

Soren had even admitted there was a blood donation station operating under his control. Humans walked in willingly, rolled up their sleeves, and gave without question—never knowing their blood wasn’t going to hospitals, but to the vampires who lived in his territory.

Monkey offered drinks while Prez suggested we take a seat. I quickly picked up the bag, which was fucking heavy, and placed it behind the bar.

“What’s in there?” Monkey asked.

Shit. What should I say?

“Ah, Deacon deals in weapons. Soren wanted to gift me some, so he got Deacon to bring them.”

“Aww, if only I could find a woman who’d buy me weapons as gifts.”

Snorting, I cocked a brow. “You’d have to stop fuckin’ everythin’ that moved and stick to just one first.”

He chuckled. “Where’s the fun in that?”

Shaking my head, I grinned. “That’s what I’d thought you’d say.”

Monkey’s attention went over to the door, and his brows dipped. He put the glass down as he called, “Pops, what’re you doin’ here?”

I glanced over to see a buff older guy wearing a suit make his way over to us. When he stopped on the other side, he said, “I was in the back going over some paperwork and wanted to talk to Razor about it.”

Monkey groaned. “Pops, where’s your damn phone?”

He patted his pockets before he shrugged. “Somewhere?”

Leaning against the bar, I asked, “Brother, you wanna introduce?”

Monkey chuckled. “Sorry, I forgot you were occupied when Pop started.” He tipped his chin toward the older guy—by older, he was probably only in his early fifties. “Spade, this is my father, Landon. He’s just moved back to town, and when I was bitchin’ about the bookwork, he offered to come in and help. He’s an accountant.”

I tipped my chin up at Landon. “Good to meet you.”

He brushed back some of his dark blond hair with graying sides and smiled. “You too.” He put his attention back on his son. “Can I speak with Razor?” He glanced over at the table and back again.

Monkey shook his head. “That can wait until tomorrow. If you’d seen the text that went out, it said that everyone was to stay away from the compound for a few hours while we had guests.”

Before Landon could reply, there was a boom out front.

As I spun toward the table, Deacon and Nox stood, swiftly picked up their mates, and placed them behind their bodies. Razor looked at his phone, no doubt at the cameras feeds, as Riker watched over his arm.

“Non-friendly vampires,” Riker shouted.

“What the fuck?” Monkey muttered.