Blood & Secrets: The Night Movers Vampire Series Book 2

by Helen Bright

  “So what do I do with him?”

  “Nothing you can do babes. Just let him get on with it,” he shrugged.

  “Anyway Keeley, I’ve got to go. I’m meeting up with a guy from Sheffield who’s definitely gay, and who definitely has the hots for me.”

  “Well, I hope you have a great night and fill me in on all the sordid details in the morning.”

  “Back at you girly,” Ryan said with a wink and a smile as he left me behind in the kitchen. I wasn’t sure what to do, but I decided that the best course of action would be to confront Maxim and let him know that I was no threat to him, as I had no interest in Gregor other than as my boss.

  I found him in the entrance lobby as he went to go upstairs, so I called out to stop him from leaving.

  “What do you want, bitch,” he said as he came back down the stairs.

  “Maxim, it’s not what you think. I have no romantic interest in Gregor at all. In fact, I’m in a...”

  “I don’t fucking care what you have to say. Do you think you know Gregor? Gregor does not do romance. He likes to play with his women. He makes them believe they are special to him, and that they matter. But just when they think they have a good man, he whips them, fucks them, and feeds from them. Then they fade away like daylight when he no longer has any interest in them anymore. You will be this way Keeeleey,” he said mimicking the way that Gregor said my name.

  “I know that Gregor is a good man despite what you say, Maxim. Freya would not be his friend if he weren't,” I said, but just as I finished speaking Maxim pushed me up against the wall.

  “Do not speak that woman’s name in my presence. She is just a distraction for him. She is not what he needs. The world would be a better place if she were gone.”

  I was scared but angry. Was he making threats towards Freya?

  “I will not let you harm Freya, or me. I will tell Gregor and he will...” All of a sudden Maxim rose about a foot above me.

  “Maxim, were you threatening my sister-in-law and calling me names?” Freya asked as she lifted Maxim up by the throat.

  “Come on then you bully, let’s see how you fare against a woman, now. Let’s just go for it Maxim, vampire to vampire. After all, this has been a long time coming, and I’m sure you have often dreamed of the moment you would get to hurt me.”

  I moved away from the wall just as Freya slammed Maxim against it.

  “I bought Daisy a pair of pink sandals and a matching pair in blue. Also, I couldn’t resist buying her some trainers with a fairy on them. They were just too cute,” Freya said as she squeezed Maxim’s neck even tighter.

  “Oh, okay. Thanks, Freya,” I said, both shocked and impressed with Freya’s strength, and the ability to hold a normal conversation when she was choking the life out of someone.

  She leaned into Maxim and said, “If I ever find out you have hurt Keeley again, in any way, I will hunt you down and take your head. Do you understand me, Maxim?”

  He tried to speak but he was unable, so he just nodded his head. “Good. Well, I will let you go then,” Freya said as she threw him twenty feet across the hall effortlessly.

  Just then Gregor came out of his study and shouted, “What on earth is going on around here? Maxim, why are you on the floor? Get up man.” Then he turned and spotted Freya, and his face lit up as he said, “Freya my darling, I have missed you so much. I am so glad you are here, and now you get to stay with me at my home instead of yours. Come, let me show you around.”

  He turned to me and said, “Sweet Keeley, you have been such a great help to me today. Go home to your little one and have a lovely evening.”

  I nodded my head and waved my hand. I tried to say goodbye, but no words came out of my mouth. Freya just winked and waved back at me before taking Gregor’s arm and letting him lead her through his home. I grabbed my bag out of my office, got in my car and drove home, still unable to comprehend what had just taken place at the Manor.

  Chapter Eleven

  Josh

  When Keeley walked through the door of the cottage, she was a little overwhelmed, to say the least. Sitting on the sofa in front of the TV were Alex, Nik, and Keeley’s brother, Daniel. They were watching something musical, and dancing away at the side of them was Sergei and Daisy. It was an open plan room, so from the sofa area you could see straight through to the kitchen table where Gina and Julia sat drinking cloudy lemonade, I was just stirring the chicken curry I had made and was making sure that the accompanying rice did not overcook.

  As soon as Daisy saw her mother she squealed and ran straight up to her. Keeley caught her and lifted her up in the air, before holding her close. I walked over to where they stood, my blond haired blue eyed angels, before kissing them both on the cheek. Keeley turned her head at the last minute and kissed me on the lips. I kissed her back, the taste of her igniting the want and need I had to keep buried earlier today.

  “I’ve missed you today, love,” I told her as I pulled them both close.

  “I’ve missed you too Josh, and although I’m home earlier than usual, I’m absolutely exhausted.”

  “Well I’ve just cooked curry and rice for everyone, so after they have eaten, we can give Daisy a bath and settle in for the night if you want.”

  “Sounds good to me Josh. Have you eaten yet, Daisy?” she asked the little girl who was struggling to get down so she could join Sergei again.

  “Yes, I’ve had lots to eat today and I got a toy and some fairy trainers.”

  “She’s just had a jacket potato and cheese,” I told Keeley, just before Gina piped up with, “She’s also had an ice cream, a chocolate chip muffin, a packet of crisps and a banana.”

  “Yeah, it’s been a real junk food day for all of us, and this indigestion is giving me hell because of it,” said Julia, patting her chest.

  “Well, I was good today,” said Gina. “I’m determined not to break my diet this time.”

  I saw Nik and Sergei give each other a look, but it seemed Gina hadn’t noticed. Looks like I’m going to be getting visits from the two of them so they can raid my biscuit barrel again.

  My table only seats four people, so Gina, Keeley, Daniel and I sat there. Alex, Julia, Sergei, and Nik sat on the sofa and armchairs. Julia wasn’t eating due to her indigestion and heartburn, so she read Daisy a story while the rest of us ate the curry and rice with Naan bread. Once we had finished eating, Alex addressed everyone in the room.

  “I’ve been thinking about something that will affect Josh and Nik in particular. There is no easy way to say this so here goes. I’m thinking about going part time at Night Movers.”

  Before anyone else could say anything, I jumped straight in.

  “So am I. I have a family now, and working twelve hour nights constantly, doesn’t fit with Keeley and Daisy’s hours. I don’t want to give up on the company altogether, but I need to work fewer nights.”

  I looked around and saw Alex nodding at me.

  “It’s the same with me, too. When the baby comes, I need to regulate my hours around what’s healthy and natural for them. It would be okay for a couple of years or so to do the shift I do, but what about when they start nursery, and then school?”

  “You can make me a partner and I will take on some of the hours from each of you,” said Sergei. Everyone just stared at him.

  Then Alex spoke. “I appreciate the offer Sergei, but I want to speak with Freya first to see if she wants to take on half my share. I will also have to ask Finn; he did express an interest a few years ago.”

  “I know that this Finn is your cousin Alex, but I do not like him. He annoys me. He is too serious to be man or vampire,” said Sergei.

  It was true there was no love lost between each of them, but I for one didn’t care about that. I walked over to the sofa, extended my hand to Sergei and said, “I accept your proposal to take half my share in Night Movers. We can see our lawyers to get the finer details worked out.”

  “Thank you, Joshua, you will not regret this,
” said Sergei as he stood and gave me a manly hug.

  “What about your businesses in Russia?” asked Gina.

  “I will have to go back as planned in three months, but there are people who I can delegate to if needed, and we can run the Russian end of Night Movers from anywhere. Viktor can find me a buyer for whatever else I want to sell on. I, too, would like to be near my family,” he said motioning to Nik and Gina.

  “Oh, Sergei,” Gina sighed as she walked over to him and held him tightly. “I will be so glad to have you here with us every day. I miss you so much when you are gone.”

  “I miss you too, my Gina,” he said as he kissed her forehead and put his arms around her.

  I understood Nik’s relationship with Sergei. They were brought up together in a Romanian orphanage where their mothers (who were cousins) had an uncle who was a priest that worked there.

  They stayed with the priest, and he kept their identities safe for nearly fifteen years until their paternal grandfathers came for them after the war with the hunters. The same war in which each of their blood born vampire fathers and their witch born mothers were killed.

  So obviously, they were very close. More brothers than friends. But the way Sergei was with Gina sometimes…well, I would have said there was more going on there than I would be comfortable with.

  Keeley looked at me and asked, “Are you sure about all this Joshua?”

  “Positive love. Now let’s get little miss in the bath and ready for bed.” I picked Daisy up from Julia’s knee and carried her into the bathroom. I set the bath running for her while Keeley gathered up her night clothes. I left Keeley to bath Daisy while I went into the kitchen to wash up, but Gina had beaten me to it.

  “Thanks for doing the washing up, Gina,” I said gratefully.

  “Thank you, Josh, for cooking for us,” she said happily, and everyone else chimed in and said thank you, too.

  Daniel stood up and asked, “Would it be okay if I went in to say goodbye to Keeley and Daisy?”

  “Yeah Dan, of course. This is Keeley’s home too, so you are welcome here anytime you want to see either of them.” He nodded his head as he made his way to the en suite. I could hear Daisy yell, “Look, Uncle Daniel, it’s a magic queen bath.”

  “What on earth does she mean by that?” asked Julia.

  “It’s the Jacuzzi setting. When Daisy first had a bath in it, she didn’t look too sure about it, so I told her that Queen Ellie had one, so she liked it,” I replied.

  “Good thinking,” said Julia. Then she stood up and said, “I’ve got to see this,” as she waddled her way into the bathroom.

  “So what’s it like to have a ready-made family?” asked Alex.

  “It’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” I told him truthfully. “Hearing Daisy call me dad makes my heart jump every time she says it. I can’t wait to have more kids with Keeley. She’s a great mother, always has been.”

  Alex nodded in agreement and said, “I can’t wait for our baby to be born. It has changed everything I held as a priority in my life. That’s why I need to scale down the work a little. I want to be there for my child whenever they need me, throughout their life.”

  “Joshua, this is not one of those times when you feel the need to show your ass, is it?” Sergei asked as he backed away from me.

  “What on earth are you talking about Sergei?” I asked becoming confused

  “Sergei, I told you it’s not the same type of mooning you are thinking about.” Nik turned to Alex and me and said, “I was talking to Sergei and Keeley earlier, and I happened to say you had been mooning after her for a long time, and this Muppet thought I meant you had been pulling a moony at her.”

  Alex and I laughed out loud as Sergei continued towards the door. “Come Nik, let us go to the office now and you can put me to work. Gina, you are to come also,” he said as he backed out of the door.

  “I can’t believe I have to work with him, Josh. What have you done?” Alex groaned.

  “He will be fine Alex, don’t worry about him,” I answered.

  Sergei sometimes acted the joker, but I knew he was all there when needed. There was a lot more to him than most people knew, Alex included. So I just let it be and waved goodbye to Nik and Gina.

  Daniel walked out of the hallway and made his way to the door saying, “I think you’ve lost your Mrs. in there Alex, our Daisy’s got her smitten.”

  “I had better go and get her settled at home before I leave for work. I know she says I fuss too much, but I like to know that she’s okay before I leave the cottage.”

  I followed him into the bathroom, to see both Julia and Keeley sitting on the floor covered in bubbles.

  “Look, Daddy, it’s like Queen Ellie does when she magics the fairy dust,” shouted Daisy. Then she stood, scooped up some bubbles and flung them into the air as she sang the fairy song at the top of her voice.

  Julia and Keeley sat giggling away as little Daisy flung the bubbles at Alex and me. I looked at Alex and saw the strangest expression on his face as he glanced at Julia and Daisy.

  Then he whispered, “She looks more like a baby without her clothes and her hair all wet away from her face.”

  And thinking about it, I suppose she did, with her still babyish frame, big baby blue eyes, chubby cheeks, and little nose. Alex bent down and rubbed Julia’s swollen belly.

  “She’s lovely, isn’t she Julia. I wonder if our baby will be like her.”

  “Uncle Alex, I’m not a baby,” Daisy yelled crossly. “Tell him, Mummy, I’m going to big school soon and I’m four and a half.”

  “I know you’re a big girl Daisy; I just meant that if we have a baby girl, it would be nice if she was as pretty as you.”

  Daisy looked like she was considering what he said.

  “Did you put the baby in Aunty Julia’s tummy when you got married and I was a bridesmaid?” asked Daisy thoughtfully.

  I had never seen Alex blush before. It happens very rarely with vampires.

  “Something like that,” said Alex, looking anywhere but at Daisy.

  “Well, if you put the baby in Aunty Julia’s tummy you should know whether it’s going to be a girl or a boy,” said Daisy with a huff.

  We all tried our best not to laugh, but it was impossible. In fact, Julia laughed so hard she was in tears. Suddenly she stopped laughing and said, “Quick Alex, get me up, I need to pee.”

  I picked up Daisy’s nightclothes from the cabinet while Keeley scooped Daisy up in a towel, then Alex lifted Julia off the floor.

  Later that evening, with Daisy all tucked up in bed fast asleep, Keeley and I sat down on the sofa with a glass of wine. She was in the little pyjama shorts and a tank top that she wore the first night that she and Daisy came to stay with me. It was hard for me to keep my hands to myself, but there was something that I needed to do. You see, Freya and Daisy weren’t the only ones in the family to go shopping today.

  I had rung through to a jeweller in York that I knew of. They tended to supply beautiful, if rather expensive, pieces of jewellery, which were definitely not run of the mill. I had spoken to them earlier and requested an engagement ring with a blue topaz stone, as that reminded me of the colour of Keeley’s eyes. They agreed to set aside some rings for me to view around mid-day. I rang Keeley’s brother to tell him what I was doing, and ask for his blessing in a way. I don’t think her father would have readily agreed to give me his blessing, even if I could have gotten in touch with him. But one of the conditions of his rehab stated no contact for at least a month, so it wouldn’t have mattered either way.

  Daniel agreed to drive me to York so that we could pull up alongside the shop. My vehicle had tinted windows, so I could actually do it all without spending much time at all in the sun. Daniel joined me in a back room after he had managed to park up, which wasn’t an easy task in York. The selection of rings in blue topaz was very limited, but I narrowed it down to three choices.

  I thought initially that I would choo
se a platinum ring setting, but I saw the perfect ring for Keeley in yellow gold. It wasn’t an overly large stone, just short of a centimetre in total. It was princess cut, with two small princess cut diamonds either side of it. Daniel agreed with me that it would really suit Keeley, and luckily he brought Keeley’s ‘leave me alone I’m married ring’ from her jewellery box that she left at her father’s house. This was a fake gold wedding ring she put on when on a night out so that men wouldn’t try to pick her up.

  The jeweller used the ring to size the engagement ring, and luckily for me, they had one to fit. I remembered Alex bought Julia all matching jewellery with Julia’s ring, so I asked the jeweller for earrings, a pendant, and a bracelet to match. I selected a perfectly matching pendant and chain, but the earrings and bracelet had to be ordered as they would be bespoke pieces.

  While I was there, I bought Daisy a little pendant and chain too, in the same colour, as I knew she would love to have the same as her mother. Daniel went to bring the car around while I paid for all the items, and after less than an hour in York we were on our way home. I was so confident that Keeley would love the ring when I bought it, so why was I so nervous now.

  “What’s up, Josh?” Keeley asked, concerned. I didn’t answer. Instead, I got down on one knee and took her hand in mine.

  “Keeley Saunders, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife,” I said simply. I had had a big speech planned, but at the last minute, the words I wanted to say seemed to leave my mind.

  “Yes Josh, you know I will,” said Keeley as she leaned forward and kissed me softly. I pulled away from her and handed her the open ring box. Keeley gasped, and I took the ring from the box and placed it on the third finger of her left hand. It was a perfect fit, and the colour looked so pretty against her skin.

  “It’s beautiful Josh, thank you,” she said as she tilted her hand in different directions, admiring the way it sparkled.

  “That’s not all,” I said taking out the box with the chain and pendant.

  “Oh my god, Josh,” Keeley clasped her hand over her mouth as I took out the jewellery. She lowered her hands and I placed it around her neck, brushing my fingers against her skin as I fastened it. I watched her visibly shiver as she turned her face to mine and kissed me.