Page 17 of The Vampire and the Tattooist (The Vampire and Series Book 4)

Gavin had been asleep for a few hours now. Hunter had moved him around so he’d be more comfortable, and Gavin hadn’t stirred. But Hunter was getting hungry and could really do with a drink. He was just debating whether or not he should text Dave when there was a knock on the door. Hunter hoped it was one of the vampires and that they had super hearing, so he called out a gentle, “Come in.”

The door opened and a man stood there holding a tray. “I thought you might both be hungry and in need of coffee. I’m Thomaz, by the way.”

“Hunter, and you are literally a lifesaver. I was about to message Dave to see if he could grab me a coffee. Gavin’s been asleep for a while, and I didn’t want to wake him,” Hunter told him.

Thomaz walked over to them and put the tray on the table. “Under the platter are sandwiches, sausage rolls, and the like, and Gavin’s favourite biscuits. If you tell me what you like, I can make sure I have your favourites on hand.”

“Thanks. I’m not picky. I like anything but cakes with vegetables in them,” Hunter told him.

Thomaz gave a small laugh. “I can promise I’ll never make anything like that.” He looked at Gavin. “He didn’t sleep well last night. I found him sleeping in the kitchen next to Bruno this morning. I told him if he got scared, he could come into my room, but now you’re here, so you can make sure he sleeps and hold him if he gets upset.”

“I can. Why didn’t he go to one of his brothers?” Hunter asked, frowning.

“They’re both newly mated. I don’t think Gavin wanted to disturb them.”

“I can understand that. But yes, I’ll help Gavin with whatever he needs,” Hunter assured him.

“If at any time you want to have a freak-out, the freezer is stocked with ice cream, and I’m around. So is Dave if you need help. Mind you, everyone here will help.”

Hunter smiled at him. “Thank you. I admit I was a bit freaked out earlier, but I’m okay now.”

“I’ll leave you now, but if you’re not down for dinner, I’ll bring something up for you both. Dinner is at seven.”

“Thanks, Thomaz.”

And with that, Thomaz left the room, closing the door behind him.

Gavin was slowly coming awake. He was pretty sure he heard Thomaz’s voice and his door closing but couldn’t be sure as his brain was still sleep-addled.

He felt Hunter’s arms around him. He couldn’t believe he had fallen asleep on him. He wondered what Hunter thought of him now. Gavin also realised something while he slept with Hunter”s arms around him — he didn’t dream. He gave a deep, happy sigh.

Hunter was about to lean forward and grab his coffee when Gavin sighed and started to wake up. “Hello sweetheart,” he said, dropping a kiss on Gavin’s head. “I’m glad you managed to sleep. Thomaz has just been in with lunch. Are you hungry?”

Gavin nodded and sat up, only to realise that he was in a different position. He looked at Hunter.

“I wanted you to be comfortable while you slept.”

Gavin smiled and kissed his cheek before signing, “Thank you.”

“Thomaz told me he found you asleep with Bruno last night,” Hunter said gently.

Gavin nodded and looked down, his cheeks having a faint blush on them.

Hunter used his finger and lifted Gavin’s head, so they were looking at each other. “Never be ashamed or embarrassed that you need comfort, sweetheart. You seem to sleep well in my arms. How about I stay, and you can sleep wrapped in my arms.”

Gavin smiled and nodded before signing.

“I’m sure, sweetheart. Now, how about we eat something and then we can take a walk outside in the gardens because I’m sure they are stunning.”

Gavin smiled and climbed off Hunter”s lap. He leant down and took the covers off the food: sandwiches, sausage rolls, chicken nuggets, mini pork pies, chopped raw veg. In fact, everything needed for a picnic. Everything Gavin loved to eat as he could pick while he worked.

“We should sit on the floor and have a picnic,” Hunter suggested, looking at the food.

He loved Hunter”s idea and giving a silent laugh, he picked up the plates and platters and put them on the floor.

Hunter laughed and grabbed the drinks as he sank down on the floor next to Gavin and handed one to Gavin.

“Cheers,” Hunter said, holding his mug up.

Gavin clicked his mug against Hunter”s and silently laughed.

* * *

Sean sighed.“We’ve been at this for hours. I think we should have a coffee break.”

“That sounds really good,” Neill said, putting down the papers he was reading through.

“Shall I bring everything up here or do you want to come down to the kitchen?” Sean asked.

“What will your coven think having vampires walking around?” Ivan asked.

Sean shrugged. “I don’t really care.”

“Someone should stay here to make sure no one comes in and tampers with anything,” Kayden said.

“How about Neill and I go and grab refreshments, and you and Ivan stay here?” Sean suggested.

“That sounds like a plan,” Ivan said.

“Be back in a bit,” Sean said, as he and Neill walked out of the secret room.

Kayden looked around and shook his head. “You would think Leonard would have a better filing system. I mean, the files themselves seem to be related to the same thing, but instead of being together on the shelf, they’re all dotted around different shelves.”

“Maybe it’s a date thing: the newer projects are closer to hand; the older ones further away,” Ivan said.

Kayden shook his head. “No, I’ve been checking the dates as I go along. They’re all mixed up.”

“You would think due to running such a large operation, he would want things in order.”

“Maybe this was his system in case it was ever discovered.”

Ivan thought for a moment. “Maybe the person who tried to get in here messed everything up. Maybe Leonard wasn’t the real leader of all this,” he said, waving his hand around the room.

“I need to message Gabe. Someone will need to talk to the lemmings again,” Kayden said, grabbing his phone and shooting off a text.

A few moments later, Sean and Neill walked back in, both carrying trays with drinks and food.

“We bring refreshments,” Sean said, smiling.

“Did you run into anybody?” Kayden asked, taking two drinks off Sean’s tray and putting them on the bookshelf.

“Rafe and Sheldon were eating in the kitchen. Sheldon said he had the bodies removed from the dining room. A few others are out and about, but many are still staying in their rooms,” Sean replied, passing a drink to Ivan and putting one on the table for Neill as Neill handed out cakes.

“At least we know who arranged for them to be removed,” Kayden said. “I’ve just texted Gabe, as Ivan wonders if Leonard was actually the leader of all this…” And he went on to explain their thoughts.

“Gah, can’t we catch a break?” Sean asked, sounding frustrated.

“We will soon,” Neill said optimistically.

“Well, I’ve found something,” Ivan said. “I think Leonard thought just deleting files from his trash would erase them off his system.”

“You mean that doesn’t?” Sean asked in surprise.

Ivan snorted. “No, which is good for us as I can see everything Leonard tried to delete.”

“What did you find?” Sean asks, coming to stand behind Ivan and looking at the screen. “I’m not liking the look of that list. That’s a long list.”

“So, as you know, I took his hard drive out and connected it to my computer. I was looking at his deleted files and this came up. I think this is a list of all the kidnapped children. But going by the dates on here, this list goes back nearly ten years.”

“But Kay was only here for five years,” Sean said.

“I think this group has been doing this for longer than we realise. We know from what Mathis said, reading the file that Kay was doing things like this before he came here.” Kayden said. “I wonder if this is a big network that spans different witch coven houses?”

“I think this goes beyond just witches. The children listed are from all paranormal groups. I think there is a massive underground paranormal network involved in all of this,” Ivan said.

“We need to let the others know our thoughts,” Kayden said, grabbing his phone again.