Page 21 of The Vampire and the Tattooist (The Vampire and Series Book 4)

“So what’s new?” Ian asked Mathis and Gabe as they arrived back.

“Well, Jake Conway has packed up and left. Ivan found stuff but he’s looking for more,” Mathis told them.

“If this Conway is involved, he could be panicking and might move the children quicker,” Seth said, sounding concerned.

Kevin nodded. “We’ll have to bring the rescue forward. There’s no telling what he could be doing.” He looked at everyone. “The plan stays the same. Stick with your group, do everything you’re told, and don’t get dead. Let’s go.”

Just as he said this, his phone rang. He groaned and answered, “What’s up, loser?”

“Where the hell have you been?” a voice growled down the phone.

“I’ve been busy. Listen, can I call you back later? We are literally just about to leave on a mission?”

“Fine, but you better ring me back, you turd, and tell Ian to stop ignoring my calls. If you don’t phone me back tomorrow, I’m telling Mum.”

“You’re such a pain in the arse. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” And with that, Kevin hung up. He looked at Ian.

“I heard. Come on. Let’s head out.”

“I can’t wait to meet your brother,” Creed said with a smile.

“Neither can we, Wolfie, and if he’s a stick in the mud, you know Dave as well as Troy and all of us will razz the hell out of him,” Seth told Kevin with a laugh.

Kevin laughed. “I can’t wait to see that. But now, we really have to go.”

* * *

Dave and Maxwalked into the kitchen. They’d tidied some shelves and started to get some of the books in order, but it was slow going.

Thomaz had brought lunch down to them, but they were both now in need of coffee and cake.

They walked into the kitchen and found it empty.

“It seems strange that no one is in here,” Max commented.

“I know,” Dave said, hunting around for the cakes. “What I find strange is how at home I feel here. I thought I would miss my house, but no.”

“I’ve never seen you this happy, Davy.”

He pulled out the cake box and smiled at Max. “I’ve never been this happy. Sure, I’m in a strange new world, but I have David, so it all balances out.”

“That’s good to hear, sweetheart,” David said, walking into the kitchen with Stefan by his side.

“Hey, babe,” Dave said, putting the cake box down, walking to David, and wrapping his arms around him.

David pulled Dave as close as he could and dropped a kiss on his head.

“We’re making coffee and having cake,” Max tells them. “Want some?”

“Yes, so very yes,” Stefan replied.

Dave pulled back and looked at David and Stefan. “What’s wrong?”

“Let’s get coffee and cake first and then we’ll tell you,” Stefan replied.

“Okay,” Dave said, moving to the coffee pot. Thankfully, it was full. He got four mugs and filled them whilst David got the milk and Stefan found the plates and a knife for the cake.

Once everyone was seated with cake and coffee in front of them, Dave asked, “So, what’s wrong? Wait, you went and saw the lemmings. How did you get on?”

“We found out more than we knew before. The things those men were involved in is disturbing. We managed to pull out information from most of the lemmings, but we’ll need Sean or Kayden to perform the unbreaking spell so we can access Giles Goodsir’s mind. I know they are busy at the moment, though, and I don’t want to pull them away from that.”

“I’m sure they won’t mind you ringing and asking for help,” Dave said.

“They wouldn’t,” Ivan said as he walked into the kitchen.

“Ivan, when did you get back?” David asked him.

“A few moments ago. I have all the lemmings’ gadgets and need to go through them. From what we found out, it appears Quintus Cameron-Webb might be the mastermind behind all of this. But a witch named Jake Conway has upped and left the witches coven. His name has been linked to everything as well. I left Neill, Sean, and Kayden looking through all the paperwork, and there is a lot. Gabe sent me back here while he and Mathis went back to the pack house.”

Dave screwed his nose up. “I’m guessing that is the Cliff Notes version.”

Ivan nodded. “Pretty much. I need to go through everything and pull-out relevant info, then try and hack into Quintus Cameron-Webb’s computer. Is Gavin busy, do you know?”

“He was asleep in Hunter’s arms when I took lunch up to them. I told them dinner was at seven if they wanted to come down, and if not, I would take food to them,” Thomaz said, walking into the kitchen with Bruno at his side.

“Hey, Bruno, are you being a good boy?” Max asked the dog.

Bruno barked and ran over to Max, who slid to the floor and offered hugs and tummy rubs. “I’m glad you’re all better now.”

“Me, too,” Dave said softly.

“Bruno needs a friend,” Thomaz said.

“He has us. Or do you mean a doggy friend?” Dave asked.

“A doggy friend,” Thomaz said. “I umm, might have found a German Shepherd puppy for sale. I was going to look at him later.”

David laughed. “A dog convert?”

Thomaz nodded and grinned. “Maybe, plus I don’t want Bruno to be lonely.”

“Where did you find the puppy?” Dave asked.

“On that kennel club site you sent me. They are eight weeks old. Look,” he said, pulling his phone out of his pocket and opening it up before handing it over to Dave.

“Oh, he’s so cute,” Dave said, looking at the picture before turning the phone and showing it to David. “Bruno and I can come with you if you want. It would be good for Bruno to meet the puppy and see if they like each other,” Dave said.

Thomaz smiled. “That would make sense. Then if they do, we can stop off at the pet shop and buy everything the puppy will need.”

“I think Mathis and Raz are still planning on getting a puppy for Gavin. Maybe they should talk to Hunter, as well,” Ivan added.

“That would make sense. If Gavin and Hunter come down for dinner, ask Gavin for help,” David said to Ivan.

The vampire nods. “Will do. Now off to hack computers. See you all later.”

“What time are you seeing the puppy, Thomaz?” Dave asked.

Thomaz looked at the time. “About an hour. I’ll have to leave soon as it will take about forty-five minutes to get there.”

Dave looked at David and grinned.

“No, you have Bruno and Troy,” David told him.

Stefan and Thomaz laughed at that.

Dave grinned. “I’m going to tell Troy you said he was my pet.”

“And before that, I’m off to work,” Max said.

“When can you start here full time?” Stefan asked him.

“Four weeks. I don’t think they’ll let me go earlier on account of Davy being on holiday and then leaving.”

“I’ve not handed my notice in yet,” Dave pointed out.

“But when you do, it will be with immediate effect, won’t it?” Max asked him.

Dave nodded. “Sorry.”

Max shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. I mean, when I finally do leave, I get to work in the most amazing secret library in the world. So worth it.”

“You do know if you want to move in, there are enough rooms for you to pick one, don’t you?” David told him.

“I might have to build up to that if you don’t mind,” Max said.

“We understand. Just know you will be more than welcome.”

“Thanks,” Max said. “Now I really do have to go.”

“So do we,” Thomaz said. “We can walk out with you.”

Dave jumped up. “Bruno, harness.”

Bruno walked over to Dave and stood while Dave put him in the harness and attached the lead before kissing David. “See you all later.”