Vampires, Magic, and Monsters - Page 5

“The police are not my concern. There are no bodies rogue vampires burn with a blue flame, and nothing is left behind. The business appears to have ignited due to an electrical issue. There is nothing for the police to find or to question. The paranormal world takes care of itself.” Alistar briefly explained the situation. “No one will bother you about it.”

“That’s good, I guess.” He looked so uncomfortable and Alistar did not know what to say to make the situation better. The bond was slow, and his understanding was also slow. He knew a little but not enough to know what was happening. “I’d like to go home.” He asked again and Alistar could not deny him.

“Okay, I’ll take you home, but please be careful and watchful of your surroundings.”

“Why?”

“I killed two of the rogues but two escaped. I don’t know if they saw you or scented you but until they are caught please do not go out at night.” Alistar didn’t want to frighten him, but he wanted him to be aware of the fact that there could be danger for him in the dark.

“I’ll be careful.”

It was killing him, but he couldn’t keep Neal there against his will. He’d hoped to have enough time together for the bond to take shape and perhaps get to know one another. But the violence and the blood were weighing on Neal, and he needed time alone to process what happened and what he was feeling. Alistar understood, but he did not like it.

“I’ll drive you home.”

“Thank you.” The relief was palatable, and it hurt a little. He put in a call to have some groceries delivered to Neal’s place. It was the least he could do. His adored needed to eat. He planned to have more delivered tomorrow perhaps a nice steak dinner would be good for him. With those thoughts he reached out his hand and Neal took it without hesitation.

Master Elan Kilconnor sent Rian Dobre and his team out to track down the two rogue vampires that had gotten away from Alistar. It was vital that they be neutralized before they could wreak further havoc on the city.

He received a call just before dawn that they had cornered and eliminated one down by the park among the tourist attractions. He had bitten a human, but Rian was able to save the man and get him care but also wiped his memory of the attack. Rogues could be such a nightmare, putting vampires and all the paranormal world at risk of discovery.

“I thought they would have stayed and hunted together.” Rian comments to the Master. “They worked the drycleaning trap together.”

“There is no understanding a rogue they act solely in their need for sustenance and at any cost. Nothing will stand between them and their next meal.” Master Kilconnor kept a tight rein on this city. He knew everything and everyone, and there was no place for rogues in his city. “Take care of it, Rian. Rogues are bad for business.”

“We’ll find him.” After Rian left Elan put in a call to Alistar. Alistar was the ultimate fixer and while Elan appreciated the fact that Alistar had found his adored and needed time Elan found himself impatiently waiting for the man to be back on the job. Alistar was one of a kind the best at what he did bringing death and destruction to an art form.

This rogue gave Elan a bad feeling. There was something more to him than just rampant out of control thirst for blood and death which governed rogue vampires. The set up at the drycleaning business showed thought and design two things decidedly missing in all rogues.

The death toll at the business had reached three before coming to the attention of his lieutenants. Rogues are anything but subtle and are incapable of making such complicated plans. They are into immediate gratification and nothing else, so this rogue did not ring true.

He put in another call. “Sloan, find out everything you can on that drycleaning business Alistar took out last night. I want everything.”

Neal called his brother as soon as he arrived home and asked him to come over. Byron was five years older than him and a good judge of people and situations. He just had a very level head and could see through most bullshit. Neal always ran things by him whenever he had doubts about something or someone. Byron’s advice was spot on at least ninety-nine percent of the time.

“I can’t come over right now I’m in the middle of a project, but I can put you on speaker and we can talk.” Byron was a gaming analyst and a very good one no bugs or glitches ever got past him. He was always busy with a backlog of projects, but he loved what he did so it wasn’t really work for him.

“Good enough.” Neal just needed to hear his take on everything. He, too, put his phone on speaker and relaxed on the couch with a soft drink and a sandwich. Someone, he’s assuming Alistar had bought him groceries, and the manager had given them access. He was touched by the thoughtfulness.

He drank his soda, ate his ham sandwich, and explained his entire night to Byron, including the strange way that Alistar made him feel. Byron did not interrupt, and when finished, Neal sat silently, waiting for his take on it all.

He hadn’t used the word vampire or paranormal just insane and bizarre and also peppered in wild and peculiar. He told Alistar he wouldn’t tell anyone about the vampire thing, and he felt the need to hold to that promise.

“Is Alistar part of Agincourt? You know, that banking conglomerate?” Byron asked, not as shocked or dismayed by his story as Neal had expected. Neal wondered how he’d made such a leap, but he wasn’t wrong.

“Yes, he works for Agincourt,” Neal responded.

“Did he happen to tell you his job title? Is he part of the leadership, security, or a higher-level position?” Neal had no idea where Byron was going with this.

“He just said he’s a fixer.” That got him a response. “His supervisor or boss or the guy he answers to is Von Hale but I don’t know what his title is.”

“Holy fuck, Neal . . . Neal, wow . . . I don’t know what to say.” Byron was flabbergasted and struggling to provide some kind of answer. “He’s a fixer for the Agincourt group?” He seemed to need further clarification.

“Yes, that’s what he said. He was very kind to me, very thoughtful. He saved my life, Byron.” Neal felt the need to defend Alistar.

“I’m coming over, and we have to talk.” With that, Byron closed the call, and Neal sat there more confused now than he was when he started.

Alistar was angry and on edge not a good combination for a man like him. The rogue that escaped Rian was his focus at the moment. The one Rian caught was bald and wearing coveralls. Alistar remembered him. The other was blond well dressed in a suit and tie and looked decidedly out of place with the other three, but he was taking part and exhibited similar violent and sadistic behavior as did the rogues. He would be dealt with likewise.