Gerome ran a shaky hand through his hair. He still heard Luis’ mad heartbeat through the door, and if he wasn’t completely mistaken, the man leaned against the other side of the door to try to stop him from coming in. As if. He wouldn’t hurt Luis. Most other vampires would deal with a mate who behaved like this in one way—put them in their place. But he didn’t want to hurt Luis. The fear radiating from him still lay heavy in the air. He wasn’t going to make it even worse.
Gerome sniffed the air once more. Luis still leaned against the door. Just as well. Gerome wasn’t going to stay around. Perhaps he could visit little Angela. He’d seen her a few times in the last couple weeks, but he would never get enough of her.
Too bad Sam had taken over the role of “Dad” completely. It was better that way. Gerome couldn’t be a good father to her, and Sam seemed to be more than willing to take over. But he’d be lying to himself if he pretended it didn’t hurt. After all, she was his daughter. But Sam was Alex’s partner, and therefore, it was right to step back and be Uncle Gerome.
He looked over to the closed guestroom door. If only he knew what to do to get his mate to behave. With a deep sigh, he pulled out his cell phone to call Alex and ask if he could come over. He had to talk to him about his father’s plans to visit the baby. Maybe they could help him with Luis as well, although Gerome doubted it.
Crap. It was after ten at night. They followed human time, so they would probably be asleep or trying to nap before Angela woke again. In any case, calling them was a bad idea. It had to wait until tomorrow. He’d had enough drama for today. Accidentally waking his daughter wasn’t what he needed now.
With a last lingering look at the closed door, Gerome turned and made his way to his office. He should get some work done. How nice would it be to spend some time with a partner he liked instead of working?
That wouldn’t happen anytime soon. He clicked the mouse to wake up his computer and sat down, his mind already at the work he’d have to do. His father required him more and more frequently to take over the financial side of the coven as well as the every-day business. Gerome spent more time than ever working in front of his PC, and he hadn’t even fully taken over.
****
His father always managed to surprise him. He just offered to pay for Alex and Sam’s whole wedding. Gerome swallowed hard and looked at Alex’s stunned face. They were sitting in the cozy living room of the apartment Gerome had bought for them. Because their shabby apartment wasn’t a place to raise a kid, he’d seen to the move shortly after Angela had been born. When he realized they wouldn’t be able to afford another apartment, Gerome had stepped in, dragged Sam to look at places, and then simply paid for it. It was his duty and the least he could do if he didn’t want his daughter to grow up poor. Alex and Sam had no family, just each other, and they had both been studying and working on the side. They barely earned enough when they’d both been working, but right now, Alex was taking a break, and without his income, they simply couldn’t make ends meet. Initially, he’d only offered to support Alex, but when he’d been kidnapped, everything had changed. Now he didn’t have to hide much anymore. He could openly pay for the apartment for Alex and Sam.
And because Alex wasn’t deemed ready to drive yet, he’d simply invited the king over to their new place as soon as Gerome told him about his father’s wish to see his granddaughter.
Angela, the top of her head and one arm visible, slept in a baby sling on Alex’s chest. Alex was lying back against Sam. Their positions spoke of trust and love. Sam casually wrapped an arm around Angela while his other rested on Alex’s side. They apparently didn’t care that the king and queen were there. Royalty didn’t mean the same to them as it did to a vampire.
They talked quietly to each other now. Alex looked up, his eyes red. “Thank you, my king, my queen, for this very generous offer. We honestly didn’t expect this, and I want to thank you so much for this gift.” Alex cleared his throat. It took a lot to leave him speechless, but Gerome’s father had managed just that.
Gerome shifted on the comfy crème-colored couch. He needed to get back to work, and he wanted to spend a few minutes alone with Angela. Usually, when he visited, he could hold her, cuddle her. But now, with the king and the queen around, they had held her until she grew tired and fell asleep.
How nice would it be to have such a tiny baby? He stopped himself; he couldn’t begin to fantasize about it. He wasn’t going to father another child anytime soon.
Crap. He couldn’t think about Luis. He hadn’t even seen the man since their fight yesterday.
Now he sat with his parents, Sam, and Alex, discussing plans and dates. If only he could have the same. He didn’t need a wedding, but something resembling a real relationship would be nice. Especially since he was still hungry for blood. Gerome ran a shaky hand through his hair. He couldn’t let on that he was starving. His father would only have his ass then. Feeding regularly was one way to ensure all members of the family were strong and ready to fight if something happened. Hunger gnawed at his insides, and his stomach rumbled quietly. Goddammit, his father would hear it, and he could do without a lecture on feeding or how to treat his mate. It usually was a given that one mate fed the other. But first, Luis needed to sustain himself through human food.
Gerome got up and strode over to the window. He looked outside at the shining sun. Maybe he should go away for a few days, take a break from all the stuff here—from Luis and his father. But no, he wouldn’t leave Angela alone and unprotected, not for anything in the world.