Moonlight

Chapter 10

When Kegan and Freya left, Adley brought out the small stack of listings. He knew that Merissa's mind was elsewhere but he hoped to distract her. Adley also hoped that if they could get this underway, they could move soon.

His father's words about Gina left Adley in a weird mood. He remembered her talking about the council but he'd dismissed it because it sounded like she was complaining rather than being factual or questioning.

Taking the pile of papers to the table, Adley passed the window and happened to look out. He thought he knew all the cars in the street but the blue van, it was new.

"There's a van across the road."

"Of course there is. I've just marked myself for death. I wonder which one it was."

"What do you mean?"

Adley sat at the table, keeping the papers close for the time being.

"I talked about it with Nora and Vicki today. Now we've got a van out the front."

"Come on, it might not be them. Why don't you ring your dad and see if he's sent a security detail to us?"

He ignored the grumble in favour of sorting the pile into his favourites first. Merissa called her father. It was a short call. Once Gamichee found out that there was an unfamiliar van sitting just short of their house, he ended the call.

"So, dad's coming for a visit."

"Cool. You look through these and I'll be back in a tick."

Adley left Merissa to look through the properties for sale and went straight to the rear door. Once through it, he ran and jumped the fence. Within seconds, he was at the other side of their yard and casually walking through the side gate to the front yard. He was in a better position to approach the van.

Looking through the front windows, he found empty seats. Moving to the back doors, Adley could see the glint of something inside. Rather than waiting for an invitation, Adley grabbed the handle and ripped the door open.

Bemused, he looked at it and then tossed it to the sidewalk.

"Is there a reason you're watching number forty-three?"

The vampire gulped, wide-eyed as he stared at the angry werewolf.

"Orders," He whispered.

"From who?"

"The council."

"Why?"

The vampire fumbled, dropping a little tablet on the floor of the van. Adley's eyes widened as the vampire scrambled off his seat. Throwing a punch, Adley sent the vampire backwards.

"It's cyanide."

Adley nearly jumped out of his skin at the sound of Gamichee behind him.

"Jeez-uz don't do that."

Gamichee smirked then picked up the tablet, put it into a little bag before passing it to Carson.

"Ensure that it is disposed of correctly please."

Carson nodded as he pocketed the bag. Gamichee and Adley both reached in and grabbed a leg to haul the vampire out.

"You have one hell of a punch."

"Yeah, Lennon's still complaining about the one I gave him at Charlton's."

The limp body was passed over to Chad, Gamichee's personal bodyguard.

"We will deal with him in time. Chad, please ensure that he does not have any other life-altering objects on his person."

Chad nodded and dumped the vampire into the trunk then set about ensuring he was restrained.

"Come, let's visit the inquisitive one, shall we?"

"She doesn't know I took off."

"I'm sure she's figured it out by now seeing as she's standing at the window with an angry look on her face. Tell me, Adley, have you ever been in the dog house before?"

"No, but I think I'm in it now."

Gamichee chuckled as they crossed the road.

"You left the back door unlocked." Merissa snapped. "You might want to tell Chad to come and get this idiot too."

Adley thought that it felt like his heart had dropped into his stomach when he saw the vampire on the floor of the living room. Merissa had knocked him out with his beloved baseball bat, Betsy.

Gamichee huffed, then signalled for Chad to come over. The guard quickly crossed the street then looked down at the prostrate figure.

"Perhaps we should reassess security?"

"A wise idea," Chad grumbled.

While Adley dragged the vampire out of the house, Chad called for extra security and then ensured that the details at the club and Gamichee's residence were on high alert.

"Send a team to Lennon as well please."

Chad nodded, watching as Gamichee made the call to Lennon. As much as it was ideal to put security in at his house, Chad knew that it was unnecessary. He'd seen that vampire get into more scrapes than he could imagine and yet, he'd always come out completely unscathed.

Merissa huffed and returned to the dining room, soon joined by her father.

"He means well, my dear."

"I know.

"And he's only doing what he thinks is necessary. You know, protecting the mother of his unborn children."

"Yes, thank you." She snapped.

Gamichee sat opposite his angry daughter who was staring at a pamphlet for a rustic looking house. He could see that while she might be angry, it wasn't about the lacklustre dwelling.

"Merissa?"

"Everything is just piling up, that's all. We're going to look at this place. Did you want to come?"

"Absolutely."

Adley was shocked to see Merissa grabbing her bag. The jacket was already on and she looked like a woman on a mission.

"What's going on?"

"While you were out playing detective and before the jerk tried to break in through the unlocked door, I rang this real estate agent hoping that we could get in to see it. Luckily she had someone pull out and was about to go home, so we have to go now."

Adley took the piece of paper, feeling his heart lift with hope.

"Really, you like this one?"

"Yeah, it's okay."

Feeling the hope fade, Adley frowned as he waited for Ris to lock the door.

"Just okay?"

"Yeah."

Merissa was already walking down the stairs to the car. Adley glanced at Gamichee who was trying not to laugh.

"Oh, you have so much to learn, my dear boy. The fact that she's actually going should be enough to tell you that it is more than okay. Be happy, she's interested in something that you want."