Page 36 of The Vampire and the Barista

Ivan sighed as he put his phone down.

“Something wrong?” Olly asked him.

Ivan spun his chair around and looked at him. “Not really. I was going to pick Jamie up after work, but he’s just messaged me to say Max would drive him home.”

“You’re worried about someone following them,” Olly guessed.

“Yeah. I’m hoping whoever it was, was just following me.”

“Have you thought it might have been Jamie’s dad?”

Ivan nodded. “I did wonder if it could have been him. I’ve spent some time researching his parents; neither of them has the type of car that followed us, and as far as I can see, they are both still in Wallingford.”

“But you won’t stop worrying until Jamie is back safely under our roof.”

“I won’t. Changing the subject, how are you getting on looking through those electronics?”

Olly gave a wry smile. “Pulling out lots of information and collating it into a report. You?”

“Quintus’ computer is full of everything, and helpfully, it’s all in different folders. There is even a folder for the listening devices. I need to message David as there are listening devices at the council offices and council flats.”

“Damn, that’s ballsey.”

“Yeah. I still don’t get how their security was so lacklustre.”

“Well, they’ve been in operation for over a decade without anyone discovering what they were up to or trying to stop them; they thought they were untouchable.”

“Idiots.”

“Yes, they were. Anyway, how does it feel to have a family?” Olly asked him.

“Strange. Kitty trusted me straight away. AJ said children, even human children, are good at discerning who is good or bad. It’s nice to know I’m good.”

Olly looked at him. “Did you doubt you were?”

Ivan nodded. “Yeah, after Derrick, I did wonder.”

“You told us about Derrick. What happened with Derrick wasn’t your fault; it was all on him. Plus, if you’re worried, pretty sure your Jamie is the complete opposite of Derrick.”

Ivan smiled. “He really is.”

Jamie and Max reached the coven house. They’d been to Jamie’s place so he could pack a bag of clothes and pick up his electronics. They had also put a couple of packed boxes in Max’s car.

They got out of the car, and Jamie got his clothes bag out of the boot. Max looked at the boxes. “Ivan can help carry them inside; they’re heavy.”

“The perks of having a strong mate,” Jamie replied, laughing as he closed the boot.

They were still laughing as they walked inside the house.

Ivan was just walking out of his office with Olly. He smiled a giant smile when he saw Jamie, and rushed over to him, pulling Jamie into his arms and kissing him hello.

Jamie dropped his bag and wrapped his arms around Ivan, happily kissing him back, oblivious to those walking past them and into the kitchen.

“Get a room, guys,” Jamie finally heard Karl say in disgust.

Jamie smiled against Ivan’s lips and slowly pulled away. “Hey,” he said simply.

“Hey, yourself,” Ivan started to lean forward for another kiss, but Karl put his arm between them.