My Love Forever (The Night Movers Vampire Series Book 1) (18 page)

“We need to sort out business so we can go out, drink, and celebrate bonding,” boomed Sergei’s voice from behind us.

“We should have the approvals and planning permission for the supermarkets through tomorrow,” said Joshua as he was tapping something into his computer.

From the rest of the conversation I found out that Night Mover’s and its Russian counterparts had joined forces to open a new supermarket on the outskirts of Rothley. This would be good news for the people of Barrowfield as they would no longer need to travel the fifteen miles to the nearest Asda-Walmart.

It was great to get a gist of what my job would entail although this was quite an informal meeting.

Alex and Gregor seemed to be leading the meeting, with both Sergei and Josh throwing figures into the mix.

As intimidating as Gregor could appear I found that Alex could more than hold his own against him. I have to admit that it was a serious turn on to see the man I was going to commit to, in business mode, and I wondered how I would keep my hands off him during my working week.

Nik didn’t appear to have much input at all as he couldn’t take his eyes or his hands off Gina. It wasn’t long before he stood and made his apologies and carried Gina out of the room.

“It’s the bonding,” explained Alex, “The urge to be alone with each other, to make love and share blood is very powerful in the first few days. It helps the bond strengthen and grow.” Everyone on the room nodded and murmured their agreement.

Would this be what it would be like for us, for me and Alex when we bonded? I have to admit it was making me a little anxious, but Alex was smiling at me and what I saw there in his eyes made my fears melt away

.

I was falling for him in a big way and his feelings for me were clear and true. He loved me and as bizarre as it seems for someone to love me after such a short time, I was really happy knowing I meant that much to him.

Josh took a call from his mobile and jumped up from the desk straight away.

“It’s Phil Jones one of the night drivers. He stopped the lorry because there were sheep in the road and someone has set fire to the trailer.”

“Is he ok?” Asked Alex, “And where did it happen?”

“Yeah he’s fine,” said Josh grabbing his car keys. “He’s on the road between Barrowfield and Rothley. He’s already called the fire brigade and he thinks whoever did it used some sort of accelerant because it’s gone up pretty quick. He’s given up trying to get the sheep back through the gate and has gone into the field himself because he’s worried if the fire brigade don’t get here quick the fuel tank will blow.”

“Oh fuck. What did we have in the trailer?” Alex asked as he came to stand at next to Josh’s computer. After a few clicks he printed off two copies of the delivery invoice which showed the full contents of the trailer.

After looking through it quickly on his way out of the door Alex told Josh it was mainly canned foods although there were also cleaning products that could be flammable so they would need to give a copy to the fire brigade. The contents were supposed to be going to a supermarket in Staffordshire and the trailer had been full.

Everyone in the room followed Alex and Josh out of the door and he turned to me and Freya telling us to stay where we were. Gregor agreed.

“We are going with you Alex,” Freya told him adamantly.

“No Freya, It’s too dangerous. I don’t want either of you hurt.”

“What the fuck Alex, you don’t get to decide what I do. I will keep Julia safe don’t worry.”

Alex just looked at us both and shook his head before bending to kiss me.

“Just stay far enough back, please.”

“Of course we will, but that goes for you too,” I said as we rushed along together to the cars. We could already hear the sirens going as we neared the vehicles, and Josh called Nik to let him know what was happening.

Gregor insisted Freya and I got in his car, and Alex and Sergei got in Josh’s SUV.

Julia

The fire seemed to light up the small village of Barrowfield and its surrounding fields. The police and fire brigade had cordoned off a large area surrounding the fire and only when Alex explained about the delivery invoice, and its potentially flammable products did they lead him up to the nearest fire engine where he spoke to someone in charge.

Phil Jones was sitting with the paramedics, an oxygen mask covering his nose and mouth. Josh went straight over to him to ask what had happened.

I heard him say that he was driving down the road and noticed that a there were about ten sheep in the middle of the road and the gate to the field was left wide open. He left his hazard lights on and went over to them to try and get them through the gate. He managed to herd five of the sheep back into the field when her heard a whoosh, and saw the back of the trailer go up in flames. He ran back to the cab of the lorry to get his mobile phone to call the fire brigade.

He was shaking his head saying he should have took the phone with him when he first got out but Josh just shushed him and said he did a brave if stupid thing going back to the cab because nothing was more important than his life and we were all happy that he was safe.

I felt Freya tense up beside me and look around quickly.

“Gregor do you feel that? Can you scent anything strange?”

“Yes it’s another vampire, and they are nearby.”

As quick as a flash Freya took off to wherever she thought the vampire was and Gregor spat out “Foolish girl, it could be a threat.”

He shouted Sergei over to stay with me before he took off after Freya.

I wondered if it was the same one Alex had mentioned this morning, and I began to get a little freaked out about it.

I yelled for Josh and explained what Freya had said before she left and he called Alex.

Around ten minutes later Alex, Freya and Gregor came towards us and all three looked puzzled.

“I’m going to stay and sort out the removal of the trailer and cab. It’s probably going to be late by the time I get back so Freya can stay with you at the cottage Julia.”

“No Alex I’m going home tonight. I’ve got some things I need to discuss with my mum and dad.” Alex wasn’t happy about it but he didn’t argue, just nodded his head and walked away.

When I thought about explaining what bonding with a vampire meant I decided that it wasn’t a conversation I wanted to have with my parents at the moment, not without Alex with me anyway. It was easier to tell them that I was going to move in with him.

They were worried that it was too soon but didn’t object too much. To be honest it wouldn’t have made a difference to me anyway at this point. He was like an addictive drug to me and I found that I craved his presence.

Alex called me later that night. He sounded exhausted and was also really worried. The police thought that vandals had started the fire in the lorry trailer, but it seemed pretty obvious that the mystery vampire was the one to blame, although he couldn’t tell the police that. Apparently Freya had also thought she recognised the scent but couldn’t place it, so they needed to find the vampire, and soon before someone associated with Alex or Freya or the business got hurt.

We decided that I would move in with him on Wednesday, so as the next day was Sunday it didn’t leave me much time to sort out the things I wanted to take with me.

Most of my items I had from the time I was married were still in boxes so it wasn’t going to be hard to transport those, but I didn’t want a lot of those things. They were reminders of my past, of sadness and failure and I wanted to look forward to a future filled with hope and love.

The anxiousness I had felt before about rushing in to a new relationship had been replaced with excitement and longing. I felt lucky to have been given a second chance at love and I was determined to take it.

Julia

Monday brought fog and rain to our little Yorkshire village. Everyone was talking about the lorry fire and Mr Singh in the post office had taken it upon himself to find as much information as possible to help with the police enquiry. This meant that my popping in for a few stamps took forever as he had found out from someone I was starting work there today. I felt he had missed his calling in life because when I left the shop I felt like I had been quizzed by an overzealous detective.

When I got into work my dad was already there and he came up to the offices with me. Alex was nowhere to be seen which I was grateful for. I didn’t want my dad to be asking him questions about us moving in together while we were at work.

Maggie got me settled and went through some basic health and safety stuff, like where the fire escapes were and where the fire alarms were situated. The fire yesterday had them all really shaken as it was the first time the company had experienced sabotage of any sort.

My shift was six pm until six am Monday to Thursday with Friday, Saturday and Sunday off. I was grateful for the long weekend due to what Alex and I had planned.

To be honest the job was much harder than I thought it would be. Due to the trailer fire yesterday evening, Alex had organised extra drivers to follow the trailers from the Barrowfield depot for 10 miles and the extra logistics of that had everyone busy.

Maggie was very patient with me though, and seemed happy to have another woman in the office with her.

Josh and Nik were in and out of the office all evening helping with new security measures and Alex didn’t come in until after midnight.

He looked really stressed, which was making his grey eyes look darker than normal, but as soon as he saw me he smiled and let out a huge sigh.

“Hi Alex, how are you?” I asked trying to look as concerned for him as I was. But for some reason I was unable to stop the huge smile that was spreading across my lips.

“Much better for seeing my beautiful woman,” he said giving me a look that told me he was thinking of doing anything but work with me tonight.

He made my knees weak, my cheeks flush and my breathing quicken just by a look. I reacted to him like a teenager with a crush on her favourite rock star and it made me want more, from him and from life itself.

“Well Alex now you are here I can take off for my break if it’s ok with you,” said Maggie, already gathering her coat and bag.

“Yeah Mags, the lads in the yard said the girls are serving a really good curry in the canteen.”

“Alex I keep telling you to stop tempting me with stuff. Not now I’m back on my diet again.”

Alex groaned before telling Maggie, “Don’t replace the proper biscuits with those low fat ones again please. It was like dunking cardboard in my tea.”

Maggie just laughed gave me a wave before she closed the door.

“Honestly Julia don’t eat the biscuits if she’s changed them,” he said going over to the place where the tea and coffee making facilities were and looking through the cupboard.

“Josh walked in the room and was quickly followed by Nik. “I will have a cup of tea if you’re making one,” said Josh. “It’s getting really nippy out there now.”

“I was checking the biscuits,” replied Alex as he filled up the kettle.

“Oh fuck no,” said Nik making his way over to Alex and grabbing the biscuit tin. “Maggie better not have swapped the biscuits again,” he whined as he opened the tin and began sniffing a biscuit before deciding it was safe to eat.

“Was everything alright on the roads,” asked Alex as he made his way over to my desk.

“Not a peep, or sheep,” smiled Josh. But the smile didn’t quite reach his eyes and the worry in them was plain to see.

“Have you had any more luck identifying the vampire,” I asked as I got up out of my chair to make everyone their tea.

“No, and it’s really starting to grate on my nerves now. Josh, Nik and our Russian friends felt no familiarity but Freya and I did, so that tells us whoever this vampire is, they are likely to be pissed off with either me or Freya. I’m assuming it’s me because Freya hadn’t experienced this vampire before, and it must be from our past before Josh, otherwise he would have got the familiar feeling that Freya and I had.”

“You told me that only born vampires can walk in the sun, and each time you have sensed them it was dark, so do you think it’s a made vampire.” I enquired, trying my best to understand all this vampire stuff.

“Not necessarily. Although we do have more deliveries leaving the depot in the daytime, so they could have had their pick of Lorries if they could be in the sun. It would be easier for someone, anyone really, vampire or not, to get away without being seen at night.”

Josh leaned forward and spoke directly to me. “I am a made vampire, and after I reached my two hundredth year I found I can be in the sun for a couple of hours without it harming me. Although I would feel really exhausted and would need more blood than I would normally have to get me back fighting fit again.

I couldn’t risk it any longer than that, but a made vampire who was much older than me could stay longer in the sun.”

“So we can’t really narrow it down to one or the other then?” I asked, understanding their frustration.

Nik took a drink of his tea then said, “Alex we know it’s at least two hundred and seventy one years old whichever type of Vampire it is because that’s how long Josh has been with you. We know that it didn’t come here through our transportation so at some point it could have been exposed to daylight for travel purposes so I would say, if it’s a made vampire it’s probably at least five hundred years old, unless of course, it has a human who can bring them here, like in the old days.”

“Or it could just be a born vampire,” Alex sighed, covering his face with his hands.