Waiting for You Read online

  Starting his computer, he groaned when he saw the first job of the day. Accounts. His day had just gotten so much better.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  COSTAS STOOD IN front of the mirror and pursed his lips. Maybe he should wear trousers? “You look fine, Dad.”

  “Evan, shouldn’t you be doing your homework?”

  She grinned and shook her head. “No, Dad. You’re going on a date with the nice man.”

  “Are you sure you’re okay with this? I know he’s not Mom, and he’s a man.”

  “If he makes you happy, I’m happy. Mom would want you to be happy too. He’s nice, and he always says hi when I see him.”

  “You see him often?”

  “He lives near here. We say hi.” She shrugged as she answered, and Costas knew to her it was nothing important.

  “Thanks, hon.” He hugged her, and she smiled up at him. “Go and finish your work.”

  Pulling away, she stomped her foot. “Damn. I thought I could get out of it.”

  “What was the word you just said?” He arched a brow at her and watched her bite her lip.

  “Dude? Totally said dude, Dad.”

  He pointed to the bedroom door. “Go and finish your homework.”

  She huffed and spun on her foot, muttering under her breath. Costas grinned and shook his head. What would the teenage years be like if she acted like this now? He turned back to the mirror and rubbed the back of his neck. His heart jumped in his chest when he thought about his date in less than an hour. Coffee with Deac at Sam’s Coffee Shop.

  In public, so everyone would know, but when he’d suggested it, it was so he would feel safe. Somehow Deac understood and had agreed. Now, he only had to leave his bedroom and actually meet the shifter.

  Over the past two weeks, he’d been messaging Deac and had grown to like him. He was funny, caring, and gave Costas the time and space he needed. He asked about the girls, a huge bonus where Costas was concerned. Deac had asked about Costas’ wife, MJ, who’d died giving birth to Aurora. He’d laughed and cried, telling Deac about his life with her, and Deac had listened.

  He licked his lips and took a deep breath in then left his bedroom and went downstairs. In the kitchen, Evangeline was helping Aurora with her drawing, and he sat next to them, joining in. Twenty minutes later, Sky knocked on the back door and stepped in.

  At four months pregnant, she had a tiny little bump, and she had her hand on it as she smiled at the girls. “Who’s ready for the movies?”

  Both girls shouted and jumped up and Costas smiled. “Hi, Sky. Thanks for this.”

  She kissed his cheek. “No need to thank me. Call it a practice for in a few years. Ezra’s outside waiting for us in the car.” She clapped her hands and shouted, “Shoes and coats, girls. We need to get soda and popcorn before the movie starts.” She waved her hand at Costas. “Go. He’s waiting for you there.”

  “He’s there already?”

  “Nervous too, but don’t tell him I told you.”

  “I’m nervous,” he admitted quietly.

  “He’s your mate, Costas. It’ll work out in the end.” She held her bump and smiled down at it. “It works out.”

  The girls came back in, and there was a flurry of activity getting them ready and out the door, and then he was waving them off and all alone with his thoughts. He inhaled deeply and glanced in the direction of the shop from his front door. His mate was waiting for him.

  When he arrived, he walked in, and the noise level dropped; he suddenly wanted to turn and run. “Costas,” Sam greeted him, and he smiled weakly as he stepped up to the counter. “Ignore them.” In a louder voice, he said, “They’re all nosy gossips!”

  Costas groaned and closed his eyes when he heard shouts and laughter. “Hey. He’s right. Ignore them.” He opened his eyes to Deac, and it hit him like it did every time, how gorgeous the shifter was.

  He swallowed and smiled. “Hi.”

  “Coffee?”

  He nodded and listened as Deac placed their order. Maybe coming here was a bad idea. He glanced around the shop, seeing people watching them, and he took a step back, but Deac reached out and took Costas’ hand, tugging him closer. “It’s fine,” he murmured.

  Costas nodded and side eyed everyone then followed Deac when he led them over to a table in the corner. Costas sat opposite Deac and watched as he sipped his coffee and sighed.

  “Bad day?”

  Deac shook his head. “Same old, same old.”

  “You’re Mayor like Indy? Who’s on your Council? We never did get around to talking about it.”

  “I don’t really have one. I’m on the Council here, and I have—had—Liam as a sounding board.”

  “Maybe you should. It would take some of the pressure off you. It works here. Indy has his team to help him. Well, I don’t know much about that or what’s going on now.”

  “We can’t talk about that here.” Costas watched Deac look around the shop.

  “Yeah, okay.” He bit his lip and stared at his cup on the table. He didn’t know what to say. It had been so easy when they were messaging, but now that he was sitting face to face with Deac, his words had disappeared.

  He glanced around the shop, seeing the discrete looks thrown their way. Of course, people would know who he was, what he’d done, but also what Deac was to him. He hated the looks. Some were filled with pity, but others with loathing, and Costas was extra vigilant around the shifters who gave them. Especially where his children were concerned. No one was going to hurt his girls.

  “How’s work going? I know Dylan will be here soon, but how’s the work load?”

  “I’m coping. Well, just barely. Dylan will be based at the hospital, where he’s needed. I never thought about shifters and injuries, but accidents happen here too. Shifters appear to be able to endure pain better than humans.”

  “You would know.”

  Deac stood up abruptly and glared at the customers. “Who said that?” He stepped away from the table, and Costas stood, grabbing Deac’s arm. Deac shrugged him off. “Come on. Say it to his face. Don’t whisper it. We all heard what you said.”

  No one admitted it, and Costas grabbed Deac’s arm again. “It’s fine. I understand.”

  “No, it isn’t. You were held against your will, your daughters prisoners. They threatened your girls so you would work for them. You didn’t have a choice. I would have made the same decision if my children were threatened. Any parent would. It appears some people have forgotten that and need reminding.”

  “Please sit down, Deac. It doesn’t matter.”

  “It does matter. No one has the right to say things like that to you when they don’t understand what it’s like to have your family threatened.” Deac turned back to the other customers. “I want to know who said it.”

  “I’ll find out.” Sam came from behind the counter, hands on hips. “I have no problem with Costas and neither does Sky or Robin. If they can understand why he did what he did, then you who haven’t suffered should too. I’m appalled that someone would come into my shop and say something like that and then not be man enough to stand up and admit it.”

  Costas pulled Deac’s arm again. “Let’s sit and have our drink. Tell me how Liam is and what his parents are up to. Have they come back to the town hall?”

  Deac glanced back at Costas, his eyes flickering over his face, and he finally nodded. “My mate wants to forget what was said, and for now, I will. But, if anyone says anything like that again, we can have a conversation outside.”

  Costas gasped and tugged Deac’s arm. “Sit down. Please.”

  Deac sat next to Costas, his arm over Costas’ shoulder. He gave a final glare around the coffee shop then purposely turned in his seat, giving them his back. “Liam’s doing better. He’s put weight on, and Indy was there last night. He’s ready to get back involved, but we’ve agreed when he moves back to Morefield, he’ll have limited contact until his parents back off. I know they love Sherri, and they miss her and are
desperate to find her, but they put her above the health of their son. That, in my eyes, is unforgivable.”

  “They have two children.” Costas nodded. He had two, and he had been in the position of trying to keep both of them safe. He understood the need for Liam’s parents to find their missing daughter, but not at the expense of their son. “Have they backed off then?”

  “From me, but I have Babs keeping them away too. She isn’t impressed with them, and I wouldn’t want to get on her bad side. She’s lethal.”

  Costas smiled. “Doesn’t her sister live here?”

  “She does. She lives with her mate. He’s a tiger shifter. Three children too. Babs loves doting on them.”

  “None of her own?” That was rare for shifters not to have children, and the way Deac had spoken made Costas think Babs had none of her own. If this mating was going to work, then Costas could potentially have to move to Morefield. The more he learned about the people in Deac’s life, the easier it would be for him and the girls.

  “No, they couldn’t have any. She mentioned cancer, but it’s a painful subject.”

  “Yes, I imagine it would be.”

  “How are your girls? Evangeline and Aurora. Pretty names.”

  “They’ve settled and somehow know about you and what we are. I don’t think they truly understand what’s involved, but Evan has mentioned you to me a few times.”

  Deac grinned. “She in my corner?”

  Costas rolled this eyes. “It would seem so.”

  “Great. Did I tell you Ale and Troy are moving here? Another lab guy and Ale will work with the security team, unless Rescue, Inc. need him.” Costas had heard of them, but didn’t know much about them. His confusion must have shown on his face, because Deac explained who they were. “Troy Bailey is mated to Alejandro Martin, or Ale for short. He runs Rescue, Inc. with Chester Monroe who is mated to Silas Bailey, Troy’s dad.”

  “Ouch. Who mated who first?”

  “Chester and Silas and when there was a party at their house, Ale met Troy. I’m told they mated, and things went downhill. Ale accepts all the blame.” Deac shrugged. “It’s an age thing. He’s older than Troy and didn’t want Troy to be saddled with some old man. Troy smacked some sense into him.”

  Costas chuckled. “I’ve seen them. They look perfect together. I never would have thought they’d had problems.”

  “Everything’s great now. They love each other, and Ale supported Troy while he was at the University. Troy’s a vampire, so the whole blood thing was an issue, but they worked it out.”

  “I saw some in the labs.”

  Deac tilted his head. “Working there or being held?”

  Costas frowned. Surely Deac knew about the captive vampires? “Held, like shifters.”

  “We had reports from Jacques, but nothing concrete.”

  “I thought you all knew. I only saw maybe four or five, but they were definitely being held.”

  “I’ll let Indy know. We’ll want to speak to you and probably Jacques too. He’s very involved with his people.”

  “He’s done good for them. After everything he endured...”

  “Yes. The last thing he expected was to be King, but he’s embraced it and made it his own.”

  They spoke more about Salutem and Morefield and how Costas had settled. Deac was attentive, listened and asked questions, and Costas found himself relaxing with him, and time passed quicker than he would have liked.

  Costas glanced at his phone and sighed. “I need to go.”

  “I’ll walk you home.”

  Costas walked next to Deac, watching him from the corner of his eye. It didn’t take long till they reached Costas’ home, and he turned to face Deac and gave him a small smile. “I enjoyed today.”

  “Me too.” Deac rocked on his feet then leaned in and kissed Costas. “I’ll message you tonight.”

  He walked away, and Costas stood watching, his fingers running over his lips. His smile widened when Deac looked back at him and waved before he disappeared. He could get used to this and the man who had turned his life upside down.

  CHAPTER SIX

  “LIAM, GOOD TO see you here.” Deac smiled when Liam walked into the conference room and sat next to him.

  “Good to be back. The Dubois are a great family. Helped me get my head on straight.” Leaning against the table, he asked, “What’s the meeting for?”

  “A Council, like Salutem has. It can’t just be us two trying to handle everything.”

  Liam nodded. “Good idea, especially considering what I’ve been through. You need backup, and I wasn’t here to provide it.”

  “You look better.” And he did. Liam had put on weight, he had color to his skin, and his eyes had the life back in them.

  “I feel better, and I’m avoiding the parents. I told them to back off and give me some space, but you know what they’re like. Sherri this and Sherri that, like I don’t care enough about her, or I’m not doing enough to find her.”

  “I’ve spoken to them too, but it goes in one ear and out of the other.”

  “I prefer your parents.”

  “Me too and they’ll be here after the meeting to see you. Be prepared for hugs from Mom.”

  “She gives the best ones. Lucky bastard.” Liam grinned, making Deac chuckle.

  “Why am I here, Deacon?” Babs asked as she walked in. Finding a chair, she sat and plonked her handbag on the table.

  “Do you have the kitchen sink in there?”

  “No, but I do have a rocket launcher, you know, in case of alien attack.” She arched a brow at Liam, who’d asked the question.

  “Good to know. I’ll make sure we have spotlights set up to see their spaceships. It’ll be easier for you to hit them,” Deac deadpanned.

  “Thanks, Deacon. I knew I could depend on you.” She pulled her knitting out of her bag and looked at them. “Why am I here?” she asked again.

  “I have an offer for you.”

  “Oh, Deacon, you. I’m far too old for you, not that I would say no if I were ten years younger, or I was ten years older.”

  Liam snorted then coughed. Deac glared at him but smiled at Babs. “And I would gladly have you, but I think Costas might have something to say about it.”

  “How is he, and why am I here?”

  “I want you on my new Council.”

  “Yes.” She put her knitting down and asked, “Who else?”

  “I’m thinking Indy, as I’m on their Council, and it will help to improve communication between us, and we can liaise with their security.”

  “And?”

  Deac smiled. Babs knew who he was thinking of. “Serenity.”

  “Yes, good choice. Smart girl. Quick to pick up patterns and see what’s been missed. She’s recently come back from the university.”

  “Criminology and math degrees.”

  “Strange choice but she finished in the top ten percent.”

  The door opened, and Indy walked in with Cy behind him. Deac arched a brow at Indy, who nodded. “Cy’s on the Vampire Council, and I have him sit on ours, as you know. I think him being here for this, if not necessarily sitting on it, would give us a different perspective. He would have knowledge of three Councils to use. Better for all of us as he might see things we would otherwise miss.”

  “Also creates a better working relationship.” Babs went back to her knitting. “I’m Babs, in case you’ve forgotten.”

  Cy kissed her cheek. “How could we forget about you?”

  Indy sat. “Good to see you again, Babs.”

  “And you, Indy. How are your parents doing? And didn’t I hear Sky was expecting?”

  “They’re fine and very excited at becoming grandparents. I’ll let them know you asked.”

  The door opened again, and a young woman with short pink and blue spiked hair came in. She stopped and looked at everyone around the table. “Okay. What’s going on?”

  “How would you like to be on the Morefield Council?” Deacon asked.
<
br />   Serenity’s eyebrows shot up, and her mouth fell open. “Me?” she squeaked.

  Deac chuckled. “You.”

  “Why me?” Serenity sat down next to Babs and shook her head. “What can I offer?”

  “You’re smart, and you lived out there for years. We need young people on the Council.” Babs nodded and continued knitting. “We need people of all ages. We get stuck in our ways as we age, and you can yank us out of it.”

  “I, er, thanks? I think.”

  Deacon picked up a folder and passed it to her. “Read that so you can catch up with what’s going on. You know some of it, but not anywhere near enough. We’ve managed to keep some of it from the general public, but soon it’ll come out.”

  “No, we can’t keep it hidden. Too much is happening now.” Indy sighed.

  “Let me read this, and I’ll get back to you.” Serenity flicked through the pages, stopping at one and hissing softly. “Alvarez?”

  “We could have a spy here too.” Liam pushed a folder to Babs. “Read and ask us questions.”

  “I’m not forming this Council just because of what’s happening to our people, but it has pushed the issue up. We’ll have more people moving here, and we need to be prepared. Salutem is struggling, and we don’t want to be in their situation if we can help it.”

  “No, we messed up.” Cy glanced at Indy, who shook his head. “We’re looking for staff. We focused on stopping these scientists, rescuing those held captive so much so that we never even thought about our infrastructure. Staffing shortages and lack of manpower are just some of the issues we face. Housing is another. Poor Jake and Kris are inundated with jobs but don’t have enough trained employees to cope. Things are backed up everywhere.”

  “I said before that we should build on the land between us and Salutem. Small farms, or estates, but leave plenty of land too. We live with the surrounding land; we don’t reshape it for our needs. That is our strength, but also a weakness they can exploit.” Babs opened the folder then looked up at Deac. “We need our woods, our wildlife around us, but they know this and can wait to strike. We build what we need, but include areas where we can have”—she waved her hand—“cabins for security.”