Home was easy once everyone was packed and the house closed up for the summer. At least that’s who it’d look to the rest of the people out in the Hamptons. We’d probably be back but you never knew. And with my new so-called position I didn’t really know much of anything anymore.
Ant shadowwalked us all home and the kids fell into routine. They all went to their own rooms and they unpacked then went straight for the kitchen even though we had eaten only a few hours before – habits, or whatever. Didn’t really matter.
Jin was sitting in the living room working on her laptop when we walked in. “It’s good that you came home,” she said. “I’ve become your answering service it seems.” She wasn’t happy nor displeased with it but she was annoyed a little. “When you get back into savior mode let me know. We have a lot to talk about.”
I sighed and wrapped my arms around Alex and rested my head against him. “Do I have to?”
Alex chuckled. “We could run away together.”
“And do what?” I asked curious at what he would say.
“Oh, I don’t know. Drink Mai Tai’s and Margaretias and have sex on the beach?”
I pulled away from Alex giving him that ‘do you know me look.’ And he laughed harder. “No?”
I shook my head with a grin on my face. He let out a long slow sigh. “Then I guess you have to.” He pressed a kiss to my lips softly before he went back into the kitchen area with the kids. “Just remember to sleep tonight.”
I nodded. “Come get me when you go,” I said.
Alex gave me another long glance. I was sure he wanted to tell me I wouldn’t come but he gave me a nod. The joys of having my love in my head all the time. He knew precisely when I meant what I said – and usually why.
I sat down with Jin on the couch. “Savior mode eh?”
She smiled. “You will need it.”
“Alright. What’s wrong Jin?” I asked.
“Everyone who has called in the past four days has had two things to say. The first was always congratulations, and the second was to report some incident the Venatori were causing them problems.”
“How many calls?” I asked.
“There are over three hundred as of this moment.”
“What? Three hundred cases of the Venatori… in New York?”
“In New York,” Jin confirmed.
“Did you catalog them? What’s most important?”
Jin nodded. “I don’t know what you’ve considered more important but yes I’ve broken them down by race, and by problem. Both to help you understand things.”
“In the computer?” I asked.
Jin nodded. “Yes.”
“Send me the files,” I said getting up. “Keep answering as if I’m not here, until I can figure out what to do.”
Jin nodded. “Nox. That’s not all.”
I sat back down. “What else can go wrong?” I growled to myself.
“Reginald’s people called, as has Dom’s and they both have had point blank been asked to kill you for complete territorial rule over all of New York.”
“The Venatori can’t offer that. Not even for killing me.”
“I’m fairly certain they haven’t tried contacting any of the vampires yet. But they will.”
“I knew about the assassination attempts already, but the Venatori are trying to get the whole community to rally against me.”
“It seems that way.”
I nodded. “Did they say what they were going to do?”
“No, but the fact that they told you lends to the fact they won’t try to kill you.”
I shook my head. “I don’t know. That’s a tempting offer. I might try to do it.” I grinned at her. “Let me deal with the people first, then I’ll worry about all the death threats. In the mean time, I need to up security around here. Let Ant know.”
“He’s already on it.”
I sighed as I left the living space to go to our room and grab my laptop, Alex fell in step beside me. “I should check on Benji.”
I nodded. “You should. And any other New Yorker you have a good working relationship with.”
“No one I care about,” Alex said. “Everyone I care about is already your friend.”
“Well if you want to help I could use a person who’s good at talking to people.”
Alex grinned wrapping his arm around my waist. “Are you asking for my help?”
I smiled. “Alex, can you help me deal with people?”
“Sure, what are we dealing with?” Alex said proudly, his chest puffed out a little bit.
“I have over three hundred people who the Venatori are harassing. I need to get through the list and see what I can do anything about, and what I can’t. I would like you to get in touch with all those close to us to see what’s going on with them, and if we can help them any.”
Alex stopped and looked at me with confusion. “You want me to ask more people if they need your help?”
I stopped with him and nodded slowly at his question. “If I can help the leaders help their people then yes, the more hands working to get the Venatori’s fingers out of the pie the better.”
“So what if that isn’t what happens, and you just get more work?” Alex asked.
“A price I’m willing to pay?” I shrugged. “I’ve always helped the people, but I’m one person. I can’t do this many at the same time I need help.”
“I’m not saying I won’t help.”
I laughed. “I never thought you were Alex. Dom, and Adrian will help their people. The vampires too, we need to stop the Venatori for harrassing our friends. And they can help us stop them from the rest.”
Alex shook his head and sighed. “You know the world doesn’t work that way right?”
I shrugged. “Nope.” I grinned at Alex. “Will you do what I asked?”
He nodded. “I think you are just making more work for yourself but yeah. I’ll get Ryan and Ant to help me too – since they know the people better.”
“Okay. I might steal Ry from you though, talk about some things.”
Alex laughed. “Not about us I hope,” he teased.
I grinned and leaned into my love and whispered< "I have this boy, who I'm all sorts of dying over. So cute, so hot, I just want him to fuck me all the time."
Alex kissed me and pushed me away,."You're a fucking tease. Now go away before I do all those things."
I laughed. "Maybe I don't want to go away."
Alex growled, "Pretty boy, if you don't….."
I kissed Alex hard and he groaned against my mouth and we broke apart breathless. My hands were clenched at my sides and I could see the strain in Alex as well. The vacation had reinforced one thing – we couldn't get enough of each other.
But by sheer iron will we walked the opposite direction of each other and went about our mutual tasks.
The Mind of Nox 