Niles shook his head. "No, I'm glad I did. And I was able to be here for you."
Tank nodded as he gingerly felt around the wound in his leg, wincing when he touched a tender spot. "Shit, it still hurts."
"It will for a few more days. You were lucky, Targon. It could have been so much worse."
"Really?" It could have been much worse than what it felt like right now? Because right now it felt like his leg was on fire.
"Yes, if it hit the bone itself, caused an infection in the bone, then the recovery phase would be much longer and more intense."
"Shit, I didn't know."
"And now onto more positive things. The teacher and children have all been discharged and are in good health."
"That's good. I vaguely remember Hunter saying something. Dodge?"
"With Troy."
Tank yawned and relaxed back against the pillow. "Sorry, I'm still tired."
"You’re tired from all the drugs in your body helping you to recover. You should get some more sleep."
"I think I've—”
Tank was interrupted by the door to his room opening and his parents walking in. They glanced at Niles, looking him up and down, then dismissed him.
Niles raised an eyebrow at Tank, who shook his head.
"Mom, Dad. What you are doing here?" He quickly looked over at Niles then back at his parents.
"Where do you think we would be?" his mother, Evelyn, asked.
Tank furrowed his brow. "At home?"
Evelyn shook her head, staring down at Tank in the bed. "Seriously, son. You've been injured. Of course, we came. Now, we can talk about you finding a proper job."
Tank rolled his eyes. This wasn't the first time they'd talked about him leaving his job. "Mom, I'm not giving up my job."
His dad, Acton, said, "Now, son. We let you carry on with this foolishness, but it's time for you to accept your responsibility and join the family business."
"Dad—"
When are you going to tell them who I am? Niles asked.
"What, son?"
I can't, Niles. Tank looked over at him, pleading with him silently to understand the situation he was in.
He rubbed his head. "I like what I do, Dad, and I'm not quitting my job."
When, Targon? We've been mated for over a month. You practically live with me and I've even let Dodge stay.
Acton turned to Niles. "I don't know who you are, but you need to leave."
Tank saw Niles staring at him from the corner of his eyes, but didn't say anything, avoiding looking in his direction.
"I guess I am leaving." Niles stood and stared at Targon, the anger and hurt showing on his face. "You need to collect all your belongings as soon as you’re discharged from the hospital."
Acton turned to Tank, a frown on appearing on his face. "Your things? What's he talking about? Why are your belongings at his home?"
Glancing back at Niles, Acton looked him up and down and then dismissed him.
Niles crossed his arms over his chest, glaring at Acton. "Yes, Targon. Why don't you tell them?"
Evelyn stared between the two of them, her mouth falling open. "You and him?" She spat the word him out, causing Tank to wince.
"Mom, it's not what you think."
Niles raised an eyebrow at him. "Really, Targon. How is it not what they think?"
"Niles, you're not helping."
Acton turned to him and pointed at the door. "No, you're not helping at all. This is a private conversation, and it doesn't include the likes of you."
"Likes of me," Niles murmured. Targon. Are you going to let this happen?
Niles, please.
Niles smiled grimly at him, his shoulders slumping. "Goodbye, Targon. Don't forget to collect your things."
Tank watched Niles leave the room, closing the door quietly behind him. He heard the movements of his parents as they sat down and ignored them. He couldn't concentrate on them right now. The heaviness in his chest was almost too much to take, the hurt and anger he could feel from Niles. The pain it caused him by Tank not admitting their relationship.
"Who is that man?"
He closed his eyes, wishing that he was anywhere but in that room with his parents. "His name is Niles."
Acton waved dismissively. "I got that. He's a vampire, isn't he? It's bad enough you have to work with them, but to have them as friends as well, and why were you staying at his?"
"It's complicated."
Evelyn stared at the door that Niles had left through, then glanced back at Tank. "Are you two...? God, no." She raised a shaky hand to her mouth, staring at Tank.
"Mom—”
"No! Absolutely not!" Acton shouted. "I forbid it. Once you're out of here you will move back in with us and get your life straightened out. You will quit that job and join the family business where you belong. Clearly working with people like them has lowered your standards in life." Acton leaned forward, glaring at Tank. "When did you become gay, and interested in both vampires and black men?"
"His gender, his species, or his skin color has nothing to do with it. Niles is a caring man and thinks of others before himself."
"Oh, how your standards have fallen." Evelyn shook her head. "Your dad is right. You need to come home as soon as you leave this hospital."
"I'm not coming home, no matter what you say. I'm a grown man! As soon as I leave this hospital, I'm going home — my home — and then I'm getting straight back to work."
"And what about this Niles character?"
"There’s nothing going on there, Mom. You don't have to worry about anything." Even as Tank said the words, he felt his stomach drop, his body become cold, and his eyes began to itch and burn.
The door opened again. Fortunately for Tank, it was Ale and Troy. Troy glanced around the room then sat on the bed and looked him up and down. "Hi Tank. You don't look too bad. When are you getting out?"
"Hi Troy, thanks for coming. Let me introduce my parents to you. Acton and Evelyn."
Troy turned them and smiled. "Hi," he said, waving at them.
Ale walked further into the room, his hand coming to rest on Troy's back. Troy smiled at him, leaving no doubt about the nature of their relationship.
Ale smiled at Tank’s parents. "Hello Mr. and Mrs. Evans. How are you?"
"We're good, thank you, Mr. Martin," Evelyn said, her eyes flickering between Troy and Ale.
"That's good to hear. Was Tank able to tell you about the teacher and two young children he rescued? Without him, they may well have died." Tank closed his eyes, silently thanking Ale. Ale was well aware of what his parents were like.
"We're aware of how good Targon is at his job. But now it's time to him to join the family business, so unfortunately he will be leaving Rescue Inc," Acton said.
"Let's not get into this here please, Dad," Tank murmured.
"So, you're leaving us, are you, Tank?" Ale asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Nothing's been decided yet, Ale. My parents are just worried after what happened."
"Of course, they are. You're their son, it's only natural for them to worry."
"Hey, you get some time off. You can come over and hang out at Ale's cabin," Troy said, smiling at everyone in the room.
"You don't really want me to come, do you, Troy? You just want to keep Dodge."
"What?" Troy put a hand to his chest. "I think I’m insulted."
"No, Troy. Tank knows exactly where he stands." Ale grinned at his mate. "You'd take Dodge over him any time."
Troy shrugged. "Well, you won't let me have a dog, so I have to take Dodge, don't I?"
"Who's going to look after the dog when you're at college and I'm out working?"
"Pops can. Please," Troy looked imploringly at Ale, who rolled his eyes.
"We'll talk about this later."
"Are you two together?" Evelyn asked.
Troy grinned. "Ale's my mate. He's stuck with me."
"I see," Acton murmured. Glaring at Tank, he said, "You’re surr
ounded by them, aren't you? No wonder you've become... Infected."
"Infected?" Troy said, shoulders slamming back. Troy stood, glared at Tank’s parents before glancing at Ale, who nodded, then left the room, slamming the door behind him.
"Well, I can see you haven't changed one little bit, have you, Acton," Ale said, glaring at Tank's dad. "I have no problems if you insult me in any way, shape or form, but you will not insult my mate."
"And just how old is he, your mate?" Evelyn asked. "He appears a little too young for you. Is that what you're into now, Alejandro? Little boys your thing now?"
Ale inhaled sharply. "Think whatever you want to, Evelyn. My friends and my family know the truth. And to be honest I really couldn't give a shit what you think. It's about time you left the nineteenth century and moved with the times." Turning to Tank, Ale said, "I'll see you when you get back to work."
Without saying a word to Tank’s parents, Ale left the room and Tank glared at him. "How could you be so rude to my friends? Don't you care?"
"We care about the people you are associating with. Don't you realize the shame you bring on us hanging out with blacks, vampires and gay men? When you get out of this hospital, you're coming home, son, and we'll find a nice woman for you to settle down with." Acton stood and held a hand out to Evelyn. "I won't repeat myself. Come home where you belong or face the consequences."
Tank's mouth dropped open, but he never said a word, merely watching his parents leave the room. He slumped back into the pillow and stared up at the ceiling, his mind in turmoil. He'd never been given an ultimatum by his family before. They'd always made it known, made it clear what they wanted, but he'd always had some leeway being the eldest. It looked like now they had changed their minds.
He needed to speak to Niles, and he reached out to him. Niles.
He waited a few seconds, and when there was no response, he tried again. Niles, please.
Again, there was no response, and he bit his lip, closing his eyes against the sting he felt there. Niles, please, I'm sorry.
When there was still no response, he gripped the sheets in his hands, his breath shuddering in and out of his body. Was this it? Had he pushed Niles too far? Was their relationship over before it had really started?
Chapter Ten
It had been days since he'd seen or heard from Tank, other than that day he chose to ignore him. He needed time to think, time to figure out how he could help his mate. If he actually wanted to. He'd waited so long for him already and there was only so much more he could take emotionally.
They'd mated now. Yes, it was an accident—Niles winced at that admission—but what was done, was done and it was in his DNA to be there for his mate and to help him in any way he could. If only Targon would let him in, instead of keeping Niles on the fringes of his life.
How he’d managed to get through the workday amazed him. Targon was a constant presence in the back of his mind, and his body had no problem reminding him that something was missing. His body wanted its mate and Niles wanted him too, but the terms of their relationship had to change.
He hesitated to wash his bed sheets as they still held Targon's scent, and with all of Targon's things gone from his house, there was no evidence that his mate had even stayed there. Nothing to remind him of the man he loved, except the empty, hollow feeling in his chest and an empty bed.
He missed him and his stupid, slobbering dog.
He sat at lunch, pushing his food around his plate, ignoring the noise around him, his mind going around in circles as he tried to figure out what he was going to do. He barely glanced up when Max sat opposite him, grunting when he said hi.
"What's wrong? You've been distant since you returned."
Niles grunted again, before saying, "Targon's parents."
"What about them?"
"They have to be the most phobic people I have ever met. Targon told me they were, but I assumed he was exaggerating. Turns out he wasn't. They're actually worse."
Max sat back in his chair, his fork dangling in the air. "Why? What happened?"
"Oh, they want him to leave Rescue Inc and join the family business. I heard from Troy that they also told him to settle down with a nice woman and get married."
"Okay. You know there's a problem with that."
Niles sighed, sitting back in his chair and pushing the plate away. "They don't know about us being mates."
Max's eyebrows shot up. "What?"
"I know." Niles rubbed his eyes. He was so tired, but he couldn't sleep. Too many thoughts and emotions running through him. He could barely close his eyes at night. As soon as he did, Targon's face would appear and the loneliness and pain would reach up and drag him down all over again. How could he leave his mate? "I said they're phobic. Gays, blacks, vampires."
Max winced. "You're three for three then."
"Exactly."
"Shit, Niles. I'm sorry. It must be hard for him. They're his family."
Sighing, Niles agreed. "I know. It's a no-win situation for him. His family or his mate because he can't have both. I won't be some dirty secret."
"No, I wouldn't expect you would and it isn't fair of Targon to expect you to accept it either. A rock and a hard place for him."
"I don't know what to do. I haven't spoken to him in a week. I don't know what to say or if I could accept his decision when he tells me it's over."
"But it will never be over, will it? You’re mates, so you're connected in a way that won’t ever be broken."
"We can try to move on, but we'll always have an awareness of the other." Niles rubbed his chest. Just talking about it made him feel Targon more. "Sex could be an issue too."
"Because of the mate bond." Max sighed. "I'm sorry, Niles."
Niles smiled sadly. "Nothing for you to apologize for. It is what it is. I wish it was different. I wish it was an easy road to travel, but we don't always get what we want, do we? I guess I need to man up and accept my mate wants his family more than me."
Max leaned on the table. "Maybe not. Give him time."
Niles copied the move. "How much more time do I give him? I transferred here to be closer to him. I met him at least a year ago and I've been waiting, patiently, for him since then. And then he goes all possessive and mates us! What does he expect me to do? I have a life to live, just like he does. I'm merely existing right now, only half a person without him." Niles sat back in his chair. Max didn't say anything, and Niles sighed. He needed to feed but not any blood would do. He needed Targon's blood. "There's going to be a problem with feeding too," he muttered quietly.
"Shit."
"Yeah, shit."
"Do you think he will send it to you?"
"I honestly don't know, Max." Niles rubbed a hand over his face, tiredness and hunger leaving him drained.
"I can see you need to feed. You've lost some of your color and you've lost weight."
"I know. I can feel the need eating away at me and I have been feeding, but it's Targon's blood I need, not just any old blood from a bag."
"Well, get in touch with him and have him send some to you, or, maybe you two can talk and sort this all out. One way or the other, Niles, you need to know where you stand and what the future holds for you. Will it be with or without him?"
Nodding, Niles said, "I know you're right. I guess I'm just delaying the inevitable."
Max's pager beeped and he glanced down at it before sighing. Standing, he said, "And that's my signal to go. Don't leave it too long. You're a vampire, and you’re going to need your mate's blood. Get in touch with him now and arrange something."
Niles didn't say anything, just nodded and watched Max as he left the canteen, then stared back down at the food on his plate. He knew he should eat something, but his stomach rolled every time he thought about food. Maybe tomorrow he'd feel hungrier and be able to eat. Standing, Niles put his tray away and left the canteen. He had patients that needed him.
Spencer stood with three other vampires, staring at the map that
showed where all their estates were located. Over the years they'd bought more land and had expanded into it, constructing storage units and additional housing. They were preparing for the future. A future where vampires ruled.
They would need to have large units to stockpile all the food they would need, and items not commonly thought of. Clothing, bedding, furniture and weapons. Everything they would need to keep them going for the first few months while the humans destroyed themselves.
Spencer glanced over the map, noticing the new construction to the east. Everything was on target and going to plan. It had to be, as the time when they would implement their plan was drawing closer.
"How many vampires do we have?" Commander Garrick asked.
Spencer picked up his tablet and searched for the information. "In what areas?"
"The council. We've removed all those opposed to our plans, haven't we?"
"Yes, we have. All nine members agree and are preparing for the day we can make our move."
"All nine?"
Spencer nodded.
"Good. We'll have no problems when we take over."
"The aristocracy are all in agreement too," Spencer added.
The wealthy families all agreed with the plans to remove humans. They wanted to rule. They were the best the vampires had to offer and were determined to take their rightful place at the top of the food chain. Humans were cattle, only needed for their blood and as toys to please their masters.
"That's close to thirty families."
"Yes. In total, we have over one hundred vampires preparing."
"How many families are left to move to the States?"
"All those following our plan are here or in the final stages of moving here. Soon, they'll be no vampires left abroad who stand with us."
"All our people will be here, in one of the estates."
Spencer nodded. All the people they wanted would be safe when the power went out. "We have purchased more shares in the solar company. We now have a majority holding. All buildings are currently being refitted to withstand the chaos."
"Defenses?"
"On course to be complete within the year. We have various weapons of all calibers, plus missiles, and we have an order for tanks."
Rescue Inc Collection Vol 3 Page 17
