Page 2 of By The Moon

Leaning back in his chair, he asked, “why the sudden interest?”

Shrugging, Hugo glanced away. “Two of us have found their mates. Wondering when it’ll be my turn, you know.”

“Get out there and he or she will turn up.” Louis knew Hugo was bi and had no problems sleeping with either sex. He didn’t lean one way or the other. He was an equal opportunity kinda guy.

“I’m doing extra patrols since Maxim’s reappearance.”

“Bastard.” Louis sighed heavily. “Why can’t he just fuck off and die? We could all move on with our lives then. The other side would slowly wither away and die too.”

“If only. If Maxim disappeared, we both know there would be someone else to take his place.”

“Yeah but a vamp can dream.”

“Heard about the son?”

Louis sipped his beer and nodded. “Yeah but we don’t have any accurate information. Just rumors and some vague comments.”

“Gray’s working on getting some solid intel. A son could be a potential weakness we can exploit.” Hugo hissed. “Hate dragging a kid into this, but we need to stop that bastard and his merry band of fuckwits.”

“I know what you mean, but this kid is probably a mini me, you know. Like father, like son.” Louis hoped not, but the chances weren’t great. Maxim demanded absolute obedience.

“The apple didn’t fall too far from the tree? I hope not but you’re probably right. When you grow up in that type of environment, it affects you. It affects how you see the world.”

“What’s the saying? No child is born to hate. It’s the people around them, the environment they grow up in. That’s what sets them up on the path they travel.”

“Getting away from it helps, too. Hearing views that don’t align with your own and actually listening to them.” Hugo finished his drink and sighed. “We’ll just have to wait and see.”

“We’re being all heavy here. I came here to relax and unwind and we’re talking shop.” Louis finished his drink and signalled the bar staff. “Another?”

“Yeah. I’ll have one more then go back. I’m on the early shift tomorrow.”

“I’m off, thankfully. Feels like I’ve worked non-stop for days and I need a break.”

“We need more people now that we have humans. I like Key and Henry but they are a weakness that could be used against us.”

“I guess that’s why Gray makes sure all the cameras are working.”

Hugo grunted. “Did you say something about a club?”

Louis nodded but didn’t respond immediately while he ordered their drinks from the guy behind the bar. Once he’d paid, he nodded. “Yeah. Once I finish this I’ll go out and see what’s available.”

“You could do with having a night of fun. Find someone willing to dirty up the sheets with you. You could do with some release.” Hugo grinned and waggled his eyebrows. “You’re all tense.”

“I plan to, and you should as well. Weren’t you the one talking about friction burns?”

“And weren’t you the one saying too much info?” Hugo grinned and took a mouthful of beer. Sighing, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “I wish I could but I don’t want to be hung over tomorrow. With Maxim around we all need to be level-headed.”

Louis nodded and took a mouthful of beer. The need to see Jerome was pulling at him, and he knew he’d be at Jerome’s home before the night was through. He knew Jerome went home every other weekend, so that was where Louis was going to go after his beer. Just to see him and make sure he was safe.

“We need to find where Maxim is currently staying and take care of him. Him and his men are beginning to cause us problems—more so than normal, that is. It feels like he’s gearing up for something.”

Hugo sipped his beer and nodded. “He’s been quiet for too long. He’s had years to plan as well. Wonder if he’s going to start something.”

“I think that’s what we’re seeing now. As you said he’s had years, and now he’s out and about, showing up after years of nothing. And the son. Where is he?” Louis wanted to get his hands on the kid, if he existed. They still had nothing to prove Maxim had a child, so where had the rumor of a son come from? They needed to chase that down and investigate whether the rumors were true or not.

“Let Gray deal with it.”

Louis grunted. “You know he’ll pass it off to one of us. He has too much to deal with as it is, and then there’s Henry.”

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