Page 42 of Dear Mr. Vampire

“This is not you. This is not who you are. I made one mistake just one. You have to give me another chance.”

“You have got to be joking. This wasn’t just one mistake. You fucked every single woman I dated, and that wasn’t enough, so you fucked my wife.”

“I have a problem, an impulse problem.”

“I don’t care about your problems.”

“I’m sorry. I, I would do anything. Tell me, and I will do it. Brother, I love you. Alexander, give me one more chance. We are family. If you only give me a chance, I can prove to you I am trustworthy.”

His words seem like they were coming from someone speaking another language. Did he really think he could betray me? Did he really think he could just show up out of the blue, wave a magic wand, and repair are fractured relationship? Maybehe was crazy enough to think I would jump at the chance to be a part of a family that didn’t act like a family.

“Harlen, leave my city.”

“Your city.” He smirked with lips so thin they were barely noticeable.

“There will be no reconciliation. I’m done with you. If you persist, I will turn father against you. You know I can do it.”

“But you wouldn’t.” He scoffed. I had evidence against him and this was the first time I threatened to use it.

“But I will. You are no longer part of my family. Go off and make your own family.”

“I can’t believe you’re saying this to me. Who are you? What have you turned into?”

“Please spare me the theatrics. You’re not welcomed. Leave now or I will have you thrown out.”

“I’m already outside in a filthy alley with the garbage and the rats.”

“Exactly where you should feel at home. Nonetheless, you know what I mean. I can ruin you. I can make you disappear. You know that I can. You’ve seen what I can do. Don’t make me do it to you. I spared your life once. I won’t do it again. You have used your get out of jail free card. There will be no other. Leave.”

Without bothering to turn back, I walked away from him, leaving him alone in the dark alleyway. I hoped he would heed my warning. I was only going to give it to him once. I would not let him come into my new life and disrupt my world. I knew how easy it would be to take his life. He didn’t know everything about me. He didn’t know the life I led before he came into it. He only knew they changed me, the me that was a better man. He knew the brother that he could use and take advantage of. That guy was a façade. Now I was back to being the original, the version of me that’s not to be fucked with.

I approached the side entrance. “Make sure I never see him again. He isn’t welcomed inside or anywhere near my establishment.” I stated to Nick and Josh.

“Sure boss.”

I turned back, and he was standing just a few feet away, just as I’d left him.

“Remove him from the premises. Use whatever force you deem necessary. He is no fighter. Treat him like trash. Just get rid of him.” With a slight wave of my hand, I stepped inside the threshold of The Castle.

“Will do.” Josh stated as he stalked down the alley towards the man I refused to call my brother any longer. He was nothing to me now that I deemed him my sworn enemy. He had been nothing to me and seeing him again hadn’t changed that at all.

This chapter of my life was closed for good. I hadn’t killed anyone in a long time and I didn’t want to take a life, but my patience had run out.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

ZAND

The next day proved to be a new one. I woke around noon only to notice an excessive amount of missed calls on my cell phone from a number I didn’t recognize. I checked my voicemail, and the message floored me. A nurse from UIC medical was muttering something in broken English.

Chanel.

Chanel.

Chanel.

I remembered her kissing me goodbye as she left my bed early this morning. She was dressed for work. I watched her leave my bedroom, and I turned over and went back to sleep. What could’ve happened in that time?

I didn’t have time to think about it. I only had time to brush my teeth and dress. I’d slept too long. I wasn’t going to waste my time in the shower. I splashed cold water on my face before grabbing my car keys and leather jacket. Sprinting out my front door, I rushed to my car. I was headed to my girl.

---