The Blood Boss by Davidson King

Chapter Four

Cain

Istared at the scapegoat’s eyes as they widened. I was desperately trying to ignore the tantalizing aroma his presence permeated the air with. When the doors had opened and I’d seen this man sitting, waiting for me, a ripple of want and need had pulsed through me. Then his scent…he was perfection. I hadn’t felt anything the night before as I’d watched him from the mezzanine, and I wondered if it was his proximity.

“Judgment…right.” He took a deep breath, sat up straight, and this time when he looked at me, strength replaced fear.

“Your father’s reason for asking for money was a noble one. Loaning it to him made sense. I will admit, I questioned he’d be able to pay it back; however, he was adamant that he could.”

“And here we are.” Jayce shrugged.

“Yes, here we are. Now, I didn’t tack on interest for his debt due to the selflessness of the need.”

“Thank you.”

He’s thanking me?“You’re welcome. Anyway, I am employing you until his debt is no more.”

“Do you have a time frame on that?”

I cocked my head. “Yes. When it’s paid off.”

Jayce’s nostrils flared, and there was no question he was irritated, but he recognized that he didn’t have the upper hand. “I only ask because I’m employed elsewhere, and if I need to take a leave of absence, then—”

“Take the leave of absence.” I left no room for further questions on the matter, and he sat back with a curt nod.

“I fear I am leaving my employer in the void here, though. I was her day-to-day person, and she’s old.”

Humans.“And that is my problem, how?”

“She’s old?”

“Her age is of no concern to me.”

“Look, I get it. I’m responsible for my father’s debt, and I accept that. I’m asking if there’s a way I can help her and you.”

“You’re not helping me, scapegoat, you’re bound to me by legalities.”

He narrowed his brown eyes at me, and a flair of amusement tickled me. “My name is Jayce, and even though I said you could call me scapegoat, I now realize I hate it. I’ve done nothing wrong to deserve disrespect.”

“There’s a debt!”

“Not mine!”

“It’s yours now; you stamped that agreement in blood!”

I realized we were both standing at this point, him glaring up at me and me hovering over him, my thunderous emotions getting the better of me.

Clearly, he noticed too, because he sat back down and apologized. “I’m sorry. I really am. This is all crazy for me. I know what I agreed to, and I honestly have no idea why I’m even arguing with you. I’ll call Sibell and—”

“Sibell?” No way was he referring to that witch.

“Yes, I work at Sibell’s Bookstore.”

Closing my eyes briefly, I wished away the throbbing pain her name incited. “You work for Sibell?”

“Well, I won’t be, seeing as I’m here for only you now for Lord knows how long.”

“She’ll love knowing I’m the reason you’re taking leave.”

He smiled, and I’d be lying if it didn’t light up his whole face. “You know her?”

“Unfortunately.”

His smile fell, and I found I missed it. “She’s the sweetest person ever.”

“Person, right.”

“What are you, ageist? That’s rich, seeing as you’re like a millennia-year-old.”

The balls on this guy.“What happened to you not arguing with me?”

“I’m sorry, but Sibell is like a grandmother to me. She gave me a job and pays me probably more than I’m worth so I can help my parents out. I don’t like when anyone says mean things about her.”

“How long have you known her?” I was intrigued by his obvious adoration for the old witch, and I suspected he didn’t know her half as well as he thought.

“Well, I’ve worked for her since I was eighteen.”

“I didn’t ask you how long you worked for her, I asked how long you’ve known her.”

A tiny crinkle formed on his forehead, and his eyes darted to the right. “I guess I’ve always sort of known her. My mom is a teacher, and reading and books were paramount in our house. Sibell had story hour on Sundays when I was little, and we’d always go, so as long as I can remember, I’ve known her.”

Interesting. “And then you turned eighteen and she hired you?”

“I asked first, but yes.”

I hadn’t looked at the file Natalie placed on the table by my plate because I figured I’d put Jayce to work and make him her responsibility. Sibell was not only fond of this man, but she’d also made it a point to have him close to her. That made him valuable to her.

I took the folder and started reading, feeling Jayce’s eyes on me the entire time I took in all the information on him.

“You’re adopted?”

“Yes.”

“Says Michael and Anne Harlow adopted you at the age of five.”

“Uh-huh, but I’ve lived with them since birth.”

I scoured the files and there was no mention of biological parents. But there was something. “You were on their doorstep?”

He chuckled. “I know, it reads like a cheesy novel but, yeah, there was a note attached that said my name was Jayce, to please keep the name, and to love me in a way they couldn’t.”

There was no glimmer of sadness in Jayce’s eyes, which told me Michael and Anne had done exactly that…They’d loved a boy that wasn’t theirs in blood. And here was that very boy who was saved by them all those years ago, in my dining room, saving them.

“Okay.” I closed the file, placed it back where it was, and gave Jayce my attention. “You will work alongside me unless I have need for you to be elsewhere. I will leave notes and assignments with Natalie to give you in my absence. Unless I tell you otherwise, you’re to accompany me wherever I go.”

“Like a personal assistant?”

“If that’s what you want to call yourself. You will do what I ask without question, understand?”

Jayce bit his lip, wariness adorning his face. “Like murder?” he whispered.

A surprising laugh burst from me, and quickly, I cut it off with a cough. “No, not murder.”

“Am I allowed to ask what my duties will be?”

“They are what I say they are.”

Jayce was about to speak, but Natalie entered the dining hall and he clamped his mouth shut. “Pardon the interruption, Sir. Your ten o’clock will be here shortly.”

Ahh yes, Reginald Bouvier. “Very well. Jayce, why don’t you make your call to Sibell, and then meet me across the hall in my study.” I didn’t wait for his response; I pushed away from the table and exited the room.

I’d just entered the study when Natalie came up behind me. “Did you say Sibell? Like the Sibell?”

“The one and only.” I sat at my desk and rummaged through the notes and papers.

“Well, shit.”

“Exactly.”

“How did Emil fail to disclose that information?” She swiftly moved her fingers over her tablet.

“I don’t think Emil and Petru expected to be leaving with the son from the Harlows’ residence. He did well under the circumstances, and we now have that information.”

“You truly think Sibell will roll over on this?”

I shook my head because no, I didn’t. I suspected an angry phone call was in my future.

“We will deal with it when and if it’s an issue, Natalie. Now, let me get ready for my meeting.”

She huffed but fortunately left. I didn’t need her telling me what an obstacle Sibell would be on this matter. That old witch knew she had no just cause here, and vampire law superseded all others in Black Veil. She could huff and puff and get the council after me; nothing would change.

I shook the thought away and focused on what the punishment would be for Reginald. I was sure there were many in Black Veil who thought I craved hurting others, but that wasn’t true. If anything, I preferred when things were running smoothly and everyone behaved. I was far too busy to be dealing with insolence.

Because vampires had impeccable hearing, the rooms on this estate were soundproof. A fact I was regretting, knowing Jayce was speaking with Sibell right now. As much as I tried to focus on Reginald’s punishment, my mind kept wondering what the witch woman would tell Jayce.

The clock on the mantel read a quarter to ten. With only fifteen minutes until Reginald’s arrival—and I was sure he’d be early strictly to get on my good side—I hunkered down, reading everything I could on the man before he got here.