31. Brother
Oblivious: not aware of or not concerned about what is happening around one.
Tessa
Okay, so turns out there was no specific job that the big boss wanted me to do. Yep, Chad lied, and the worst thing was I did not catch his deception. I fell right into it. I was so gullible while getting pumped for my kill.
“Chad, you better pay me more for wasting my time.” I pouted and put my hands together, I really don’t want to kill my handler. Not yet, anyway.
“You’re so full of yourself as always, beauty, that’s what I like about you. But there won’t be any money coming out of my pocket. My woman had me drained and my other woman… ugh, enough, we’re not here about me… I think I might have a lead on your assassination.”
“Aww… Chad, you make it sound as if I’m the president.” I smirked and bumped my shoulder into his, trying to get him to loosen up and spill more than he might want to. This wasn’t the first time Chad had held important information for me. The man likes saying stuff in riddles and incomplete sentences. I just don’t have the patience to play his game.
“Well, you’re important to me. You get the job done. Always.”
“You’re saying, your other minions are not good at their job?”
“You’re rubbing it in, beauty, you know you’re the best.”
“Why thank you Chad.” my smile grew wider and I could already see that he was regretting his words.
“What do you know about your dad?” He asked and my smile fell like a wilted rose in a very dry summer.
Wow… Chad, okay… just go ahead and ask about the man who gave me life and nothing else. I’m getting daddy issues already. Ugh…”Excuse you? why are we talking about my dad?”
“I know you’ve been obsessing about your death threats,”
“Maybe…” I want to deny it, but I know that Chad would know that I lied.
The man had the audacity to laugh at me. My hands were itching to grab my knives and carved the pale skin guy in front of me. Though my curiosity got the best of me. So, I waited for him to come to his senses and tell me what he knows.
“Your dad, he’s the why, and his son is the who.”
“What? you’re saying I have a brother?”
“A half-brother,”
I almost laughed at him. All my life I wanted to have a sibling growing up and now Chad is saying my halfbrother wants me dead.
“And he wants me dead? So, how do you know about this?”
“It’s my job to screen our contracted workers. I have known about your dad for a while, your grandparents did a good job in hiding his bastard son.”
“My grandparents know about this?” I know Chad said that already, but I was too shocked to process the information that somehow I need reassurance.
“They paid her off, and your dad may or may not know. I’m not so sure. But what I’m trying to say is that I’ve been looking into your case, cause you know… I really love a good riddle.”
Ah, of course, he does. It was why he always gave explanations in the most confusing ways.
“Eh, I guess I should thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Just sort things out. Here’s the file on your halfbrother, I had one of my guys dig him up. I need you back without him messing with your head.”
Yep, that made sense, I know Chad won’t hand out information without gaining something for himself. I know how much my service had meant to him, and I know he didn’t want to risk hiring me with a stalker on my tail. Not when it could threaten and be traced back to him.
“I have jobs,” Chad continued, “important jobs waiting for you. End this, and be quick about it.”
I nodded, knowing that our time was up when he practically told me to leave his car. Yeah, just like in some old spy movies, we talked in his car in an empty parking lot. I swiftly took the file and went back to my car. I wanted nothing but to look at my halfbrother’s file, but I decided to drive back to the penthouse and study the file there.
Arriving at the penthouse, I was glad to find that it was empty, cause I still don’t know how I felt knowing that I have a brother out there. A halfbrother. A guy who was related to me but also wanted to kill me. Somehow it suited me. Karma was catching up. Maybe the witch was right. She did say to be careful and told me that not all of them are good. Though her words could also be applied to other stuff. She could say vague enough words to be interpreted to everything that might be happening to someone.
I was frustrated when I decided to bring the file to the kitchen and then make myself relax with a strong drink. Yep, I feel like I need a double dose of espresso in my coffee. I decided to make it black. As black my heart, ugh… so tacky. I really need to start making my coffee. I smiled at my favorite coffee maker and started brewing the coffee.
Nero had made sure that my stuff was delivered to his penthouse after my apartment was trashed. Now my kitchenware is decorated in his kitchen cabinets, and my clothes have their own space in his walk-in closet. It was getting too domestic and I was enjoying it. Strange, but I liked it.
I was deep in my thoughts, with photos of my halfbrother and his file spread on the kitchen island when Nero walked into the apartment. I didn’t think I heard him coming in, though it was not an uncommon thing for him to do, being a vampire and all. With the second batch of coffee, I was practically buzzing with caffeine in my veins and he could probably sense it.
“Who’s this?” he greeted me with a question when he saw the picture, followed by a kiss on my cheek before he put his possessive hand on my neck and planted a kiss on my lips. The moan slipped out of my lips easily and I felt his smile as he kissed me again.
“This is my brother, half-brother, Lowell Varg.” Nero’s jaw twitched when I mentioned his name, but I kept on going. “I met up with Chad earlier. There was no job, he knew I wouldn’t meet up with him and he knew I won’t be back unless there was a job.”
“Hmm… should I be worried that he knew you that well?”
“No, of course not! ew… Chad is like… uh, Chad… just uh… I don’t want to know, and I don’t ever want to go there. Look, don’t you want to know why Chad gave me this file?”
“Sure,” he said unconvincingly. It was cute how my vampire boyfriend was jealous.
“Sure?”
“Tessa…” He warned me when I teased him.
“Look, I thought you have work tonight, but then you’re meeting up with Chad in his car in an empty parking lot.”
“Wow, so much for trust and leaving me alone to do my job.” Okay, having me followed was not sexy and me not knowing that I was being followed was making me re-think about capabilities. And the way Chad had easily lured me with his lie was already a warning. Was I losing my…
“Tessa, answer me.” His sexy growl made my head turn.
“Yeah, uh… so Chad lied. There was no job,” pushing my thoughts aside I explained everything to Nero while pointing to the picture of my halfbrother.
It was almost dawn when he told me that he needed to rest and I needed to join him. I was not sleepy, not with the amount of coffee I have in my system. But when he easily picked me up and carried me bridal style, I swooned. I’d let him do anything, taking me into his bed, tucking me to his side, and resting my head on his cheek, was it. He managed to convince my body to shut down along with him, I was asleep in his arms in less than five minutes.