Blood red love
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Charlie called Tyson the next day and asked if it was okay to bring Caine with them to family
dinner.
“He’s back in town?” Tyson asked.
“Yes, he arrived yesterday.”
“He is more than welcome. It’s been a long time since we saw him, but he is family after saving you,” Tyson told her. He had asked her a couple of times over the years about Caine. She had told him Caine had business that kept him out of town. Tyson had always been able to tell Charlie’s feelings and he had just hummed and looked at her like he knew there was more to it. But he didn’t pressure her.
“Thank you. It will be an interesting group,” she said. He laughed.
“It sure will be. If you could keep your husband and boyfriend from killing James I would bet grateful,” he joked. Charlie laughed with him.
“I will do my best,” she promised. The rest of the week, Charlie, Caine and Vidar made plans. for the move. All of their businesses would need some minor reorganisations to let them work from Schweiz. But they had used the old vampire way of structuring their organisations and the changes would be easy to make. Charlie found herself doted on by the both of them. She didn’t mind unless they ganged up on her and insisted she didn’t lift a finger. She had to remind the two of them on more than one occasion that she was perfectly fine. The S*x was mind–blowing and they had a hard time keeping their hands and mouths away from each. other. When Sunday finally arrived Vidar drove them to her brother’s house.
“Please don’t be overprotective,” she told them for the fifth time as they turned in on the
driveway.
“We know, gorgeous,” Caine told her from the back seat.
“No killing,” Vidar promised.
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“Or maiming, hurting, biting, stabbing, shooting or anything like it,” she added. The two men laughed.
“None of it,” Caine agreed as he k*ssed her cheek before stepping out of the car.
“We promise,” Vidar told her as he followed his friend. Charlie shook her head and joined her
men as they walked up to the house. Huxton opened the door. His nut brown hair had silver streaks in it but he looked good and happy. Charlie thought.
“Charlie, Vidar, Caine, it’s nice to see you.” her brother greeted them. Charlie and Vidar got a hug and Caine a friendly handshake and thump in the back.
“Thank you for letting me tag along.” Caine told him
“Of course, you are family. Huxton said as they walked out on the terrace. Spring was just on the verge of becoming summer and the day was nice and sunny. There was a large group of people on the terrace. Tyson was handing out welcome drinks. Liam and his boyfriend stood talking with Lilly and Danielle. James and Tina were sitting and talking to Aiden and a blond
woman.
“Little sister!” Tyson called as he saw them.
“Favourite brother,” she smiled and hugged him. He said hello to Vider and Caine as they
came to stand on each of her sides. Tyson smiled a knowing smile. That man was far too observant, Charlie thought. Adain came walking, holding the blond woman’s hand.
“Aunt Char. Uncle Vidar.” he said with a wide smile
“Aiden.” Charlie greeted him. “You won’t remember him, but this is Caine,” she then said.
“Hello,” Aiden said, shaking Caine’s hand. Aunt Char has told me about you,” he added.
“Hi. I can say the same.” Caine told him. “She is always bragging about you and your brother.”
Aiden smiled at them.
“This is Emma, my girlfriend,” he proudly told them and introduced Emma to all of them. Emma was a lovely woman and Charlie was happy Aidan had found someone like her. Lilly
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came up to them and joined in the small talk. After ten years with Gabriella, Lilly had decided to be turned. She and Charlie had long conversations about it and Charlie had even asked Caine to talk to her friend before she made her decision. Luckily, everything had worked out. Two years after being turned, Lilly and Gabrielle had imprinted. They got married the same year and together they managed their own restaurant that was doing good.
“Time to eat,” Tyson called out and everyone headed into the dining room. James and Tina sat down opposite Charlie, Caine and Vidar. The three of them had been polite to the couple, but tried to not engage with them. Charlie could sometimes feel James looking at her and she knew both Vidar and Caine noticed it as well. Tyson had outdone himself in the kitchen and Lilly had bought dessert. As the food was eaten, they all helped to clean up and then went back to sit on the terrace, talking.
“Was the dinner everything you hoped for?” Charlie asked Aiden who had his arm around
Emma.
“Yes, it went perfectly. What do you think sweetheart?” he asked Emma.
“I agree. It has been amazing, I feel welcome and like I’m part of the family already,” she agreed.
“I’m happy to hear it, we are just happy the monkey found a good one like you,” Charlie said and laughed as Aiden turned pink. She had been good all day, she had to embarrass him at little. “On a serious note, would you mind me stealing a little bit of your evening?” she asked. Aiden was collecting himself but shook his head.
“We’re fine. Take as much as you need,” he told her.
“We have something to tell you,” Charlie said a little louder, getting everyone’s attention. Vidar and Caine smiled. “Well, two things. But let’s start with one. Vidar and I will be moving. abroad in a couple of months,” she told everyone. There was a moment of silence and then people started to speak all at once.
“Why?” Liam asked.
“Is someone threatening you?” Huxton asked.
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“Where?” Lilly wanted to know. Vidar held up a hand to stop the barrage of questions.
“We are not being threatened,” Charlie said. “We are moving to Schweiz because we are having a baby and we would like some peace and quiet in the first few years,” she told them. Again there was dead silence. Then the group erupted into cheers. Lilly was about to jump up and fling herself at Charlie, but Gabrielle held her back. She knew the implications of a female vampire being pregnant and how other vampires would protect her, even if they didn’t know her. As Charlie had Caine and Vidar on each side of her, Gabrielle quickly realised that any sudden or forceful movement would be met with an instinctual defence. Huxton and Tyson had scooped Charlie up and were hugging her. Charlie was proud of Vidar and Caine, the only outward sign of distress was a slight twitch in their hands. When a laughing Charlie had freed herself from her brothers, her nephews were next in line and then Lilly got her turn. After Lilly let her go, Vidar pulled her into his side and Caine stood on her other side.
“Congratulations!” Tyson said.
“Thank you,” Charlie told him.
“This is amazing, I thought vampires couldn’t conceive that easily,” her brother said, wiping
away a tear.
“We were blessed,” Vidar agreed. It was strange to think she considered twenty–five years as a short amount of time, Charlie thought. The only ones not joining in the celebrations was James and Tina. Charlie didn’t let it bother her. They weren’t close and she knew the couple had their own struggles with getting pregnant and from what Tyson had told her, James had refused to adopt. She understood it was a sensitive subject to them. After talking about their decision and the happy news for a while, it was time for the three of them to head home.
“I’ll be right back,” Charlie told them as she headed for the bathroom. As she stepped back outside she almost ran into James. “Sorry,” she said with a little laugh. “You caught me by surprise.” He frowned and sighed.
“This needs to stop, Charlie,” he told her.
“Sorry, what?” she asked, genuinely confused.
“This whole thing you have been doing these years. It was bad enough when he was a
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criminal. But he’s a vampire. He tricked you into all of this,” he told her. She looked at him. with cold eyes.
“James, get a grip. I knew before I got involved with him what he was. And he isn’t the only one, I’m a vampire too, if you had forgotten,” she told him.
“How the fuck can I? You look like when we went on our first date. It’s not natural, but I’m sure we can find help for you. I will help you. Everything will go back to how it should be. I’ll help you get rid of that thing inside of you and we can start over,” he said, reaching for her. Charlie felt rage burning inside her. she was about to reach for him, to make him hurt for what he had said about her baby. But he was already pinned against the wall by Vidar. Vidar was as mad as Charlie had ever seen him. Caine had stepped in between her and the two other men. Both him and Vidar had their fangs and claws bared. To Charlie’s surprise, Gabrielle took a stance next to Caine, the two of them growling at James that was kicking in the air as Vidar held him by the throat against the wall. Everyone else came running and Tina. screamed.
“It’s okay, don’t be alarmed. Vampires instinctively protect children and pregnant women as it’s so rare for them,” Charlie told her family.
“He tried to hurt you?” Tyson asked in a dark voice. After the twins had started school, Tyson had opened his own gym where he quickly became one of the best reputed MMA trainers. He still looked as fearsome as ever.
“No, he said some idiotic things,” Charlie said.
“He told her to get rid of the baby,” Vidar hissed.
“What the fuck, James!” her brother shouted and Lilly had to hold him back.
“Not now, Huxton. Vidar and Caine are in protective mode and could hurt you by accident,”
she told him.
“If you don’t let me down, I will report you for assault,” James croaked. Vidar laughed.
“You do that James. We remember how it ended the last time you came for me. I held back then, for Charlie’s sake. Now you are threatening my child, I won’t hold back this time. We
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are leaving in a couple of months. If I so much as scent you within a block of our apartment or Grim INC you will vanish from this earth without so much as a trace of DNA. Am I making
myself clear?” Vidar asked him. James‘ eyes had become big and there was a tremble to his hands. He nodded. Vidar let go of him and he collapsed in a pile. Vidar turned his back. him. “Tyson, Huxton, I’m sorry about this,” he then said.
kto
“Don’t think about it, it’s not your fault,” Huxton said. He was looking behind Vidar at James, who was helped up on his feet by Tina.
“Still, it was a great dinner and a shameful way to end it,” Caine said.
“We’re just happy you are looking after Charlie,” Tyson told them as he walked up to Charlie and hugged her.
“Thank you for everything. But I think it’s best we get back home and calm down,” Charlie told them. It didn’t take them long to drive home. Once back in the apartment both Caine and Vidar insisted on making sure she was alright. Hours later they finally made it to bed and Charlie was laying n*ked with her head on Vidar’s arm and Caine’s head on her stomach. “Overall I think it was a good day,” she told them.
“You’re right, lilla lo,” Vidar agreed.
“It was nice with a family dinner,” Caine said. Charlie smiled and felt safe and sleepy. She let herself drift off.