Filthy Rich Vampire Husbands (Filthy Rich 2)

I looked around at the five of us, sat there largely in our own thoughts. Carter looked confused, like he couldn’t work out what the problem was.

“I thought we’d get married and figure things out as we went along, like we have been doing.”

“If we can’t discuss things together, huge issues like marriage, we have problems.” I said.

Carter sighed. “I’m sorry, guys. I got carried away with the excitement of everything. We can wait. I know it’ll be okay.”

“So, I got a letter.” I told them, suddenly feeling the need to be away from here. “From someone who says they’re my father. He wants to meet me. If it’s okay with you, Flynn. I’m going to travel back to New York for a few days. I need to get my things out of my old home anyhow.”

“You can’t leave!” Carter said. “You just got turned.”

“I’ll be with Flynn. He’ll make sure I’m okay and anyway I feel fine.”

His gaze dropped to the floor as if he’d broken a priceless antique vase.

“Carter. I do want to be with you all. It’s our ultimate aim, but we have to find our own way there. I recently discovered I’m part succubus. The answers could be back in New York and I’m going to go find them. Well, try to find them.”

“Why do I get the feeling you’re running away?” Smith said. “I know the pattern well, remember?”

“I need to leave to find myself. Otherwise you don’t have the whole me anyhow. You said yourself you’re a work in progress. Carter and Flynn have new careers to explore and Jayden wants to find himself. We need to do this or we won’t succeed together. Not as fragments of ourselves.”

“So you’re leaving?” Jayden questioned.

“Yes. I’m going back to New York for a few days. I’m going to go pack. Can you get me on your flight, Flynn, and book me a separate hotel room?”

Flynn nodded but didn’t say a word.

I left the room and I didn’t need my super strength hearing to know I’d left a room full of silence.

8

Smith

She’d left at the time I probably needed her most. But the fact was—and I knew this after many a consultation with a therapist—I was using Serena as a crutch when I needed to confront my problems and deal. And one of those problems was my old friend.

Denny Holloway.

I’d been to high school with Denny and he’d been the one who’d kept up with my own wild ways. When even Jayden would bow out, Denny was always up for pranks and getting high. But where I dabbled with the stuff, Denny made it his career, until he was so successful he ran his bar as a front for his highly lucrative drug ring. In addition, Denny had decided that you couldn’t run a business as a mere mortal, so he’d sold his soul. Denny was now a demon and not to be crossed, though we’d kept a civil relationship due to our past history.

Class A’s and other shit like that were never my thing. But alcohol was another thing entirely, especially a fine bourbon. I’d had money to burn and Denny knew it, opening me tabs that became increasingly higher, topped with other people’s unpaid drinks tabs, added to my own as I didn’t know what planet I was on, never mind what I was spending. Then there were the women, especially Harlow. They’d pour themselves around me all night until my weak self gave in and let them take me to a room round the back for a blow job or for them to ride my cock. As long as they kept the booze coming, I didn’t care what they did to me.

I helped fund Denny’s lifestyle, and he helped me enjoy mine.

But then the shit with Leonie went down, and I tried to kill myself. Suddenly I was in a facility and Denny wasn’t getting his regular pay day any more.

Something I’d given little thought to, until the message three days ago.

I pretended to take a sip of the drink in front of me but I had no intention of letting myself go back down that slippery slope. Harlow’s gaze watched me and I saw the slight raise of her eyebrow as she noted the liquid had not reached my lips. Denny looked unaffected.

“So I called because something interesting dropped into my lap and well, it changes things between us, Smith. Changes things a lot actually.”

I stared at him. “Just get this over with. I want to draw a line under things. You know I’m done with all this shit now, yeah? The booze, the girls. I have a girl of my own now.”

Denny slowly scratched at his chin. “Well, not exactly of your own is it, but yes, from all outward appearances it seems you finally have your act together, Smith. And as one of your closest friends I’m really happy for you. We go way back remember? I’m happy if you’re happy.”

The set of his jaw tipped me off that Denny was anything but happy right now. “The thing is I’m having a few financial difficulties. Now, I’ve had your back many a time, right? Anyhow, it seemed right that the first person I came to was you as you’ll see.”

“You want me to help you with rent and shit?”