Christina opened up the office door and saw the three young vampires sitting on a bench across the way. It was enough to make her laugh. Three troublemakers sent down to the principal’s office for a word and then a detention slip. Perhaps it was a distant fantasy but Christina secretly hoped that it might happen, someday.

“The Sheriff is ready to see you,” She announced, holding open the door as the three filed in. Following in, she closed and locked the door. She kept her position there and watched as the three others sat down in front of the large desk.

Kevin sat on the other side and kept himself motionless. His eyes were studying the three. Fingertips tapped against each other. Soon the young vampires would grow nervous and perhaps crack. The Sheriff didn’t want to wait that long.

“Surprised to find yourselves in here?” He asked, scooting closer to his desk and closing some folders. He dropped them off to the side and crossed his arms to rest on the table top. When he didn’t get an answer, he let out a sigh and leaned back in his big leather seat.

“I need some answers,” Kevin answered for them. His eyes scanned over each vampire before he rose his hand and pointed.

“Joshua. Tell me something…”

“Anything sir,” JC said obediently.

Kevin liked that reply. “Why is it that you’ve been covering a lot of Alexander’s shifts? It was reported to me that Alex hasn’t been working nearly as much as he should, yet you’ve taken on almost double duty.”

JC looked at AJ sideways, nearly begging for some sort of answer. AJ swallowed hard in fear of what might happen while Justin smiled inwardly, generally amused by the situation his brother was in.

“Don’t look at him,” Kevin told JC. “He hadn’t help you…nor can he save you right now. I need the honest truth. Now.”

It was JC who swallowed hard and tried to find his voice. He wasn’t sure what to say exactly. Sure he had worked a lot more than anybody else lately but he couldn’t give a concrete answer as to why AJ wasn’t working. JC had just assumed it was because AJ had wanted to go see the human but he didn’t have any proof. His best friend never told him the reasons why he couldn’t work, just simply begged that he covered his shifts.

“Sir…” JC stopped and took a deep breath. “I was asked by a coworker…a friend…”

“Cut the bull shit Josh.” Kevin gave his one warning. If JC didn’t start explaining, silver chains would be brought out and perhaps the infamous fang removing pliers.

Hoping his best friend understood his position, JC started to explain that AJ came to him and asked if he could cover his shifts. He wasn’t given any reason as to why the shifts couldn’t be done but JC did them regardless.

“So you didn’t think it was necessary to report it to Dorough or myself? Didn’t you find it a little suspicious? And why didn’t you question your so called friend when he kept asking for you to take over his shifts?”

Kevin did have good points but JC knew AJ better than that.

“I figured as long as the work was getting done it wouldn’t matter who was doing it. And no, sir, I didn’t think it was suspicious. I know AJ has had some things come up that he had to take care of.” JC was doing the best he could to try and explain things.

Scrapping a nail back and forth over the table, Kevin stared at JC then looked between AJ and Justin. “You three understand that there are rules for a reason, do you not? In order to be part of this nest, everyone must abide by these rules. That includes the rule of working at Bite or the resort. I don’t care if you are cleaning the residents bathrooms with your tongue. You are here to work, help making things successful and be pleasant to the humans that bring in the cash.”

At the word humans, Justin snorted a little. Kevin’s eyes darted to the vampire, his temper rising.

“Is this funny?”

“No sir,” Justin said immediately, dropping the smile. “I just think that AJ is doing a good enough job for everybody in the human department. Hell, he saved one.”

Kevin wasn’t amused. “Justin, though you are my child, I will not let you walk into my office and talk as freely as you please. The matters of this human are between myself and Alex. They have been dealt with.”

“Have they?” Justin tested.

Kevin looked from his child over to AJ. “Have they?” He repeated.

When AJ didn’t answered, Kevin continued. “Tell me Alexander, are you still seeing this human? Is that why you are never at work because you are off saving him once more?”

“I haven’t saved him since that last incident Sheriff,” AJ told him truthfully.

“Oh but you went to his brother’s party and invited him to visit Bite this evening,” Justin spoke up.

Kevin slammed his hand so hard on the table that even Christina at the door jumped. “Enough!” He bellowed, glaring at Justin.

“This is my house…my territory and you have no authority to begin preaching as you do Justin. You are so close to being locked up in the silver coffin that I can smell your burning flesh. Do you understand?” Justin nodded. “I didn’t call you in here to listen to you carrying on. I do have an issue regarding you so feel free to speak up now child. Explain to me why is it that I can never find you. You don’t work nearly as much as the others, but yet you are never at the nest. Benji and Joel search the area and can never find you. Where have you been?”

AJ turned his head instantly to look at Justin. He had a bad feeling the vampire had been following him more than he realized.

“I’ve been out looking in the woods usually. Father, you know how much I love night creatures,” Justin told his maker, his picture perfect smile coming out.

“That is bull shit,” AJ erupted, looking at Kevin. “Sir, I know for a fact that Justin has followed me a few times. I bet he is mingling with the humans as well.”

Justin laughed at the accusation AJ just put out on the table.

“I have far better things to do than associate myself with humans,” Justin said, his laughter dying down to a mild chuckle.

“Oh yeah?” AJ asked, shifting in his seat. “How can that be the truth when you were entertaining my human friend for over two hours the other night at Bite?”

Justin’s mouth snapped shut and he didn’t say a word. Kevin looked at his child, waiting for an answer. Minutes ticked by and nobody said a word, just waiting for Justin to say something.

“Okay fine!” He shouted. “I enjoy the human. I do believe I feel something towards him.”

The room was deadly silent except for the groan coming from Kevin. He reached up and pressed his fingertips to his nose, a movement he did a lot as a human trying to relieve a headache. AJ jumped from his seat and was about to take a swing at Justin when Christina walked over. She grabbed both vampires by the collar and held them far enough away from each other that they could do any harm. Kevin had enough. He hit a button on his phone and soon his security team walked in.

“Joel…Benji please take these two and lock them in the silver coffin for a fortnight immediately,” Kevin commanded, standing up from his seat.

Both AJ and Josh were shocked by their punishment, as well as JC. Nobody knew what to say.

“I’m so fucking sick and tired of hearing about this human. I don’t know what you all are seeing in him but after spending time in the silver coffin, I hope you figure it out and realize it needs to stop. I’m not kidding around this time. Make friends, but don’t act like you can love the breathers.”

Kevin gave a wave of his hand and soon Benji and Joel were pushing the two younger vampires out of the office.

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