CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

B rayden’s phone rang, and he glanced up at Craig.

“Do me a solid and don’t call Brianna yet,” Brayden said. “Let me talk to the king, otherwise Willow will be on my tail thirty seconds after you speak to your mate.”

Willow and Brianna were best friends, so there was no way the two of them wouldn’t share the news they were being brought over to the United States.

“Fine,” Craig replied, tapping the screen of his smartphone impatiently on his knee.

Brayden swiped the phone to answer as he walked down to the office. “Organize the teams to prepare a jet if you want to make yourself useful,” he called out to Craig as he put the phone to his ear. “Vince.”

“I’m not your fucking secretary!” Craig called.

Brayden nudged the door closed. Not that he usually kept anything from Craig, but occasionally he needed to have a private conversation with his brother. And today was that day.

“Jet? You leaving Seattle already?” Vincent asked.

“No.” Brayden stepped up to the window and drew a breath. “The opposite.”

“What’s going on?” the king’s voice darkened.

“We’ve found the missing vampire. Callan. Ari has an asset inside BioZen, so we are making moves to get him out,” Brayden replied.

“That’s damn good news,” Vincent said. “What am I missing?”

Yeah, Vincent knew him well.

“We don’t believe it’s safe to leave the family in Italy. I want them here with Craig and me,” Brayden replied. “Including Kate and Lucas.”

“What’s your plan?”

“We get them here overnight. Ari has offered us accommodation at The Institute. I think we should accept. His security is the best I’ve seen,” Brayden replied. “Then, when you’re finished in Washington, you get your ass to Seattle.”

Brayden heard the king growl.

Asking him to fly the queen and their newborn across the world without either him or Craig onboard was a big ask. Kate may also have a few things to say about it, but Brayden knew it was the right thing to do.

These people—humans—had disempowered and kidnapped dozens of vampires and they still didn’t know how. It meant all of them, including his warriors, were vulnerable.

At least if the females were close to them, they had a better chance of protecting them.

“I don’t like it,” Vincent said.

“Neither do I, but it’s the best way to keep them safe,” Brayden replied. “Let’s get them on a plane and over here as fast as we can.”

There was silence for a long minute until the king spoke again.

“Let me speak to Kate. She may prefer to fly into Washington.”

Brayden rubbed his knuckle against his forehead and squeezed his eyes shut. He’d predicted this.

“Vincent, I am not having our king, queen, and the heir to the fucking throne, protected by a handful of vamps. Even if Kurt is there.” He growled. “Absolutely not.”

“Well, I’m the king—”

“Nope.”

“Yeah, I actually am.”

“I’m in charge of your security. The decision is final. They are getting on a plane. If you want to fuel up and get over here now, do it,” Brayden said.

Brayden rarely put his foot down, but when he did, he meant it. Vincent was the king, yes, and he could tell Brayden—and any vampire - to sit his ass down and do what he was told.

But he wouldn’t.

Their relationship, regardless of being brothers, worked because of the respect they had for the roles they played. The king knew Brayden was an expert at what he did, and every decision he made was for their family’s safety.

That, and he never wanted to sit on the goddamn throne.

Plus, they were family, so he loved them and stuff.

Whatever.

“You want to tell Kate, or shall I call her?” Brayden added.

“I’ll do it. Just text her the time,” Vincent said. “She’ll need time to prepare, Bray. You can’t just uproot a baby.”

Like he was the expert. The guy gagged every time he saw a dirty nappy. Clean ones too, now.

“Got it,” Brayden replied instead.

“How’s it going with our uncle?” Vincent asked.

Brayden walked to a large armchair and sat down. He needed to be honest with Vincent about the conversation he’d had with Ari, but he wanted to do it in a way that wouldn’t damage their fragile relationship. Vincent didn’t have the close history he had with their uncle, but they weren’t strangers.

He recalled Ari’s words.

“I am done hiding my identity, little prince. I am a Moretti—the remaining original—and the time for that to be acknowledged is upon us.”

“Good. He’s been very welcoming, and his mansion is incredible. You’ll be impressed.”

“Brayden, I’m not the editor of Home and Fucking Country magazine. You know what I’m asking,” Vincent said.

Despite himself, Brayden snorted.

“You know, Vince, he’s had a long damn life. His identity wasn’t acknowledged. Why? It’s so fucked up.”

“Did you ask him?”

“Yes. He said our grandfather feared Ari would create his own line of vampires and threaten his reign,” Brayden replied.

“Yet he has never mated or procreated,” Vincent said. “So, why the fucking concern?”

Brayden logged into the VampNet while he was talking to his brother and saw Willow was online. He sent her a message asking her if she was free in ten minutes.

Yesssssss xxxx

He smiled at the reply and couldn’t wait to see her face. Dammit, he couldn’t wait to get his hands on her body and cock inside her. He lifted his eyes from the screen to concentrate.

“I think he’s met his mate,” Brayden said. “And Vince, you need to know, if he has, and they can procreate, he intends to start his own line of vampires.”

The silence was deafening.

He held the space for the king to process what he’d just shared.

“Let’s talk when I get to Seattle,” Vincent replied.

Yeah, he’d need a lot of time to mull that over. It wasn’t an immediate threat and there were lots of conversations to be had. He knew his brother and had no concerns he would act irrationally. Brayden would never have shared the information over the phone if he had. But it was important Vince knew before he arrived in Seattle.

“Okay. I’ve got Willow waiting, so I’ll see you tomorrow.” Brayden punched end on his phone and dialed the video in VampNet. “Hey sexy, do you miss me?”

Willow purred, her dark wavy hair all sexy and messy.

Brayden groaned.

“Are you naked?” He frowned. “Wait, where are you?”

Willow grinned.

“Turn the phone, Willow,” Brayden growled. She pouted and turned her device, showing him Brianna and Anna, who were sitting in the hot tub with her.

Brayden shook his head. “Lucky, we didn’t launch into phone sex.”

“I would have closed my ears!” Brianna called out.

Liar.

“Take me off speaker, mate.” He instructed Willow, giving her his bossy look. He wanted Craig to have the opportunity to tell his mate, otherwise he’d never hear the damn end of it.

“I’ll get out,” Willow said, and the camera went all over the show and there was some splashing and naked skin.

Christ.

With a towel wrapped around her, Willow stepped into the changing rooms and lifted the camera. “Shoot,” she said. “Are you coming home, my sexy vampire?”

Brayden shook his head. “No, baby. I need you to come to Seattle,” he replied, his tone serious now. “It’s not safe for you to stay in Italy without full security, but don’t panic. Just get packing for a few weeks and the jet will depart in around six hours.”

Willow stared back at him. “Just me?”

“All of you. Kate and Brianna—but please don’t tell her before Craig or we’ll both suffer.” Willow smirked. “I’m serious. Oh, and you may need to help Kate with Lucas.”

“What about Anna?”

Brayden blinked.

“You’re bringing over the big guns, right?” she asked, reminding him why he loved her. Willow was gorgeous and too damn intelligent for her own good.

“They’re called Senior Lieutenant Commanders, not big guns,” Brayden replied. “And, yes, Ben is going to escort you to Seattle, so I guess that will include Anna.”

Jesus.

They needed a damn castle in Seattle now, too.

“Where are we staying?”

“At Ari’s.”

“With all the assassin people?” Willow’s eyes widened.

Brayden stifled a laugh.

“It’s the safest place, baby,” he said. “Plus, I’ll be with you most of the time.”

Her bedroom eyes lit up, and Brayden felt his cock react.

“Good, I’ve been aching for you,” Willow said, tilting her head seductively.

“Okay, don’t do that. I have to ring the queen, and I don’t want to do it with a damn erection.” He added, “And leave that ache for me to sort out when you get here. No touching, princess.”

She gave him a naughty smile. “It can be both.”

Brayden groaned. “I’ll see you tomorrow, baby. I love you,” he said. “And Willow? Don’t. Tell. Bri.”

“Fine!” she replied. “Love you, sexy vamp.”

He ended the call and walked back into the living area where Craig was pouring a glass of plasma. “Ring your girl,” Brayden said, taking the glass of plasma off the counter.

“Dude. Get your own,” Craig said, freezing as he went to put the bottle back in the fridge.

“I’m the prince.”

“That excuse is getting real old,” Craig moaned.

Brayden flopped down onto the sofa.

“The jet is booked, and the males are getting their shit together,” he said, referring to their most senior warriors.

“So Tom is staying behind, right?” Brayden waited for confirmation.

“And Marcus,” Craig said, dropping into the other armchair. “Unless you want him here? I think Ben, Kurt, and the green team led by Carlos are enough.”

Brayden nodded slowly. “Anna is coming with Ben, right?”

“Yeah, so Ben just informed me,” Craig said, rolling his eyes. “Little shit. But I get it. I hate being away from Bri.”

Brayden nodded slowly. He couldn’t shake the feeling this would be the start of a permanent move back to the United States. He wasn’t sure how he felt about that. Being back in their homeland of Italy had been nice.

In the end, it would be Vincent’s decision.

“Let’s get our asses back to The Institute and sort the accommodation before they arrive.” Not just for their mates—Brayden wanted to check out the rooms for the king and queen, and baby Lucas. “Ben, Anna and the teams can stay here, but I want our girls with us there.”

“Brianna and I will stay here,” Craig said.

“You sure?”

Craig nodded. “Let’s just get the royal family secured.”

Brayden stared at his commander.

“No. I want you and Brianna with us. Don’t argue with me about this. You may not be royals, but both of you are essential members of the extended family,” he said firmly. “Plus, there’s no way I’m separating Willow from Brianna. She’d drive me and the entire mansion crazy.”

Craig nodded knowing. “True, that.”