Bram heard his bedroom door open but paid little attention to it as he assumed it was Devon getting up for the day. He was a good kid and never made any trouble. He’d get himself some yogurt from the fridge and wait patiently for his father to wake up. It wasn’t an abnormal morning for them. They’d been through this a couple times already. However, when a shadow crossed his line of vision, Bram became annoyed. Only one person would dare enter his bedchamber without his permission. “Bram, you need to get up.”
“Fuck you, Tyler.”
“No, you do that to plenty of your other help.” Tyler growled. “You can’t keep doing this. We’re already harboring humans in your house. How far do you think you can pull the grace the Elders show you before they come to stop you? You know what’ll happen if we end up in their cross hairs. You can’t keep hiring nannies and killing them. You’re not even being careful enough to make sure there’s no one out there that isn’t searching for them.” Tyler went over, throwing the curtain open and Bram rolled over, pushing his face into the pillow to evade the light streaming in. He called Tyler some fowl names, cursing him over and over again. Unlike full blooded vampires, he and Tyler were half-blood. Technically half human-half vampire, which meant that though they were sensitive to the sun, it didn’t harm them. Though in Bram’s case, the human side was debatable.
“Close the damn window.” Bram growled, even as Tyler was throwing off the sheets he was covered in.
“No. Get up. You have a meeting in an hour.”
“I told you I fed last night. I don’t feel well, and I’m tired. Leave me alone. Do the interview yourself.” Bram lifted his face enough to glare at his friend.
“No can-do sir, you made it quite clear the only person allowed to interview your nanny was yourself. And I’ve already told her you were sick and that your nanny left without notice while you down and out. She feels really badly for you and is willing to start immediately.” Tyler stepped back, out of Bram’s reach as his body slowly came up to sit at the edge of the bed.
“I only messaged you last night about it.”
“I saw the writing on the wall. I’m not an idiot, Sir. You were growing tired of her. Not to mention how unhappy Devon was with her. I think this girl is the one though. Wait until you meet her.” Bram suddenly wanted to slap that sparkle out of his eye.
Bram growled, rubbing his face. “Is it the girl you were trying to introduce to me last night?” Bram gave him a dubious look, feeling like he was being played.
“The one in the same, Sir. At least now your nanny really has,” Tyler cleared his throat, “quit. I made Devon breakfast, and he’s already been briefed on our visitor. So, he knows the story. Daria became angry when you became sick and asked her to stay to help with Devon even though you would be home the next few days. Especially after you started requesting she help with dinners and other housework you weren’t feeling up to. Thought you were taking advantage of her and walked out. The two of you had already had a few issues with how she was caring for Devon in the past. One particular instance that stands out is when you found out she was feeding him night medicine to put him to sleep so that she could try to seduce you. Izabella, our interviewee, was appalled at her behavior and didn’t blame you a bit for nearly firing her. And is actually surprised that you tolerated it at all.”
“I did?” Bram looked up at his friend, “Why would I do that. I’d have killed her.”
“You did kill her, Sir.” The simple statement made Bram flinch. Tyler didn’t smile but pulled out a bottle from behind him. “She actually did that. Last night. Devon mentioned it to me this morning when I got here. Showed me where she hid the meds. The only reason I told he you gave Daria a second chance is to try to gain sympathy. You’re an only father with a shit ton of work on your plate. You don’t have time to be looking all over for nannies all the time and were just too exhausted. You thought she would shape up, and she’d been doing fine other than that. Just go along with it, Bram. You’re going to need a nanny either way, and we need one you’re going to feel morally obligated not to kill.”
“And why, pray tell, would she prevent me from doing the same thing as with the others?”
“First off, she’s only 20. Still just a kid. I know you feel guilty when they’re that young. Second, she’s a little saint. I can smell the purity on her.” Bram’s eyes only got darker as Tyler continued, “Third, she’s a pastor’s adoptive daughter. I know how you feel about feeding on the religious type.” Tyler pressed his hands into his pockets, looking around at the grandeur of Bram’s room. Like everywhere else he had designed, everything was in black and red. The wood was all dark mahogany, and the walls a light grey where bookshelves weren’t built onto the walls. The folded comforter at the bottom of the bed was a red silk, embroidered with the softest threads in depiction of black flowers. Everything was made with intense attention to detail and of the highest quality.
“There’s a dead body in my spare bathroom. Did you even think this through?”
“Clean up was here at four in the morning. I let them in and inspected before they left.” Tyler said, rocking on his heals.
Groaning, Bram fell back on the bed. “You’re too damn efficient and I hate you.”
“I know.” Tyler chuckled, knowing with that statement he had won. “I’ll do most of the talking. Try not to be too grumpy with her, she’s a nice girl.”
“They’re all nice, until they decide they want more. Did that bitch really drug my son?”
Tyler didn’t turn around or look at Bram. “She did. It’s what he wanted to talk to you about and the reason he asked you to leave early last night. I’m sorry, if I had known sooner, I would have made you leave.”
“I know you would have.” Both of them grunted at each other as Tyler left him alone in the room to get ready.
Since he was playing a sick man, he dug through his things until he found the one pair of black sweatpants he owned. Tossing them on, he went out to the kitchen where Devon was drawing at the table. “Daddy!” He shouted, bouncing out of his chair to throw his arms around Bram’s waist.
“Bram, it’s an interview. At least put on a shirt.”
“I walk around without one on all the time. She’ll have to get used to it.”
“Remember, your sick. You shouldn’t be walking around half naked.”
“I don’t give a fu—” Bram stopped himself just in time, remembering the little ears that were in the room.
“Please, daddy? What if she’s really nice? You don’t want to scare her.” Devon turned his baby blues up to Bram, booting his little bottom lip out as far as he could. Was there anything he could deny this adorable boy?
Bram frowned at him, then turned a glare to Tyler, before looking back at his son. “You’re in cahoots with that betrayer, aren’t you?”
Devon gave a tinkling laugh that made all this nonsense worth it. “Everything Uncle Tyler said about her sounds great! He promised I could meet her today too.” Bram glared again. He never let Devon meet the nannies before he hired them.
Tyler shook his head, “It can’t be helped. You’re sick and desperate. Go sit in the living room. I’ll make you some tea. Look sick, dammit. Like I said, she’s a sweet girl, and after hearing everything, she’s willing to nurse you back to health and make sure you’re well. She’ll start today if you need her. It would be good for you to spend a day with her before you hire her. Make sure it’s a good fit this time. And no matter what, this one can’t end like the others. We don’t need that kind of attention on us.”
Bram crossed his arms, feeling sour. He didn’t want to do this right now. He didn’t want some pristine little teenager running around the house. And he didn’t want his son in cahoots with Tyler. Though he knew his friend had a point. There was no doubt that they wanted to stay under the radar of the Elders, he didn’t like feeling like he was being tricked into things. And Tyler had pulled out all the bells and whistles for this one. It was making him nervous.