Finally they paid, left, and Cate reached for her phone.
Her eyebrows drew together as she read the message, then she glanced over at Jesse, and Jesse wondered what exactly Ian had said to her. She tapped out a reply and got a response a few seconds later. After a couple more text exchanges, Jesse was about ready to leap over the bar and snatch the phone out of her hand to read for himself, when finally she slid it back into her pocket, let out a heavy sigh, and said, “Fine. You’ve got five minutes. Wait here.” She disappeared through a door marked STAFF ONLY and came out a few minutes later accompanied by another girl who Jesse recognised from the last time he was there.
“Won’t be long,” Cate said to her, getting a wink and a “Take your time” in return.
Rolling her eyes, Cate beckoned for him to follow her back through the staff door. She glanced at him over her shoulder. “Steph saw you come in here with me, so don’t think about doing anything weird.”
Jesse had to stifle a hysterical laugh. “Of course not.”
It couldn’t get much weirder than what he was about to show her.
Cate led him through to a small room containing a table, four chairs, a fridge, and a kettle. He noticed she left the door ajar. Leaning against the worktop, she faced him. “Talk. I’ve not got long.”
Fuck, he’d not really given this part much thought. How did he get his point across without Cate running away screaming for help? There was no easing them into this conversation.
“I know that Blake Jones is one of Ian’s best friends, and I know what Blake does for a living.”
Her mouth fell open and she just stared at him a moment before catching herself. “He’s a policeman.”
“He’s an officer with the Vampire Liaison and Crimes Division. He joined them a little over two weeks ago.”
Her eyes went wide, eyebrows shooting up to her hairline. “Fuck’s sake, Blake’s gonna kill him.” Then realising she’d just confirmed it, she slapped her hand over her mouth with a mumbled, “Bollocks.”
Now for the tricky part.
“Ian didn’t tell me.” He let that hang there until curiosity got the better of her.
“Then how...?”
“Blake came to my house to do a routine inspection, and I smelt Ian all over him.”
Her mouth opened again, then closed as she struggled to process—and comprehend—what he was saying.
He knew the moment the penny dropped.
“Motherfu—” She darted towards the door, but Jesse was off his seat before she’d even taken a step, scooping her up, and closing the door in the same move. He clamped a hand over her mouth.
“I didn’t want to do it like this, but you need to listen to me.”
She struggled fruitlessly in his grip.
“I’m not going to hurt you, I swear, but you have to stop fighting me. Ian’s life is in danger, and I need your help.” That got through to her, but for how long, Jesse had no idea. “I know you’re frightened, but you have to trust me.” She snorted, and Jesse smiled a little despite himself. “You’re right in thinking I’m a vampire.” He closed his eyes and prayed she’d believe him. “And so is Ian now.”
Her whole body went eerily still. Jesse counted the seconds as the news sunk in. One... two... thr—
She tried to shake her head, tried to deny what Jesse was saying, but he held her fast, hurriedly whispering in her ear everything that had transpired the previous night. So much had happened since then, Jesse struggled to believe his own words.
She tensed when he mentioned the texts Peter had sent using her phone, and Jesse wondered if he’d jogged her memory or if it was just the thought of it creeping her out. “So you see,” he murmured. “We need your help.Ianneeds your help.” As reluctant as he was to move his hand from her mouth, Jesse had to know if she believed him and if she was willing to go along with their plan.“I’m going to take my hand off your mouth. Please don’t scream.”
Slowly he peeled his fingers away, bracing himself for an ear-piercing yell.
“Jesus Christ,” she whispered, surprising him. “I need to see him.”
He’d been counting on that.
“I know, but I can’t take you to our coven, obviously.”
“Obviously.” He could feel her eye-roll. “He’s got his phone, though right. I’m assuming he can FaceTime wherever he is?”
