Page 9 of Simeon's Beloved

Simeon wished he'd had more time to discuss Hunter moving to Eastport, but room service arrived, and the knock seemed to break the spell. He would deal with the server, and perhaps the refreshments would help loosen Hunter up.

Maybe he could get him to realize that Eastport, or, rather, Old Mission Peninsula was where he was meant to be. He failed to check before opening the door with his mind on his beloved and was met not by a hotel server but rather by a man with a pistol.

The minute the man started to raise his weapon Simeon grabbed his wrist, but he wasn't fast enough, and the man got off one shot that hit his lower left side. He felt it go straight through. It didn't matter. Bullets don't kill vampires unless it is a headshot, but he was concerned for his beloved and wanted to make sure the mand did not get off another shot.

Simeon pulled the man into the room and kicked the door shut before flipping him onto the floor and snapping his neck. He was human and easy enough to kill, but Simeon should never have allowed such a man to get so close. He checked his pockets, but there was nothing. The gun was a rapid-fire pistol with a silencer perfect for a job like this one. It was small and silent, a preferred weapon of assassins. But who on this earth would seek to harm his beloved in such a way?

He stood and started toward Hunter, who sat silent and in shock on the bed with his back up against the headboard. Hunter looked at him and began to cry out. "You've been shot, Simeon." He scrambled across the bed toward his phone, but Simeon stopped him and tried to channel a sense of calm. He held him by the wrists and looked into his eyes.

"I have you, sweetheart. I won't let anything happen to you."

"Is he dead?" The words were barely audible, but Simeon could hear him clearly. His beloved was in shock, which was understandable.

"Yes, he's dead." Simeon pulled Hunter closer to the edge of the bed and wrapped the robe around him tighter, and tied it closed with the tie making sure he was covered. "We have to leave here. There may be others. We have to go quickly.”

"He shot you." Hunter began to panic and was pulling at Simeon, desperate to see if he was okay, but Simeon had no explanation for him as to why the bullet had no effect on him. The blood was plentiful, but the wound had already healed. "I know that he shot you. I saw the bullet go right through you. How . . . how can this be?" He was staring at the point of entry, and there was no sign of injury apart from the blood.

"I'll explain it all to you later, but for now, I need you to do exactly as I tell you. Can you do that for me?" Simeon pulled on his pants and suit jacket but decided to forgo his shirt and shoes, for time was of the essence. The man at the door was a professional, and there was probably another nearby. He needed to get his beloved out of the hotel and to somewhere safe.

Hunter gave a quick nod, and Simeon grabbed the blanket from the foot of the bed and wrapped it around him, concealing him completely before grabbing him up in his arms and racing from the room. Hunter remained still and quiet as they made their way to the stairwell. The elevator was too dangerous and unpredictable.

Simeon could weather a gunshot, but his beloved could not. If they had bonded earlier, Hunter would be in a much safer position, and he wished he'd gone with his instincts, but then hindsight was always the clearest. He thought, at the time, that he was being noble and fair to his little human. He would bond with him as soon as possible once they were in a secure location.

He took the stairs in record time, descending to the basement and the private parking garage below. His SUV was by the back wall, and he rushed toward it, keeping his awareness sharp for anyone or anything in the immediate area. He was in with the doors locked before he took his next breath. Fear for his beloved was washing over him, and the vision of what would have happened had he not been there was tormenting him.

He suffered a full-body tremor at the image brought to mind, and he quickly dismissed it, knowing he had his beloved in his arms and he was unharmed. Simeon moved Hunter over into the passenger seat and buckled him in but kept the blanket wrapped around him.

Hunter remained silent as they drove out of the underground garage and out onto the back streets. Simeon knew this town, and he knew the safest way out of town and to Old Mission Peninsula, where his beloved would be safe and protected. He put in a call first to the hotel security and reported what had taken place.

The wolves would take care of the mess and root out any further evils that may be operating within the hotel. They would report back when they had any information regarding the shooter or any accomplices. His next call was to his Master.

"Bring him here and keep him in your quarters and the visitor areas until he has been bonded." Master Emmanuel ordered. "I'll inform Sam and have him join the wolves in the investigation."

“Yes, sir.”

“Do you know if the shooter was after you or your beloved?”

"Hunter, I read him in the split second after I opened the door and saw the pistol. He planned to kill me to get to Hunter. He was hired to do the job, but I don't know by whom." Simeon kept glancing over at his beloved, knowing that Hunter was listening.

"I'm sorry, Simeon, but rest assured we will find who and put an end to it." Master Emmanuel did not mince words when it came to the safety of his people and their beloveds.

"Thank you, sir. We'll be arriving in a few minutes." With that, he closed the call and glanced over at Hunter, who was staring at him with eyes that were asking a million questions.

"I'll explain, I promise." He told him not to want to get into it now since his focus was currently on protection and survival.

“You’re taking me to the vineyard?”

“Yes, you will be safe there.” Hunter nodded his head but did not ask any further questions.

Master Emmanuel put in an immediate call to Alpha Henrik. This situation was going to have to be handled cautiously since it was in the human realm with no police and no tipping their hand to the paranormal and no witnesses. It was so much easier in the paranormal world clean and quick laws were universal and understood by all.

“The room has been cleaned and the body removed. Security is currently reviewing camera footage of the area and tracing the movements of the shooter. He was not staying at the hotel and stole a waiter uniform to disguise himself and appear as room service.” Henrik informed.

“Anything regarding Hunter Rose and a man named George Crawly? Simeon mentioned that he’d been giving Hunter a hard time. They both work for Rose Winery in Sacramento.” Emmanuel pushed for more information.

“Nothing so far regarding Hunter Rose unless it’s a problem he brought with him. I checked into George Crawly. We weren't aware of their animosity. If we find anything more, it will be forwarded to you directly." Henrik state.

"Hunter is Simeon's beloved. He's a small, helpless human with an assassin after him. This mess must be dealt with as soon as possible." Emmanuel implored, fully understanding the pain and uncertainty that Simeon was going through at the moment.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com