Taking a deep breath, Lyla walked into the boss man's office. She thought it would not be surprising if she were faced with something akin to a mob boss. The room was vastly different, which she did find surprising.

Wood paneled walls with antique furniture. A group of chairs sat to one side, but the main piece was the large wooden desk. Behind the desk was a vampire that looked like a middle-aged human. As they walked into his office, the vampire soaked in the glorious scent of humanity.

The boss man was dressed in a fine suit, dark hair slicked back, and the sharp blue eyes watched with curiosity. Beside him was another man, seemingly younger but just as well dressed. He leaned down and whispered something in the boss man's ear. Turning slightly, it looked as if he showed interest.

"Lennon, how wonderful to see you again." the associate offered.

"And you, Carson. Boss man,"

Lennon tipped his head as a part of the greeting. The figure smiled hard enough that Lyla could see the fangs.

"I have a name, Lennon."

"Yeah, but we all know that you like that pedestal you're on."

The two vampires chuckled at the statement.

"Where's the other half of your dynamic duo?"

"Not sure."

"I've only just gotten the fleas out of here."

"Sorry," Lennon murmured.

"I don't think I've seen that much hair, ever."

"Sorry."

Carson raised an eyebrow, his lips tight as he restrained the mirth.

"I threw out the lounge."

Lennon paused and then nodded awkwardly.

"Probably for the best."

"There is, however, a small issue that cannot be cleaned, thrown out or eradicated. You can tell Adley that if he comes near my daughter again, I'll take him to the vet and have him neutered."

"Uh, yeah. Okay. Sorry."

Lyla rolled her eyes, not impressed or surprised.

"He's lucky that she's not pregnant. We would have a problem if that were the case. Now, what brings you here tonight?"

Lennon gestured to the woman beside him.

"Her daughter went missing after walking the mile. She's sixteen, and I've had a hit that she's been seen with a vampire."

"Do you know which one?"

Lennon nodded, wishing that he didn't have to say the name out loud. He knew what the boss man would say. He knew that this was not going to be a walk in the park for anyone.

"I take it by your reluctance to say his name that we're talking about him."

"Yeah."

"Well," the boss man drawled out with a smile as he stood from his seat. "At least we know that the precious darling will still be alive. Still a virgin, not a chance, but at least she's here to see another day."

"She's sixteen," Lyla said softly.

Boss man hummed darkly as he walked around the desk.

"Yes, it's unfortunate. The average vampire has respect for the law, even if it is created by humans. We consider all to be children until the age of eighteen, vampires, werewolves or humans. The problem here is that most vampires believe what they are told. In this case, all your daughter would need to say is that she's eighteen, and it's believed. There are some that want proof, but most don't."

He took the offered picture, looked at the image and gave it back to Lyla.

"She looks older than her age, a problem, I'm sure."

"Yeah. I want her home again."

Boss man leaned on the edge of his desk, momentarily glancing at Lennon. He could say so much to the both of them, but he would not. This was a sticky situation that he did not welcome but accepted regardless.

"I'm sure you do, but you are faced with a vampire that has a pretty prize, and we rarely let go of things that we desire. What you have come here for tonight is permission. I can't help you find this vampire. He's always hidden, always one step ahead of me when I try to search for him. All I can give you is my acceptance of what you want to do and authorise you to search and retrieve your daughter. That is, of course, if she is still within my boundaries. If she's gone off course, then Lennon will have to seek a meeting with whoever it is that owns the territory that she's in. I hope for your sake that she's still within the city limits because I don't like your luck in any of the others. We live in a harsh world, and I'm afraid that you're in the worst position possible. I wish you good luck because you are going to need it."

"Thank you."

Boss man nodded at her, then glanced at Lennon.

"Thursday?"

His eyes narrowed, patting over his body.

"Lyl's, spot me a fifty, yeah?"

Her head tilted as she stared at the vampire.

"I just paid two hundred dollars to get in here. Do you honestly think that I'm going to give you money?"

"Come on, man. Don't be such a pill. We discussed this, remember? The cow in the grocery store?"

Carson and Boss man exchanged glances, both wondering what Lennon was talking about.

"You can take it off the top of my payment, or I can pay you back when I win."

"Win what?"

"The poker game."

Lyla scoffed, turning out of the room.

"I will pay you when you find my daughter alive and when she is safe in my home. Hurry up."

"You are no fun at all, did you know that?"

"I'm sure that you won't care after this is over."

Lennon nodded, silently agreeing. As he turned to close the door, Lennon nodded at the vampires in the room. They responded with their own quiet nod, amused at the situation Lennon had found himself in.

When the door was closed, the boss man turned to his assistant.

"Alert the guards. Put extra security around this place."

"And the vampire?"

Boss man's eyes narrowed at the closed door.

"Get a team together. Ensure that he is brought here in chains."

Carson thought that his boss was asking the impossible. But like always, he would do as he had been asked and without complaint.

"What about the girl?"

"See to it that she is not harmed, but she must be brought here too. If she needs to be chained, then so be it. Anyone found helping him are to be destroyed."

"Are you certain?"

With a heavy and reluctant smile, the boss man nodded.

"I am done with this nonsense. You know where he frequents. Find him and drag him here."

"What about Lennon and the woman?"

"Send another team to watch them, ensure they do not meet any harm."

Carson said nothing, but he wondered why so much manpower was being put into this. Lennon was a wily creature; he could look after himself. Maybe it was more about the woman than the other two.

"That is all."

"Yes, sir."

Carson nodded, turning away to tend to his tasks quickly. When he was gone, the vampire sighed ruefully as he picked up the picture frame on the desk next to him. This would not end well; he knew that someone was going to die.