Song - Run like Hell - Pink Floyd

Somewhere in his path to purchase a laptop, Jasper also collected a map. I questioned why he'd do something like that when our intention was to return to the warehouse. All Jas gave was a shrug, saying that we didn't have to live in London and that maybe, getting away from the place was in our best interest.

When he said that, I realised he was right. My father had a vast reach across this land but I knew there were some places he couldn't get into. Some had vampires who would destroy anyone outside of their coven if they set foot into their territory, other towns had virtually no vampiric activity at all. No matter the town or what the paranormal demographic was, it was going to be a difficult situation. I wouldn't know what the deal was until we entered the town because I had no information. My father did but to gain access to the list, I'd have to call Loren. I could trust him but not my father. It wasn't beyond him to put taps on the phone or hidden cameras.

I looked at the map, scanning the towns and possible places we could go to. All seemed reasonable, though not entirely perfect. Even living in London was not always ideal. There was an idea lurking in my mind, an alternative location that might be what we needed. We'd need a boat and I'd happily take the speeder except that it belonged to my father. If he got so annoyed with me that he decided to say it was stolen, it could be a problem. So, finding an alternative form of transportation might be ideal.

Could we move to Ireland? Or was it better that we turned our attention to the east and found somewhere in Europe? Both were good options but I wondered if Dani could handle travelling around the south of England just to reach Ireland by boat. Of course, travelling to Europe wasn't going to be a fun ride for her either.

As I thought about Europe and how best to get there, I considered taking the tunnel. Dani needed documents which meant that we had to return to London, even if it was temporary. Beyond that, anything was possible. Maybe we'd never settle in one town, wandering across Europe for a couple of hundred years. Where the wind blows, that's where we'd go.

Firstly though, we had to get Dani new identity documents. She still had her passport but it was useless now that her old persona was dead.

"Finally," Jasper mumbled under his breath.

I looked up from the maps to see Jas frowning at the laptop. His mood quickly changed and with the rise of an eyebrow, he looked at me.

"What?"

"I got in. You may not like it but your father has emailed us but I suspect it is for you and only you. There are quite a few from him."

"Great. You can read them and give me the short version, thanks."

"I feel so honoured," he offered as he rolled his eyes before lowering them. "Okay, so the first one says that he's beyond angry that you left without saying anything. It also says that it doesn't change anything the two of you discussed and he will bring it up with you when you return to the castle. He expects that to be within the week and if you take any longer than that, he will begin negotiations with Sadie's father."

Grimly, Jasper looked up at me, then at Dani who was currently mulling over the menu for the Indian place across the road. She was stretched out along the length of the lounge, her jumper sitting just past her hips. The slender legs that I craved to have wrapped around me were raised, bent at the knees and leaning against the cushions. Even if we were just lying on the bed under the sheets, it would be enough.

Dani's gaze lifted and she gave us a shrug.

"I can't help you with that one."

"No one can, unfortunately. Keep going, Jas."

"The following is about how incredibly angry he is that Sadie's car was trashed and he knows that you were responsible. He also says that leaving it in the middle of the road, effectively blocking it is a good way to rouse suspicion. The payment for repairs will come from your stipend and thankfully, Sadie has agreed to say nothing more about it."

"Clearly I should have driven it into the water."

Jasper smirked. "After scratching it up."

"You really screwed up your revenge. Do you even know how to do it properly?" Dani asked.

"I guess not."

"Next time you should ask the master of revenge. Then you might actually get it right." she said, smirking as she stared at the menu.

I grinned because when she was mercilessly teasing me, Dani had the cutest smile. There was no doubt she was an absolute menace but utterly adorable.

Turning back to Jasper, I gestured for him to continue.

"The next one says that ignoring him won't solve your problems. He asks that you contact him as soon as you can. They continue, moving between angry and threatening to cut your payments to calm and polite in his requests. He asks where you are, he says that you can continue to use the speeder provided you return."

"But does he ever mention you or Dani? Does he ask if we are okay?"

Jasper shook his head.

"Does he ask why we left?"

"No. It's all about you returning. Just you."

Leaning back in the seat, I sighed heavily. I should have expected that my father would throw this at me. He'd always said how great it would be when we found our mate and got married. Until now, there were no expectations or anything said directly. Just the subtle hints that were glossed over.

"I know we're enjoying our little holiday here but I think we need to be aware that my father will not sit back and do nothing. He's after something and clearly, I am an important part of it. Rather than sitting around doing nothing, I suggest we pack and return to London."

"And after that?" Jasper asked. "Because I think hanging around is not ideal."

"No, it's not. My father will assume that we've returned to the warehouse. Besides, Dani could be recognised. As could you. Have you thought about what would happen if your boss or your colleagues saw you?"

Dani and Jas exchanged glances.

"Yeah, what would you do if you crossed paths with Lucy or Tatum?"

Jasper shrugged. "I said I had family issues to deal with and quit. They both messaged me asking to contact them if I returned to London."

"So, they will feel like you lied to them if they saw you."

Jasper nodded with a grim look on his face.

"It would be a whole lot worse if they saw the two of you together. They might even start asking a whole lot of unwanted questions. So, I propose that we return to the warehouse to clear out everything and put it into storage or sell the items. While we're waiting, I can organise Dani's new identity, get her documents and then we are free as the birds. What do we think?"

"Sounds great but what about Otis and the remaining hunters?" Jasper asked.

"If we keep our heads down and stay out of sight, they will think that everything is the same as it has been for the past week. The vampires have left London and provided we are careful when we dump the bodies, no one will realise that has changed."

"And these emails?"

"Ignore them. Something is going on and I don't appreciate being dragged into it or being kept in the dark. That aside, he might actually realise that I mean what I say."

"And he could make everything a whole lot worse. You know that old saying, don't bite the hand that feeds you."

"There might have been a time when my father was someone that provided and it could be the future as well but right now, he's not what any of us need."

Our time in London would be as short as I could manage. The sooner we got away from my father's reach, the better.