Song - Painless - Baby Animals

I remained calm until we returned to the warehouse. Once the door lowered, I stormed out of the garage and dumped my helmet. When I turned, I was faced with two confused men.

"So, there's a lot we need to cover, but I will begin with the essentials first. Otis is aware of whatever thing you did at the building. He said something about the IT guy finding something without a code on it."

Roman huffed, pulling out his phone. A few terse words later, he was done with the call.

"You seem rather angry, Dani," Jas murmured.

"I am. Noah imparted a few truths that I'd like a little clarification on."

I faced Roman with the hope that this didn't destroy everything we had here.

"Is Noah your half-brother?"

He stared at me, and from the corner of my eye, I could see Jasper turned with a stunned expression.

"We have the same mother, but that is the extent of our relationship."

Jasper's hand pressed to his mouth, still obviously shocked.

"Did you know that there is an agreement?"

Jasper frowned, shaking his head as his hand lowered.

"Roman's father and Otis agreed that no hunter or vampire would harm anyone in the Grey and Jordan families."

"You're in cahoots with the hunters?" Jasper rasped.

"We're not in cahoots with them or anyone. My father made the agreement because everyone who is born into vampirism in this city is created by a member of my family. We are all protected. Otis didn't figure that one out until it was too late, and he's pissed because he's basically agreed to not hunt vampires."

"But they do anyway."

"Well, yeah, because he's kept the agreement a secret. Otis doesn't want anyone to know that he screwed up. Plus, the occasional vampire has travelled from another city and is not a part of our family. The hunters can't touch us. At least if they obey the agreement, they can't. Did you kill Noah?"

"Kind of. I bit and fed, but Otis walked in and gave him an antivenom."

"So, he survived?"

I nodded, and Roman seemed a little relieved.

"How come Otis didn't see you?" Jasper asked.

"I was hiding. Why do I see relief on your face, Roman? Did you want me to kill your brother?"

"Half-brother."

"He's still your brother by blood. Answer me."

"No, obviously."

"Yet you let me walk into that house knowing my plan."

"I didn't think you'd be able to do it. I thought you'd get cold feet. Especially when I see you crying. You can't hide it from us. You can't keep secrets when we agreed that they would stop. You kept complaining about the past, and I began to believe that you weren't over him."

"But she did. You keep underestimating Dani. I can't believe you kept this from us, from me. I've been with you for nearly thirty years, and you never said you were related to Noah."

"Because I don't want to be." Roman snapped. "Do you think I like it? My so-called brother is hunting us because he blames vampires for taking his mother from him. My mother left to get some fresh air and to clear her mind after she found out my father had an affair. She was upset, and Otis was there like some understanding shoulder to cry on. Nine months later, Noah entered the world. She didn't know if she was pregnant with his son or my father's, so she had to wait. He came out and it was obvious he was human. Otis is pissed because he had to raise Noah. It wasn't safe for a human child in a vampire's world. He banned my mother from seeing Noah, telling her that someone else would raise her child which has left her broken. The whole ordeal has done damage. You can ask her if you want because she will happily tell you everything you want to know. It's why Otis became a hunter. He was angry that it happened. He blamed her as if she could control her emotions or what happened. Like he didn't take advantage of a woman who was hurting."

He turned to me and then to Jasper. I could see the pain on Roman's face.

"I'm sorry I didn't say anything, but I am like that because I don't want to acknowledge the truth."

"But I asked for honesty. It seems like every new day brings another lie to the surface. What will it be tomorrow? A secret wife and children on the other side of town?"

Roman rolled his eyes.

"I'm not married, and I don't have any children."

"Because vampires can't have kids," I murmured. "How is it that Lewis is your father?"

"Yeah," Jasper hummed, looking confused. "You said we can't have kids. You have siblings. I've seen your mother pregnant."

Roman frowned at Jas.

"I said we, as in you and me, for obvious reasons. I also said that I don't want them because we're vampires, and I don't need a baby screaming this place down or having to deal with them when we're trying to hunt a victim. Wait,"

He paused and turned to me with fear on his face.

"Did you tell Dani we can't have kids?"

"Yeah."

They both turned their heads and stared at me.

"Birth control?" Roman asked cautiously.

"Uh, yeah. I've got the implant."

Lifting my arm, I searched for the little stick to show it to him. I frowned because I could not find it.

"It used to be right here," I muttered.

"Stop," Roman grumbled, pressing his hand against mine. "It's not there anymore."

He turned with a frown directed at Jasper. "I said to make sure she was on something."

"You never told me that the body purges the implants."

"The turning process pushes all foreign objects out of the body."

"Jeez. How do you deal with someone who's had an accident and got pins in their limbs?"

"We don't. Well, that sounds bad, but we always check before we offer to turn them because we don't know what the turning process will do to them."

Anxiety filled me as the fog began to descend.

"We've never used condoms," I murmured as I gripped the counter, trying to stabilise myself.

A deep frown filled Roman's face as he turned to Jasper.

"You said no periods," Jasper snapped in response to the glare.

"Yeah, like the women we bring here. God, Jas," he growled. "Do you ever listen to me?"

"Don't put this on me. You have a mouth in that fat head of yours."

I couldn't take their arguing any longer. Picking up my bag, I walked to the side entrance and left the warehouse. Pulling my jacket tight to my body, I ignored the wintry wind and swiftly walked to the gas station.

A wall of warmth hit me, and when the clerk stared at me, I frowned but smiled all the same.

"Dani?"

"Hey, Sammy. Disguise not fooling you?"

"Nah. I know my dad's favourite gopher when I see her."

I chuckled and pulled a pregnancy test kit from the shelf. As I walked to the counter, I also grabbed several chocolate bars.

"Can I ask a favour?"

"Would that be wiping the security tapes because you're supposed to be dead?"

"Yeah."

He nodded, tilting his head at the television screen that was already black.

"Saw you coming, recognised you, and maybe I might have been in the kitchen the day you turned up at the bakery. Dad told me and said to keep it quiet."

Sammy picked up the test and raised an eyebrow.

"The asshole?"

"Are you kidding?" I scoffed. "I can hardly remember what his dick looks like."

"Too much information," Sammy cooed. "But still, probably a good thing. There's a bathroom behind that door if you're in a hurry to find out."

I shook my head and took the bag from him.

"I'm okay."

The doors opened, and Jasper looked at me.

"Are you sure about that?"

"I am."

"Well, okay then. The camera comes back on in thirty seconds. I can't hold it out any longer."

"Thanks, Sammy. Say hi to your dad for me."

He nodded, watching as I left the shop.

Jasper was rugged up in a woollen coat, looking incredibly warm.

"You can't just walk out like that, Dani."

"Pretty sure I can do whatever I want."

"Dani," he chided.

I stopped now that we were out of sight of the cameras. Turning to Jasper, I could feel the tears forming.

"What if I am?"

Jasper sighed, pulling me into his arms.

"Then we accept that mistakes happen and move forward. That's all we can do."