Song -  Take a bow - Rihanna

As much as I wanted to take Noah down as soon as I could, I knew that I had to be just a little patient. There were grand plans lingering in the air around us. The link to the guild messenger program had been disconnected, and whatever access Jasper had put in the server was now gone.

That didn't stop Noah from finding another way to taunt me. A phone was delivered shortly after we lost the connection, and now he was messaging me. Well, not me exactly. Roman had the phone because I wasn't interested. Noah was being a distraction, and I was trying to form a plan. With headphones on, I lay on the lounge and listened to music, ignoring the world around me. Of course, that was never going to happen. Not when the world liked to screw me over.

Feeling something tap against my leg, I opened my eyes and saw a grim look on Jasper's face. Lowering my leg that had been crossed over the other, I sat up and pulled my headphones off. I was going to ask what was going on when I saw we weren't alone.

Roman didn't look happy, and the man beside him mirrored his mood. I didn't need an introduction. I could see that Roman was the spitting image of his father.

"Dad, this is Danika."

"Lewis Grey," he said, offering a faint smile.

"Uh, hi."

Jasper sat on the lounge beside me while Roman and his father found seats on the other side. The tension was so thick in the air that I could have choked on it.

"I will make this as simple as possible, given that we are running out of time. We are, as a family, leaving London. I'm not interested in your arguments, the little war you're trying to create with your ex-husband, or any other mad plans the three of you are concocting. The three of you are to pack your bags and be ready by the end of the hour. That gives you ten minutes. Get moving."

I stood, following Jas and Roman up the stairs. Collecting my bag, I began stuffing everything into it.

"What's going on?"

"Please don't make a big thing out of this, but Jas put a second back door just in case they found the first. Otis has demanded that all hunters come back for one final night out before the holiday season begins. Tonight. Any vampire found will be killed."

"So, we're running at night when the hunters are out?"

"Hunting doesn't start until midnight. Their aim is to have as few witnesses as possible. The memo he sent also advised they're permitted to take it off the streets. That means they will enter homes whereas previously there was a code they adhered to."

"Where are we going?"

"I assume the family estate, but I don't know the overall plan. If we're leaving for just tonight, then they would stick to the standard plan, which is to get out of the city. That's the range they hunt in."

I watched as Roman turned out of the room, leaving me to continue packing. As I continued to stuff the bag full of the things I desperately wanted as well as things I might need, I thought about Roman's mood and what he said. He was a little evasive, which meant that he knew the truth and wasn't allowed to tell me. I said nothing because I didn't want to stand around arguing all night. Not when the death squad would be here at the strike of twelve. Because that's who the real target was. The vampires under this roof. This stank of Noah, not Otis. He'd levelled the threat against Roman and Jasper and was making good on that.

So, we would run.

Pulling the bag over one shoulder, I followed Jasper and Roman down the stairs. Our little love nest was forgotten. The bikes and the gym equipment would remain, as would the furniture. If we ever came back, they might still be here, but I doubted it.

Grabbing my jacket and scarf, I pulled them on and walked out of the warehouse. A limousine was waiting for us. Lewis was already seated.

I climbed in after Jasper and Roman on my other side. Anxiety was rife and it was a terrible time to meet his father but that's how it was. Nothing could be done to change it. What made the situation worse was there was a woman in the car and given how much she looked like Noah, I knew who she was. This was the mother-in-law I was led to believe was dead. Noah washed over it with disinterest, more interested in talking about his stepmother. He never called her that. She was always his mother and only clarified the situation when we first started dating.

"My mother, Alexia. Mum, this is Danika."

She smiled.

"So lovely to finally meet you, Danika."

"And you," I murmured, feeling weird.

Mostly because I'd screwed both of her sons. Did it matter to her that one of them tried to have me killed? Would she say something about my plans to end his life? I guess it wasn't an issue now that we were leaving London. My plans were dead in the water, right next to Danika Jordan.

"Where's everyone else?"

"On their way to the boat."

"We shouldn't have to leave." Roman grumped. "This was our land first."

"All of the UK belongs to the Grey clan, so technically, we're not leaving it. We're just moving to another location which is standard for all vampires. London is still ours and we will return in time."

"And all my things?"

"Will be packed and put into storage by our human friends after the dust settles. You can be angry all you like, son. We live by the rules to ensure we see another day. The hunters found out we were monitoring them and decided to move against us in a show of power."

"But we're running away like cowards."

"It may appear like that to you, but Otis knows how this works. He will bide his time and be waiting for our return."

"Then why bother leaving?"

"Because he's breaking the rules for one night, which means something else has happened, something we don't know about. We will let him calm down. Perhaps he might even die of old age in between. Wouldn't that be lovely?"

Roman scoffed. I could imagine what he was thinking. Probably something about Noah taking over and being far worse now that I was a part of this.

As for what that something else was, that was clearly Noah being attacked in his own home. Otis knew it was a vampire. I couldn't recall if he'd seen the photos but I'd definitely left them behind. Maybe he was too preoccupied with saving his son.

The mood had sunk, and I knew it was probably because of me. It wasn't said and I wasn't given any hard glares but it felt like they were blaming me for everything. I'd accept the blame if it made them feel better. Or perhaps they were blaming Roman for not keeping a tighter grip on me. He was supposed to be my teacher yet he's let me run wild.

The limo turned the corner, and I felt my body shift with the movement. I could hear the driver pushing the engine hard.

"What's going on?"

"What do you mean?" Lewis asked.

"The engine is straining against the demand on the long stretches. The driver is barely slowing for the corners."

"Being on the water does not mean we are out of London. When we reach the mouth of the river, we will be safe. Until then, we will do everything possible to get there without issue."

The words were barely out of Lewis's mouth when the limo came to a screeching stop. I was thrown forward, almost falling off the seat.

We were surrounded by several men, guns drawn and pointed. The door opened, and Noah leaned in, smiling broadly.

"Evening," he cooed in a chipper tone. "I'd like a chat with my wife before she leaves, if you don't mind."

"No," Roman snapped.

Noah tutted.

"Dear brother, you don't have any say in this. At least if you want to survive the night, you don't. The choice is up to you, Dani. Step out and have the conversation. The others will be allowed to leave. I will deliver you to the boat before they depart."

"You'll let them leave London?"

"You have my word."

"You're a liar. How can I believe you?"

"I never told my father about my date with the lovely Milly, but I could have. You know that, right?"

Noah leans on the door with the gun in his hand.

"I think you and I both know that this is not a request. We will have the conversation, one way or another. Either they drive off, alive to bite another day away, or they're dead where they sit. That's the choice that you get to make here."

"Fine, but you'd better let them leave London without issue."

I could feel resistance, Jasper gripping my wrist. Turning, I saw the sadness as he begged me to stay.

"You heard him. Go to the boat, I'll be fine."

Shifting back to face the door, I saw the brooding Roman that I'd met the night of my death. He looked at me, not impressed that I was doing this. He leaned into my ear to whisper.

"Eastland Docks, look for the yacht called The Red Knight."

I nodded, giving him an uneasy smile.

"Kick his ass, baby."

"I will."

Climbing over Roman, I stepped out of the limo. Noah grinned madly as he shut the door, giving the roof a couple of smacks to send it on its way.

The driver took off, and all I could see was Jasper looking out the rear window. A merciless chuckle came from Noah who sauntered around me, stopping when he blocked the view of the limo. In the distance, I could see it turn the corner and continue down the next street.

"You know they won't wait, right? I mean, Roman will demand that they do, but Lewis isn't going to risk the lives of his family for one little troublemaker."

He stepped closer, still smiling like he was king of the world.

"Because that's what Lewis sees you as. Ever since you walked into his son's life, you've done nothing but cause problems for him."

It was an accurate statement, one that I wasn't going to disagree with. Roman had moments where he'd be the devil on my shoulder and encourage me, but that didn't make it any better or give me an excuse if accused.

"Will you honestly let them leave London?"

"Of course I will. I have no beef with the Greys. I might have no memory of my mother, and my life has been better without her but I don't want her dead. I won't tell my father what happened here or how they left, or that they actually left. These hunters are my team, they obey my word and it is that no part of this happened."

"And what about me?"

Noah reached out, gripping my shoulders as he inhaled deeply. The smile he gave was something I'd never seen. It was deadly.