Five

FOR THE FIRST TIME in just over a century, Layton could sense a semblance of humanity slip through. Watching Gia breakdown—tears invading her otherwise flawless face—was something he never thought would affect him like it had. It was apparent she was close with her remaining family members. Layton was envious of her. She had people who loved and cared about her and he didn’t. The only one around was his sister and as of late, she was a royal pain in the ass. He couldn’t let Gia go to her father alone. Layton may have been an asshole, but he was an asshole who took care of those around him. The blood signatures on their contract weren’t even hours old, but he intended to be with her. “Gia,” he shouted across the parking lot of the club. With her head down, she continued to walk away. With his instinctive speed, he rushed in front of her and put his hand up to stop her. “I need you to stop.”

Her shoulders shook, “I am not a weak person.” She whispered.

“I never implied that you were.”

“Why do I feel weak around you then?”

“I can’t give you the answer. But what I can do is drive you to the hospital.” Suddenly, it looked as if her knees were giving out underneath her. Layton acted in haste—grabbing her in his arms before her body crumpled to the ground. With one arm under her knees and one behind her back, he let himself take a seated position on the pavement. When she pressed her face to his chest, Layton had a peculiar sensation come over him. It was comparable to Déjà Vu but vampires didn’t experience that phenomenon. Things were more or less cut and dry with their kind.

“I’m exhausted,” she said against his chest. Her plethora of tears had already soaked a good portion of his three hundred dollar dress shirt. Each time she spoke, there was a familiarity about it. He couldn’t help but wonder why it seemed like he knew Gia before she had even stepped into his office. Everything in him screamed to protect her and keep her from harm. It was an instinctive possessiveness that clawed at his insides with fervor. He wasn’t the protective type. He was a ruthless businessman and vampire. Somehow, his nature changed when he was around the headstrong woman in his arms. She was like the sunlight he would never cast his eyes upon again. Her luminescence escaped from within, showing him he hadn’t fallen short of his humanity just yet.

“I’m going to take you to the hospital to see your father,” Layton’s voice was calm and understanding. “Do you work at your job tomorrow?” he asked.

“No, I have two days off.” She pulled her face from his chest and wiped at her eyes.

“Then you will stay with me.” He expected her to object and was shocked that she hadn't. Exhaustion plagued her, and she needed to rest but he wouldn’t allow that to happen until she had seen her father. Layton stood with Gia still in his arms and walked to his car.

“You’re strong,” she said.

“One of my many talents I suppose.” It wasn’t long before he was placing her on her feet and opening the car door for her. Layton couldn’t help but test the sudden infatuation with the human. He’d never been in his present position before and even though he deeply needed to possess every part of Gia, he trod with extreme caution.

“I know you want me to sit here and be quiet, but is there any way you could stop somewhere so I can grab something to eat?” Gia said from the passenger side of the car as he pulled onto the main highway.

 “You haven’t eaten today?”

“No. I was busy at work and didn’t have time to take my break.”

“From now on, you will eat no matter what,” Layton cited.

“I would argue with you but my head is killing me and I’m too tired to put up a fight.” She sighed.

“Fighting is half the fun,” he smiled to himself. The thrill of the chase was one of his favorite things.

“The fun happens when two people get along so well you can’t find where one begins and the other ends.” She held a hint of glee in her voice.

“I’m assuming you’re speaking of love.”

“Not really. Well, I haven’t ever been in love with someone so I guess my basis for comparison is a moot point.”

“Never?” His surprise was evident in his voice.

“Nope. I don’t know what it's like.” She admitted. “What about you?”

 “Many times.”

“Wow,” she chuckled. “That’s quite a track record.”

“When you’ve been around as long as I have, you waste your time on trivial things. Love is one of those things.”

“So, what you’re saying is that you’re a cynical vampire?”

“More or less.”

“Which is it? More, or less?”

“Would it matter?” he turned his head to see something playful pass across her delicate features.

 “No, it wouldn’t.”

“Then I believe this is your moot point, Miss Pendleton.” He smiled at her.

“I like that look on you,” she complimented. “You’re not so intimidating when you smile. Except for the fangs.”

“Trust me, if I had the choice again, I wouldn’t have chosen them.” He denounced.

 “But if you hadn’t, I wouldn’t have met you.” Hope skittered across her words, giving Layton an awareness that gave him pause. Seeds of confusion burrowed their way in and he wasn’t sure how to deal with his new found emotions.

***

Gia couldn’t help but forever be the optimist in her life. Even with Layton acting like it was he against the world, she had a connection with him. He didn’t have to take her to see her father in the hospital, but he was taking her there, anyway. Seeing the best in people was something Gia prided herself on, she knew there were horrible things in the world but she created her own little bubble and stayed positive. If she didn’t, life would end up depressing and tiresome. With her dad in the hospital and her brother still missing, she needed all the rays of sunshine she could get. “I’ll be right back,” she told Layton as he parked his car next to a fast food place. She could feel his eyes on her when she walked to the door and entered the building. Gia didn’t have to see him to know he was watching her. It was odd how comfortable she was around him too. In her daily life, she never had to interact with vamps. They kept to themselves and didn’t bother humans much. She knew going into Club Desire would kick up a hornet's nest but she had no idea it would toss a control freak vampire in her path. But, even for all of his shortcomings, she still believed he was a good guy. Contrary to what he showed, Layton Kyle had humanity left in him. Why else would he take her to see her dad? It couldn't have been just because of her contract with him. “Thanks for stopping,” Gia took a seat in the car and shut the door. The aroma of food clouded the interior of the car and had Layton giving her a strange look. “Does regular food bother you?” She’d never given much thought to what human food did to a vampire.

“The smell is off-putting.” He replied.

“Really?” she tucked the paper sack on the floor by her feet.

“Yes. It’s a mix between raw sewage and molded cheese.”

 “Are you going to throw up?” she asked.

“We don’t vomit.”

“That must be nice.”

“Nothing about being what I am is nice." Gia knew to drop the subject. It wasn’t worth arguing over and whether he liked it or not, she had to eat real food. Not everyone could just suck down blood to appease their appetite. The least she could do was to wait until she was in the hospital to eat her food. She was in luck that the hospital was only a few minutes from where they were.