Page 40 of Bound By Blood

“Stefan Sherrad.”

Not the father, Zack thought, but the missing brother. “What can I do for you?”

“I am Kaitlyn’s …”

“Uncle,” Zack said, finishing Sherrad’s introduction for him.

Surprise flickered in Sherrad’s eyes. “You know of me?”

“Kaitlyn’s mentioned you once or twice. Does she know you’re here?”

“Not yet.”

Zack crossed his arms over his chest. “So, what brings you here?”

“I am sure you can guess.”

“Did her father send you?”

“No. I have not spoken to my brother in quite some time.”

Zack gestured at the bar behind him. “Can I get you something to drink?” He already knew the answer, but for the moment, he thought it better to pretend he didn’t know Sherrad was a vampire.

“No, thank you.” Stefan glanced at the patrons crowding along the bar. “Perhaps we could speak in private.”

“Sure.” Zack moved away from the bar and walked swiftly toward the elevator. He didn’t look back to see if Sherrad followed.

They were silent until they reached Zack’s office.

Stefan glanced around. The room was large, sparsely furnished with a desk, a computer, a file cabinet, and a couple of chairs.

Zack took a seat behind the desk, gesturing for Stefan to take the other chair. “What do you want?”

“I would like to know what your intentions are toward my niece.”

“I’m in love with her,” Zack said. “Not that it’s any of your business. She’s a big girl, after all.”

“She is her father’s heir.”

“So?”

“Do you know who he is?”

“She said he was a businessman in Romania. I assume he’s rich,” Zack said with a shrug. “But so am I.”

“Is that all she told you?”

“What else is there?”

Stefan studied the other man, wondering just how much Ravenscroft really knew. It seemed unlikely that Kaitlyn would have revealed her true nature to a mortal. To do so was strictly forbidden. Yet Ravenscroft claimed to be in love with Kaitlyn, and if she was in love with him …

Stefan sighed, remembering Cosmina. She had been mortal, and he had broken the laws of their people when he confided in her. But what man of honor could make love to a woman and not tell her the truth? He was sorely afraid that Kaitlyn would feel the same.

“I wanted to meet you,” Stefan said, “to let you know I am taking Kaitlyn home.”

“Is that right?”

“Yes.”

---