Page 15 of Eleazar

Andrew had received his first pay, and at first, he’d thought there was an error. When he’d interviewed, Eleazar had just said that he would be well compensated, but the amount had made Andrew giddy.

Already he’d started a payment plan for his tuition bill, as well as his credit cards. He’d have them paid off in no time, and that was one of the many reasons he’d decided to stay, even after finding out he was in a nest of vampires.

Eleazar was one of many reasons, too. There was no doubt in Andrew’s mind that Eleazar was dangerous, but he was also handsome beyond words and Andrew felt a deep connection to him.

Despite the fact that he was attracted to Eleazar on a deeply visceral level, Andrew’s gut was telling him that he should probably keep his distance. It wasn’t just because Eleazar was a vampire, although that was definitely part of it. This was a job he couldn’t afford to lose, and flirting with his boss was a surefire way of getting into a situation he might not be able to get out of.

But at the same time, Andrew couldn’t stay away from him. There was a magnetic quality about Eleazar that made him impossible to resist. Every time Andrew saw him, his heart started pounding like crazy, and he couldn’t stop staring at the vampire’s tall, broad body.

And here Andrew thought vampires were supposed to be lean and svelte. At least, that was how the movies portrayed them. Not Eleazar. He was built like a linebacker, and he was exactly Andrew’s type.

It didn’t help that Eleazar seemed to be constantly watching him as well. Whenever Andrew was in the room, Eleazar’s gaze would inevitably find him, lingering just a little longer than was necessary.

“Andrew?”

“Oh, huh?” He’d been so lost in thought that he’d forgotten he was on the phone. “What did you say?”

“I said there’s another reason I’m calling,” Zach said. “Do you recall that lughead I was dating for about two months?”

“Chainsaw?”

“Yeah, him,” Zach said. “It turns out he isn’t quite right in the head.”

Andrew snorted. “His name is Chainsaw, Zach. Did you expect him to be normal?”

He’d never liked Chainsaw. There was something about the guy that always made Andrew feel uneasy. He’d tried to tell Zach how he felt, but his friend had blown off Andrew’s concern.

“You did try to warn me.” Zach sighed. “I tried to break things off with him two days ago, but he acts like I never kicked him to the curb. He keeps coming around, getting more and more aggressive when I remind him we’re no longer a couple.”

Andrew sat up straighter in bed. “Has he hurt you?”

When Zach didn’t answer him, Andrew shot off the bed. “How bad, Zach?”

“Swollen eye and my arm is killing me because he twisted it behind my back,” Zach finally said. “He’s asleep in my room, and I’m afraid what he’s gonna do when he wakes up and I tell him to get lost.”

“Call the cops.”

“You know I can’t,” Zach replied. “If I snitch on Chainsaw, he’ll have me killed.” He gave a humorless laugh. “I actually believed I was into bad boys, but I’ve changed my mind. You can have them. Right about now, I’d prefer a bookworm to him.”

Too bad Andrew didn’t have access to Eleazar’s hitmen. He’d send one over to teach Chainsaw a lesson. The sun was still out, so even if Andrew could make that happen, they wouldn’t be able to go outside for at least another hour.

Now Andrew had enough money that he could put Zach up in a hotel room until Chainsaw was out of his life, maybe even help him get another apartment so the guy wouldn’t know where to find Zach.

It would be a quick trip. Andrew could get to Zach and check him into a hotel and be back before anyone even knew he was gone. “Can you pack a bag?”

“Already did,” Zach said, his voice almost a whisper. “Just in case I had to run, but I have nowhere to go. I don’t even have any money. That’s why I was hoping you could help, you know, with your new job and the nice pay.”

“How do you know how much I get paid?”

“I’m just assuming,” Zach answered. “I hate to put this on you. I really do. I just don’t know who else to turn to.”

Andrew was Zach’s only friend. He didn’t have any family in the area, and besides, Zach’s family had disowned him when they’d found out he was gay. He and Zach used to work together, and they’d become close friends.

There was no way Andrew was going to leave him in a dangerous situation. “I’m on my way. Grab your bag and I’ll meet you in the foyer of your building.”

He would have told Zach to meet him somewhere public, so Chainsaw couldn’t make a scene, but Eleazar had enemies, and Andrew didn’t want to take a chance running into any of them. If Felix had heard that Andrew was Eleazar’s new servant, then Andrew could only assume others had, too.

“Oh my god.” There were tears in Zach’s voice. “Thank you. He’s sleeping off a bender, so I don’t think he’ll be awake for some time. How long before you get here?”

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