"Yes, I appreciate your understanding Mr Downing. I can assure you I will continue Mr Morgan's great work. I do thank you for that. I look forward to meeting you too. Have a great evening." I hung up the phone and rubbed my eyes. This CEO business is damn hard work. I don't know how people do this. I haven't stopped working in almost a month. If I'm not at work, I'm thinking about work. It just never ends, but on the plus side, I don't have many spare moments to think about how much I miss Carter. The weeks are going by, but the pain isn't any easier it's getting harder to remain positive about ever seeing him again.

"You all done for the day boss?" Jake said, drinking from a blue cup.

"Yeah, I guess. I closed the Downing deal today," I said trying to sound cheerful.

"Congrats," he said, giving me a high five. "We should celebrate."

"I don't feel like celebrating much."

"Awww, come on. You've been working your ass off for over a month now, and this company is soaring thanks to you. Bossman would be proud of you." Jake smiled. "Let's get fucked up and forget about this bullshit for a while," he said as he sat on the edge of the desk.

"How does a vampire even get fucked up?"

"He usually feeds off a human who is fucked up and rides the gravy train," he said, raising his eyebrows a few times.

"That in itself is fucked up" I laughed.

"Then the plan is in motion," he stood up and did a little dance. "Come on, Eb; we should have some fun."

I sighed "Fine, but where are you going to find intoxicated blood in this house?"

"I'll order takeout."

"Excuse me? Is that even possible?"

"Not only is it possible, but I can also choose the drug I want," he said nodding proudly.

"Wow, a whole new level of fucked up. Ok, I'm in. Can they drop off some beer as well?"

"You betcha," he said, pulling out his phone and calling for 'take out.

Within the hour we had not only Jake's blood and my beer but a hot fresh pepperoni pizza and some fresh chocolate chip cookies.

"How did you manage this?" I laughed cracking open a cold beer.

"I'm a good tipper," he said, pouring his red blood into a glass.

"You amaze me."

"I know" he smiled "Cheers to carrying on."

"Cheers," we clinked glasses.

For the first time in a very long time, I forgot to be sad. We talked and danced and just had a good time without thinking about what we both had lost.

"What did you think of me the first time you meet me?" I said sitting crossed-legged on the wooden dining table.

"Honestly, I thought you had nice tits," Jake said, lying next to me.

"I do have nice tits, not going to lie." I laughed drinking more beer.

"Oh, I know," he said grinning. "What did you think about me?"

"I thought you were a jerk."

"No, I mean, what did you think about me physically?"

"Ohhh, sorry. I thought you were totally hot," I winked.

"Yeah, you did," he chuckled. "Admit it; you wanted me."'

"I admit nothing."

"You totally wanted me," he said proudly.

"Do vampires get sexually frustrated?" I said, sipping my beer.

"I'm always sexually frustrated, I think about sex while I'm having sex and sometimes, I think about your tits." I hit him on the back of the head. "Ouch, it's a compliment .... geez."

"When do you have time to have sex with anyone nowadays?"

"I didn't say it was with anyone," he winked. I hit him on the head again.

"Ouch, why are hitting me? You brought it up. You always bring it up." he mumbled sipping his blood. I tried to hit him again, but he caught my hand. "Are you jealous of my right-hand Ebony?"

"Oh please, get over yourself. I'm not that hard up." I rolled my eyes at him trying to not laugh.

"Well, I am," he smiled proudly.

"Oh god, we need to get out of here and into the world. I can't take being locked up here much longer. We should break out of here."

"I'm game if you are?" Jake shrugged.

"Really? No, we can't. We promised Carter we would stay safe."

"Well, the way I see it, we have two choices here. One, we break out of here and have some actual fun or B. We have sex, right now, on this table. It's your move." Jake said, standing up on the table and flipping off it and onto the ground.

"Jake, come on."

"I'm taking off my shoes," he teased, throwing them across the room.

"Cut it out."

"Here goes the shirt," he pulled at his white T-Shirt revealing his tattooed chest and muscular abs.

"Jake, stop it." I rolled my eyes.

"And the shirt is off." he threw his shirt to the floor and flexed his very impressive body.

"Why are you doing this? You know we can't leave the house?" I pleaded with him.

"And the pants are going ..."

"Jake ..."

"Going ...."

"Ok, enough already. Let's just get out here," I yelled, throwing my hands up in the air in protest.

"Oh, thank god, cos I was just bluffing," Jake said, quickly pulling up his pants. "I mean, I would have done you like a stallion if you wanted me to, I've never said no to sex."

"Oh, that's really sweet Jake but as romantic and inviting as that invitation might sound. I'll pass tonight," I laughed.

"Your loss." he shrugged.

We suddenly heard the front door slam shut and loud footsteps coming toward us. Jake looked at me and pointed for me to hide behind the sofa. I did as he told me and watched as he got ready to attack.

"Where are you?" Jake whispered under his breath. "I see you, now," He said as a shadow from the hallway got a little too close. Jake pounced on the intruder like a tiger and wrestled him to the floor.

"What the hell dude? You fucken scared the hell out of me." Callan yelled, pushing Jake off him and standing up. "There is something seriously wrong with you."

"Callan?" I yelled excitedly as I ran over to him as fast as I could. "I'm so glad you're here," I said, jumping on him and hugging him tightly.

"I missed you too," he said, wrapping his arms around me.

"What are you doing here? Are you free? Where is Carter?" I looked behind him.

"I'm afraid I come with bad news Ebony," he said, shaking his head gently.

My heart sank "What happened? Where is he?"

"The council has accused him of killing my mother. They say he deliberately agreed to meet her outside, knowing what the outcome would be. They have accused him of second-degree murder," he said, closing his eyes. "He goes to trial in a week, and it doesn't look good."

"No, he would never do that. He feels horrible about all this; there is no way he did any of this on purpose. Callan, you know that, right?" I said, looking into his dark eyes.

"I know, we hashed everything out, and there was a lot of anger thrown around, but I know he didn't do this on purpose. I believe him."

"Then what happens how do we fix this?" I said barely able to speak.

"We can't Ebony. There is nothing we can do to prove he didn't do this without intent. Our lawyers are on the case now, but it's not looking good."

"Then he just goes to jail for all of eternity?"

He shook his head "There is no jail in our world, there is no need for one. If you are found guilty of a crime, you are put to death."

My body went weak, and I couldn't stand, I couldn't breathe. I just started sobbing on Callan's chest as he held me up. "No, tell me there is another way."

"I'm afraid not. That is our law, and if we cannot convince the elders that he is innocent, then he will be put to death. I wish this weren't the case; I truly do," Callan said softly in my ear. "I'm sorry."

"It's ok Eb, we will fight until the end, just like Carter will," Jake said, pulling me towards him. "We will do everything we can to get him home." He rocked me gently in his arms as I cried on his chest.

"I do have some other news," Callan said, rubbing my back.

"What now?" I moaned sniffing.

"They have agreed to let him out of confinement until the trial."

"He's coming home?" I said, turning around.

"No, he is not allowed to leave the vampire world I'm afraid, but he has requested that you come back with me so he can see you," Callan said putting on a smile.

"He wants me to go to the vampire world?"

"You can't be serious Callan?" Jake said, shaking his head.

"This is what Carter wants?" I said, wiping my tears.

"That is what he told me to ask you. He is staying at my grandfather's house; you will be safe there. He built it to protect my grandmother, but I will not force you to do this as it does come with many risks."

"Ebony, this is too dangerous," Jake said in my ear.

"As I said, I will not force you to go," Callan said.

"No, I need to go. I need to see him, and I don't care how dangerous it is. I have to see him." I said, taking big breaths.

"Are you sure about this?" Callan said.

"Yes, I'm positive, but I need Jake to come with me," I said, turning and looking at him. "I can't do this without you."

"Then I guess I'm in," he shrugged.

"Then we shall leave tomorrow at dusk," Callan said. "Try to get some rest; we have a long journey ahead of us."