The Secrets of Water by Shoshana Edwards

Author:Shoshana Edwards [Edwards, Shoshana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-08-13T15:50:11+00:00

Chapter 11

“Jesus Christ,” Rafi said, taking a swig of his ginger ale. The pair were in Joseph’s kitchen, drinking while they talked.

Joseph had caught him up on the highlights of the last few days, which had taken a good while. He started with Alexander’s appearance right after dinner to the date with David and the attack the following evening. Finally, he’d described tracking the vampires to their temporary lair by following Alexander’s trail of blood. Joseph leaned against the counter next to the refrigerator, and Rafaél sat on a stool next to the island.

“Mmhmm,” Joseph replied. He paused to take a sip of his own beverage, one of the blood sacks, which had cooled slightly during the long recap of events.

Rafaél set his bottle down gently, the glass clinking softly on the granite countertop of the kitchen island. “You’re really going to give them half the company?” he asked incredulously.

“Oh God no, of course not,” Joseph replied, waiving his hand dismissively. “There’s no way they know every part of the company or the extent of the corporation’s reach. Hell, I barely know it all.” He grinned, letting the plan realize itself for Rafi. “That’s what I have you around for.”

“Ah,” Rafi said after a moment. “I see.” He took another sip of the soda and contemplated the problem. “It’s a bit of a gamble, don’t you think?”

“A bit, maybe. But we have a week to work it out. What I need you to do is a bit of inventory. Figure out what we can part with that will still be profitable enough with minimal oversight. Something that will keep them pacified. It needs to be small enough not to harm us irreparably and big enough it could conceivably be half of what I own.”

“Riiiiight.” He finished the last of the sweet-and-spicy carbonated beverage in one swig, then eyed the empty bottle. “I’m going to need something stronger than this, I think.”

“Sorry, all I have is soup. I thought David might want some when…” Joseph said, a touch of sadness creeping into his demeanor. “You’re welcome to it.”

Rafaél sighed. “I told you to take it slow, didn’t I?”

Joseph held up a hand defensively. “I didn’t take it anywhere! I was just along for the ride, and it went as fast as it wanted to go.”

Rafaél decided it wasn’t the time for I-told-you-sos, and took a more sympathetic tack. “Do you think he’ll call?”

“I really don’t know,” Joseph admitted. “I’m conflicted about it, to be honest. On one hand, I really, really want him to, and on the other…”

“On the other, you know what a relationship with him would mean for both of you,” Rafaél pressed. He was trying to be consoling, but the facts of the matter were too obvious. “Do you need me to spell it out for you?”

“No, I get it.”

“Do you, J?” Rafaél kept his voice kind and soft. “Best case scenario is a long life together, where you end up heartbroken for decades after his death. But

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