TO BITE WITH LOVE

SUPPORTING A FRIEND

CHAPTER 3

SUPPORTING A FRIEND

ALEXI’S POV”

I stared at my computer carefully, examining every piece of the company I had recently come to acquire. I received the notification only a week ago from my attorney, that the offer we had submitted had been accepted. Our closing was this coming Monday. It was a short sale, however everything seemed to be in order, and the business was highly organized. It had been owned by a local fisherman, a man that had immigrated here from Portugal. However, upon his passing, his only heir, a daughter, had opted to sell.

The company I purchased was repeatable, small, yet highly profitable. I had never met the owner, but I knew the reputation company and the ships he sailed. It was a small fleet, yet it was certainly going to be an asset. It had some of the newest and most sophisticated technologies the shipping industry had to offer. The asking price for the company was relatively small considering what all was included with it, and the sale had peaked a lot of interest. I wasted no time in submitting an offer, it had only been on the market for one day. I was rarely that reckless or impulsive, I had not even consulted with my associates or attorney, I just submitted a bid online. This was completely uncharacteristic of me, however something deep in my soul told me I had to.

Purchasing shipping companies wasn’t anything new to me, in fact, sailing was my passion. I had been on a ship since I was 7 years old, often accompanying my father to the shipyards where he worked. My entire family had some ties with the shipping industry; my mother was a Captain’s daughter. My father was a Captain himself, having learned from my mother’s father. My father was known for sailing frigates and clipper ships out of the port of Odessa in the Ukraine where I was born. Times back then were much darker and more sinister than they are today, and the port of Odessa was cast with disease and misery. It was far from the beautiful beaches and fruitful tourism it is known for today. Of course, that can happen over the centuries, as I was born in Odessa in the year of 1770. That's right I was 272 years old, I was a vampire after all.

I heard a knock at my front door which caused me to glance up and wonder who would be at my home this evening. Lazily I stood and sauntered out of my office through my main living area until I reached the entry way of my Penthouse. I opened the door and recognized my dearest and oldest friend Dimitri casually leaning up against the threshold of the door.

“Took you long enough.” he teased playfully. I shook my head and stepped away from the threshold, motioning for him to come inside.

“It's 7 o'clock on a Saturday night what are you doing here?” I knew my friend; he was all about parties and women. He undoubtably wanted something. I smirked curiously and followed him as he b-lined it for my kitchen. And per Dimitri protocol, the first thing he did was raid my wine cabinet and poured himself a generous glass of one of my exclusive reds.

“You my friend are a lucky man.” He teased as he inhaled the aromatic scent of the wine prior to taking a healthy sip. I frowned and crossed my arms over my chest, I wasn’t in the mood for Dimitri’s pranks this evening. I had been quite content going over the documents of my newest accusation.

“As I am here to save the day, because obviously, you forgot.” I raised my eyebrows, not sure what my gay old friend was referring to. “You forgot that it’s Karl’s opening for the new club. You would think that you, of all people, would remember since you are an investor.” I sighed deeply and dropped my hands to my sides.

“Your right, I forgot that was tonight.” I groaned, taking a seat onto one of my barstools. I had a ton of work to do before my 8 AM meeting on Monday and going to some obnoxious club was the last thing I wanted to do.

“Dude, you’re one of the primary investors. You must come.” Dimitri whined, already helping himself to another glass.

“I invest in clubs because Karl’s make money. Not because I enjoy them. I have a very important meeting on Monday, so the last thing I want to do is go drink into oblivion.” I retorted. Dimitri snorted at me, emptying the bottle into wine into the tall goblet.

“Alcohol doesn’t affect you or I any longer, or did you forget that also.” The sneer was evident, he had not intention of taking no for an answer.

“Come, my undead friend, it is time. It is time where we cut loose and enjoy this magnificent evening and all the events, and females it will entertain”. I groaned aloud, anytime Dimitri started rambling on about cutting loose or females, it never bodes well for me. I stared at Dimitri with a look of duress as he finished off the last bit of wine in the goblet. He set the glass down, his lazy gray eyes searching my own, pleading with me silently. He ran his hand through his sandy blonde hair and exhaled loudly.

“Come on get dressed. I'm not taking no for an answer.” His voice was a touch salty, his lips pursed as he reached into my wine cabinet and pulled out another bottle of red.

“Honestly, I have a ton of work I need to get done. Why don't you just go on without me. I'll take a rain check on this one.” However, my friend simply wasn’t having it as he stared at me coldly and shook his head.

“Not in hell. You are coming with me, not only do you need to get out of this Penthouse but Karl extended the invitation to both of us if I don't bring you along my ass is grass.” He popped the cork to a second bottle of wine and took a swig directly from the bottle, a move that always grated me. He smiled at me, like he knew he was winning.

“Besides, I’m hungry and need a little female companionship.” He smirked, settling the bottle down on the bar. There is was, right there turning; a male vampire loose in Miami dance club was like turning a rat loose in a restaurant dumpster. I felt my stomach roll a little bit as I decidedly shook my head and turned around fine.

“I'll go let me go get dressed and Dimitri stay out of my wine.” I shouted as I walked to my bedroom. I dressed quickly, not bothering to shower. I didn’t want to go at all so I would just sport that promenade 5 o'clock shadow I was sporting. I looked at myself in the mirror, my eyes staring back into the mirror. They were like ice, by far the most intriguing trait I, or frankly anyone had. I washed my face quickly and brushed my teeth. I glanced back into the mirror, and a glint of silver flashed from my eyes. I ran my hand through my hair after applying a small amount of gel onto my hands, taming the fly aways, and making myself look somewhat presentable. After examining my appearance, I then proceeded to my large walk-in closet.

I opted for a simple look, black trousers with my custom black Italian leather dress flats, and designer black T-shirt finished with a black sport coat. Redundantly black perhaps but I wasn't going out to impress anyone. I wasn't a small man by any stretch of imagination I was tall and muscular not like a body builder but highly fit and over 6’2. I found that women were often drawn to me, but I couldn't have cared less. My creator, a vampire from the old country named Doren always told us that even made vampires had the possibility of finding a fated mate, although I had given up on that hope long ago. I was content to remain me, cynical and cold. I was all business, and nothing else mattered to me.

As I walked from my bedroom back into the kitchen area where Dimitri had helped himself to a second bottle of my wine, I couldn't help but recall how we had first met. Dimitri was the same age as I, his mother had been a washer woman and his father had been my father's 1st mate. During the war, the bubonic plague recked havoc through all the black seaports killing thousands. I remembered when my father had returned home from his final transport, he had returned to us gravely ill. He, like so many others, had contracted the plague. Unfortunately, his illness traversed to all our family, friends, and even his Shipmates. The devastation was frightening and horrific. Nobody was safe from the hand of death. With no family or friends remaining, Dimitri and I were the last two survivors of our immediate circle. I had just turned 20 and Dmitri was 19.

Broke and homeless, the Russo-Turkish war was raging and looking for mercenaries, and mariners were always in demand. With nowhere else to go, Dimitri and I joined, and that was where we met Doren. During a final port battle both Dimitri and I had contracted the plague ourselves not to mention having been wounded. Our time on this earth was short. Doren, our friend and commander came to us one evening in the small nomad tent we had been quarantined in. It was evident something was brewing in his mind, and I will never forget the question he asked me, the question that changed my life forever.

“If you could live forever would you do it?” I remembered his voice being horribly quiet, nearly whispering; but the seriousness nearly deafened me. I was in pure agony, my mind twisted in fear and pain, and of course, I was young and stubborn, and I wanted to live forever.

“If I could benefit this life I would indeed want to live forever.” I remember whispering to Doren. With confusion, I watched my commander's pale face and contort slightly followed by a very small smirk on his lips.

“Very well then.” He said simply as I remember him leaning down to me. At first, I thought he was simply going to whisper something to me, that was until I felt the stabbing pain ripping into my neck. That was the day he turned me. And it was only a couple days after that I persuaded Doren to turn Dimitri as well. I had paused a few feet away from where Dimitri was sitting staring blankly ahead as the memories circled within my head.

“Alexi, dude what the hell… snap out of it.” Dimitri grumbled as he put the empty wine glass into the sink. “Let’s get going.” I blinked a handful of times as I narrowed upon my friend’s handsome face. His rich gray eyes and sandy blonde hair giving him those playboy vibes. Unlike me, he was dressed to the nines, wearing a black Lago Ciottoli waistcoat. I couldn’t even imagine how much he had spent on the shirt alone. I shook my head and reached forward, grabbing my wallet from the counter, and sliding it into the side pocket of my blazer. I noticed Dimitri pause, staring at me with an annoyed look.

“And you are going like that.” He muttered, shaking his head as he began walking out form behind my kitchen island.

“What?” I asked innocently. I heard an exasperated sigh as we walked out of my penthouse.

“Ya know what’s stupid, you make millions, literally millions, have more money than the lot of us, and you dress like a f*****g pauper.” I heard his unmistakable chastising from behind me, causing me to chuckle.

“If it makes you feel better, you can pick the car we take and drive.” There was a reluctant scoff, and I could hear the smile growing upon his face.

“Can we take the Maserati?”