Two, articulated trucks carrying tree trunks in the opposite lane provided a clue. Michael rode up the steep road, in search of Dunston’s lumber factory. It didn’t take him long to find his destination. As the road leveled out, a mere glance to his left made his jaw drop. A massive structure lay just a few yards away. A huge warehouse, housing thousands of trees filled his view. Dozens of Dunston’s employees were chopping them down, the noise of power saws lacing the air. At least twenty, empty trucks were parked outside, their drivers going back and forth to the warehouse. Adjacent to it was an office building, the sight of Dunston’s limousine in the driveway telling Michael that he hadn’t gone there for nothing.
With his Harley roaring down the road, he spotted two, large men on either side of the entrance. The security detail didn’t surprise him. A lumber baron was bound to have more enemies than just his motorcycle club.
He pulled over on the right side and switched off the engine, the buzz from the exhausts still ringing in his ears. Dismounting his Harley, he shuffled off towards the entrance, his gaze fixed on the man straight across from him.
“Sir, do you have an appointment?” He addressed him in a somewhat high voice.
“He’s okay.” A hoarse voice drew Michael’s attention. He tore his gaze from the guard and looked up. Dunston was standing at his open window, his eyes on him. “Let him pass.”
His words didn’t do much to appease him. It was a good first step, yes, but he still didn’t trust Frank.
Striding into the building, he was too impatient to wait for the elevator. Adrenaline was pouring through his system. He needed to get this over with and get out of there. Michael ran up the stairs, hoping that the warlock wasn’t intending to engage him. He stepped onto the top landing and turned left, the gray carpet on the hallway muffling the sound of his boots.
“Michael Gibson…” Frank spoke out his name as he made his way towards his office. “I’d be lying if I said I’m happy to see you. What are you doing here?”
“It’s not exactly great to see you, either,” Michael stated, his tone firm as he found him standing next to his executive chair. “I’m here to talk to you about your daughter.”
“What about her?” Frank shrugged his shoulders.
“My friend, Ray, found her ID in his van, after we took her to hospital last week,” Michael informed, shoving his hands into his pockets. “We went to New York to hand it back to her.”
“Gibson, look at me,” Frank commanded, the muscles in his face tightening. “What do you see?”
“I don’t have time for…”
“You think I was born yesterday?” Frank cried out, casting a nasty glare up at him. “You went to New York out of the goodness of your heart? Is that what you’re telling me?”
“Maybe I should have let her come looking for it in Mercer,” Michael declared, unaffected by the warlock’s outburst. “A witch among three hundred shifters. How do you think that was going to go?”
Dunston dragged his gaze away from him and scratched his chin. “Good point,” he commented.
“We’d just arrived when I spotted someone in the rearview mirror,” Michael added, his tone calm. “He was about fifty yards behind her. I thought he was just passing through the neighborhood, but no. He’d been following her. He attacked her outside her apartment building. And guess what. He was a vampire.”
“A vampire?” Dunston squinted, his face twisting in surprise.
“That’s right,” Michael affirmed with a nod. “Now, I don’t know what your kind can do to take out bloodsuckers, but your girl was so scared that she froze to the spot. I and Ray pounced on him. We killed him and burned the body.”
“How the hell did they even find her?” Dunston wondered, thrusting his arms out to the side.
“I was about to ask you the same thing,” Michael claimed, pursing his lips. “Who else knows about your family?”
“We’ve been guarding our secret well,” Dunston maintained, strolling past his desk. “We don’t share it with anybody, not even close relatives. The oldest witch families knew, but I was under the impression they’ve been wiped out.”
“Look into it,” Michael advised, his voice coming out slower. “And if I were you, I’d tell Helena to move out of that apartment ASAP. You know vampires, Dunston. They won’t stop coming until she’s dead.”
Finishing his sentence, he didn’t wait for him to verbalize. He had warned him of the vampire threat. There was no reason for him to stay in that office anymore. Michael walked out, thankful that for once, Dunston had not lived up to his name. He had been civil, instead of the blood-thirsty warlock who had no problem murdering shifters. Now, it was up to him to keep Helena safe…
Chapter Eleven
Helena
“You’re lucky to call this place ‘home,’ dear.”
Susan’s remark in Helena’s BMW put a smile on her face. Her friend couldn’t stop gazing at the view out the window. Vast meadows in the distance, towering trees on either side of the road and small houses dominated the landscape. Of course, Helena had known how beautiful her birthplace was since childhood but hearing those kind words from a city girl like Susan made her chest swell with pride.
“It’s even better in spring,” she told her, cedar trees to the right blocking the sun from view. “It’s more colorful. There’s this freshness in the air I can’t describe. Wherever you go, you get to smell flowers. Roses, lilies, azaleas, you name it.”
“Then I’m definitely coming back in spring,” Susan laughed. “I have a soft spot for azaleas.”
“Okay, we’re here,” Helena announced, her car rolling to a halt outside the gate of her father’s mansion. She grabbed the key fob from the dashboard, Susan shifting her gaze to the property.
“Holy God,” she whispered, staring in disbelief. A limestone pathway lay just beyond the driveway, separating the huge lawn. Even from fifty yards away, they could see the empty swimming pool near the pine tree fence. Two cedar trees arched over the house itself, and a white pillar stood on either side of the staircase that led to the front door. “I knew you came from a rich family, but this is unbelievable.”
“Yeah, this place is great,” Helena agreed, watching the gate open inwards. “I wish I could say the same about my parents, though.”
“Why? What’s wrong with them?” Susan wondered, curling her fingers around the door handle.
“Trust me, you’ll find out soon,” Helena spoke, unwilling to give her any more details. It was only a matter of time before she witnessed their reaction. She opened her door and got out, throwing a glance into the living room. It might have been empty, but the chances of her mother not being in were slim. She didn’t work and she didn’t invite people over in the early afternoon.
“Fantastic,” Susan praised, her eyes on the pine tree fence. “How long does it take for them to grow that tall?”
“Fifteen, maybe twenty years,” Helena replied as they headed towards the front door. They were still strolling along the pathway, when she heard her mother’s squeaky voice.
“She’s moving out of that apartment, you hear me? She’s moving out tomorrow!”
“Crap…” Helena huffed in frustration. “Susan, wait here, will you?”
“Okay,” her friend said. “I’m going over to the fence.”
She twisted the golden doorknob, deep down knowing what this was all about. Michael had broken the news of the vampire attack to her father. Helena found her parents in the living room, in the middle of a very heated argument. Too busy yelling at each other, they didn’t even look in her direction. Swallowing hard, she slammed the door shut behind her.
“Sweetheart?!” Surprise sent Martha’s voice two octaves up. She rushed off towards her, opening her arms.
“Hey, mom,” Helena uttered, finding herself in her firm embrace. “You’re acting like you haven’t seen me in a month.”
“Your father just told me about that vampire.” Martha spoke in a wobbly voice. “He di
dn’t get to…”
“I’m fine,” Helena interjected, easing back out of her hold.
“Is it true?” Frank posed a question, his hands on his waist. “About Gibson and Walker?”
“Yeah,” Helena affirmed with a nod. “They saved my life. Why are you two arguing? I could hear you from outside.”
“Your mother wants you to move out of your apartment, but I’d rather hire a security company to protect you,” he explained. “I don’t think changing your address will make it more difficult for them to find you. What’s your opinion?”
“Mom, I’m with dad on this one,” she announced, bringing her attention back to Martha. “He’s right. I mean, they’ve already found me once.”
“Oh, for crying out loud,” her mom grumbled, glaring at her. “Why won’t you listen to me, just this once?”
“I just told you why,” Helena emphasized. “There’s something else. I’ve brought a friend over. She was dying to see where I live. We don’t have a class until 5pm tomorrow, so, I thought I should come over.”
“I’ll let her in,” Susan assumed a low tone, passing by her daughter.
“Wait,” Frank urged, walking over to Helena as he reached into his coat pocket. To her confusion, he withdrew a thick, brown envelope. “Gibson came to my office this morning. I forgot to thank him. Would it be too much if I asked you to thank him for me?”
“That’s suicide!” Susan yelped, stepping ahead of Helena.
“They won’t lay a finger on her,” Frank assured, pushing her aside. “If they wanted to kill her, she wouldn’t be here talking to us. What do you say, pumpkin?”
Helena’s heart leapt in her chest. Unbeknownst to him, her father had spared her the trouble of having to go out searching for Michael. And the best part of this was that he had actually given her permission to meet with him. She maintained a serious expression, holding back a smile. Giving away her joy would make him suspicious and jeopardize her plan to see Michael again.
“No problem, but I don’t have his address.” She shook her head sideways. “Can you help me with that?”
Frank rolled up his sleeve and glanced at his watch. “It’s 1:35pm, he should still be at work. The shifters’ workshop is in the downtown area. It’s hard to miss.”
“I’m off, then,” Helena offered him a faint smile, snatching the envelope from his grasp.
On her way out of her house, she snuck a peek into it. The content broadened her smile. Five wads of cash was Michael’s reward. She wouldn’t stop and count it; this was none of her business. She was glad that an honest man like him would make something out of being good to her. What her dad paid him was between those two. To her, this was an ideal opportunity to enter his world, without worrying about the consequences…
Michael
“Let’s see.”
Those two words marked the beginning of Bruce’s search for the club’s optimal target. Three blueprints named after their potential targets had been laid out across the table. Chase, Bank of America and Citibank. Michael, Ray and the rest of their comrades had been gathered around their Alpha, going over the blueprints in silence.
For Michael however, concentrating on this was way too difficult. His mind wandered back in time, filling his heart with pleasure. He was back in Helena’s apartment, conquering her, possessing her, claiming her as his own. Her laughter was echoing through his skull, acting like the most powerful drug on this earth. His witch had mesmerized him, dragging him into a world of playfulness, eroticism and beauty. And like every enchanted man in history, he had no will or desire to break free of his bounds.
Nonetheless, that wonderful feeling vaporized when he recalled the morning after. He was all alone, without her touch, her smile or her embrace. The warmth within was blown away by a cold blast of air. To make matters worse, he had to get used to that. He had a deal with Helena, and he had to keep his end of that deal. The problem was that he didn’t have a clue if he was strong enough to do so. That woman had seduced him with relative ease. Yet, almost anyone blessed with good looks could do that to him. Michael had had a number of one-night stands, but, in a matter of hours, he had forgotten the names of those women he had been with. Helena had accomplished something much deeper: She had clawed her way into his mind. For the moment at least, there was nothing he could do to keep her out.
A knock at the door gave him a reason to leave the table. Without saying a word, he turned away, thankful for this distraction. Still, the identity of the person outside the clubhouse sent shockwaves down his spine. Feet bolted to the ground, his mouth agape, he stared at her, before catching a tall brunette out of the corner of his eye.
“Michael, hi,” Helena spoke, her voice feathery as she smiled up at him. “Sorry to bother you, but my father wanted me to give you this.”
At that, she placed a thick, brown envelope into his palm. He pried it open with steady fingers, his heartbeat escalating. In sheer amazement, he pulled out a wad of hundred-dollar bills, wrapped up in a band. Lifting the envelope up to his chest, he looked inside. There were another four, identical wads, baffling him even further.
“What the fuck is this?” He asked, narrowing his eyes down at Helena.
“A token of appreciation,” she rolled her shoulders. “You seem a little upset. Why? I thought you’d like it.”
Finding himself in a dilemma, he didn’t dignify her comment with a rebuttal. On one hand, he was in dire need of money. On the other, this money was from his sworn enemy. It had his brothers’ blood all over it. Glancing out at the road, he spotted a handful of shifters staring at them. It was impossible for him to decide so fast, especially after having drawn this much attention.
“You know where ‘Marianne’s’ bar is?” He inquired, handing the envelope back to her.
“Michael…”
“Do you?” He interrupted, putting some force in his voice.
“Yeah, it’s up in Shandaken.” She nodded in acknowledgement. “Why?”
“Meet me there at nine,” he requested, taking a step back. “I can’t deal with this right now. Take care.”
Michael turned his back on her and closed the door, questions multiplying in his head. This wasn’t the time to look for answers, though. He was in the company of his comrades. He didn’t have the peace of mind or the space to do that.
“Who was it?” Johnnie asked while he returned to the backroom.
“Paul Davis wanted to know when his Honda would be ready,” Michael responded. “I told him tomorrow. What’s the verdict?”
“It’s not out yet,” Bruce murmured, his gaze on the blueprint labeled “Citibank.” “This baby’s got more money, but there’s a catch. It’s on the far edge of town, five hundred yards from the police station.” He added, sliding it across the table to reveal the blueprint of Bank of America. “Pretty much the same deal. It’s even closer to the cops. Chase…” He paused, flipping that blueprint. “It’s the smallest, but it’s closest to the I-95. We’ll also have a clear route out of town.”
“Then it’s our safest bet,” Michael concluded. “Do any of you want to risk getting caught for some extra money?”
“Hell, no,” Johnnie grumbled, his face stiff.
“Boys, you know the drill,” Bruce said, looking around him. “If you’ve got something different in mind, raise your hand.”
Michael scanned the room, but it was more than obvious that his friends shared his view. No one voiced any objections. Instead, they kept their attention to their Alpha, staying silent.
“All right,” he nodded. “I’ll let our hacker know. He’ll need a few days to study their security system.”
Michael might have had questions about the operation, but their plan was still incomplete. He could pose them once he heard his leader explain it to them. Furthermore, he couldn’t wait to get out of there. Despite Helena’s explanation, he couldn’t make sense of Dunston’s gesture. Too tense to hang out with his friends, Michael left the clubhouse, wondering what their ene
my had in mind when he asked his daughter to give him that money…
Chapter Twelve
Helena
“What a fine specimen…” Admiration was written all over Susan’s face. “Tall; masculine; strong jaw; lush lips… I’m sorry I doubted you. He just sounded a little too good to be true.”
“That’s okay,” Helena assured, turning right and into the main road to Highland.
“A couple of things did confuse me,” Susan confessed. “I’ve seen you kiss guys in public before. Why didn’t you kiss him? And why in the world did you try to give him that money?”
Helena heaved a deep sigh, maintaining her attention on the road up ahead. “That is a long, complicated story.”
“We’ve got all the time in the world,” Susan uttered, her tone casual. “Don’t even think about giving me another ridiculous excuse, dear. I still remember the whole ‘he’s private’ thing.”
“There are a few things you don’t know about the Catskills, Susan.” Helena assumed a businesslike tone, tossing a sideways glance over at her. “Believe me, it’s best if you didn’t find out at all.”
“Let me guess,” Susan suggested, gripping her friend’s wrist. “They were colonized by aliens back in the nineteenth century. They’ve been pretending to be locals ever since, because they’re spying on us, trying to find our weaknesses.”
Helena held back a snort. “No. It’s more complicated than that.”
“Very well. Keep your secrets,” Susan protested, folding her arms across her chest.
“They’re not mine to keep,” Helena told her. “Anyway, we’re seeing Michael later. If you’re so desperate to find out, all you have to do is ask him yourself.”
“The first thing I’m going to ask him is if he’s got a friend,” Susan stated, tapping her fingers on her forearm.
“Oh, my God!” Helena exclaimed, her eyes widening. “Girl, what is the matter with you? I thought you weren’t into one-night stands.”
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