Viktor

by Teresa Gabelman

  “Lacey, we need to see the incident.” Dexter walked up next to her. “Do you think you can do that? Don’t know if King has learned how to do anything other than screw it up.”

  “Sure,” Lacey replied, forcing her voice and hands to stop shaking. Focusing on her task, she looked from the monitor on the desk to the monitor on the wall as she worked. Voices spoke behind her, but her ears only listened for one.

  He remained silent.

  Quickly rewinding, she stopped it at the point Viktor turned toward the woman next to him at the bar and hit Play. Everyone watched quietly, and she knew it was him who walked up to stand directly behind her looking over her head at the monitor. Once it played through, she stopped it and played it once more. He leaned closer, to the point she felt his breath moving her hair. His body so close that if she moved back just a bit, she would be flush against him. God, how she wanted that, but she was too damn chicken to do it. Her thoughts of this vampire had run rampant since the night at Primavista, almost to the point she couldn’t focus on anything else.

  “Can you zoom in on her face?” Viktor asked as soon as she stopped it at the point he’d stood up.

  Her eyes staring at his face frozen on the screen, Lacey jumped at his voice and automatically turned her head. Their eyes met. “Hi,” she whispered, staring into his as if there was a lifeline there.

  “Hello.” His deep voice washed over her, and her body shivered in response.

  “You know her?” another man spoke, breaking the spell. Her face flamed as she turned back to the computer.

  “We’ve met” was all Viktor said, but he seemed to now cocoon her, and she liked it. A lot.

  Lacey found the part and zoomed in on the woman’s face. Then she made it as clear as the program made possible. “That’s about as clear as I can get it.”

  “That’s fine,” Viktor replied, leaning past her to look closer at the screen. “Can you slow it down frame by frame?”

  Doing as he asked, she watched the screen, as did everyone in the room, but she was the only one who gasped when what appeared to be a black shield slowly shuttered the woman’s eyes.

  Curses filled the room, and she felt the loss as Viktor stepped away from her. She continued to stare at the screen, then frowned when she started to step up the frame-by-frame motion of the video. Lacey pointed at a woman who appeared to be whispering in the ear of the woman who picked up Viktor.

  “Stop!” a woman behind her ordered as she pushed her way next to Lacey, who was busy trying to bring the other woman on screen more in focus. As the picture became clearer, the woman now beside her cursed. “Can you zoom into her right eye? I’m Bonnie, by the way.”

  “Lacey,” she replied with a nod, but continued to stare at the monitors. Lacey did the best she could. She squinted as she stared at the monitor. “What is that?”

  “That is the mark of a dark witch given to her by the demon she serves.” Bonnie cursed again. “We got big problems, guys. Real big problems.”

  Staring at the monitor, Lacey noticed some red on the white of the woman’s eyes. She zoomed in more, froze the screen, and stared. Suddenly, it was like the red dot pulsed. But that was ludicrous. This wasn’t a live shot, but there it was right in front of her. Feeling threatened, she stepped back onto someone’s foot. Strong hands kept her from stumbling. She glanced back and up to see Viktor staring at the monitor then back down at her.

  “Sorry,” she whispered, and turned toward the computer, ending the playback. The screen flickered for longer than it should, making the eye flash on and off the screen. With a frown, Lacey hit a few keys before it went back to normal.

  Sasha and King walked in at that moment. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” Sasha said to Lacey.

  “I haven’t left this room where you left me,” Lacey replied, then stepped away from the computer. Her eyes briefly met Viktor, who stood staring at her. Her heart fluttered just from his gaze. Lacey wondered what her heart would do if he touched her, but quickly pushed that thought to the back of her mind.

  “Well, you have two friends who are about to call the cops because they think we ate you.” Sasha laughed. “True fucking story. The guy is about ready to call in the damn army.”

  Lacey rolled her eyes and sent a text, letting her friends know she was okay and on her way back out. She turned to look at Dexter. “You need me to do anything else?”

  “Just be here at seven tomorrow. I’ll make sure everything is set up in the office in the morning. Sasha will get you fitted for a uniform,” Dexter replied as he walked up to escort her out, but Viktor blocked his path.

  “Seven?” Viktor frowned, looking between the three of them.

  “Yeah, she’s working here.” Sasha frowned, glancing him up and down. “I know them, but who are you two?” She wiggled her finger between Bishop and Viktor.

  Viktor ignored her as he gently took Lacey’s arm, ushering her out of the room. “I’ll be back,” he told everyone else as he closed the door behind them.

  Okay, his touch had her heart pounding. She now had the answer to her earlier question. Swallowing hard, she tried to get a realistic grip on her emotions.

  “What in the hell are you doing?” Viktor glowered down at her.

  Lacey actually took a step back, removing her elbow from his grip. “At the moment, standing in a hallway with you.” She knew that wasn’t what he meant, but honestly, was it really any of his business? Yeah, he was handsome as hell, and she’d considered calling him a million times, but still, questioning her like this and being all growly was crazy.

  He glowered some more, but she didn’t respond to the intimidation he was clearly used to dishing out. “You know what I mean.”

  “Actually, I do.” Lacey crossed her arms over her chest. “What I don’t know is why you care?”

  When he hesitated, she nodded. “Good question, huh?” She cocked her eyebrow. What she really wanted to hear from this gorgeous vampire Warrior was “Because if anything happened to you, I would fight to the ends of the earth seeking vengeance of the one who took you from me, my beautiful human.” Okay, yes, that was the author in her doing some pretty sickening dialogue that even made her want to gag from sweetness overload, but instead, she chuckled to herself.

  “It’s my job,” he finally responded. Not exactly what she wanted to hear, but she expected it.

  “Well, Mr. Valentino, I really do appreciate the job you do, but there are more dire circumstances out there than me and my situation.” She actually patted him on the chest, trying to ignore just how firm his body was. “And I’m no man’s... job.” Lacey turned to walk away, but his next words stopped her.

  “Is this because of your research?” Viktor’s voice had a way of making her want to curl up next to him in front of a blazing fire. Seriously, to wake up with that voice, not to mention body next to her every single morning was almost too much to imagine. A girl could only take so much.

  She deliberately ignored his question. “You be safe.” Lacey walked away before adding on, “Warrior.” She opened the door and slipped out, closing it behind her and leaning against it heavily. Her heart beat faster than the music playing around her, and her breath was labored as if she’d just run a marathon. Closing her eyes for just a second, she tried to wipe the image of Viktor from her mind, but it was no use. He was there in every sense she possessed. Why in the hell did she have to touch him? That was one sense she could have done without.

  “Where in the ever-living hell have you been?” Frank’s voice had her eyes popping open wide.

  “Frank thought they’d eaten you.” Hannah chuckled, but her stare was intense. “Why is your face so red.”

  Lacey snorted, rolling her eyes. “Because it’s hot in here.” No way in hell was she ever going to let either one of them know that there was one vampire here tonight she would let eat her without any complaints whatsoever. A grin curved her lips as her eyes roamed slowly toward a camera aimed right at the door she was standin
g in front of. Without a doubt, she knew Viktor Valentino was watching her on the other side of it. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

  “Thank God.” Frank wrapped his arm around her, leading them toward the exit. “But seriously, what in the hell took you so long? You missed seeing a huge, mean-looking vampire get tossed across the dance floor.”

  “He was a damn fine-looking vampire if you ask me,” Hannah shouted over the music. “I wish he would have landed on me.”

  Lacey laughed at Hannah’s comment as her eyes left the camera. A sudden thought occurred to her. Would this be the last time she saw Viktor? Her stomach dropped as her smile faded, surprised the thought bothered her more than it should.

  Chapter 7

  Viktor watched as Lacey closed the door behind her. It took everything he had not to pull her back, but what right did he have? None. He had no rights to her whatsoever, and that was just fucking fine with him. He was only trying to make sure she stayed safe. That’s it. Nothing more and nothing less, dammit. It was his job. It’s what he did.

  A nagging voice whispered inside his mind, Then why aren’t you out there saving every other female in the Red Dragon?

  “Shut the fuck up,” Viktor snarled, then turned around only to find Bishop staring at him with the door wide open.

  “I didn’t fucking say anything... yet.” Bishop cocked his eyebrow at him before sticking his head further out the door, peering up and down the hallway. “Why are you standing there staring at the wall?”

  “Why are you always asking me stupid fucking questions?” Viktor grouched as he pushed his way past Bishop to step back into the room.

  “Because you keep doing stupid shit.” Bishop shoulder-checked him as he passed. “I thought you’d like to find the little girl who kicked your ass tonight. Am I wrong?”

  “Bishop, I’m not in the mood.” Viktor sighed and rubbed his eyes.

  “Shocker.” Bishop snorted as they moved closer to the group.

  Viktor ignored him as he glanced at the monitors. He spotted her right away, leaning against the door, eyes closed. Her chest rose up and down as if she was having a hard time breathing, and he knew he was the reason. Manly pride swarmed his body and mind. She was affected by him and that pleased him very much. His confident half grin faded as he watched a man and woman approach. The man seemed to be yelling at Lacey, sending Viktor’s protective instincts into overdrive. Suddenly, Lacey glanced up at the camera, and his gaze met hers as a smile played across her lips. She knew he was watching her. The man looped his arm around Lacey and Viktor felt the primal growl of ownership rumble from his chest. His eyes didn’t leave the screen until she disappeared from sight.

  As he glanced away, his gaze went to Bishop, who was also looking at the screen. Then their eyes met. Viktor was the first to look away because if his brother said one word, he would beat his ass right here and right now. It was best to let it go. He turned his attention back to what was going on in the room.

  “I’ve always told Sloan you guys are welcome here, but to give me a heads-up,” Dexter was saying as they reentered the room. “I didn’t get that tonight.”

  “Yeah, we didn’t have much of a heads-up either,” Damon replied, nodding toward Bonnie.

  “Hey, my sources are usually never wrong, and when they say something is going down, something is going down.” Bonnie shrugged one shoulder.

  “And who’s your source?” Dexter asked, glancing toward Bonnie.

  “You really didn’t just ask me that, did you?” Bonnie eyed him.

  “That girl you’re looking for... the one who threw you, which was a total mindfuck moment,” the female vampire who hadn’t left yet said. She leaned against the wall looking at her nails. “She’s human. There is no way she could have done what she did without help.”

  “She’s not a witch?” Blaze, who had remained quiet, asked.

  “No,” both the young vampire and Bonnie answered at the same time.

  “Sasha’s correct,” Dexter added.

  “Then who is she?” Jill frowned, looking at the screen.

  “She’s a regular. Her name is Michelle Longstreet. Sweet girl.” Sasha pushed herself off the wall. “She started bringing this guy around. He was always dressed in a suit, pinstriped, expensive-looking duds. He was weird, or at least struck me weird. She seemed different whenever he was here too. Can’t quite place my finger on what it was, but different.”

  Viktor looked over at the monitors. “How long ago has it been since he was here?”

  “I didn’t see him tonight, but he was here last night,” Sasha replied after remaining quiet for a second. “Yeah, last night. Sorry, days and nights blend into one another when I never leave this place.”

  Dexter rolled his eyes. “You make your own schedule, Sasha.”

  “Yeah, I know.” Sasha grinned as she headed toward the door. “This place would fall down without me.”

  “She’s probably right about that.” King chuckled with a shake of his head.

  Before Sasha walked out the door, she turned to look at Jill. “You looking for a job? You’d be great on the floor, and the tips are out-of-this-world good.”

  “I may take you up on it if these guys piss me off.” Jill snorted, but her voice was damn serious.

  “Yeah, like Slade would let that happen.” Steve guffawed with a roll of his eyes, ignoring Jill’s glare. He added before Jill could say anything, “You guys need any men out there on the floor?”

  “Yeah, you know any?” Sasha asked innocently, but the smile clearly indicated she was fucking with him.

  The whole group erupted as the Warriors laughed. “Damn, man. She got you good on that.” Jared grinned, giving Sasha a nod.

  “Just kidding.” Sasha grinned at him. “Anytime you need a job, just give me a shout.”

  “Who the fuck owns this place, me or you?” Dexter sneered at her.

  “One would wonder,” she replied with a wink, then quickly took off.

  “Damn woman.” Dexter shook his head and glanced at King. “You think you can maneuver your way through that program to last night’s footage?”

  “Fuck no.” King shook his head, looking at Dexter as if he’d lost his mind. “We need our computer girl. She knows her shit, obviously better than I do.”

  Dexter frowned. “She’ll be back tomorrow if you guys can wait. She’s supposed to work the floor, but I’ll pull her to do this first, and maybe she can teach King how to do it.”

  “Why is she working the floor and not in here if she’s that good?” Viktor couldn’t help but ask.

  “She was offered the position,” Dexter replied with a frown. “But turned it down. Said she’d rather be out there. Plus the tips are good. There is no limit on what the floor workers can make if they’re good.”

  “What time?” Sid asked, breaking Viktor out of his thoughts.

  “Seven is when she’ll be here to get fitted for a uniform, so how about seven thirty? I’ll have her come here before Sasha starts training.” Dexter glanced first at Sid and then Viktor, who nodded.

  Viktor knew for certain he would fucking be here. “I’ll be here,” he confirmed with a nod. After speaking, he walked toward the door and headed out of the office. He made his way down the hallway and out into the crowd. While his eyes remained straight ahead, he knew everything that was going on around him, and he didn’t like it. Actually, he knew exactly what he didn’t like, and that was Lacey working in a place like this. He saw what Sasha was wearing, and if that was the uniform Lacey was being fitted for, he knew dislike wouldn’t even come close to what he was going to feel.

  Slamming out of the club, he took a deep breath of fresh air. What in the fuck was wrong with him? No one had ever affected him like this.

  “So, she’s the one, huh?” Bishop said, his voice more irritating than usual.

  “What?” Viktor threw out there, but he knew exactly what his asshole brother was talking about.

  “She’s pretty and smart.
” Bishop didn’t answer Viktor but continued to spout his bullshit. “I don’t know, brother, she may be out of your league. Then again, it’s good to see you show interest in something other than kicking people’s asses.”

  “You find your own place yet?” Viktor headed toward his bike.

  Bishop laughed, shaking his head as he climbed onto his own bike. “This is going to be fun.” Starting it up, he revved it a few times. “Real fun.”

  Starting his own bike, Viktor just sat there glaring at his brother, who disappeared into the night. He continued to stare without moving until the rest of the Warriors came out.

  Steve was bitching. “I’d make a great server and probably bring more tips in than any of those girls.” Steve huffed his way to his bike. “I bet they don’t have jokes.”

  “They don’t have a penis either.” Jill gave him a sideways glance. “I’ll tell you what, Steve. You quit the VC, get hired here, and I’ll talk Slade into paying your VC salary for one year on one condition.”

  “Fuck yeah!” Steve said excitedly, then frowned at Jill. “What condition?”

  “You have to wear the uniform.” Jill’s grin was evil as well as pleading. “Boots and all.”

  “You don’t think I will?” Steve puffed out his chest.

  “I triple-dog dare you, bitch.” Jill threw that out there as all the Warriors, even Viktor, looked on to see what he was about to say.

  Steve frowned as he thought before returning his gaze back to Jill. “I have to talk to Mira.”

  “Pussy.” Jill snorted, giving him a slight shove as she passed. “You ain’t got the balls to quit the VC, let alone wear that uniform.”

  “That isn’t all he doesn’t have,” Damon added before shaking his head as if trying to get the image out of his brain.

  “Ah, even Damon the decapitator has jokes.” Steve snorted. “One day, you guys are going to push me too far. And on that day, I’m going to make you eat your words.”

  “As long as that day isn’t in a halter, miniskirt, and thigh-high fucking boots.” Jared gagged. “I can’t, man. I just can’t.”