Chapter Five
~Rhett Gayle Part II~
Needing to check in on security, I headed down to B2, where our main security office was located. As soon as I stepped off the elevator, her scent hit me. My gums burned and a hunger I hadn’t felt in a long time surged through me. The sudden onslaught of need knocked me back, and I froze as I fought for control.
Different thoughts slipped through my mind. How good would she taste? Would it be just as good as how she smelled? Was she as warm and soft as her scent? No. That wasn’t right.
Nineteen. She was only nineteen. I needed to remember that. I could never hurt a child. Ever.
Before I understood what had happened, I was leaning against the wall by the door inside the security room. Walls of monitors hummed as each screen flickered with a view of the property, and three guards stood around, observing all the activity. Dr. Porter was over by one of the guys, talking away. Her long brown hair was pulled up into one of the messy buns that were always somehow erotic. It bared her neck, and with her scent already filling me and her smooth voice calming me, I couldn’t help but narrow in on the exposed sensitive flesh. My sight was good enough to see how the carotid artery pulsed just under the surface.
Blinking hard, I forced my thoughts away from that. That was not me. I’d long ago learned to control my urges, and I wasn’t about to lose it all now.
“Why not?” she had asked, and I used her voice to bring me out of my dark and dangerous thoughts.
“Because you’re only a lab technician,” the guard said. Atreyu. His light brown eyes kept going up and down her body, and Dr. Porter completely ignored him. My body tensed at his look, and I had to force myself to relax. While Atreyu pretended to be a pervert half the time, he was one of the hardest working guards in the building and knew everything by heart. He would also never touch a woman without permission. I had no reason to be on edge and yet I was.
“So?” she said. “What’s wrong with wanting to know about the security protocols of the building I’m working in? I should be aware of what’s in place in case of emergencies. If this place were to shut down, I wouldn’t want to step on toes or do something wrong that would put everyone at risk.”
Atreyu snorted. “Like that would happen.”
“Really? You have complete faith that no one wants to break into this building? That no one would ever hold a grudge toward anyone here? That we don’t currently have a missile pointed at the building, ready to launch the moment the baddies get the ward down? Is this place really that infallible?”
Atreyu’s eyes grew dangerously dark and the energy in the air thickened as his beast rose to the surface. “Are you threatening us?” he asked, his voice deep. The tension built and everyone paused, staring at the scene as it unfolded. Violence was on the cusp, the real question was if it was going break out or not.
Dr. Porter didn’t step back like she should have. She didn’t even seem concerned with the fact that the guard’s teeth had lengthened. Atreyu didn’t have a name for what he was, but he was an ugly mean bastard when he was in his original form: face deformed, tufts of hair scattered across his face, eyes bulging from their sockets.
I prepared to tackle him when she did something I was not expecting. She reached up, used what looked like a paper fan that had materialized out of nothing, and whacked his nose that had grown out a little on its way into becoming a snout.
“Calm down,” she snapped, her own magic pushing against the energy in the space. My chest grew tight from the pressure. With the whack of the fan, all the energy in the air sucked back into Atreyu, and he flinched away from her, his eyes going back to light brown with a slightly dazed look. Dr. Porter’s own eyes were no longer dark green but glowed. Magic. She was using magic. “I’m not out to get you or anyone in this building. I simply gave you scenarios. You said no one will ever get into this building—you’re pretty damn sure about it—and I want to know why. I work here, I want to know what measures are in place to keep me safe. It’s a very simple question and one I have the right to ask.”
“You may have the right to ask,” Atreyu said, face paling, teeth clenched, “but it doesn’t mean we are going to spill our secrets on how we work.”
I smiled as they went back and forth. Without even realizing it, they had become entertainment as everyone in the room watched them banter. Both of them were stubborn, neither of them willing to give in. The tension seeped out of everyone when they realized there was no threat, just two stubborn people arguing. That was common enough in this building.
With their banter distracting everyone, I took the moment to reassess Dr. Porter. She was the first lab technician to ask for security protocols. The others took it at face value and jumped right into their work. But not her. Why was that? Something in her life made her cautious, and I didn’t like that. She shouldn’t have to be.
She should be living in a world where everything went right, where people weren’t murdered or persecuted, where women and children were safe and healthy. Where massacres didn’t exist. Was it because of her childhood, growing up in foster homes? The system wasn’t perfect. I dealt with children at the recreational center who suffered because of foster homes. They felt safer at the rec than they did in their own homes. Anger swirled inside of me as my chest tightened. Was that what it was like for Dr. Porter? Did she push herself hard because she’d had no choice.
I knew she was a survivor and resourceful, but how much of that was because of a tragic past? I didn’t like thinking of Dr. Porter as a child just trying to survive as she went from one home to another. If she needed a place to feel safe, I hoped it was here. I wanted it to be here. A lot of our employees found this place a second home, and maybe with time, it’d be the same for her.
“Give her a rundown,” I finally spoke up, interrupting their fight. Despite it being entertaining, we didn’t have all day for them to settle it, and I wasn’t even sure a day would be long enough.
“Sir?”
Dr. Porter stared at me, her eyes nearly pulling me in. Her sharp gaze challenged me, and I stiffened at it. Who would win? Her or me? I didn’t want to find out.
“Give her a tour, show her the big picture,” I said to Atreyu. “Let her see the layout of the building, where she’s allowed to go, where she would need access from someone else. Let her meet some of the guards on rotation.” I turned to Dr. Porter. “Will this work? You can understand we can’t give you the full rundown for security purposes, but we can give you the big picture.”
She blinked a few times before giving me a sharp nod. “That will work, Rhett.” My name on her lips in that voice made my heart skip a beat. I was a vampire, I wasn’t concerned about my heart not beating right, but damn, when was the last time someone had done that to me.
Never as a vampire. The only other time I could think of this type of reaction was with my wife when I was a human. Dark memories came forward, and I quickly shoved them away, refusing to go down that route. I didn’t need to think about her, them, and everything I had lost. That was lifetimes ago. I hadn’t been that human man for a long, long time.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Atreyu asked.
“Are you questioning me?” I asked, voice cold. “Dr. Porter wants to feel safe. In order for her to do that, she needs to understand how the company is run. There’s nothing wrong with her request. She has Level 2 clearance for today,” I said. That would give her access to most of the floors and main rooms but not everything. She’d also get to learn about some of the protocols we have set in place. We’d show some of our cards but not all of them.
“Thank you,” Dr. Porter said and smiled. It wasn’t a challenging one, or business one, it was one of relief and happiness. That was when it hit me. She needed this. This wasn’t curiosity. This was a need.
“Happy to help,” I replied with my own smile. I could feel my face relaxing. She stared at me for a few moments before nodding and turning back to Atreyu.
“Lead the way,�
� she said.
The two of them left the room as Dr. Porter began firing questions at him. Some of the others in the room chuckled. She was going to challenge everyone in here.
“Is that a good idea?” Ami asked, coming forward. I didn’t even notice she was in here.
“She needs it,” I said.
Ami glanced at her phone and sighed at whatever news she received on there. “I need to go. Quick report,” she shrugged, “is nothing to report. She did add an extra layer of security to her lab.”
“What do you mean?”
“She put up a ward to get into her lab. No one she doesn’t want in there is getting in. I need to run.” Ami disappeared out the door, and I smiled when what Ami said clicked. Laila was getting comfortable here. Good.
I went to the wall of monitors and scanned them until I found Laila and Atreyu. I chuckled as she pointed to a room and he shook his head. She frowned at him and said something. He still shook his head and kept walking. She stood there for a moment to stare at the door before chasing after her escort. Sound wasn’t needed as I stared at the two of them bickering.
Without even realizing it, I stayed planted in front of the screens and watched the whole tour, having trouble looking away from the doctor as she learned about some of our secrets.
Chapter Six
~Alijah Orr Part II~
I couldn’t believe she was the same person I’d met at the park a couple months ago. And now she was working here. When Lombardi had us meet up to talk about protection detail for her, her picture taunted me. It took a moment for her picture to click and when it did, I couldn’t help but chuckle. Maybe I should have been surprised that she had become an employee, but instead I found myself excited to see her again.
She had been interesting. It was rare to have a civilian throw themselves into the middle of something to do what was right. They usually gawked or ran away. And if they were crazy enough to throw themselves at danger, they usually became fodder, getting themselves killed. But Dr. Laila Porter didn’t do that. She put herself in the middle and actually did something that worked to protect people. She was fearless.
No, that wasn’t right. She knew fear, understood it. She was brave. She knew how to go against her instincts to do what was right. The others didn’t realize it yet, but Laila belonged here—more so than some of the other employees.
If she needed protection, I was more than willing to give it.
“What are you thinking?” Ami asked, coming up next to me. We partnered up occasionally for assignments. Ami was great at distracting while I did the sneaking.
I shrugged. “I’ll do what I can, but I’m not around much in the first place.”
“I’m going to go find her and introduce myself,” she said. “Come with?”
I nodded, and we went down to her floor. Laila was being set up on the lowest floor, where the biggest labs were built. The idea was that if anyone were to break in, they were going to have to work really hard to get to the good stuff on the lower floors.
Her lab door was open and soft music filtered into the hallway. We stood for a moment, taking in the scene.
There seemed to be a kind of chaos that took over a room when someone moved into a location. Laila’s lab did not have that. Against one wall were carefully placed and stacked boxes with black writing on it, clearly stating what the box was for. Next to the boxes were flattened ones, ready to be recycled.
Laila was digging into a box, pulling out pouches and placing them on a tray. She seemed to already know how to organize it all.
“Hello,” Ami called out and Laila looked, staring at us.
“Hello.” Her eyes met mine, and they widened slightly. “Alijah the tiger,” she said.
“Laila the doctor,” I replied, giving her a nod. “Pleasure seeing you again.”
She smiled. “Are you guys the welcoming committee?”
“Something like that,” Ami said, moving further into the room, looking around. Everything already unpacked seemed to be placed purposefully in their spots, instead of items being scattered around, to be organized at a later date. Laila pulled off her gloves, used a cloth to wipe her hands, and then came over.
“Let me guess,” she said, looking at the two of us. “Meatheads.”
“Meatheads?” Ami asked, stiffening.
“Oh, sorry.” Laila waved her hands. “Just what I call the security guards.”
“What do you call lab technicians then?” Ami asked, relaxing when she realized Laila wasn’t being mean about it.
“Labbies.”
Ami snorted. “Nice. Have you met any of them yet?” she asked.
Laila shook her head. “And I expect I probably won’t?”
“Too true.” Ami jumped up on a counter and grabbed the closest vial to look at it, turning the glass in her hands. I walked over and pulled it out of her hand, returning it back on the counter exactly where Laila had placed it.
“Before you start touching everything like a three-year-old, how about you ask the doctor?” I said.
“Aw, but Dad!” she said and kicked her legs as if throwing a fit. I just shook my head at her childishness. Some days, it was easier to treat her like one. Davies was the same way. Lombardi learned to not put the two of them on missions together. They were darn good at their jobs, but they also liked to make it more difficult than it needed to be.
I yanked Ami off the counter, noting Laila’s thankful smile. Ami didn’t notice as she moved around the lab.
“So, Laila, what do you specialize in?” she asked as she picked up a small box and flipped it open.
“Dr. Porter,” she corrected and Ami looked up. “Please, call me Dr. Porter.”
Ami’s mouth popped open before meeting my eyes as if to ask if she was serious. I gave her a slight nod. “Okay, Dr. Porter. I’m sorry if I offended you.”
Laila smiled. “You didn’t.” She left it as that as she went over, grabbed the box, and put it exactly where it was before Ami got her hands on it. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t touch everything. Something might eat you.”
Eyes widening, Ami asked, “Can that happen?”
“Sure.” Laila didn’t expand and after a moment, began laughing. “Your expression is funny.” She shook her head and then pointed at a box. “Can you grab that for me? It’s heavy.” She grabbed the empty one, breaking it down. She even peeled off the excess tape before adding it to the pile.
I did as she wanted, putting the box right where the previous one was.
Ami poked the box. “What’s in here?”
“Herbs.” Laila cut open the box and before I knew it, they were talking about plants and Laila’s sources for obtaining them. According to Ami, the doctor had a good supply of herbs and plants to work with. Even she looked jealous.
The next hour went by as I helped move boxes to the counter and Laila unpacked them. Ami helped after getting strict instructions on how to do it. Laila really did have a place for everything. Ami would go, find something, and move it over a little, and not even a minute later, Laila was fixing it.
After we helped her finish up, she kicked us out of the lab, needing to go to a meeting with her supervisor.
We watched her get on the elevator.
“I like her,” Ami said with a grin.
“You want to tease her.”
She snorted. “Yeah, I do. Her life is too clean.” Ami wiggled her fingers. “Need to get her hands dirty.”
I shook my head. While Ami kept moving things and being playful, Laila never got frustrated or mad at her. I wasn’t even sure if she noticed half the time. She just fixed Ami’s mess and kept going forward. She was patient.
Brave and patient.
Controlling.
And cocky.
Yeah, she was going to fit right in here.
Chapter Seven
~Davies Kalman Part I~
The sound of my humming echoed off the sterile walls. I did not like going into the lab section of the building. It wa
s creepy down here. Quiet. My mind kept conjuring up women screaming in agony as they were tortured, strapped to tables, stomachs cut open, insides exposed. That seemed like something that would be happening down here.
Not like we knew what else. The lab technicians weren’t people we hung out with. They hid, did their own thing, and were sighted as frequently as a dragon. Considering there were only a dozen dragons left in the entire world, it was a rare sighting.
Humans had stories of creatures that didn’t exist. I’d think in a world where everything was possible, nothing was mythical. Yet stories of the Loch Ness Monster and Bigfoot still circulated, and the supernaturals kept telling us to cut it out. They didn’t exist. We needed to leave the kelpies and unicorns alone before they tore us a new asshole.
I snorted. I couldn’t believe I was comparing lab technicians to mythical creatures. Unlike those creatures, the smartasses did exist. Obviously. Otherwise, who else kept coming up with new tech or improving old ones. Someone needed to do that job.
Apparently, this Laila chick was up for it. I didn’t even know what to think. I hadn’t seen her yet, but gossip was spreading fast. She was smart, super smart, and she kept butting heads with people. Atreyu had been forced to give her a tour, and he was still grumbling about it. That woman knew how to press his buttons. Anyone who could get Atreyu grumbling like that was worth meeting. The man obsessed over his job, and he took it too seriously. He could be mistaken as a gargoyle. And like gargoyles, if anyone tried to hurt the company, he was in their face, ready to gouge their eyeballs out.
I shivered thinking about my one experience with those creatures.
The Council in Europe had a mini castle out there, and they had gargoyles who watched over the building. After one visit, and watching them tear a man apart, I never wanted to go back there again. Sometimes, I wondered if Atreyu would react the same way. He was a stone, no reaction, and fuck did I try to get him to react to my shit. He’d just ignore me, like he ignored everyone else. The only thing that got that man’s jollies up was when he was talking about security. The man ate, slept, and breathed that shit.
Magical Attraction: Page 4
