by Lisa Olsen
“You went for a walk in the rain?”
“We never made it down to the beach. We got, um… distracted.”
His hands came up to stop me. “Okay, spare me the girl talk, or I’m gonna have to take this sledge to my own head to keep from hearing it.”
“You’re the one who asked how the date went,” I said with a half shrug.
“Then you’re going to see him again?”
“Of course I am. I love him, he loves me…” I smiled to think of the offhand way Bishop had brought it up in the restaurant. “I’d be a fool not to try and make it work.”
“Or a fool to risk your heart again on a guy who stomped on it once already,” he glowered.
“He made a mistake, he even apologized to me for it tonight. He’s changed.”
“Any time I hear a woman think she can change a man, it makes my idiot-meter go off. Don’t be that girl, Anja.”
He didn’t get it. “I’m not trying to change him, he’s already changed himself. He’s changed a lot in the past year. So have I.”
“I know. I just wonder if he can appreciate that.”
“We’ll see.”
Chapter Five
“You know what you need to do,” Felix started in, from the moment I answered the phone.
“Register for Comic-Con before it gets too late? I keep forgetting to ask Maggie to find out when the tickets go on sale.”
“Ah… no, that wasn’t what I had in mind.”
I couldn’t think what other business I had coming up in southern California, but I hoped it wasn’t another veiled attempt to get me to invite Bridget up for a visit. Already, I wasn’t looking forward to seeing her at the party on New Year’s. I started pulling up the website for the Comic-Con while I had it on the brain. “What’s up then? And no, I don’t want to do that bloody champagne fountain thing, I still think it’s gross to mix blood and alcohol.” There were probably a lot of vampires that disagreed with that opinion, but it was my party after all.
“No, no, I leave the refreshments up to you. But ah… there will be blood available for the guests like we talked about, won’t there?”
We’d already discussed having fresh blood available in small quantities, like they did at Vetis. It wasn’t my usual thing, but he wanted to impress the council and Maggie said that Mr. Vaughn had volunteered to take care of it in a humane and safe way. “Yep, we’re all set there,” I replied, my face falling when the page finished loading. “Aw man… they’re already sold out.”
“The blood?” Felix asked in confusion.
“No, the Comic-Con tickets. You had to buy them in November. Why didn’t somebody tell me?” I muttered, and he cleared his throat.
“About the party…”
“Yes, sorry. What is it, Felix?”
“Maggie said you haven’t found a venue yet and it’s less than a month away. Tell me I don’t have to worry.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him not to, but I had to admit, I wasn’t sure yet how we were going to pull it off. “Ah, maybe you could worry a teensy bit. I thought we had a place lined up, but people keep RSVPing.”
“And I’ve got one more for you. Jennike Vendal responded that she’d be delighted to attend.”
Ugh, now I’d have to be nice to her. The Elder ranked right at number two on my I wish they’d get zapped through a wormhole into another dimension list, right under Carys. “What’d you have to invite the wicked witch of the East for, Felix?”
“Because I invited all of the Elders. So far she’s the only one willing to make the trip though. That leads me back to the idea of making a good impression. Are you sure you don’t want to make the guest list more exclusive?”
“No, no way,” I insisted. “I’d rather hold a bonfire on the beach and let everybody come than turn people away. No, this party is for everyone, not the upper crust.”
“That reminds me, I had a point when I picked up the phone to call you besides telling you about Jennike. Why don’t you come on down and use the mansion here? It seems like a shame to have it sitting there empty.”
The official residence for the Elder of the West down in L.A. had been vacant since Tommy’s death, but I had no desire to leave San Francisco. Especially since if I had the big house, like Vetis, I’d be obligated to open it up to visiting dignitaries, and I valued my privacy and safety too much. “Because I’m more comfortable here. Why don’t you move into it?”
“Because I’m not the Elder.”
“So?”
“I’m good where I am.”
“Well, so am I. That might be a good idea though. I’ve been meaning to look into a place to host visiting dignitaries when they come to town. What if I bought a bigger house up here?” The cash coffers could certainly stand the expense. “Do you think I could manage it in time?” I was completely clueless when it came to real estate matters, Jakob had handled all the paperwork for my house on his own. I didn’t think Maggie had any idea either.
“Hey, that notion’s not half bad,” he replied, catching enthusiasm for the idea. “I’ve got a guy can make any deal go through, trust me. You pick a place and he’ll make it happen. Even if it ain’t for sale.”
“You know better to suggest that,” I scolded him. “I’m not about to evict some poor family from their home so I can have a party house for out of town guests.”
“The size of the place we’d need, they’d hardly be poor, trust me,” he cracked. “But I get it, I’ll tell Leo not to go too heavy then. But if you’re talking a legit cash deal on a house that’s already on the market? I’m betting he can swing it in a couple of weeks.”
“I’d better get moving then, we’ll still be cutting it close with the holidays.” It was time to start a new list and do some brainstorming with Maggie about logistics. “Have this guy Leo contact me and I’ll try and have a property or two to make inquiries on by the end of tomorrow night.”
“You got it, boss,” he agreed. “You know, Bridget will be over the moon to see you again. She don’t talk about it much, but I can tell she misses you lots.”
Thanks to Jakob’s compulsion, I didn’t feel the overwhelming urge to tear her face off at the mention of her name, but that didn’t mean I was eager to see Bridget any time soon. Still, I made my voice as polite as possible, hoping he wouldn’t notice the lack of warmth behind it. “Yep, it’ll be something to get the old gang back together again. I’m sure it’ll be a night to remember.”
“Well, I’ll let you go, it sounds like you’ve got a lot to do. I’ll be sure to pass your info on to Leo, and I’ll get the census report to you as soon as it’s finalized.”
“Okay, thanks for your help, Felix. I’ll let you know as soon as I pick a place too.”
“Feel free to splurge on the new digs. With the numbers we’re pulling in Canada now, we should make a killing in the next tithing.”
Already adding things to my list, I almost missed that last part. “I’m sorry, what was that about Canada?”
“The census. We’ve got a big influx of vamps in the northern territories, so we should be all set for a major influx of revenue at the next tithing.”
“That doesn’t strike you as odd, this sudden relocation to Canada? Where are they all coming from?”
“Who cares, as long as they pay their dues. Besides, we’ve got the land to support the bigger numbers, and this means more clout for us on the world scene. It’s a win/win scenario, boss.”
“No, right, I get that.” It obviously didn’t set off his Spidey senses the way it did for me. “Thanks again, Felix. I’ll talk to you later.”
After I hung up, I tried to go back to my list for the house search, but I kept coming back to the Canada issue, feeling like there was a connection I’d missed there somewhere. I went in search of Carter, finding him up to his kneecaps in dirt, and I perched in the hallway, out of the construction zone. For the longest time he didn’t notice I was there, singing along to Sunshine of Your Love. When he finally no
ticed me, he jumped a foot, the pickaxe coming up like a weapon until he saw who it was.
“Jesus Christ, Anja! How long have you been sitting there?” he demanded.
“Long enough to learn the words to Cream’s greatest hits?” I replied, suppressing a grin. “I didn’t know you could sing.”
“I can’t. Not like you can anyway,” he shrugged it off, rolling his shoulders before he started in with the pick again. “What’s up?”
“I didn’t mean to get in the middle of your mud party, but do you think you could do some of that computer magic you’re so good at?”
His brows came up with interest. “Who are we snooping on, and does it mean they’re getting a pounding soon?” he asked, his blue eyes alight with anticipation.
“It’s not a who exactly, and I’m not even sure where to tell you to look for the dirt I need. But I’m wondering if you can somehow find information for me on the upcoming census?”
“I thought Felix was compiling that data for you.”
“He is, but I want you to look into the census info for the East. Their Canadian territories to be exact.”
“Oh really?” That caught his interest again, despite the lack of promised violence. “And what are we hoping to find?”
“Felix tells me there are a lot more vamps flocking to Canada. I’m wondering if that’s a trend that’s specific to the West or if the East is seeing an influx as well. I’m wondering if it has anything to do with the missing vampires from England.”
“What makes you think those are the same vamps?”
“Because I can’t shake the feeling that Corley was up to something before he got banished from Vetis. He wanted to buy Canada out from under me in the worst way, something about returning it to the motherland. But now that he’s under Jennike’s wing in New York, I wonder if they’re cooking up something together.”
“Could be, but for it to matter, you’d have to agree to sell Canada to Jennike now.”
“And she’s just RSVP’d for our shindig.”
“Okay, you’ve got my interest,” Carter declared, brushing his hands off on his jeans and jumping out of the hole. “I’ll go see what I can find out.”
Two hours later, when I was sitting in my office scrolling through the real estate listings Maggie had flagged for me, Carter came in for a report. “They’re definitely seeing a bump in population on the East side too. In fact, they’ve got about a third more vamps on that side of the border than we do.”
“Huh,” I commented, sitting back in my chair. “But why? I don’t suppose the information listed where they came from, did it?”
“Nope. But I could find out for you,” he offered with an extra bounce in his step. “Give me a couple of days and I’ll track down some of those immigrants and figure out what the deal is.” The poor guy looked so eager to get out in the field and do something, even a simple task like this, how could I say no?
“Okay, but you have to be back in time for Christmas with the family.”
“Yeah, no sweat. I’ll be back way before then.”
“Wait, what about the hole in my basement? It’s not going to flood the next time it rains, is it?”
For an instant, I saw his eyes widen with a cross between fear and chagrin, but Carter was smooth when he replied. “Naw, you should be fine. I’ll be back before you know it.”
“Fine, but if it floods, that becomes your new bedroom until the hole is repaired, you get me?”
“Loud and clear,” he grinned. “You gonna be alright with me gone? You’re not going to do anything stupid are you?”
“Me?” I flashed him my most innocent look. “I’m just looking at houses with Maggie and maybe going out with Bishop again.”
His mouth opened to retort, but he changed his mind at the last moment. “I’m not touching that one. Later, sunshine. I’ll call you if I find out anything good.”
Chapter Six
With Carter out of town, I skipped my usual training to devote my time to the real estate search. We had a standing appointment up in his attic space. Rob had given me a solid foundation in hand to hand fighting, but the moves he’d shown me had been far more defensive than offensive, and Carter thought it’d be a good idea for me to broaden my skills. Despite the fact that I still winced every time I landed a good punch or kick, I found that I liked knowing I could deliver a solid hit when the occasion called for it.
I especially liked it when Lee joined us for an entirely different point of view when it came to brawling. I picked up tricks for dirty fighting I hoped I’d never have to use, especially whenever he reminded me to use my teeth as a weapon. As a vampire, I knew I shouldn’t be squeamish about such things, but heaven help me if I ever had to take a chunk out of someone in battle! Tucker joined us more often than not, soaking up the older shifter’s knowledge like a sponge, his rangy body filling out with the regular exercise.
When I heard Lee’s knock on my study door, I thought he might be up for a couple of rounds, and I was seriously considering it. So you can imagine my surprise when he came into the study wearing a blazer over his blue jeans and button-up shirt.
“Can I steal your attention for a heartbeat, darlin’?” Lee drawled, fingers fidgeting like he missed having a hat in them.
“Sure, Lee. What’s up?”
His gray hair was tied back with a leather thong, like he did when he was about to fight, but nothing else in his appearance said he expected trouble. “I know I said I’d take care of all the day to day stuff when it comes to runnin’ the business, but I wonder if I couldn’t get your opinion on a new hire I’m considerin’?”
Since I’d bought out Rob’s half of Lee’s new security business, I’d tried to stay out of it as much as possible, leaving the decisions to Lee. It was his baby, and I had more than enough on my plate to keep me busy. “Sure, I can do that. Is there something I should be looking out for? Is there a reason you’re not sure about hiring him?” Not that I knew a single thing about hiring guards.
“No, nothin’ like that,” he replied quickly, waving off that concern. “I reckon he’s a good fit, but since it’s for a manager’s position, I thought you might want to give your two cents.”
“Oh, okay. Sure, when do you want to set it up? Maggie can help you pick a time with my calendar.”
He fixed me with a sheepish duck of the head. “I was sorta hopin’ you had the time right now. He’s waitin’ on the front porch.”
I took a quick glance at the time. I didn’t have to meet Maggie with the realtor for more than an hour. “Ah… sure, I can do that. Does he have a resume or anything I should look at first?”
“No, it’s been a bit less formal than that. He heard I was lookin’ for a guy and he came highly recommended by the Alpha of these parts.”
“Oh, he’s a werewolf?”
“Yep, the beta for his pack.”
“That’s like a second in command, right? I guess that’s a good recommendation, at least it proves he can take orders and lead others. Anything else I should know about him going into it? Do you have any questions prepared or talking points about the position you want to go over with him?”
He stared at me blankly.
“I’m over planning this, maybe?” To my way of thinking, a job interview required questions to the guy’s character, his experience, his qualifications. What did he want us to do, smile at him across from the desk and talk about the weather?
“No, see, I knew you’d be on top of all that stuff. Most of the hires ain’t been that formal. I meet the fella over a beer or coffee, see if he’s strong and got the right temperament. If I like the look of him, then I hire him. But since this here’s management, I reckon I’m out of my depth.”
“Hey, I’ve never done the formal interview thing either. Most of the people who end up working for me sort of fall into the position.” Even my appointment of Leander as Magistrate had been based more on gut instinct than experience. Maybe Lee’s way of hiring was the way to go, but I coul
dn’t jump into the interview blind.
“Okey doke, give me five minutes to prepare, and then I’ll come out and invite him in. I guess feel free to bring him a beer out there if that’s what you usually do.”
“If you’d rather not invite him in…” he started to say, but I cut him off.
“No, it’s as good a test as any as to his character, right?” The house magic wouldn’t let in anyone who intended me harm. Not that it guaranteed he’d be a model employee, but it was a step in the right direction.
Quick like a bunny, I Googled the best interview questions to ask, and scanned a couple of articles like – 14 Ways to Identify a Toxic Employee During an Interview. With some hasty cut and pasting, I cobbled together a short list of questions and printed out a copy for myself and for Lee if he wanted one. I’d never interviewed anyone before, but heck, I’d faced down titans in vampire society. This should be easy peasey.
From the moment I opened the door, I was struck by how big the guy was. His six foot plus frame filled the doorway, brawny arms crossed beneath massive shoulders that bulged with muscle. His eyes were dark, and so was his hair, which fell in a tousled disarray around his ears, devoid of any product. The close cropped beard covered a chiseled jaw, his nose long and straight, but not overpowering his face. He wore jeans and a red checked shirt over a white t-shirt, rolled up at the sleeves, his forearms covered in a dark dusting of hair. Overall, he looked like he could break me in half if he wanted to, but there was no menace in the eyes that looked me up and down boldly, the tiniest of smiles curving the corner of his mouth.
“Nice to meet you, Mr., ah…” Damn, I probably should’ve asked for his name before I opened the door.
The smile twitched a little higher. “It’s Kane, and thanks for seeing me, ma’am.”
“That’s Your Grace to you, boy,” Lee prompted, and Kane shot him a rebellious frown.
