Kayla: I was hoping you’d bring it to me.
Another pause. She was definitely pushing his limits.
Chem: When and where.
She texted him the time and address to the party. After another long minute, he replied. Fine. $300.
Kayla: Are you freaking kidding me? That’s double the price of a full batch.
Chem: Don’t be an ungrateful little shit. This is a rush job with delivery. Take it or leave it.
Now he wanted to be a heartless greedy bastard? Where was that caring compassionate soul from a minute ago?
Kayla: I can do $100 now and the rest when I get back home.
Chem: I’m going to pretend you didn’t just text that shit to me. 300 cash. Clean.
Kayla: You know how impossible it is to get clean cash.
Chem: No money, no tonic.
Kayla: Fine, I’ll have it.
Chem: You better. I don’t have time to play anymore fucking games today. I already got stiffed once. I’m doing you a favor. Remember that.
Kayla: Got it.
Jackass.
Chem: I’ll let you know when I’m on my way. Clean cash. I’m fucking serious.
How was she going to get clean cash on such short notice?
The night hadn’t even started and it was already turning into a steaming pile of dog doo. On top of everything else, she had to figure out how she was going to convince her bodyguard to take her off route to the bank.
Yay. Not.
The odds were not in her favor. But getting to know Brian was worth it. She’d just have to cross that bridge with Derrek when she got to it. There were more immediate things to focus on. She needed to get dressed. Brian was waiting for her.
She took a deep cleansing breath and let the normie in her take over. It was amazing how much lighter she felt without magic threatening her destruction. After a quick fix of her hair and a change clothes, she felt ready to conquer normal life again. The one that included going out on real dates and not getting caught up in stupid magical garbage.
She flashed a smile at her reflection after applying a shade of ruby red lipstick to match her dress. Brian Matthews wouldn’t stand a chance with this hot red number she had on. She gave herself one last look. Yeah, this dress killed.
Time to fetch Breanne.
Crossing the creaky hallway floor into the living room, she twirled into the living room to show off her dress, but frowned after a full revolution.
Breanne said she was ready. Sitting cross-legged on the couch biting a pen between her lips and hovering over a textbook, she was the furthest she could be from ready. Coupled with her lazy jeans and a plain crew-neck top, she looked like she was going to class instead of a party.
There was definitely a cosmic force working against her.
Kayla cleared her throat to get her attention.
“I thought you said you were ready?”
“I am. I just need to review this. I cannot afford to flunk or I won’t be able to sit for my nursing exams next year. I just need five more minutes.”
Who was she trying to fool? Breanne was the smartest person she knew. If she hadn’t known for a verifiable fact that Breanne was non-magical, she would have taken her for a mage. No one had that kind of total recall without magical assistance. Well, except for Breanne.
“You’ve done enough studying! You need to blow off some steam. Come on, get dressed.”
“I am dressed.”
“You’re in jeans!”
“What’s wrong with these?”
She eyed her friend’s jeans with disdain. Based on the ketchup stain on the knee, they were in need of a good wash. Not to mention they were super worn through and unflattering. There was no way Breanne was going to the party in that.
If she had any chance of seeing Brian alone, she had to whip Breanne’s careless fashion into shape. She’d much rather have her as a chaperone than Derrek. Since according to her father, she must be accompanied at all times. Whatever.
“Everything. Come on Bri Bri, please get changed.”
Breanne glanced down at her textbook. “Can we just skip this one? I really need to study.”
Work with me here. “You have to go Bri Bri. Please. If you don’t Derrek will. And Derrek is…” She searched for the right word.
“A pain in the rump?”
Yes! “He tells daddy everything…” and follows me everywhere.
“Fine, but do I have to change? This is serviceable.”
“You did not just say that.” Kayla checked the time on her phone. Barely 9. It would probably take Chem a few hours to brew her tonic, and the party probably wouldn’t get going until 10. At least the cosmos allowed her a little time for this side adventure. “Come, I have the perfect thing for you to wear.”
Of course, Breanne groaned and complained. But after a lot of convincing, she let her play dress up. After all that studying, Breann really did deserve to let her hair down for once and get some collegiate tale.
Which reminded her, she needed to make a mental note to ask Brian if he had any cool friends. Because double dates with her roommate were going to be a must if she was ever going to have a social life outside of fighting with her bodyguard to go places off campus.
And if any were half as attractive as he was, her roommate was going to be dressed for the occasion for sure. Especially since after tonight, she and Brian were going to graduate from flirty glances in class to phase two. Dating with benefits.
Once Breanne was dressed and checking herself out in a full-length mirror in the hall, Kayla let out a low whistle. “I knew that dress would be perfect for you. You are a secret bombshell.”
The black dress with the cutouts on the side was destined to be worn by her. Breanne looked smoking hot in it, if she did say so herself.
“Now for the finishing touches,” Kayla pulled out her make-up bag and got to work. Surprisingly enough, Breanne didn’t complain. Her beauty was a natural shine, it didn’t take long to apply a bit of eyeliner and some blush. “Ready to see your final look?”
Breanne nodded and turned around. Her jaw hit her chest. “Wow.”
“Like it?”
She nodded, her chin still dangling open as she looked in the mirror.
“This is amazing,” Breanne gasped and studied her reflection. It felt good to see her roommate finally see her own beauty for herself. “You know, we look… alike.”
She wasn’t lying. Sure, in the details, it was more like an 80% overall match. Her nose was slightly wider, Breanne’s lips slightly fuller. But they were exactly the same height and build, their face shape and slanted green eyes were a dead ringer for a match. They even had the same shoe size. If she hadn’t known any better, she’d say her father had a secret family he’d never told her about.
“We could pass for twins, right? Oh wait, one more thing.”
Digging in her clutch, she pulled out an unused tube of hot red lipstick and handed it to Breanne.
Make that 85% match with the lipstick applied.
“You look stunning! Now, it’s time to get our flirt on. I don’t want to be late for Brian. My lips have been aching for him all semester.”
She tugged Breanne out of the front door. The cosmos has finally stopped pissing in her bed and she was going to work it for all it was worth. And nothing, not magic, not anything was going to keep her from that party.
2
KAYLA
As per protocol, Derrek stood next to the shiny black Tesla sedan her father loaned her when she started school at Piermont. She didn’t even know how to drive for Pete’s sake. Yet, there it was every day, sitting curbside ready for Derrek to squash her social life like a bug. It was another reminder of how guarded she was.
When he saw them, Derrek adjusted a coat that looked to be twenty years older than her and opened the back door. There were no pleasantries between them as she scooted by him to get in. Not even a hello. Derrek said he preferred it that way. He was terrible at small talk. She cou
ld see why.
As a beefy man who towered above most people, his girth scared most of them shitless. His magic didn’t help him make friends either. Not with normies at least. Normies felt the underpinnings of their power even though they didn’t realize it. The more powerful the mage, the more off-putting they could be. Derrek had off-putting in spades.
Once she was in the car, her beefy guard moved in Breanne’s way. Kayla gave him the hardest eye roll of her life. Freaking Derrek. They didn’t have time for this.
Breanne was already on the case. “I barely have any clothes on, I’m sure you don’t need to search me this time,” she said, hands flying to her hips.
Everyone else may have been afraid of him, but Breanne was not. Her friend seemed immune to mage power. Derrek raised his right brow and studied Breanne.
“Open your purse,” his thick voice rumbled as he stared down at the petite bag at her hip.
No, scratch that. This was the hardest eye roll of her life. Kayla leaned over to peek her head out and let disapproval color her tone. “Come on Derrek, we’re going to be late.”
Her bodyguard’s jaw hardened. He didn’t like to be told what to do. Especially not by her. Her phone beeped.
“See? That means we’re late.” A white lie never hurt anyone. Especially when it got her exactly what she wanted. He moved to the side and let Breanne in.
A quick glance at her phone flashed a message from her dealer.
Chem: Be fucking ready. I’m on my way.
Bastard. She’d have to figure out how he made her tonic so she wouldn’t have to deal with him anymore. Clean cash. Who even wanted clean cash anyway? Normie’s couldn’t tell the difference. But she had to play by his rules.
Fine. She’d get clean cash.
Kayla deflated a little when she turned to the bodyguard forcing himself in the front seat.
Derrek had been her bodyguard since she was 13 and in the seven years, she’d known him, he’d always been hell bent on following her father’s rules. Even though they both knew they were outrageously ridiculous.
He’d even said it himself that the only reason he’d only been hired because her father was eccentric. But trying to convince Derrek of that or anything resembling defying protocol was like talking to a potted plant. But she had to try. Her love life depended on it.
“Derrek, we have to make a stop.”
“What’s that?” He called from the front seat as they unlatched from the curb.
“I have to go to the ATM. We need cash for the party.”
“I didn’t realize there was a cover,” Breanne said from beside her.
“Yeah, the sorority house is raising funds for charity or something. Don’t worry, my treat.” She tossed Breanne a brief smile, and hoped her lie was convincing.
“How much?” Derrek asked.
Her smile faded. “Enough to need to go to the ATM for my own money.”
The message was coded, but he didn’t bite. “What’s the cover?”
Come one Derrek, work with me.
“I want to use my own money.” From the flash of understanding in his eyes, he knew exactly what she meant. She didn’t want to use magicked money, especially not his. If her father had given it to him, it wouldn’t let her use it for anything on his disapproval list.
She’d tried it once when she was eleven. Her father had sent her into the grocery store to get eggs. While there, she’d tried to sneak a pack of gum, which he’d said would rot her teeth, and the money wouldn’t unstick from her hands when she’d gotten to the register. It wasn’t until she’d returned the pack of gum that the money loosened from her grasp.
If the money in Derrek’s pocket was just the same, she wouldn’t be able to get her tonic. She couldn’t take that chance.
“There’s a bank on Broadway, take a right.”
The car didn’t turn. She ground her teeth. “Did you hear me Derrek?”
“I heard you alright.”
Alright, asking nicely wasn’t going to win her any points tonight. “So, are you going to take me or not?”
Silence spread between them and Derrek kept the car pointed toward campus. No, that was not what he was supposed to do. He was supposed to respond not keep his face smooth and unreadable.
Gritting her teeth, she pushed herself forward in her seat and grilled him in the rearview mirror. He’d better thank his lucky stars her magic was completely gone or it would have come raging out of her in a ball of hellfire aimed at the back of his head. “Derrek…”
Just when he turned up a side street a few blocks from their school, they stopped. Several orange and white striped wooden barricades lined the road, blocking their way. She smirked.
Hmph. Take that for protocol.
Triumphant, she sat back in her seat and crossed one arm over the other. And did what any other practical person would do in her situation: gloated. Was it childish? Sure, but she couldn’t help herself. Derrek deserved it.
“See? If you’d just taken me to the bank, we wouldn’t be stuck on a closed road.”
“This road is not closed. It was checked a few minutes ago.” Derrek grunted.
She stared at Derrek’s reflection in the rearview mirror. Instantly, her jubilation crumbled to her feet. Her thick-necked bodyguard didn’t return her gaze, but alarm made a deep crease in his forehead. The sprinkle of greys in his hair seemed to stand on end. He looked like he’d aged ten years in a few seconds.
Wait a minute, was there really a reason she needed to be guarded at all times? Someone she needed protection from? Some villain only her father knew about that she’d dismissed as one of his eccentric oddities?
All questions she planned to ask Derrek, but stopped when she glanced at Breanne.
Guilt clawed at her stomach. She was keeping so much from her already. Concealing certain things about herself kept Breanne safe. Heck, it was already a miracle that her only friend soldiered through the many routine checks Derrek happily put her through. The girl was steely.
That was probably because she didn’t suspect their routes were checked too. That would’ve freaked her out more than the routine checks did. Breanne would have run out of there faster than a race horse at the Belmont Stakes.
She might still when she heard what had to come next. Radio checks.
Glancing up, she eyed Derrek as he pulled out a radio from the middle console wishing there was a way out of it. “Blue Team, Blue Team, this is Watcher, copy.”
“Watcher, this is Blue Team.”
This was it, there was no turning back now. She snuck a glance at Breanne. Breanne’s chin met her chest for the second time that night. This time, there wasn’t a mirror displaying a gorgeous girl back at her. Now, her roommate realized she was smack dab inside of the bubble her father created. Kayla knew what came after that. Dread squeezed her gut into its tight fist. Breanne was going to run.
As soon as they made it back to their apartment, the only real friend she’d ever had was going to pack her things and high tale it out of there. Any sane person would. The thought of her wanting to distance herself, made tears sting Kayla’s eyes. She didn’t want to lose her.
“Confirm the route, over."
“Kayla, what’s going on?” Breanne whispered beside her.
Plucking at the seatbelt, she pretended not to hear her. What was she supposed to say? ‘Hey I know we’ve been friends for almost a year and I have never told you this, but my father sent a team of people to watch over us. Yeah, that guy who cuts the bushes? He’s really another bodyguard like Derrek. The woman who lives across the hall? Probably sent by my father too because I can sense her magic. I never did confirm that one though.’
Yeah, right. That was a pill too large and too dry for anyone to swallow.
“Come in, Blue Team,” Derrek said again, before setting the radio into his lap. Derrek checked the side mirrors and out of the windows as if searching for something off about the neighborhood they were in.
Nothing as far as she
could tell. Outside of what looked to be a power outage, nothing looked out of place. Sure, the street was vacant, but it was late. Most people would be sleeping by now. Especially in this neighborhood that was more residential than city.
“Radio check, over,” Derrek called into the radio. Static fell into silence. That was not good. Derrek’s jaw cracked as he fiddled with several buttons to switch channels. “This is Watcher, come in Red. I need an alternate route. Copy.”
Silence.
Derrek slammed the car into reverse. The tires screeched against the pavement as the car whipped around. Breanne yelped as she was knocked back into her seat.
“Whoa,” she said.
“Derrek, calm down, you’re being scary.” Her voice shook. Unconsciously, she tightened her seat belt to feel the comfort of the strap across her chest. It made her feel secure. Safe. She should do the same for Breanne just in case she was scared too. She reached over and tightened hers as well before readjusting her own.
“What’s happening?” Breanne whispered fiercely as she leaned over.
“It’s probably nothing.” Not once could she meet Breanne’s gaze.
Derrek switched to another channel.
“This is Watcher. Falcon and Sparrow are en route. Need an evac. Over.”
“Affirmative,” a voice finally said. “Head towards banker’s row.”
Her shoulders eased. Derrek turned up Euclid Avenue toward the street that lived up to its namesake. A set of headlights followed them. He turned off the route. Again, the headlights bobbled behind them. He pushed on the gas. The car raced forward. So did the truck behind them.
Derrek pressed the radio against his lips. “Confirm yourself, by protocol, over.”
When no one answered, Derrek’s foot eased off the pedal. The car slowed, but the headlights behind them grew brighter. She glanced over her shoulder through the back window.
Shit. The truck behind them wasn’t stopping.
“Go, Go!” She screamed, sliding forward in her seat.
Too late.
The truck smashed into their bumper, sending her jerking against her seatbelt. The tires squealed as they scuttled across the pavement until coming to a halt. The air bags deployed, decking her in the face with an ear deafening boom.
Love Bitten (Vampire Blood Royals Book 1) Page 22
