Nicole (The Mate Series) Book #1

by Teresa Gabelman

  “But don’t we have to have a degree?” Tessa frowned, looking disappointed. “I don’t want to be a bartender for the rest of my life.”

  “There have been changes in the past year for qualifications,” Nicole said, not really happy about it, but she knew for a fact it had been necessary. “With so many children now and so little social workers, they’ve had no choice. You will work with a certified social worker for a period of six months before taking any cases on your own. The probation period has also been extended for one year. A lot of what you will be involved in is working files in the office, making calls, as well as going on visits with one of us.”

  “So, like, on-the-job training,” Katrina said with a nod.

  “It’s a shame, but that’s what it’s come to with so many children displaced.” Nicole frowned. “With us becoming overwhelmed with cases they had no choice, but to lessen the qualification process.”

  “I can help as much as I can,” Pam added, giving Nicole a hug. “I can help train whoever wants to join.” Nicole nodded, hugging her back. “Guess you didn’t get approval from Mitch on this, did ya?” Pam chuckled when Nicole gave her a “yeah, right” glance.

  “As long as I make my Warrior training sessions, you can count on me.” Katrina nodded excitedly.

  Nicole glanced at Jill, who was frowning. “Jill, I know how hard you’ve fought to get where you are. I don’t expect you to quit the VC Warriors,” Nicole assured her. “You can help in so many other ways.”

  “And you know I will.” Jill snorted as if that was a given. “Plus, me being on the inside could be a big benefit right now.”

  “That’s true,” Pam replied thoughtfully. “Each of us can have different roles.”

  “Listen, I love my mate more than anything, but I’m tired of trying to do my job or attempting to be a part of something only to always be set aside.” Nicole noticed her friends all nodded. “I know they want to keep us safe, but they married strong women with minds of their own. I’m not the type of woman who likes to be placed on a shelf until it’s safe to come down.”

  The mumbles of agreement sounded throughout the room, but she could see hesitation on a couple faces. “At the end of the day, I need to know who I am,” Nicole continued, wondering if she was trying to convince herself or the others. “Because if I don’t, then I can never be the mate Damon deserves, and I can’t be the woman I was meant to be.”

  “I can work part-time and go full-time after school is out.” Caroline smiled excitedly. “Helping children is what I was meant to do.”

  “I’m finished with college and need a job anyway.” Angelina, who was always quiet, spoke up. “I don’t see Adam having a problem with it, and if he does, he can get over it.”

  A low snort sounded behind them, and they all looked that way, but there was nothing there. Frowning, Nicole glanced at Pam, who just shrugged.

  “There’s one more thing I need to tell you before you make a final decision,” Nicole announced, directing her attention back to them. “One of the vampires, Pike, who Rosenstein caged, mentioned the word demon. Since I was kept out of the meeting, I have no clue what that means, but I’ll be honest with you all, being raised as a church girl that word alone terrifies me.”

  “It should,” Kira, who had remained quiet throughout everything, said, gaining everyone’s attention. “You think Orjyll is bad.”

  “Yeah, Orjyll has nothing on a demon,” Mira added with a visible shiver.

  “You’ve actually dealt with a demon?” Jill’s eyes rounded as she stared from Mira to Kira.

  “Some real nasty ones,” Kira replied, then glanced back at Nicole before looking around at all the women. “Think about it, ladies. Humans obviously are not the only beings who walk the earth, which the vampires, shifters, and we witches have proved. There’s a very evil presence that most of us don’t see unless they want to be seen.”

  “And they go after the most vulnerable.” The meaning behind Mira’s words was clear.

  “Which are the children,” Nicole clarified. Anxiety, as well as full-fledged fear, almost overpowered her senses, but she pushed it back, refusing to let panic overtake her. She had a job to do and, by damn, she was going to do it, no matter what obstacle was in her way. She needed to talk to Rosenstein.

  Both Mira and Kira nodded, but remained quiet.

  Sighing, Nicole cursed. “Okay, that changes things… maybe. Unfortunately, because Damon and Sloan didn’t allow me inside the meeting, I have no clue exactly what we’re dealing with, but I will find out.”

  “Okay, so let’s make a plan on how to get to Rosenstein.” Jill took charge without batting an eye.

  Nicole opened her mouth, but the song “Baby Shark” began to play in the bar. Spinning toward the sound, Nicole couldn’t see where the sound was coming from.

  “Shit!” was hissed from the same area, and then all was quiet, not even that annoying song played.

  “Steve, I know it’s you.” Jill passed Nicole, and stood with her hands on her hips. “Adam made that your ring tone, dumbass. Maybe next time you start spying on people, silence your phone.”

  Steve appeared, looking guilty as hell and a little embarrassed at being caught. “Hey!” He gave them a wave with one hand while holding his phone with the other.

  “Where’s Drew?” Mira came forward with a worried look on her face.

  “She’s fine.” Steve held up his hand. “She’s with Becky and Sloan.”

  “What are you doing here?” Nicole frowned, narrowing her eyes at him. “Did you tell Sloan or anyone else that you were following us here?”

  “Whoa, no.” Steve backed away as the women as one stepped toward him. “I didn’t tell anyone. Mira was acting all weird wanting me to watch Drew, and when I asked her why, where she was going, I knew she was lying.”

  “Oh, you did, did you?” Mira pointed at Steve. “I don’t have to report to you every little thing I do, Steve.”

  “Ah, well yeah, you do, Mira.” Steve pointed back, then dropped his hand quickly when she gave him a death glare. “With Orajel running around and now this de— ah, other stuff going down—”

  “You were about to say demon.” Nicole cut him off. “What did Rosenstein tell them?”

  “I wasn’t there, okay.” Steve backed up toward the door. “And no, I wasn’t going to say demon.” He snorted like Nicole had lost her mind.

  “Yes, you were.”

  “No, I wasn’t,” Steve replied back, then dropped his eyes before looking back at Nicole and snorted. “Demon. Come on, girls. Where do you come up with this stuff?”

  “He’s lying,” Jill said, crossing her arms across her chest and staring Steve down. “I can make him talk.”

  “So can I.” Mira walked up to Steve, a smirk on her face. “Can’t I?”

  “There’s nothing to say.” Steve backed into a table. “So anyhoo, you ready to go, Mira?”

  “He can get you in to see Rosenstein.” Jill cocked her eyebrow as she put a finger to her lip in deep thought. “Since he’s part of the cock club, I’m sure he knows everything that’s going on. Don’t you, Steve?”

  “Pfft, I don’t know shit.” Steve’s voice wavered and cracked. “I never know shit. Have you ever known me to know shit?”

  Nicole grinned then glanced at Jill, who had an equally large grin on her face, before looking back at Steve. “So, Steve, where can I find Rosenstein?”

  Steve opened his mouth, then closed it, dropping his head to his chest in defeat. “Shit!”

  Chapter 10

  Nicole and Katrina followed Jill into the compound. They heard sounds coming from the kitchen and hurried the opposite way toward a set of elevators. Nicole’s eyes roamed the area seeing the cameras. Suddenly beautiful butterflies flew past them to land on the cameras. She glanced at Katrina who grinned.

  “Butterflies?” Nicole whispered in awe. This girl’s abilities amazed her.

  “Katrina nodded as they entered the elevator. They all l
ooked up to see a large butterfly on the lens of the camera slowly flapping its colorful wings. She knew the men weren’t stupid and would figure it out, but hopefully, she would be done on her mission by then.

  Never had Nicole been to this part of the compound, but Jill knew exactly where she was going. As the elevator stopped, the doors opened. Nicole was surprised as she followed Jill out. It looked totally different from the rest of the compound, as if it hadn’t been finished. It actually looked more like a dungeon. She glanced at Katrina who was also taking in the surroundings. They came to a large door with a keypad. Katrina continued to block the cameras with butterflies.

  “Steve better have given me the right code or I’m going to kick his ass,” Jill muttered as she poked in the code. The women waited as the door made a loud click, then broke open. Jill pulled the door the rest of the way, and hurried through.

  “Have you never been down here?” Nicole whispered as they walked down a long, narrow hallway lined with large metal doors. Stopping, Nicole peered into one, but it was empty. A cot and corner toilet were the only items in the room. Each door had a keypad.

  “A few times, but the codes change frequently.” Jill continued down the hallway with them following. “Don’t touch any of the doors without a window. Those are silver and will knock you on your ass. Steve learned the hard way. They have a peephole instead of a window. Those are for the vampires. The others are for humans.”

  Nicole realized there was so much she didn’t know about the world her mate was a part of. Not that it was his fault. She had never really asked for great details. Before she could think deeper, a loud bang and roar came from one of the doors she was passing. Nicole jumped back, hitting the door on the opposite side. The pain she felt would have taken her to her knees if Katrina and Jill hadn’t caught her.

  Rubbing her arm and shoulder, Nicole steadied herself and glanced at where the loud noise came from. Taking a step, she looked into the oversized peephole to see a face staring back at her. His eyes were jet-black, and his fangs were elongated, dripping with saliva. The vampire tilted his head, his eyes narrowing with hatred.

  “I can smell you,” he hissed, then breathed in deeply through his nose. “I never forget a smell, especially that of a woman. Let me out, and I will promise you life. If you don’t, I will hunt you down and kill you slowly after making you my whore.”

  Nicole stilled, staring at the creature, his face and fangs reminding her of the assassin who almost killed her at the nightclub when she had been human and had just met Damon. Nicole watched as he backed up, then swung the cot at the door. The sound vibrated throughout the hallway.

  “Don’t worry about him.” Jill rolled her eyes. “He isn’t getting out anytime soon, if ever.”

  Nicole nodded, then just as she started to turn away, the man screamed. “Get the fuck off me!” Nicole peered back through the peephole to see him smacking at himself.

  Katrina leaned over and whispered in her ear, “Spiders. That should keep him busy for a little while.”

  Nicole laughed, turning away from the door to follow Jill, reminding herself to never piss off Katrina. She was getting ready to say that when Jill cursed.

  “He’s not here.” Jill was looking into another room, this one with a window on the door. “Steve said he was in this room.”

  Nicole also peered in, but the room was empty. “Dammit!” Nicole glanced around. “Where else could he be?”

  “I don’t know. I checked all the rooms as we passed.” Jill cursed again, then stopped, cocking her head. “Uh-oh.”

  Nicole heard it at the same time. “Is that the elevator?”

  “Quick!” Jill grabbed Nicole, heading down the hallway with Katrina following. “I think I know another way out.”

  “You think?” Nicole glanced behind her, hoping to not see Damon barreling his way toward them.

  “Hey, I don’t get down here as much as the rest of them.” Jill huffed as she took another corner.

  “Doesn’t that piss you off?” Nicole added, realizing now was not the time or place to get Jill on a rant.

  “Yeah, it does, and they’re going to hear about it as soon as I figure out how to get us out of here before we get busted.” Jill slowed, then turned with a frown. “It’s high time someone takes down the cock club.”

  Yep, she should have waited before making that remark. “Focus, Jill, and get us out of here.”

  Once again, the three women began to run, finally finding another elevator. Jill hit the button, and tapped her foot as they continued looking behind them. Nicole glanced over at Katrina. “You got anything bigger than butterflies and spiders that may slow down a Warrior?”

  Frowning, Damon checked his phone before finishing his lunch. Rosenstein hadn’t told them a damn thing. He had been ready to take the fucker’s head off before Sloan had stopped him. Just knowing that bastard had put hands on Nicole was enough for Damon to lose his shit, but he had restrained himself… for now.

  “Will you stop tapping on the fucking table.” Damon boomed the order at Steve, who jumped and then juggled his phone that almost went flying onto Damon’s plate.

  “Sorry.” Steve caught his phone, holding it to his chest. Blaze shook his head but continued to eat until Steve, instead of using his fingers to tap on the table, started tapping with a butter knife. Damon grabbed his own knife ready to stab the kid when he realized the knife in Steve’s hand steamed. He glanced at Blaze, who was staring at the knife, his eyes swirling. Pleased, Damon put his down and waited with an expectant smirk on his face.

  It wasn’t long before Steve yelped, throwing the knife straight up in the air blowing on his fingers. His eyes met Damon’s as the knife clattered loudly on his plate. “Sorry, man. Don’t kill me.” Steve put his fingers in his mouth, and glared at Blaze. “You suck,” he said around his fingers.

  “What the fuck is wrong with you today?” Sid finally sat down with a plate of food. “You’ve been acting… ah, stranger than you usually are.”

  Before Steve could answer, Jared walked into the room. “Sloan needs to call the damn terminator guy.”

  “What?” Sid frowned at Jared after taking a huge bite of food.

  “You know, the dude who kills bugs and shit,” Jared grumbled, heading toward the waiting food. “There are butter-fucking-flies all over our cameras. Can’t see shit. And then that dumbass Jax picked up the other night for feeding off that woman was screaming through the speakers about spiders.”

  “Exterminator,” Steve said, still blowing absently on his fingers.

  “What?” Jared growled as he sat down.

  “Exterminator, not terminator,” Steve responded, then grinned with a snort. “Butterflies.”

  The Warriors all looked at each other, then at Steve. “You know something about the butterflies, Steve?” Jared asked, his eyes zeroing in on him.

  Steve opened his mouth, his eyes wide as if busted, but he quickly covered up his nervousness with a blank stare. “No. What the hell would I know about butterflies other than they’re cool, I guess. And pretty. Especially the black ones with blue or purple wings.”

  “Steve, shut the fuck up,” Sid growled, biting into his sandwich.

  Damon continued to watch Steve who briefly made eye contact with him and then looked away. Damon hadn’t stayed alive for hundreds of years without listening to his gut, and right now his gut was telling him something was up.

  “Ronan is going down to see what that asshole in cell 9 is crying about and removing the butterflies,” Jared added before digging into his food.

  “Going where?” Steve’s head snapped toward Jared. “He’s going down to the cells?”

  “Yeah,” Jared said slowly, his eyes narrowing. “That’s what I just said.”

  Steve stood to leave but stopped when his phone went off and “Baby Shark” belted out of his phone. “Fucking Adam.”

  “Answer it.” Damon stood and leaned toward Steve. “On speaker.”

  “Hey, thi
s is, ah, private.” Steve shuddered, taking a step back, then eyed the door. Blaze scooted his chair back, blocking Steve’s path.

  “Answer it.” Blaze nodded at the phone in Steve’s hand.

  “Yeah, and then give it to me so I can shatter the fucking thing,” Sid mumbled. He’d stopped eating, waiting for Steve to do as he was told.

  Cursing, Steve answered, “Hello.”

  Jill hissed from the phone, “Where the hell is he, Steve? You told me cell 15, but he’s not in cell 15. Now I’m running around with Nicole and Katrina trying to find our way out of here because someone is coming down the elevators.”

  “Ah, he’s there,” Steve said into the phone, his eyes going from one Warrior to another, finally landing on Damon, who glared at him so hard that Steve stepped back.

  “Ah, no, dipshit, he’s not,” Jill growled. “Where do these other elevators go?”

  “What elevators?” Steve asked, then frowned. “Did you go in the opposite direction and run down a bunch of narrow hallways like you were running in circles?”

  “Yeah,” Jill whispered loudly, sounding impatient.

  Jared snapped his finger, indicating for Steve to cover the mouthpiece. “Tell her to take that elevator.”

  “But that goes to Sloan’s office.” Steve grimaced. “I found that out the hard way, man.”

  “Exactly.” Jared motioned for him to tell her.

  “Jill, take that one,” Steve said, frowning.

  They heard shuffling and then the ding of the elevator. “What floor?”

  “Just hit S.” Steve wrinkled his nose as the Warriors in the room stood. Jared pulled Steve with him as they exited the kitchen. “I guess I’ll meet you there.”

  Damon grabbed the phone and hung it up, then tossed it to Sid.

  “Hey, I need that.” Steve reached for it, but Jared pushed him into Sloan’s office.

  “What’s going on?” Sloan was sitting at his desk reading over papers. Becky was at her computer.

  “Hit the button,” Damon told Sloan as he leaned against the wall, crossing his arms as he waited to hear from his mate’s lips what the hell she thought she was doing. “We got company coming up in the elevator.”