Blood & Roses: Warriors of the Krieger (19 page)

“Very nice to meet you both, would you mind
excusing us for a moment,” I used my sweet voice. Dragus laughed as
my new bodyguards made themselves at home in my kitchen. I turned
to him and sighed, “So, what are the restrictions?”

Dragus held his chin up and spoke with
authority, “They are not allowed to handle you, unless you are in
danger. One trainee must be with you at all times, unless you are
in your quarters or in my presence. They have to report any
problems to me immediately and call in one hour before they depart
at sunrise.” He glanced down at me, probably waiting for my lid to
blow, but I stood my ground and allowed his protection. Honestly, I
was a little worried myself with all of the attacks.

“So, are they
Krieger
recruits?”

“Yes, they are,” he smiled.

After a few stolen kisses, he sighed, “I must
get to work,
mi amado
. I will call you at the club in a few
hours.”

We made it to Nights a few minutes before
opening. William and Brock scanned the area in the alley as we
exited the car. The best thing for me to do was to just roll with
the punches. These guys were in training and I was providing a
service to further their advancement. Yeah, sounds good to me.

We walked into Nights like I was a rockstar.
Everyone stared at my entourage and then the whispers began. Lydia
was coming out of the office with a stack of papers and froze when
she caught sight of me and my tagalongs. I nodded for her to turn
around and go into the office and immediately followed. My guard
flanked my every move, just as Dragus had trained them.

As I walked around to my chair, William and
Brock stood with arms folded, one on each side of my door. Lydia
hugged the stack of papers like it was a life raft. She watched
them get into position and then she slumped down in the chair
opposite my desk.

“What the hell is all of this?” She waved her
hand out behind her.

“My bodyguards,” I grimaced. “Dragus said the
attacks are getting worse and he’s just being overprotective.”

Lydia leaned closer to me and spoke in a
whisper, “You think?”

After her little freak out, I introduced them
and watched Lydia make goo-goo eyes at Brock. He was in perfect
Krieger
form, he never smiled or spoke more than was
necessary, but I did catch his eyes check her behind, when she left
the office. I’m so going to tell her when I get a chance.

I attempted doing some paperwork, signing
invoices and writing a few checks, but I was distracted by my
guards. They stood like the royal guard at the door, never relaxing
their poses.

“Would you two
please
have a seat, you
are distracting me,” I begged. William immediately took the chair
by the door and Brock found his way over to the couch. “Look, if
you’re going to be hanging around here, you are going to have to
blend better. I know that you are on duty, but you need to relax a
little, or you’re going to drive me insane.”

The both nodded like the good little robots
they were paid to be. After an hour of cussing liquor prices and
wondering how the electric bill got so high, I picked up the phone
and called up to the East bar. Jackson sent Abby back to my office
with a goblet of red wine, mixed of course. (I’m detecting a habit
here.) I would have offered the guards some, but I already knew
Dragus would have their heads if they even thought about drinking
on the job.

Abby ran in and ran right out after meeting
the
Krieger
to be. I had just taken my first sip of wine
when the phone rang.

“Nights, Charity speaking,” I was in my prime
tonight, happy to be at work and having something to do.

“
Mi amado
, how are you?” Dragus
sounded relieved to hear my voice.

“
Mi amor
,” I purred. “I miss you.”

“It’s only been a few hours,” he laughed.
“How are the trainees?”

“A little distracting, but otherwise doing
what you wish, master.” Hey, I wasn’t below a little phone
flirting.

“Master?” he asked. “I think I like the sound
of that coming from you.” Hmm, Dragus wasn’t below it either. The
sound of his voice made my girl parts quiver. That raspy Romanian
accent was like a jolt to my hormones.

“As you wish,” I laughed. Then I remembered I
was not alone in the room and from the throat clearing on the other
end Dragus remember too, or he was just responding to my thoughts
about my hormones. I felt the soft brush of his lips to mine and I
sighed. “You really need to show me how to do that.”

“In due time, my lady,” he whispered. “I will
call you soon,
mi amor
.” Another feel of his lips to mine
and a brush of knuckles across my jaw and he was gone.

I looked up and found my…hmm, what should I
call them. Brock and William was a mouthful. Wrock? No, Brilliam?
That’s it! Just like a superstar couple.

“Alright, Brilliam,” I grinned. They looked
at me confused. “Look saying Brock and William is a little bit of a
mouthful, so from now on Brilliam is your new name.” I stood up
from the desk and made my way to the door. They nodded like good
little warriors and followed me out to the club.

Lydia was sitting at our usual spot at the
end of the East bar, sipping on a mixed drink. The club was busy
with a few business men and a lot of college kids. The music
tonight was more for the younger crowd and Abby was working her can
off. I searched for signs of my other waitresses and found Alexis
filling a tray of drinks at the West bar and Meadow was standing at
the private table in the back, talking to a few vampire pre-med
students. Meadow had a charisma that made people flock to her. She
was a soft spoken brunette with big blue eyes and pouty lips that
made mine look small.

I watched her shift nervously, like she was
trying to make an escape from the four vampires at the table. The
red headed one closest to her leaned out of the booth to check out
her backside. The second his hand started to lift toward her rear,
I had materialized at her side. I grasped his wrist, pulled him out
of the booth and had him in the floor, neck pinned with my knee
before anyone could say ‘excuse me’.

“This is an upper class establishment. I do
not appreciate you touching my girls. You want a good time, go down
to Sparky’s. That shit doesn’t fly in here.” I looked up and saw
Brilliam standing over me, wide eyed. I turned my anger back toward
Red and spoke through clenched teeth. “Apologize to Meadow and get
the hell out.”

After he was escorted out by his friends, I
checked on Meadow. She was fine and not the least bit shaken up.
The men were flirting and she never even noticed the guys hand
until I had him in the floor. I sent her on a thirty minute break
and dismissed Brilliam while I waited her tables. Tips were good
and I handed them over to her when she came back.

“Charity,” she lightly grabbed my arm before
I could walk away. “Can I talk to you in private for a minute?”

“Sure, come back to my office.”

Meadow followed and Brilliam fell in behind
us. I told them to stay outside while I spoke to her. Brock looked
a little concerned but I didn’t give him a chance to voice his
opinion before I closed the door in his face.

“Have a seat,” I pointed to the chair in
front of my desk. “What’s on your mind?”

Meadow pursed her lips, trying to form a
question she wanted to ask. She fidgeted in her seat and wrung her
hands nervously. Finally, she took a deep breath and told me what
was on her mind. “I’ve been having…visions; things that might
happen.”

This was a little bit of a shock to me.
Meadow was only about six years out of her transition. Most of us
don’t start seeing signs of our powers for a good ten to twenty
years out. Meadow looked scared to death, and since I was her
mentor, it was my responsibility to help her.

“What have you seen?” I asked.

“The visions are not very clear, just a
feeling, and sometimes I see faces in my head,” she paused.
“Charity, I saw you hurt. It was just before the accident. I
couldn’t get to you in time.” She buried her face in her hand and
wept. I stood and walked around the desk. I had to sink down to my
knees to wrap my arms around her. She shouldn’t feel guilty and I
definitely do not blame her.

“Oh, Meadow,” I sighed. “Honey, don’t beat
yourself up. You are just now learning your powers. These things
happen.”

She looked up out of her hands, “They
do?”

“In the beginning, those with precognition
will see visions sometimes minutes before they happen. Once you are
older, the time span will increase.” I reached over and grabbed a
box of tissues off the desk.

“I could have warned you,” she cried.

“No you couldn’t have,” I patted her knee and
stood up. “Don’t worry. I will get you enrolled into a support
group with others with your ability. They will help you understand
the visions and how to strengthen your powers.”

“That would be great,” she whispered, wiping
her now bloody, swollen eyes.

“Do you feel like working tonight, or would
you like to go home early?”

“I’ll stay. I just wanted you to know what’s
been going on.”

We walked back out into the club and I made a
few rounds checking on customers while she cleaned up in the
bathroom. Everyone was worried about Meadow and I thanked them for
their concern. I heard a whistle over the music and looked up at
Jackson, he made the international sign for phone call and I
nodded. Lydia was still perched on her stool watching over the bar.
After a quick pat on her shoulder, I entered the office to take the
call.

“This is Charity,” I answered in club owner
mode, like always.

“
Mi amor
,” he growled.

“What did I do now?” I asked, confused. By
the tone of his voice, I knew he was frustrated. The only time I
hear that tone, is when he thinks I’ve done something I shouldn’t
have.

“I got a report you had a problem at the
club.”

“I handled it. It happens all the time, don’t
worry.”

“Okay,” he paused. “I just wanted to make
sure you were well.” I know it was killing him not to put his foot
down, but he reigned in his concern. Those damn bodyguards are
going to need to learn what is normal and what Dragus’ business is.
Brilliam and I were going to have words.

“I’m fine,
mi amor
. I’m going to leave
here in a few and head home. Are you coming by tonight?” I
desperately hoped he would.
“No, I’m going to be busy. We are tracking the other missing
vampires tonight and plan on being out till close to sunrise.” I
wasn’t going to express my concern about him going into the forest,
he already knew that. A little part of me was disappointed, but
there’s always another night.

“Hey, I have a question,” I asked.

“What is that?”

“One of my employees, Meadow, needs to be
enrolled into a class. She told me tonight that she has been having
visions. It’s a little early for her. She’s only six years out of
her changing. Poor thing is scared to death about what she is
seeing.” Dragus could get her into a class immediately. Those
classes tend to fill up as soon as they come available.

“I would gladly get her into a class. I think
there is one starting next week,” he paused. “Can I ask what has
gotten her so upset?”

“She saw my accident, but it was only a few
minutes before it happened. Meadow’s upset she didn’t get a chance
to warn me,” I sighed.

“Did you tell her not to take it personally?”
he asked.

“Yes, that’s why I want to get her into the
class. She needs guidance I can’t help her with.”

“I will take care of that,
mi amor
. I
will talk to you soon.” It only took a minute, after we hung up,
before I felt his ghost lips brush against mine. I smiled and
sighed quietly to myself.

I caught up on paperwork fairly quickly and
headed home for the night. Lydia stayed behind to help close up. I
was a little tired and decided it was time to leave.

Brilliam left me inside alone, after a quick
walkthrough of my home, of course, to catch up on a few things
around the house. Once the laundry was done, I grabbed a book and
curled up into my recliner and made myself relax for the rest of
the evening.

Chapter 10

Dragus

After I hung up with Charity, my chest felt
as though something invisible was tugging at my heart. It took all
of my willpower not to go to her home and keep her at my side all
night. I took a moment to gather my thoughts while I waited in the
Hummer for the other
Krieger
. Leaning my head over onto the
steering wheel, I channeled my thoughts to Charity and visualized
myself placing a soft kiss on her delicate lips. I sensed her
smiling at my touch.

She still had a few hours till sunrise, but
was leaving the club early. Brock and William were going to escort
her home and make sure she was safe before they handed over duties
to the
Nachtmann
. I trusted them to protect her life with
theirs. In fact, I should be there protecting her from the hybrid
who is hell bent on getting to her. This is why we are searching
the forest this close to sunrise. I want to get Adam Castillo out
of the forest tonight.

I jumped at the sound of knocking on the
driver’s side window. Powle was standing there looking puzzled. I
opened the door and turned to get out, but was stopped by a hand on
my shoulder.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“I’m fine,” I barked.

“You want to talk about it?” he smiled. For
some reason, he knew what was on my mind. I could sense it coming
from him.

“I can’t stop worrying about her,” I
whispered.

“Ahh, you’re bonding with Ms. Harwood,” he
laughed.

I stared at him in disbelief. There was no
way that I would be bonding with her this soon. I shouldn’t have
these feelings for her for a few more months. He stood there
waiting for me to say something, but I was so confused, I didn’t
know what to ask first.