by Emily Bex
“A safe house? There are feeders there?”
“No, just other vampires who have waited too long to feed. It is savagery on every level. It is the option of last resort. We will not talk of it, si? You will never see the inside of a safe house, this I promise you.”
He turned his head and looked out the window, his profile outlined in the moonlight, as he remembered his encounters in the safe houses, experiences he’d never share with her.
She looked at him closely. “But you’re done with that, right? The feeders? The clubs?”
He turned to look at her. “Kate, you have to ask me that? Have I not made it clear I feed only from you? I take no notice of other females.”
“No, lover, but I promise you, the females take notice of you. I trust you implicitly. I want you to know that. But women are drawn to you. I watch them when we’re out. If they could mow me down to get to you, they would. So, am I jealous? Yes, I’ll always be jealous, but not because of a lack of trust in you. It’s the women I mistrust.”
He pulled her into his chest, crushing her into him. “I don’t want anything to make you feel jealous. My past is past. We have been here so damn long, surviving in the darkness. You are my mate for all eternity. It took me a long time to find you. I am sorry that I bring you any discomfort at all.”
He kissed her softly, deepening the kiss, gripping her hair, and letting all his love flow to her. “Let me take you to bed and show you, mi amore. Show you how I love you.”
49
“Kate, Gi tells me Luca’s suite is finished. Have you seen it?”
“I’ve seen most of it, except for the custom cabinetry for his art studio. Have you been in to see it?”
“No, I have not. Gi says he is quite happy with it. They are all overwhelmed with your generosity with their living quarters. You make me proud, bel rosso.”
“Lover, I didn’t feel like I was being generous. I just wanted them to feel at home.”
He smiled at her because her spirit of generosity had no guile, no agenda. “Well, perhaps you would like to accompany me to his suite? I would like to see his rooms as well.”
“Of course.”
He took her hand as they walked to Luca’s suite and knocked lightly on his door. As Luca opened the door and welcomed them in, Shade took in the beauty of the strong, masculine room, and knew no warrior who lived in luxury like this. This level of opulence was reserved for a master, but he approved of bel’s choices because it had created a bond between her and the staff he’d brought over from Florence.
In the alcove that had been converted to an art studio, Luca already had an easel displaying a canvas. Shade gasped aloud as he saw it and stopped in his tracks, waiting for her reaction at what she saw before her.
Kate almost bumped into him when he stopped so suddenly. She looked past Luca to a painting on the easel and was dumbfounded. Me? He’s done a painting...of me?
She walked slowly to the easel, aware that her mouth was open as she gazed in amazement at the portrait. He’d painted her in a three-quarter profile, standing with her bare back and shoulder exposed, as she looked over her shoulder, her hair cascading down her back. She was clearly recognizable in the painting, but there was an abstract quality to the portrait.
“Luca...this is...this is seriously good. I mean, this is museum-quality good. Your technique, with the broad strokes, that’s very unique. And you painted me? I've never been an artist's muse before. Wow, I'm really just overcome by it. Lover, look at this. Do you like it?”
Shade stepped up behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and put his chin on top of her head. “Si, mi amore, I do. I think your protector has captured your spirit.” He kissed her cheek softly.
The portrait was spellbinding. “I feel like I shouldn't ask, like I’m taking advantage, but may I have the portrait please?”
“I painted this for you, my lady. It’s a housewarming gift from me. This is how I see you when you look at master, your love for him, his blood calling to you. Your demeanor changes when he’s near you. There is a light in your eyes, and a softening in your face. It’s something I wanted to capture for him as well. I’m so grateful you’ve given me this honor of protector, given me a home and my own quarters, and I wanted to show my appreciation.”
Kate listened to Luca’s explanation of his work, what he saw in her when she looked at Shade, and the love that she felt for Shade was visible on the canvas, palpable. She gave Luca a hug knowing that Shade had engineered the situation in Florence to make sure she’d have the best of the best as her protector.
“You honor me, Luca. You honor both of us. I want to hang this in our bedroom. I don't have the words to thank you.” Kate planted a small kiss on his cheek before stepping back.
Shade watched as Luca lowered his head. “I am proud of you, Warrior.” Shade embraced him, pounding his fist on Luca’s back.
As they broke from the hug, Luca asked for permission to leave. “Master, if you’d allow, I’d like to leave again tonight. I can come back tomorrow evening when the painting is completely dry and hang it wherever my lady wishes.”
Shade understood the hunger and saw it in his eyes and allowed him to leave. “Go Luca. I will call you if I need you, keep your head about you, new territory, you know the rules.”
Taking bel's hand, Shade walked her down the corridor and headed to their part of the house and found it quiet. All the workers were gone, and the staff had cleared out for the night.
“So mi amore, what shall we get into?”
“Lover, there’s so much to get into.”
He laughed as he held her hand, pulling her up the stairs behind him. “Then follow me, there just happens to be this very private bedroom at the top of the stairs.”
50
Shade was busy in the Dead House. He’d sent out the list of weapons he needed to Florence and was waiting for delivery. He’d sent the bill to Alec and was re-working some of the grid maps and adjusting the warriors’ assignments. He was working with a crew to finalize the installation of the security system they were installing. From his spot in the command center, he could now monitor every room in the Dead House, as well as both exterior entrances. Even with all the activity here, the neighborhood still thought this property was vacant since his crew teleported in, and the high wall around the rear courtyard protected them from view when they stepped outside.
Despite all the busywork and the fact that it was all vital and needed to be done, his mind was restless, as were his hands. He preferred the action on the streets to the activity in the command center. Deciding to take a break and stretch his legs, he headed out on his nightly rounds in his personal grid in G-town. He teleported out, making a few quick checks on the other appointed grids, just to make sure all of the warriors were on point. Everything looked quiet tonight and his warriors looked bored, preferring a little more action themselves. Shade headed into G-town and did a broad sweep, starting at the outside perimeter of the grid, and working his way in, getting closer to the sector that included Alec’s house.
As he got closer to the center of the grid, he picked up a scent-vampire. He was only a few miles from the Canton residence and this didn’t bode well. He focused his sense of smell and hearing and found them quickly. There were two of them, young street punks, skulking and unaware of the Medici high above them, zeroing in on their heads.
“Stupid punks, you just found yourselves in the hands of the only nightmare you will never escape.”
He watched them take a side street on course for Alec’s home and with sword in hand, he swooped down on them. One was caught totally unaware, and that was exactly Shade’s intention. He hadn’t become a warrior of this magnitude by being careless. Before the rogue even saw his face, Shade swung his sword and the rogues’ head rolled along the alley as his body dropped lifeless to the street.
Quickly backflipping to face the other rogue, Shade laughed wickedly as the rogue was getting ready to take flight over his head to e
scape, but Shade had other ideas. The rogue wore a black sweat jacket, the hood pulled over his head, and Shade couldn’t make eye contact with him. The rogue leaped over his head and Shade caught the glint of moonlight reflecting off the shuriken the rogue held in his hand. Shade lifted himself higher, hovering in midair, as he grabbed the rogue by the arm, attempting to wrench it from the socket when the rogue broke free. Shade made a grab for him, catching only the hood of the sweatshirt but the rogue swiftly backed away, sliding out of the shirt and escaping into the black night.
Shade’s beast roared as he hovered above the ally, looking at the fucking sweatshirt clutched in his hand, the Italian curses flying. He’d had enough of these games! He whipped out his shuriken and with the flick of his wrist, he let it fly with speed and accuracy, aiming it straight into the back of the rogue’s shaved head. The shuriken hit its mark and the rogue dropped to the ground like a stone. Shade was there waiting when he landed. The rogue tried to jump to his feet, but it was of no use. Death by the Medici was swift and sure.
Shade immediately called on Tomas telepathically, commanding him to come to this location. He had two rogues down and needed assistance getting their bodies back to the Dead House and into the courtyard for the encroaching morning sun to vaporize them. Shade kicked the dead body at his feet, as the rogue laid on his side. He spotted an emblem on his back and flipped the rogue over, so he was lying face down in the alley. He crouched down to get a closer look and noticed the rogue’s back was covered with a tattoo that ran shoulder to shoulder. The black ink wasn’t very old, and the design was elaborate and might provide a clue.
As Tomas landed beside him, Shade quickly gave him instructions to gather the other body and the severed head and return to the Dead House. Shade lifted the other dead rogue and teleported straight back himself. He and Tomas landed in the section of the basement that had been cordoned off as a dungeon and holding cell for rogues, though few ever lived long enough to end up here. Shade dumped the rogue’s body next to the one Tomas had carried in and instructed Thomas to strip the beheaded rogue of his shirt.
As he did so, they discovered the same tattoo on that rogue’s back and Shade knew they had a coven or a master to deal with, and one that was probably on target for Alec. They were no longer dealing with the lone street punks who plagued every city, but something more organized and coordinated. Masters would often tattoo their warriors with the emblem of their coven as a symbol of allegiance or ownership. They felt it created a bond between the warriors, a sense of pride, not unlike a soldier wearing a uniform, or a biker wearing a ‘cut’. Shade had never done such. Everyone knew you were a Medici, and no one needed a damn symbol of allegiance to create their bond. Medici warriors were elite and the best in the entire world. Taking out his cell phone, he snapped a few pictures of the rogue’s tattoo.
Turning to Tomas, he asked, “What the hell does this mean? I have never seen this tattoo before Tomas, don’t recognize the coven. This is going to take some research. The ink looks fresh, so probably new recruits. What the fuck are they doing here? They appeared to be heading in a direct line to Alec’s. You ever see this, brother?”
Tomas stood with his arms crossed over his chest. Stupid fuckers. He recognized the tattoo all right, and he wondered why Max would want to advertise. This just made his job a lot harder and he’d be sure to let Max know about it too. He kept his mouth shut and plastered a quizzical expression on his face as the Medici inspected the bodies. Tomas thought to himself, Shade could research all he wanted, but he wouldn’t find any answers, of that Tomas was quite sure.
Tomas crouched down beside Shade and ran his hand over the inked image and shook his head.
“Never saw anything like that in my travels, brother. Been around a while and I’ve seen a lot of coven symbols, not familiar with this one, though.” Tomas stood back up and waited for his orders, and Shade wasn’t long belting them out.
Shaking his head, Shade took several more shots on his camera and told Tomas to haul the bodies to the courtyard. He had a phone call to make.
Tomas quickly did as he was told. He had a phone call to make himself.
Shade climbed the rickety stairs to the upper floor of his makeshift command center and flopped down in his chair, shoving aside the papers that covered the surface of the desk. Looking at the photos on his phone, he was still perplexed at what he was seeing, but he had to call Alec and let him know. Shade knew Alec probably wouldn’t have a clue about the tattoo. He had disconnected from the immortals years ago, but he’d need to know of this latest development. He dialed up Alec, and after several rings, he finally answered. Shade filled him in on the details and the locale of the rogues’ whereabouts and it was no surprise when Alec informed him to text the images and he’d get to them later and see what he could make of them.
Shade ended the call and ran his hand through his hair. Sliding the phone into his pocket, he heard the warriors as they started rolling into the Dead House, their jobs done for the night. He could almost feel the slow progression of the sun making its way to the dawning, and he was more than ready to head home.
51
Kate was waiting for Shade to return home, it was close to sunrise. Luca had received a shipment of boxes and crates from Florence that were stacked to the ceiling, and lined the long corridor to Shade’s office and Luca’s suite. She couldn’t imagine what it could possibly be. If all this stuff belonged to Luca, it was going to get really crowded in his suite.
“Luca, what’s all this stuff?”
“Weapons for the bunker, my lady.”
“Weapons? All of this? Are you kidding me? There’re enough crates here to outfit an army! Did you order all this stuff?”
“Yes, my lady, I ordered what master requested.”
“What he requested? I don’t understand. Why would anyone need all this stuff?”
Luca looked at her quizzically. “My lady, master is a warrior, not just any warrior, the Warrior’s warrior, the Medici.”
Kate held the same questioning expression on her face. “Was that supposed to answer my question?”
Luca could feel the energy shift and knew Shade was teleporting in. Perfect timing. He’d let Shade explain all this. “I think that is a question for master.”
Luca broke open the crates and started unloading firearms, swords, blades, bows, and other items Kate couldn’t even recognize, just as Shade teleported into the space.
Shade landed softly in the corridor, having received Luca’s message earlier that the weapons had arrived for the bunker. He grabbed up Kate and gave her a kiss. “And how is my sweet bel rosso this morning?”
“I’m confused by the weapons. We need all of these?”
“Bel, do not concern yourself with such. They will be stored in the bunker, si?”
He grabbed a crate in each hand and started down the stairs and through the wine cellar to the hidden bunker. Kate followed him and saw Luca had already started mounting some of the weapons on the wall. There were panels that pushed open to reveal large storage spaces behind the wall that held even more weapons. The room had been furnished with a large conference table and surrounded by chairs. The same security monitor that was mounted in his office was mounted on the wall here, along with the console that controlled all the cameras. Shade was walking slowly around the room, admiring the weapons that had been mounted, as well as those behind locked glass cases.
“So, what do you think, bel?”
Kate looked around the bunker. “It looks, well, scary actually. You told me once you didn’t want me down here, and I don't think you’ll have to worry about that. I know you wanted me to learn weapons, but some of these things…I can't even imagine what they’d do to a person. Do we need all this stuff here?”
You have no need to come here. If you need me, and I am down here, you call to me telepathically. You have that gift so use it.”
“I understand. If you’re here, you expect privacy. But there are enough weapons here f
or an army. And this large table…It’s just you and Luca. I don’t understand.”
Shade chose his words carefully. He didn’t want to alarm her. “Bel, I command an army. Did you not see my warriors in Florence? I am working with Alec’s mercenaries, but if they cannot get up to speed, I will bring in my own. I may be having meetings here, and my warriors will be in and out. Bel, come here.”
She walked into his arms and he held her tight. “Listen to me. This is not about requesting privacy. This is about my job, and what I do. The less you know sometimes, the better, si? If I am to protect you, and our house, this is a necessity. And if you are not familiar with how these things work, you need not be down here, it is dangerous for you. These weapons are loaded and ready for use. Leave this to me and Luca.”
Shade resumed unpacking the crates, laying out weapons on the large table, as Luca carried in more boxes.
Kate looked at the display of weapons. “Are we in danger?”
Shade and Luca exchanged a glance. Shade sighed. “Kate, I am a master, and a warrior. There will always be those who will challenge me. This is just a precaution, si?”
Kate picked up a weapon from the table that she’d heard Shade call a shuriken, a large star-shaped wheel containing five razor-sharp finger-like blades. “This looks like Freddie Kruger.”
“Who, bel? Is he a warrior?”
“Freddie Kruger. He’s an evil man in a horror movie. He comes into your dreams and kills you. His hands look like this.”