“Good! That’s good to know. Now, I just have to make a connection happen.”
“Yeah, you worry about that, I’ll worry about what I got down here. You need anything from Bethany Anne?”
“No, I’ll call her directly if I do. No need to get you caught up in our conversation.”
“OK, thanks for the marines; it was a boost there at the end. I’m going to see if she has anywhere to stay. If she doesn’t, we’ll get her a room with us to clean up and rest. Talk to you later.”
“Bye.” The line went dead.
Frank was tired. He had been up all day and monitored the takedown and the ambush as best he could. He needed to be more rested when he talked with Bethany Anne again.
He closed down his office and went home.
13
Florida City, FL, USA
Bethany Anne was washing her hair the next morning in her room at the Cambria Hotel in Florida City. It had six floors and hers was on the fifth. She didn’t care. The team took her in the back. Even after the wash down out in the ’Glades, she was a complete mess. She got her room, dropped her clothes and took a long, hot shower and scrubbed everywhere until even her skin looked pink.
Then, she just faded into the night on the bed. She finally got up when she couldn’t take the sunlight through the window. She had failed to close the drapes before she went to sleep.
She felt better. The fight was draining but not too bad. She needed to remember to keep blood on her when she went into battle. She needed her own type of healing potion. She smiled at the thought. The problem with regular blood would be the limited amount of energy she could get from one bag, and the type of protection she would need. If she could concentrate it into a smaller amount, maybe a vial, that would be perfect.
TOM, have you got a moment?
Like I do much in here, Bethany Anne.
Give it a rest, TOM. I know you hit the computer from time to time.
Uh, well, I’m just trying to get the connection going.
You’re doing an all right job. The headaches are only minor and I appreciate that you leave me alone. It can’t be too exciting to just be a tagalong.
Actually, Bethany Anne, quite the opposite. Your adventures so far have been fascinating and give me plenty to think about after they are over.
Bethany Anne thought back through everything that had happened since she turned. Maybe he had a point.
Glad to hear it. Listen, can you work on a problem? I need to see if we can bottle the etheric.
You mean like the blood?
Yes, only better. The amount of energy in a bag of blood is pretty substantial. But, I can’t carry ten bags of blood into a fight.
What amount are you looking for?
She thought about that. They hadn’t actually figured out what her max was and just pulling from the etheric was enough to keep her out of food and water and a constant, if slow, amount of extra. But the amount of energy expended during a battle was stupefying. If the medic hadn’t been there with the extra blood, John would be dead right now.
What about the same amount as twelve bags of blood, but something in a really small vial I can carry on my body?
I’ll see what I can do. It’s a good suggestion, I just don’t have any ideas at the moment. Can I use the computer for this?
Bethany Anne grimaced. Anytime he truly used the computer her head hurt like a motherfucker.
Yeah, hold on. Let me see if I can get some pain medicine up here first. We need to solve this problem. While you’re picking around with the computer, see if you can figure out why it hurts me so much.
I’ll do that too.
Bethany Anne called down to the front desk and ordered up some pain relievers. She asked for a bottle and only grimaced a little at the cost. For woman who had the wealth she had now, even the price of a Tesla was a rounding error.
Five minutes later, she received the pain relievers and popped all twelve of them. What helped and what was too much, TOM could deal with.
She lay back down on the bed and waited for the pain.
TOM didn’t disappoint. On the bad side the first fifteen minutes hurt more than anything she had felt in months. After that, it became bearable and somewhere around forty-five minutes she went to sleep.
An hour and a half later, she woke up and felt good.
TOM, are you finished?
Hmm? What? No, why?
I don’t feel any pain.
Oh, I found the problem and was able to fix it.
What was it?
What was what?
Bethany Anne was starting to get suspicious.
What was the problem, TOM? Why did it hurt so much in the first place?
Well, there was a problem with the connections.
TOM, don’t make me drag this out. What was the problem?
They were connected incorrectly.
So, you’re saying you connected the computer to my mind wrong, right?
This was getting confusing to Bethany Anne.
Yes, I connected the computer incorrectly the first time. It took me about fifteen minutes to establish that and about thirty minutes to fix it. I’m sorry.
Bethany Anne, relieved that the computer was online and didn’t cause her any pain anymore was past being annoyed by the mistake. It wasn’t like TOM had a manual on how to connect Kurtherian organic computers to a human.
Apology accepted.
There was a knock on the door; she could hear two men trying to argue in a whisper. It was John and Eric. She was smiling and listening to them until she realized they had her red Fed-Ex box!
She jumped up and ran to the door, opened it, grabbed the box and slammed it shut before the two could even turn their heads. They just stared at the closed door.
Her clothes! Thank god they made it here. She didn’t care who had rerouted the clothes to this hotel and she wasn’t going to question the providence.
She spent just thirty seconds getting changed. She had no makeup so she opened the door and stepped into the hallway.
John and Eric had made it three doors down when they heard her door open. They turned around and their expressions at seeing Bethany Anne in her fashionable clothes and high heels smiling at them were priceless. Feeling like a woman again and not a vicious killing monster she twirled around and asked, “You like?”
Neither one knew how to answer that. John finally found his voice as he realized that their hesitating was not pleasing Bethany Anne at all. “Wow! I have no words to describe what I see and ‘like’ is completely inappropriate!” He followed it up with what he hoped was the most handsome smile he owned.
Eric just grinned, relieved that his team lead had saved them both. She could take it any way she wanted and they couldn’t get in trouble with HR.
“John, you’re making me happy I saved your ass. Let’s go to lunch on me, I’m starving. Get whoever wants to go and we’ll find a place.”
Eric shook his head. “No can do, some of us are stuck here filling in reports. If the brass hear about us taking time to go eat somewhere far away, and there are no good steak places near here, it will be our asses.”
“You guys hold on.” She walked back into her room and called to them to join her. Eric looked at John who just shrugged. “As far as I’m concerned, I wouldn’t be here so if she wants me to join her in her room then I’ll just have to man up.” He grinned at Eric as he walked towards her room. He could hear her plainly. “Miami is closer, but it’ll still hurt like hell, Mr. Grimes.”
“My bad, sorry, just wanted to make sure.”
Bethany Anne was pecking at her phone at a really fast rate when they joined her in the room and Eric shut the door.
She stopped and looked up. “How is everyone with hot dogs and hamburgers made fresh?”
14
Florida City, FL, USA
Almost the whole team was in the back parking lot. Half of them were already eating hot dogs, hamburgers, Philly cheesesteak sandwiches and munchi
ng down on chili cheese fries and a couple had ordered gator balls.
Bethany Anne was under a tree nearby enjoying her third Bronx Bomber sans onions.
Scott was talking with Eric while they waited in line.
“Hey, tell me the truth. Were you there when she ordered the food?”
“Yes, why?”
They moved a couple of people forward.
“They say she just told the man in a scary voice to show up and start feeding us.”
Eric laughed. “Scott, you should know her better. She didn’t do any scary voice. She negotiated with them and they agreed. I have nothing else to say. I told you I wouldn’t talk about her behind her back. Not even about this, buddy.”
They got to the front of the line and a man looked out of the red food truck. It was actually a red trailer with a black and white checkered line going from the bottom to the top of the trailer. The serving window was the width of the two wheels in the back.
“Hey buddy.” The guy in the trailer caught their attention. “I can tell you. We have a place over on South Dixie. Been there a few years. I get a phone call that asks me to come over with the trailer and I tried to explain that we don’t move from our spot. She asked if I would do it for some of America’s finest and I said we could schedule it. She then asked me if she could schedule it in an hour for $25,000 before food costs and I told her I needed to get my trailer fixed, so maybe I could stop by on the way and here I am. So, you want a dog, a burger or a sandwich?”
Scott didn’t answer quickly enough as he was processing the story so Eric ordered a Double Stack Chili Cheeseburger and gator balls. He looked over at Scott. “You snooze, you lose, ya poser.”
Bethany Anne sighed contentedly. She was finally full again and all of the guys seemed to be getting over the event. They were all professionals but facing your mortality pulled the rug out from under your feet a little. Her phone beeped and she pulled it out. Shit, she had it on voicemail and she had missed a couple of calls.
The first one was Ivan. He was with Stephen and things were going well. He provided her with Stephen’s new number and asked that she give him a call when she could.
The second was a voice message from Ecaterina. She wanted Bethany Anne to call Nathan or Gerry and talk to them about some Were issues. Not a problem.
First, she checked the time in Romania. About seven-ish at night, OK. She dialed Ivan. “Bethany Anne! Good to hear your voice. I take it things are OK in the States?”
“Good here at the moment, Ivan. Belly full of food and a good pair of shoes, what’s up?”
“Nothing special. Stephen is a fast learner. I was concerned when you told me he knew nothing at all. Most times, not knowing something similar makes it harder for a person to catch on quickly.”
“Treat him well, Ivan, he’s a good guy and I think that he might be very important to me in the future. Also, stay close to him. I don’t want you outside without his protection while you’re there. I don’t know that anyone is watching but I don’t want to take any chances with you. I don’t need to be the one to tell Ecaterina that I got her favorite brother killed.”
“No worries.”
“Good. Where is Stephen?”
“One second.” She could hear him walking through the house. “Stephen?”
“Yes?”
“Shit! Stephen, you have to stop sneaking up on me.” She could almost imagine the vampire jumping out of the dark shadows to have fun at Ivan’s expense.
“But Ivan, it is the most fun I’ve had in ten years.”
“That’s because you’ve been asleep for ten years. Oh. Bethany Anne is on the phone.”
“Why didn’t you say that first?” Bethany Anne could hear them passing the phone. “Hello? My Queen?”
“Hello Stephen, how are you doing?”
“I am beyond enjoying myself again. I am learning this new technology and with the bagged blood I am dropping years each day. It is amazing.”
“Stephen, am I going to have a little baby boy when I get back to Europe?”
Stephen laughed. “No, Bethany Anne. I have never been regenerated younger than when I was turned.”
“When was that?”
“Twenty-five.”
Bethany Anne was trying to figure out what he would look like in his twenties and came up with nothing.
“I’m sure you’re a handsome rogue, Stephen. But no biting on the first date, understand?”
“My Queen, how could you think of me like that?” Stephen was chuckling on the other line.
“Because I know guys, you cad. Now, I need you to tell me straight. Are you up to contacting and working with the Pack Council there in Europe for me? I’m not talking about where they call you and kiss the vampire ground you walk on, but actually roll up your sleeves and work with them as equals? OK, let’s not go too far right now, mostly equals?” She smiled while she said that last part.
“Of course, my Queen. You have but to tell me what to do and I will make it happen.”
“Great! I was hoping you still felt that way. Do you have a way to contact them or do I need to get you the info?”
“I’m sure I have a way to do this. There is a pack near here. You don’t need to get your hands dirty with this. I will take care of it.”
OK, Bethany Anne thought. She loved a good subordinate that wasn’t a cranky bitch. She was glad she never had herself as a subordinate. She owed her old boss Martin a thousand apologies. “Thanks Stephen. Hey, did you get that room ready?”
“Of course, I did that the first night. Why, are you ready to use it?”
“No, not yet. I’m working on it.”
‘You’re working on it?
Stop interrupting, I’m talking here.
More like you’re lying here. But go on.
“Well, it is ready for you anytime.”
“Great! Keep Ivan safe, OK?”
“I’ll do that, and Bethany Anne, thank you.”
“For what?”
“For calling and talking with me. It just confirms what I knew that first night. You care about your relationships, I’ll not fail you.”
“I know, Stephen. Keep learning and touch base with the Council. Make sure they aren’t suffering from wanting to change the rules too much right now, bye!”
“La revedere.”
She hung up. She was amazed the whole Stephen situation was going so well and Europe seemed like it might be handled. She certainly hoped so because America seemed to be under attack.
She waved at Eric and Scott talking over by Joe’s Famous Hot Dogs trailer. Everyone seemed in good spirits. Good.
John and Darrell were looking at her and John gave her the universal ‘everything OK?’ tilt of the head and she smiled. She realized that she hadn’t had many people come by. There was at least a ten foot clearing around her. No problem, she didn’t think they would run away if she got up. She hoped they were just giving her some personal space.
She went to the message from Ecaterina and listened to it one more time. She decided to call Nathan. She hit his name on her phone and waited.
“Hey, what’s up?”
“Thanks for calling, Bethany Anne. You got Ecaterina’s message?”
“Yes, she said you guys are having problems and needed my input.”
“More like serious issues and we are trying to figure out how to solve the problem without it becoming a bloodbath.”
“Considering you’re asking me, should I wonder if I am going to want to create the bath?”
Nathan sighed. “That’s about it in one. Where are you? Did you finish with Stephen yet and did you leave him in peace or pieces?”
She laughed. “You won’t believe the story, which I will tell you later, but he has turned out to be a great guy. I’m here in Florida at the moment hanging with Frank’s team. We had an op last night so I crashed in their hotel. I should be good to come up there if you need me.”
“No, we can wait a few days. In fact, that might b
e best. Let me talk with Gerry again and plan this out. I would prefer we ambush all of the troublemakers and let them make fools of themselves but we would probably just get another Valentine’s Day massacre. Weres tend not to make good decisions when confronted. We’re kinda a hot headed lot.”
Sarcastically, Bethany Anne retorted, “I hadn’t noticed during our altercation in Brasov, Nathan.”
“Yeah, OK. You have a point. Let Gerry and me think how to make it happen and we’ll get with you when we have a couple of ideas. I really appreciate you working with us, Bethany Anne.”
“No problem, Nathan. Take care of my girl, OK? I’ll be up there in a day or two.”
“Please, take a vacation. I’m sure you’re tired after all of your efforts. Why don’t you relax for an extra month or so?”
Bethany Anne smiled. “If I was going to do that, then I’d just get a ticket for Ecaterina to come down here this evening.”
Nathan backtracked quickly. “My mistake, see you in a couple of days.”
“Yeah. Say hi to Ecaterina for me. Bye.”
“Bye.”
She hung up. Now that she had everything taken care of, she was trying to think of what to do for a couple of days. She knew Nathan must be doing well with Ecaterina to suggest she not come up right away.
She needed to get to know this team better and she was here, right after a good op. It would be stupid to leave right away.
She considered what she could do to get them together. Maybe a party at a bowling alley? No, too pretentious for these guys.
Bethany Anne laughed. Here she was all dressed up and was now saying a bowling alley was too pretentious? She needed to get dressed in something a little more casual and she did need transportation. Considering her options to find clothes, she got her phone out to look at what was available in the area.
On the other side of the trailer, Jesse Bivoreux was just putting his trash away and grabbed his Coke from the table with Joe’s signage on it. He walked over to John and Darrell. “Hey guys, congrats on getting those two forsaken last night. That was some scary shit.” Bivoreux was in the command ops van. It was the most scared he had ever been in his life and he had been pretty sure he was a dead man.
Kurtherian Gambit Boxed Set One: Books 1-7, Death Becomes Her, Queen Bitch, Love Lost, Bite This, Never Forsaken, Under My Heel, Kneel or Die (Kurtherian Gambit Boxed Sets) Page 33