She’d hoped for a better outcome than this …… but in the end, her father was always going to extract vengeance. Only it wasn’t him who’d pulled the trigger. An eye for an eye…….
***
Two months earlier ….
Lori packed her things. Growing up, she thought it was ‘normal’ to have family that hid what they did for a living. Hid, who they were.
Who didn't have a doting Dad that insisted martial arts, weaponry, tracking, evasion training, advanced driving skills and knowing your enemy, were far more important to a growing child, than dolls, dresses, toys and boys? Who didn't have 'uncle's or aunt's' who disappeared at short notice, carried weapons and more often than not, came back knocked about or had retired? No one ever asked, no one ever told. That's just how family was.
To Lori anyway. Her father's happy little accident or so he told her. Who at 12 could throw a knife, could shoot just as good, take apart any weapon blindfolded. Who at 15, came second in her County Triathlon and at 18, found out, there was a whole lot more going on with her, as her powers began to manifest and a whole other world she’d known nothing about. The Covenant. In that world, all families had enforcers and that retired, had a whole new meaning.
Not all families kept secrets. Not all families lived in a second world, hidden to most and shared, by others of their kind. Not all daughters had an army of killers for hire. But once you got passed the killing thing, to Lori, they were still her family. As Daddy always told her, dead men told no lies and the Covenant, kept their promises.
But a girl had to grow up sometime and there was no getting passed her ‘uncles and aunts’ aversion to her having boyfriends or her father’s insistence on a guard on any dates, since things went south that one time. Her hunger had emerged soon after she’d turned 18. It was an accident, she hadn’t meant to do it! Really? Lori shook her head, she never missed a day’s training. Like she couldn’t kill them herself if she got in trouble! Seriously, if she stayed home any longer, she’d be a nun to her father’s deep joy or a spinster for life. And it was a very, very long life.
She was 24, she’d done the human college thing, gained her Doctorate in International Affairs, and she had a bona fide job offer on the table. She did up the last of her cases and sat on the bed looking around her bedroom. It was time to go. It was a big world out there and it was waiting on her….
***
The sweat pouring down Aiden Cole’s face started to annoy him. The session was taking far longer than necessary, and his patience was wearing thin. He didn’t mind the teaching. Show them enough to give them the tools they needed, hold back enough not to kill them. Not that he didn’t appreciate the need to get trainees where they needed to be, everyone had to start somewhere.
Just not with him. He was a field agent, top of his game, that should give you perks, not handholding duty! Aiden watched another poorly executed move and wanted to pound on something. It was becoming harder not to just kill them all himself and go get coffee…..
***
Lori looked at the files piled on her desk. This was not what she’d bargained for. The job offer stated, she’d need her international skills in dealing with clients around the world, securing contracts and ensuring every dot was marked, every T was crossed. No one said that was a filing position.
The first few days, she’d passed if off as the ‘new girl’ but it had been weeks and this, was all there was. When she’d brought it up with the others working around her on her break, querying if she was in the right job or not, they’d smiled indulgently and told her, yep. Right place, right job.
How did filing contracts require a degree in International Affairs? She asked herself for the 100th time, holding back the impulse to punch the courier, who’d just deposited more files on her desk. Her father had been right, she realised, humans lied.
***
Aiden walked out the changing rooms as his boss Neville, came towards him. “Aiden, wait up.” Aiden stopped and closed his eyes, if he was chasing him down outside the locker room and it couldn’t wait, till he’d got across the room to his desk, it wasn’t good.
Aiden turned towards him. Neville held out the file. “We have a new player in town. Amazing pedigree. One of a kind you could say. Playing by the rules. Appears to have her own personal hit list too. Word is, all three families want her.”
Aiden took it from him. He only knew of one female in the Covenant. He leafed through the file. She was beautiful. The picture seemed a good one. That was unusual, they didn’t generally take good pictures. No one knew why. “So why aren’t they buying or bartering her in the usual way?”
“Intel say her father refuses to put her up.” Aiden frowned. That was unusual as well.
“So, she came here why?” He asked.
Neville leaned in, “get this, for a job.” Aiden wasn’t sure he’d heard right. He looked up at his boss.
“She came here for a job? She has a contract?”
Neville nodded. “O yeah, with Cormac & Cormac. International Affairs floor. She’s a grafter.”
Aiden stared at him. “This a joke? Covenant don’t take jobs outside the Houses.” Neville shook his head, pointing at the file.
“This one did. It’s all in there, read it, then give me options.” Neville walked away. Aiden wasn’t sure whether to laugh or not. The families did not allow their children to work for humans and not in human jobs. There was no way, the only daughter of a House, was hoofing it around. He hustled over to his desk, dumped his bag and opened the file again. There had to be something he was missing….
***
Lori walked into her favourite restaurant. She’d found it by accident. Taking a different route home one day, had led her to here and it had quickly become a firm favourite. She didn’t cook and made no excuse for it. Her senses gave her all the information she needed about a place. She could taste the flavours and essences on her tongue. She knew instantly if a place was clean or not. If they used fresh ingredients and went that extra mile and made their own bread. She’d walked in a lot of doors since she’d come to town and only a few, got her order or a return visit.
It was early for the dinner crowd but that suited her just fine. “Anywhere you want Lori.” She looked up at Kingston who’d called to her as she’d walked in. Lori waved and smiled taking a seat in the window. She picked up the menu browsing the options. She didn’t know why she bothered looking any more. The staples of the restaurant were the same and excellent, the daily specials were being written up as she’d come through the door.
Kingston came over and filled her glass with chilled water. “Third time this week, I am honoured.” He gave her a mock bow. Lori smiled. She liked Kingston.
“Well don’t let it go to your head. I’m in demand you know.” She told him lifting her chin in an imperious way.
He patted her shoulder. “Good on ya girl. Keep it up. Now, what can I get you.” Lori listed off the items she wanted. Kingston didn’t need to write it down, he knew it all by heart. He left her to her water and walked back to the kitchens to prepare her meal. Lori thought this was the best part of her day… How sad was that?
***
By the time she was finished, night had closed in around them and the restaurant started to fill up with the evening crowd. The meal had been delicious, and she’d told Kingston exactly that, as she paid leaving a good tip, then walking outside into the crisp night air, turning in the direction of her newish home. Her father had insisted she have somewhere ‘decent’ to live, so he’d paid for an upmarket ‘apartment’, that catered for their kind in the human world. It meant dear old Dad, could visit any time he wanted and so could the family. An apartment on two floors with 12 bedrooms. Lori shook her head. Seriously, she hardly used one! Saying yes, had been easier than saying no. So she’d thanked him and took it.
Lori had been brought up too well not to notice the tarnished notes on the air or the waiting party up ahead. This was unexpected, Lori knew there were two ways
to play this, run or confront. To run would make her look weak. Lori kept walking, she wasn’t the run type, unless a trophy was involved. She tasted the night air, Covenant, the people ahead of her, were her people. Well not hers exactly, a ….. splinter group, one could say. There were several splinter groups, families, that had evolved over time. She’d learnt her lessons well. Twelve in fact. She knew the histories of all the families as well as she knew her own. They came from a time when war, was raged with good and evil.
This would be a confrontation and a show of power. House politics, it so bored her. She walked slowly towards her reception party, looking causally at the group in front of her. Then stopped some 20 metres out and didn’t move. Didn’t show any sign of weakness, or emotion. They would taste her emotions if she let them. Lori filled her mind with gracious hospitality. With indulgence, that their presence was a ‘whim’, one she would allow.
A lead male stepped forward, she noticed his pleasure at contact with her essence. Lori recognised him. Anton. He’d come to call. How nice of him. Only this was more than just a social hello. She’d played by the rules. Informed the families that she would be in the area. Stated her reason and provided the evidence. That, was all she was required to do and she’d done it. He had no reason to come at her like this and they both knew it. She never did like the use of scare and bully tactics. This was a bully move and she hated bullies. Lori stared at him, adding a little impatience to her senses. She saw the moment he sensed it and lost his edge. “My father wishes for you to accept his protection. He would like to offer you, the refuge of our family.”
She sensed several of his men trying to get into position to sandbag her. Lori flooded a little of her sexual abandon into her essence and watched the euphoric affect wash over the men in front of her, they faltered. “Remove your men Anton, I do not appreciate the strong arm move.” She told him quietly. She knew he could hear her.
She could smell the desire coming from them. Time to move this on. “You should enjoy each other,” she said aloud and pushed it at them. Several of the men started to move towards each other, she was forgotten. Anton, however, was made of stronger stuff. She could see how stiff he was from where she stood. One of his men, ripped open the front of Anton’s trousers and went down on him. Lori wondered if Anton enjoyed men as well as women. It wasn’t unknown in their world. It was very much accepted. Sex was not defined by gender but by need.
“I thank your father for his offer of hospitality,” she told him watching the display, “but sadly, I have to decline. To accept, would upset the fine balance with the other families, that is so important to my father. But, please enjoy my gift to you.” She pushed a little more power at them and laced it with pure lust, the scene became erotic.
Nothing was taboo in the Covenant. Sex was sex. Lori soaked in the rolling wave of pleasure they were providing in the atmosphere. She hated being cornered. They’d expected her, a female, to cowl, to beg and take what was offered. She wasn’t that kind of female. Her father had made very sure of that. Casting an illusion around the group that would hide them from the rest of the world, she walked on to her apartment. Tonight, hadn’t been that boring after all …
***
Aiden stopped the car and waited. He had the female’s place of residence from the file and decided to check it out. He wasn’t surprised to find it in the better part of town or the glamorous glass building with heavy security at the address. The building belonged to her father, so he expected that. It had changed hands shortly before Ms Palmer had taken up residence. Aiden expected that was no co-incidence. It was a classy place. He was counting the number of security when his target walked out in front of him and headed towards the building. Looking around he wondered where she’d come from, he hadn’t seen her in his mirrors, then spotted the small street behind him. He hadn’t noticed it before. Aiden frowned, how’d he miss that?
He watched her until she entered the building. Where was her security? Her personal guards? He looked around and checked. Nothing. No one. That was all kinds of wrong. A daughter of the Covenant didn’t go about unescorted or without security. Ever. So how come this one did? His training told him, the simplest answer, was generally the right one. She didn’t need any. The question was, why the hell not?
***
Lori had spotted the Agent, the minute she’d stepped foot on the pavement. He wasn’t trying to hide, so she went with it, and gave him a full-on view of her ass walking to the building. He was cute, she’d give him that. All that army haircut giving him away. Lori smiled recalling his scent, it had been delicious. Different. Human with a hint of something else. It intrigued her. She liked it. She’d been tempted to turn back around and pull him from the car to taste his skin. He had no notes of smoke, drink or drugs in his essence. The male was clean. Tempting. Far too tempting.
She’d waved to security then rode the lift to her floor. They had the entire top two floors of the building. You had to have the access codes to get passed the doors on the stairs or get the lift to go all the way up. If you put in the wrong code, the place went into lock down. Lori walked in her door, suddenly relieved to be there. She blew out a breath, dumping her bag, then removing her shoes and coat before walking to the kitchen to pour herself a glass of wine. She’d get no official visitors here and any unofficial ones, wouldn’t make it passed the ground floor. It was a fortress. She’d know. Her father made sure she had all the blue prints copied to memory before she’d moved in. Need an exit? She was the girl to ask.
Her phone rang. Lori looked at it knowing, it would be her father. There was no putting off the inevitable. Lori picked it up and answered the call. “Hay Dad.”
“Hay beautiful, good day?” Lori loaded fake enthusiasm into her voice and gave him a fake run down on her day, that had plenty of high lights. She was such a looser!
“It’s so good to hear how well you’re doing kitten.” Lori nodded holding on tight to that enthusiasm.
“Thanks Dad, how’s things at home?” Her Dad gave her the run down. Who’s back, who’s not, what went well, what hadn’t. Lori couldn’t help feeling she should be there.
“You know you can come home anytime.” Her Dad cut into her musings. Lori rained in her emotions. He’d picked up on her sadness.
“Thanks Dad, I know.”
“I had some interesting information just come across my desk.” Lori recognised the tone. He had that ‘I’m a proud Dad, with concern,’ thing going on.
“Really, what was it?” She asked in all innocence.
“Seems Anton got out his pram and was slapped back in.” Lori didn’t know why she was surprised her father already knew. It hadn’t been 20 minutes. She gave up all pretence.
“He deserved it. Offered me the protection of his father’s family, was insisting, I go in with him. I declined, gracefully.”
A “haha” sounded on the other end of the phone. “Is that why he and his men are fucking their brains out on the street right now?”
“Hay,” she told him indignantly. “I only stirred the pot, the impulse was already there. I think Anton prefers males.” She told him with a little edge. There was silence on the other end of the phone. Lori wondered if she’d over stepped this time.
“O that’s good, I can reject his proposal then.” Lori’s mouth dropped open.
“You’ve got to be shitting me.” Slipped out. Her father chuckled.
“Yes and no. All the families offer, you know that every year. And they know it’s your choice not mine.” Lori breathed a sigh of relief.
“Thanks Dad you’re the best.” He chuckled some more.
“Ok speak tomorrow kitten, be good.” The phone cut off. Could she go another day at that office? Lori looked at her glass of wine, she needed a bigger glass.
***
Aiden parked further down the street. They’d be no hiding from her if she’d seen him and there was every indication that she had. He’d waited until he saw her leave, then drove on to her office. He h
adn’t seen any security around her, parked and waited. He spotted her getting off a bus and heading in to her office building. She was using a bus? None of what he was seeing made any sense. It seemed to be a legitimate job. He’d made some enquiries and Ms Palmer did indeed, have a job in the big city with Cormac & Cormac. A real one. Aiden couldn’t figure out the angle here. What did Cormac & Cormac have, that Ms Palmer’s father wanted. And why, would he send her in as a normal, when he could have used his skills and people just to take it. It made no sense.
Aiden started the car and drove to his own office. He needed a chat with Neville.
***
Another long day later saw Lori at her second-best place to eat and the best place for fried chicken. She was in an indulgent mood and needed some comfort food. She’d already ordered and was sipping her water when she sensed another Covenant. Lori narrowed her eyes. At least Anton hadn’t disturbed her dinner. She turned to look out the window. A single male stood there. Another fine specimen of their race. Lori realised she’d have to deal with him now, or she’d never get through dinner. She sighed putting her water down.
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