KnightForce Ethan (La Patron's KnightForce)

by Sydney Addae

  Unsure where all of this was heading, Vanessa nodded but didn’t say anything.

  “That’s why I asked how you’re doing,” Brenda said into the silence.

  “Thank you, I’m fine.” Vanessa had no intention of replaying what happened at the restaurant for anyone.

  “Okay, just checking.” Brenda turned and headed to the door. “You don’t have to push everyone away, you know. If you’d be friendlier with the rest of us and not just Shyla, you’d see we aren’t as heartless as you make us out to be.” She opened and closed the door on those words before Vanessa could think past the surprise choking her.

  “What the hell?” Vanessa sat in her chair at her desk, staring at the door. “Did I wake up in the Twilight Zone? Did she just accuse me of not being friendly?”

  Shyla opened the door and walked in. “Whatever’s wrong, I didn’t do it.”

  Vanessa blinked a couple times and pushed Brenda’s remarks to the back of her mind. “I know you didn’t.”

  “What’s wrong?” Shyla opened Vanessa’s bag and dug through it. She pulled out a banana and started peeling.

  “Nothing. At least I don’t think anything.” She looked at Shyla and wondered if she could share what really happened in Jersey. Her stomach clenched. Goosebumps flew across her skin and it hurt to swallow. She placed the bottle on the desk and pulled out her scanner.

  “What do you need a scanner for?” Shyla asked as Vanessa moved around the room with it.

  “Trust issues.” She scanned the entire room.

  “I hope you’re not going to pat me down or something.”

  “No. I do this from time to time because I was kidnapped a couple years ago. I think they bugged my classroom to know where I was going because they snatched me on an out of town trip.”

  Shyla gasped, and tossed the peels in the trash. “What? Seriously?”

  Vanessa nodded, turned and kept scanning the room.

  “Sorry, stupid question,” Shyla said. “I didn’t know. You never let on or mentioned anything, not that you have to tell me things like that, everyone’s entitled to hold their own counsel.” She dropped her hands. “Again sorry, just shocked and sorry you went through that. You’re okay now?”

  “The weekend was tough but I’m good now.”

  “Weekend? I stayed at your placed Friday night, you weren’t feeling Jim right?”

  “Yeah but…” She glanced toward the window. “Something about Ethan triggered the memory of what happened, the kidnapping. That’s why I couldn’t be with Jim.”

  “Ethan?”

  Vanessa nodded.

  “Vanessa, I’m so sorry.” Shyla paused. “What was it about Ethan that bothered you? Do you know?”

  “Nothing concrete.” She struggled to put her fear into words. “I never saw the faces of the men who kidnapped me but I saw them walk. Some of them moved differently, like Ethan.” She looked at Shyla. “Did he tell you anything about himself?”

  “Not a whole lot. Former Marine. Works in a high level security position. Single. Late 30s.” She shrugged.

  “Has he ever been to Newark?”

  “Jersey?”

  Vanessa nodded.

  “I don’t know, want me to ask him?”

  “No,” Vanessa yelled. “Sorry. I don’t plan to see him again so it’s not important. Jim and I decided to forgo the wedding and either hit Vegas or have a small thing in the back yard. I still want you with me no matter where we do it.” She met Shyla’s surprised gaze.

  “No wedding? You’ve always wanted a wedding.”

  “Can’t risk it.” Vanessa shook her head so hard the rubber-band flew off.

  “Risk what?”

  “Kidnapped before, never again. Jim will keep me safe.” Inwardly she cringed at the choppy words tumbling from her mouth but couldn’t force a complete sentence through her lips.

  “So why not have the wedding?”

  Vanessa thought about it. From the time she’d been a small child she’d wanted a wedding. “I need to think about it. There’s a lot going on.”

  “Yeah? Like what?” Shyla asked.

  “Inside my head.” She tapped her forehead. “I’d locked down those memories so tight, I’d forgotten how horrible things had been.” She swallowed hard and picked up the bottle again.

  “Were you with family?”

  Vanessa’s heart tightened. “I never told you, but my mom died right after I was born. Never knew my dad. I stayed with distant relatives until I was four or five and went into the system. I’d just turned six when I went to live with Priscilla Roberts, foster care.” Memories flowed over and around her, this time warming her with the love and care she’d experienced during that time. “School teacher for 20 years by the time she took me in. Tough, really tough lady. I had to study all the time. She gave me extra work sometimes to help understand a class.” She looked at Shyla. “At the time I didn’t see it, but those side assignments really helped my grades and grounded me with purpose. I went from barely being able to read to making the honor roll all through elementary and middle school.” Vanessa paused, thinking of the dynamic woman who shaped her life, through travel, books and experiences. Ms. Roberts’ thirst for knowledge never waned even though her body did.

  “Sounds like another strong woman I know,” Shyla said.

  Vanessa snorted. “She was. My senior year of high school we planned to visit this college I’d applied to. That morning she didn’t feel good but she wanted to check it out, make sure it was good enough for me. We walked a lot, she’d get out of breath, but she did that all the time.” Her heart tightened as she remembered that hot spring day. “I kept telling her we didn’t need to stay for the whole tour, we’d seen the most important things and I wasn’t interested in that school. Another hour into the tour she agreed to leave, but instead of going home, we drove to her doctor. When we got there he called an ambulance and had her taken to the hospital.” Vanessa frowned in remembrance. “Everything happened fast after that. She had a stroke. I found out she’d had heart problems and never should’ve done that kind of walking. The doctor said he’d advised her not to do anything like that but she wanted to make sure I was settled.” Vanessa shook her head. “Can you believe that?”

  “Yes I can. She thought of you as her child.”

  “Oh yeah, she adopted me after the first year, and is the only mother I’ve known. Still made me call her Ms. Roberts till the very end.” Vanessa chuckled. “She had her quirks, but I loved that old woman and miss her so much.”

  Shyla squeezed her hand.

  “She stayed in the hospital five days. I had no idea she was so sick, when I asked her why she didn’t tell me, she said she didn’t want me worried about her or to get distracted from my goals.” Shaking her head, she looked at Shyla. “Who does stuff like that?”

  “A mother who thinks of her child first.”

  Vanessa waved down that comment. “When she died she left everything to me. People I’d never seen came to the funeral claiming to be her relatives, they didn’t know she had a daughter and thought they’d take her stuff.”

  Shyla chuckled. “I know you put a stop to that.”

  “I called the police and had them removed from the yard and barred them from the funeral. They hadn’t been a part of our lives, and weren’t what Ms. Roberts would’ve considered family.”

  “Not all blood is family, and not all family is blood,” Shyla said. “Sometimes there are stronger ties forged through the years.”

  Vanessa nodded and then fell silent. What would Ms. Roberts think about Jim? His proposal and their rush to get married? No way would she ever go along with it. Then again she wouldn’t have allowed Vanessa to run away after the kidnapping either. Ms. Roberts believed in facing problems head on and taught Vanessa to do the same. “We’ll have a wedding in three months.”

  “Have it in the gardens.”

  She looked at Shyla. “Gardens?”

  “At my place, you love it there. We can make
it really nice, I’ve got some ideas.”

  “That would be really pretty, thank you. I’m surprised I didn’t think of it.” Shyla’s home had been in her family for generations and sat on over 50 acres. In Vanessa’s opinion the formal gardens were the best feature of the place, with colorful flowers and perfectly trimmed hedges. It always smelled like a sweet treat, especially when she sat on the bench for any length of time.

  “We’ll have a lot of fun and it’ll be easier to handle security issues.”

  “Jim will probably want his friends in charge of that,” Vanessa said.

  “Not at my house, that’s the one thing I gotta draw the line. There’s too many things in my home to have strangers, people I don’t know or trust, working security. What I’ll do is have you meet with a security team so you can approve them, but that’s about the most I’ll give on that.” She met Vanessa’s gaze. “Sorry, but I just can’t have strangers roaming my house.”

  “I understand.” Vanessa waved her hand about. “I’m grateful you’re allowing us the use of your gardens for the wedding. We’ll have the reception someplace else.”

  “You can do it all there, in fact, you should have the wedding and reception at the house. We’ll put up a tent, table and chairs, and make it one big event. Plus, it’s cheaper if security doesn’t need to go place to place.”

  Vanessa thought it over and couldn’t think of any objections. Several people had asked Shyla to use the gardens for events and her friend always said no. “Thank you so much, I’ll come to your place after work, sign the contract, and get a working idea of how I’d like things.”

  Shyla stood, looked up at the clock. Students were arriving and would soon flood the classroom. “See you then and don’t worry, we won’t let anything happen to you.”

  Vanessa frowned at her friend’s departure. “Who’s we?”

  The last time Ethan walked down a school corridor he’d been investigating the disappearance of Hawke and Asia’s small daughter, Sarita, who’d been kidnapped from her class. Security at this school sucked big time. He’d come through an unlocked side door in the gym, completely avoiding the metal detector at the front of the school. No alarm sounded and no one stopped him as he walked down the hall following Vanessa’s scent. Knowing his mate sat in this building unprotected set his teeth on edge. Somehow he’d need to rectify that.

  Uncertain how he’d explain showing up at her place of work, he inhaled and turned right. Shyla’s vague explanation that now wasn’t a good time to press his mate fell on deaf ears. Although she meant well, she had no idea of the mating heat. He couldn’t stay away, every cell in his body yearned to connect with Vanessa.

  He stopped in front of a closed door and stared through the small rectangular window in the door. She sat at a desk, flipping through papers. Two students sat in chairs, writing. He glanced at his watch, school was over.

  “May I help you?”

  Ethan looked over his shoulder at a stunning woman with long blond hair. “No, I’m good.” He turned back and continued looking at Vanessa.

  “Are you waiting for a student?”

  “No.”

  “Ms. Prince, then?”

  “Yes.”

  “Is she expecting you?”

  “Are you her secretary?” He didn’t need to see her face to know she’d probably turned red.

  “No. My class is across the hall.”

  Vanessa looked toward the door but didn’t seem to see him. She continued with the papers and he released a breath. For some reason he wasn’t ready to confront her, to explain why he was at her job or that he’d be around a lot longer. Humans had no idea what mating meant to full-bloods, and since she didn’t suffer the same as him, he doubted she’d care.

  “Are you friends with Jim?”

  “Why are you asking all these questions?” His voice lowered and he glanced over his shoulder.

  Her cheeks reddened as she snapped her mouth shut. “You’re rude.”

  “Honest is the right word. You’re nosy. I’m not your concern.” He waved his fingers. “Run along.”

  “What? You… She… I wonder if Jim knows his fiancé has men meeting her at work?”

  “Men? Who else has been here?” His gaze pinned her to the spot. “Who?”

  “No one, it’s just a figure of speech,” she said, inching backward.

  “A lie you mean? You plan to stir up trouble for her and Jim?” He wasn’t sure that was a bad idea as long as he wasn’t a part of it.

  “I don’t care what they do, it’s none of my business.” She spun on her heels, walked into a classroom across the hall and closed the door. The door behind him opened and he took his time turning.

  “Ethan?” Vanessa sounded surprised as she looked up and down the hall. “What are you doing here?”

  He cleared his throat and tried not to stare at her. But it wasn’t possible. Her skin glowed with health and a zest for life. Concern-filled eyes slowly changed as she continued staring at him.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, tasting the pungent sting of fear.

  “What are you doing here?” she stressed the last word.

  “I wanted to see you.”

  Her eyes widened and then she frowned. “Me? Why? What’s going on?” She whispered, looked across the hall, and then through the window at the two students. “Never mind, I can’t talk now, they’re taking tests.”

  “I’ll wait.”

  “What? No. No. No.” She held her hands up as though pleading to a higher entity. “I’m engaged, getting married very soon, so there’s no reason for you to see me.” Without turning her back on him, she opened the door and returned inside.

  Ethan touched the handle and stiffened. Shyla. Taking a step back, he waited for her to reach him. Instead of arguing with him, she placed her finger to her lips and told him to follow her. They moved to the mouth of the corridor where he could still see the classroom. His beast wouldn’t allow him to go any further.

  “First, I apologize for the shitty advice I gave you. Alpha explained things to me, there’s no way you can’t be here. Since he left this morning, he asked me to continue assisting you but understands I won’t betray Vanessa, she’s my friend. I hope you understand that as well.”

  Ethan nodded.

  “She’s had some problems in the past, I believe with shifters. They kidnapped and ran tests on her.”

  Fire rolled down his spine at the idea of his beloved’s mistreatment. A dark mist rolled across his vision as screams and moans filled his head.

  Not now. He placed his hands over his ears but the sounds rose to the point he couldn’t hear anything else. His head snapped back as a pungent odor penetrated the darkness. Shyla stared at him and snapped her finger beneath his nose.

  “You back?” She stuffed a yellowed rag into a small plastic coin purse.

  “Yeah, what the hell? Never mind, thanks.” He looked toward Vanessa’s classroom as she opened the door. Two students walked out. She looked in his direction, for a few moments their gazes clashed until she returned to her class. His beast howled to be closer to her. A hand fell on his arm.

  “Lock him down. Students.” Shyla stepped back and allowed the two students to pass while Ethan remained rooted to his spot staring in Vanessa’s direction.

  “Go. Nothing wrong with healthy competition.” Shyla smiled and walked off.

  Before her sentence even ended, Ethan moved quickly down the hall, opened Vanessa’s door and stepped inside.

  Vanessa glanced at him with a resigned look. She held up her finger and continued talking on her cell phone. “I’m not avoiding you, I had to work late, the students just left.” She paused, turned her back on him, and whispered. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, I told you I had to work late today.”

  Ethan moved around the room, looking at the colorful posters, books on the shelves, and a cart full of supplies while shamelessly listening to her every word.

  “I’ll see you later, then.” Sh
e paused. “If not tonight, tomorrow or whenever you have time.” She paused again and it took everything within him not to snatch the phone from her hand.

  “Do what you think best, it’s been a long day.” She pressed a button and glared at him. “What are you doing? I told you I’m engaged to be married, which means I’m not available for dating or anything else.”

  Ethan appreciated the fire that leapt to her eyes as she took two steps toward him and stopped. “So whatever game you’re playing, just stop. I’m happy for the first time in a long time.” She glanced at the door and groaned in dismay.

  He followed her line of vision and saw the woman he’d spoken to earlier blatantly listening. “She’s jealous of you,” Ethan said, ignoring the woman’s gasp.

  Vanessa’s look of surprise changed into one of interest. “Really?”

  “Yes. She watches you all the time and is interested in someone named Jim. She asked about him.” The door opened and the red-faced woman stormed into the room.

  “You’re lying,” she said, pointing at Ethan. “I’m not jealous of anyone, especially her. Stop causing problems snooping around here.” She faced Vanessa. “I’d call security if I was you.”

  “But you’re not her, nor will you ever experience two men being interested in you at the same time, and that pisses you off,” Ethan said, sensing there was something going on between the two women. Especially when Vanessa didn’t tell him to stop or call security.

  “You don’t know anything about me,” she screamed.

  “Pamela,” Vanessa said in a no nonsense voice he was certain sent her students scurrying to do her bidding. “Calm down. I’ll talk to you another time.”

  Tight-lipped, the woman spun on her heels. “I’m not jealous. I don’t care what you do, Vanessa. Just don’t drag a good man like Jim down into the mud with you.” She left the door partially open.

  Ethan closed it.

  “Leave it open. It just looks better,” Vanessa said, looking from him to the closed door again.

  Wisps of fear emanated from her, burning his nostrils. “What are you afraid of? Will he hurt you because the door is closed?”