Chapter 2
Nicole came into the office early the next morning to do her report. She should have done it last night since she hadn’t slept a wink. Between thinking of Damon and the nightmare of what happened to Sam her brain wouldn’t stop working. Tossing the pen across the desk, she rubbed her eyes wishing the images of Sam strapped to that chair with silver chains and the tube running out of his arm would fade, but she knew they wouldn’t.
Sam had been taken off the streets by the Cincinnati police a month ago and turned over to their care. Mitch had sent her to the hospital where he was being looked over. If anyone would have told her two years ago that she would have to place an 8 year old vampire in a foster home, she would have called them crazy. Now they had more vampire children to find homes for than human children. Of course vampires could not have children, but human children were being turned to supply the thirst for the Crimson Rush that had taken over the drug market. Some days she just wanted to head to the mountains somewhere and disappear. God, it was heartbreaking and truly scary. It was a new world they lived in with different rules. One she was hoping she could live in without going insane.
Pam peeked her head in the door. “Mitch is yelling for you.”
“What’s new?” Taking her hand away from her eyes she grabbed her report and got up. “Are you sore?”
“Are you kidding me?” Pam moaned. “It took me five minutes to sit down on the toilet this morning my butt is so sore. It was pretty comical.”
Nicole laughed. “Yeah, it took me a while to get moving.”
“Wonder if one of those warriors would rub my bum to make it feel better?” Pam snickered, her face turning red. “I wanted to die when we had to partner up with them last night. Talk about a work out.”
“I guess they wanted to make sure we were getting the moves right since we are just women folk.” She didn’t want to let on to Pam how much having Damon’s hands on her affected her. Every time he grabbed her in a hold it felt like a sizzle of electricity coursing through her body. She’d never felt anything like it before and the truth was she kinda liked it. “Ah, did you feel, I don’t know, something weird when Jared was working with you?”
They headed down the hall towards Mitch’s office. “You mean did I want to jump his bones?” Pam sighed dramatically. “Well, hell yeah.”
“I’m waiting for that report Callahan.” Mitch’s booming shout bounced down the hall toward them.
Rolling her eyes she stepped into his office, tossing him the report. “Patience is a virtue Mitch.”
“Yeah, well, I wouldn’t know virtue if it bit me on the ass and to hell with patience.” Mitch grunted, thumbing through the report. “Damon and Jared have been waiting for you both. I am about ready to put them on the payroll since they're the only ones who seem to be able to tell time.”
Nicole glanced at the clock. “It’s only three after. Most places give their employees a seven minute window.” She purposely ignored the two men she figured were taking up the chairs behind her. She wasn’t ready to face the large warriors yet, one in particular. She hadn’t thought they would be here this early.
Mitch slammed the report down to glare at her. “I’m not in the mood for your smart mouth remarks Callahan. We have a full schedule today and you all need to train tonight so getcha asses in gear. Pam, you and Jared are pairing up today and Damon is going with you Callahan.”
Nicole heard the two men behind her stand. “No prob boss.” She turned to walk out the door then stopped. “Oh, by the way, you owe the jar a dollar.”
Mitch looked up from his desk, his eyes narrowed. “I didn't say the f-word.”
“No, not today, but you did last night.” Nicole glanced over at the jar that was packed full of dollar bills, mostly Mitch's hard earned money. “I'm proud of ya boss. Only one, that is quite an improvement.”
Mitch stood digging into his pocket, then placed another dollar in the jar marked 'F-WORD' in big bold letters. They actually kept it in his office since he contributed to the jar more than anyone. “If you want a seven minute window for your late ass Callahan be my guest to find another place to work.” Mitch threw out behind her.
“You know you love me boss.” Nicole chuckled. “Who else is going to keep you on your toes?”
“God help me.” Mitch groaned before slamming his door shut.
Jared chuckled as the four made their way down the hall. “What was that all about?”
“Since we work with children so much we have to watch our language. So Nicole made the 'F-WORD' jar. She uses the money at the end of the year to help with a Christmas party for the kids.” Pam chuckled. “Mitch is the worst offender of the f-word and Nicole calls him on it every time.”
“Is it just that word or others along with it?” Jared's eyes crinkled with humor.
“Just the f-word.” Pam snickered. “Everyone has to eat and pay bills. Nicole tried for them all, but everyone revolted because their paychecks were disappearing into the jar.”
“Hey, it's not my fault everyone around here has a potty mouth.” Nicole grumbled.
They stopped in front of Nicole's office. Jared dug into his wallet. “Guess since we're going to be helping I need to watch my mouth.” Jared handed Nicole a twenty. “That should do it until I can get control of my favorite word.”
Smiling Nicole nodded. “Yeah, cause vampire warrior or not I will call you on it.”
“She is ruthless when it comes to making money for the kids.” Pam chuckled. “Everyone who comes in on a regular basis is warned about it because we do have kids in here sometimes. She got the UPS guy last week.”
“I'm not ruthless.” Nicole turned to head into her office. “I'm determined.”
Pam looked up at Damon. “What about you? You tossing in now or waiting until she catches you?”
“I have more control than Jared.” Damon grinned at Jared's eye roll.
Jared snorted. “Yeah, right. I bet you've said it at least twenty times this morning already.”
“Didn't have a reason not to.” Damon looked down at Nicole and winked. “Now I do.”
“You'll slip.” Jared gave a confident nod.
“Yeah, well if he does I'll call him on it too.” Nicole warned. She was a little shocked that these rough and tough warriors would play along.
“You guys be careful out there.” Pam called out as she and Jared continued down the hall.
“Same to ya.” Nicole walked into her office. Sitting down, she glanced up to see Damon standing in her door, his broad shoulders blocking any thought of a quick exit. Talk about claustrophobic. “Oh, I forgot I had to invite you in since you’re a vamp and all.”
Damon couldn’t help but grin revealing straight white teeth and flashing some fang. “Ah, that's a vamp myth, human.” With one step he filled her small office and took a seat in front of her desk. “And this isn’t your home.”
“Could have fooled me.” Snorting she marked a envelop 'Jared's f-word money' and slipped the twenty in. “Might as well call this place home sweet home since I’m here more often than not.”
“Better watch out, if Mitch hears you talking like that he might take rent out of your check.” His eyes twinkled. He really liked her sense of humor. Most women tried too hard to impress him into their beds and that bored him almost before they even began.
Nicole laughed, liking this side of the warrior. She felt more at ease with him. Humor always made her comfortable. “I wouldn’t put it past the man that's for sure. Anything to make my life miserable.”
“I’d say the same about you.” Damon leaned back in the chair smiling at her. “You seem to like making his life miserable.”
“Interesting.” Nicole countered with a smile of her own. “Not miserable. He seriously wouldn’t know what to do without me. I was sick a couple of months ago and was out for one day. He called me every hour.”
Damon nodded, then looked around her cluttered office. Case files were scattered everywhere. “So would
he or anyone else know your filing system? I’m sure even Mitch would splurge for a filing cabinet.”
“Only I know my extensive and complicated filing system. I know it looks like a mess, but if anyone needed anything I could pull it in a minute flat. File cabinets take up space.”
Again he grinned and man, did that lopsided curve of those full lips make him sexy as hell. “So you have no problem with me heading out to jobs with you?”
Trying not to squirm under his scrutiny, she shuffled the case files around her desk trying to look busy. “No. Why would you ask that?”
“You just don’t seem like the kind of woman who wants a man following her every move.” Relaxing more, he leaned back crossing his heavily muscled arms across his massive chest.
Stopping herself from wiping her mouth to check for drool, she eyed him. “Listen, I care for these kids. I know I shouldn’t care as much as I do and Mitch gets on me for getting too involved, but I can’t help it. Not one of these kids have asked for what is happening to them, so anything you and your fellow buddies can do to help you will get no problems from me. I do know that I get in over my head sometimes and I don’t think, but when I see a kid in pain or scared all I can think about is getting them out of the situation.”
“Do all of you feel the same about this job?” The only thing that moved was his lips as he ask the question. His eyes, so golden, probed so deep into hers, it was truly unsettling.
“I really can’t answer for them.” She glanced away. “I do know Mitch wouldn't keep anyone on that didn’t do their job and do it well.”
“What about Chad Evans?”
She shrugged one shoulder. “What about him? He does his job just like the rest of us.”
“But you don’t like him.” It wasn’t a question. “He doesn’t like you.” That was fact.
“Well, there you go.” Nicole snorted. “We don’t really work together except for meetings and now working out with you guys, so it really isn’t a problem.”
“But you don’t trust him.” Again statement rather than question.
Blue eyes stared into gold. “How would you know something like that? Can you read my mind vamp? Cause if you can it’s awfully scary in there.” She tapped her temple with her pen.
He studied her close, his gaze intense before answering. “No, I can’t read yours.”
Shocked she dropped her pen. “But you can read others?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, well, ah, is that good or bad?” She chuckled, nerves cramping her stomach. God, no way did she want this hot vampire lurking in her mind so it was very good on her end.
“I don’t know yet.” He frowned. “It’s never happened before.”
“You mean you have never not been able to read someone’s mind?” Wow, that would be kind of cool to read people’s mind. Then again thinking of Mitch, she probably wouldn’t want to know what he really thought of her most of the time.
“No, you're the first human I haven't been able to read.” He did look quite puzzled by this whole idea of not being able to read her. “But you’re happy about the fact that I can’t.”
“You bet I am.” Standing, she shoved her case files into her work bag. “Who wants someone poking around into your deepest thoughts, your private thoughts?”
He stood and opened the door for her. “It saves time.” His voice rumbled close to her as she passed him on the way out. “You don’t have to ask questions.”
“Well…there is that.” Nicole gave a nervous chuckle as she breezed past him, not wanting him to see how his closeness affected her. Man this was going to be a long day.
After stopping at the hospital to check on Sam, who had been happily eating ice cream, they had gone to the homes that Nicole had scheduled visits. Everything had gone well and everyone seemed to be happy with no problems. It has been a rare day. They were now heading back to the office.
“You love this job don’t you?” Damon glanced at her before turning his attention back to the road. He had insisted on driving after seeing her car. He had advised her that he would not step foot in the piece of crap she called a car. Nicole had to agree with him. It was a piece of crap and she would talk to Mitch first thing in the morning about a raise or company vehicle. Yeah....like that was going to happen.
“Yeah, I do.” She nodded then touched her black eye. “Does have its downfalls I guess, but I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else. I just wish there was more I could do.”
“Like what? It seems like you are doing all that you can”
“No, not really. There's a war out there with this blood addiction stuff that needs to be stopped. I just wish I could have seen who else was in that basement yesterday. It could be a clue to whoever is behind all of this.”
“You are not to do anything about that.” Damon’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, his voice hard. His alpha male protective instincts for this woman kicked into high gear.
“Listen, I don’t care if you come along and all that, but don't think to tell me what to do because I will do whatever the hell I want to do.” Nicole shot right back.
“Listen to me Nicole. We have been working this for a long time and this is something that is too dangerous to get involved in.” Damon's voice rumbled in warning.
“What do you mean get involved in?” She huffed turning completely in her seat to face him noting that his eyes were getting darker. “I am involved up to my eyeballs in this stuff. I want it stopped before more children get hurt.”
“And you don’t think we want it stopped. We have leads we are working on every day and the ones involved would rather kill you first and ask questions later.” His eyes seemed to go black as night as he slid a sideways glare at her.
“I know, but I am on the inside, so to speak. I hear a lot of stuff and could help out. Plus, you guys are teaching us how to protect ourselves.”
“No!” Damon growled. “Dammit Nicole, stay out of it. You don’t have a clue what you're getting yourself into.” He pulled into an empty parking space in front of her office.
Nichole had the door opened before he even stopped. “Yeah...whatever.” She leaped out of the car slamming the door.
“Damn!” Damon slammed his hands on the steering barely catching himself from saying the f-word. Shaking his head in disbelief he couldn't help the disgusted chuckle that escaped his lips. “After hundreds of years one small blonde woman has me calling fuck the f-word. Yeah...some badass warrior I am.” He was truly screwed. Watching to make sure she made it to her car he backed out and headed to the warehouse.
Nichole could feel Damon glaring hotly at her as she ran her laps to warm up. She had lost her temper earlier and felt bad about it. She knew he was here to help them and they desperately needed these warrior’s help. Noticing he was standing alone she stopped in front of him. “Listen, I’m sorry about earlier. I tend to get a little defensive about my job. I’m not stupid and I know we need your help. It’s just I want to do everything I can to stop this.”
Damon nodded, his eyes back to their golden stage. “I understand your passion for what you do, but the deeper you involve yourself the more danger you place yourself in. You can't help anyone if you get yourself killed.”
“I have a lot of contacts.” Nicole glanced over her shoulder to see if anyone was listening. “I hear a lot so if I hear anything I think will help I'll let you know and you can check it out. Does that sound fair?”
“As long as it does not put you in danger, then I will agree.” He nodded toward the middle of the mat. “Come on, you need to work on your ground fighting skills.”
Damon (The Protectors Series) Book #1 Page 2