Accidentally Wolf (13 page)

“
Vlad
,
I p
resume?
”
I asked, proud I didn
’
t snicker. But then again, this wasn
’
t funny. He sent someone to kill me and wouldn
’
t hesitate to do it again.

“
You would be correct.
”

“
Did you know Bernard was smuggling weapons into Chicago?
”
I asked, careful as to what I would give away
.
“
O
r that the FBI wasn
’
t aware he was a
shifter
?
”

“
No
.
”
Vlad
paused as if trying to figure out what was going on. That made two of us.
“
S
muggling weapons? Are you sure of this, Chief Thomas?
”

“
Yes, I was the agent undercover for the operation,
”
I
explained
.
“
I saw the weapons myself before giving the signal for my backup. Bernard shifted his hands into claws and broke the cuffs then he tried to tear out one of my agent
’
s throat.
”

“
This is not the report I received from my men,
”
Vlad
hedged
,
his voice getting cold and angry.

“
Well you were lied to, or they didn
’
t know what they were talking about
.
I pushed my agent out of the way
.
W
e had no idea they were shifters. He clawed up my back
,
and I shot him several times. That
’
s how he died. I didn
’
t set out to kill him,
Vlad
, just arrest him.
”

“
I believe you, Chief Thomas,
”
he replied.
“
You are a
l
ycanthrope now, are you not?
”

“
Yeah, it seems I am,
”
I answered.

“
I
’
m assuming since you were able to call me, that Tristan did not kill you. Is he still alive?
”

“
Yes, Tristan
’
s fine
.
”
I snickered.
“
Sitting across my kitchen table from me.
”

“
Well, while he failed me, I am glad he did
.
”
Vlad
sighed and I understood the weariness he was feeling. Then again, I wasn
’
t going to feel too bad since he sent someone to kill me.
“
I was not aware Bernard was running guns in my city, or that he made you a wolf
.
I am sorry I sent someone to kill you now that I know all this.
”

“
Apology accepted, as long as you call off the hit.
”

“
Believe me, it is rescinded,
”
he replied.
“
Please send Tristan back to me.
”

Next issue to deal with, please step up.
“
Ah, well there may be a problem with that.
”

“
How so?
”
He seemed more curious than pissed, though I figured pissed would be coming soon.

“
He says he
’
s mine now,
”
I answered.
“
When he bit me, I guess I
minionized him or something. I
’
m not even sure that
’
s a
friggin
’
word
.
”

“
Why would you do such a thing?
”

“
If I told you I didn
’
t mean to, would you believe me?
”
I asked
with a sigh. On top of everything else my wolf was getting restless at all the stress I was under and the threat against my life
.

“
I can tell if someone is lying to me, Chief Thomas. And you are not.
”

“
No, I
’
m not,
”
I sighed
again, pinching the bridge of my nose
.
“
I didn
’
t mean to do it
.
I just didn
’
t want him to kill
me. I went to scream and all this freaky magic poured out or something
.
”

He was quiet a moment, not always a good sign.
“
Why are you telling me all of this, Chief Thomas?
”

“
I don
’
t want you to try to kill me again because I accidentally stole one of your vampires,
”
I answered honestly, finishing off my burger. I really wished right then I had ordered at least three more.
At least I wasn
’
t gaining weight from my new growth in appetite. Lycanthropy
…
T
he new weight loss cure!

“
You do realize humans, not even
shifter
s
,
are
n
’
t
supposed to be able to bind a vampire to them, right?
All
iances formed, yes, but as you p
ut it,
minionizing
, no.
”

“
Um, no, I didn
’
t know that,
”
I replied
,
suddenly scared I had shared too much with
Vlad
.

“
That would make you very dangerous, Chief Thomas. Very dangerous to vampires.
”

“
Are you threatening me,
Vlad
?
”
I growled
,
getting pissed.
“
You sent him to kill
me.
I think I
’
m very nice under the circumstances.
”

“
No, Chief Thomas, I am not. I am simply warning you.
”

“
I appreciate the warning,
”
I
responded
carefully,
“
and would appreciate it if you would keep what happened between Tristan and
me
to yourself. In return
,
I can promise you, I
’
m not looking to master a bunch of vampires. If they don
’
t bite me, or try to kill me, I can guarantee their safety.
”

“
Fair enough, Chief Thomas,
”
Vlad
said after a few minutes.
“
I will keep this interesting news to myself. I will also forgive you
r
stealing my vampire since you are correct. Tristan would never have been in that position if I hadn
’
t tried to have you killed.
”

“
So, we
’
re cool, right
Vlad
? I don
’
t want you for an enemy
.
But if you had anything to do with smuggling weapons in, or illegal activities
,
it
’
s my job to stop you.
”

“
Yes, we are, as you say, cool
.
”
H
e chuckled.
“
As for my businesses, I don
’
t believe in engaging in anything illegal. It brings unwanted attention to my vampires and myself. Since most law officials have the policy of shoot first, ask questions later, I find it
’
s safer for me this way. If I had known Bernard was smuggling weapons, I would have ended it myself.
”

“
Good to know
.
”
I
had a feeling I knew how he would have ended it
,
but
,
since we were getting along so well
,
I decided not to throw accusations around. That and I was just
really
tired
.
“
I
t was nice talking to you,
Vlad
. Thanks for not trying to kill me anymore.
”

“
You are very welcome, Chief Thomas. I find myself looking forward to meeting you.
”

I didn
’
t even get a chance to respond before he hung up. Cleaning up after my dinner
,
I had a few minutes to think about what to do next about Tristan. Coming to a decision, I picked up my cell phone and dialed the number of one of the few people I trusted.

“
Chief Monroe
.
”

“
Hi, Chief, it
’
s Thomas,
”
I said nervously,
“
do you have a minute?
”

“
Sure,
”
he replied slowly
.
“
A
re you okay
,
Thomas?
”

“
Professionally, I
’
m great, Chief. Personally, not so sure.
”

“
You can trust me, Thomas.
”

“
I know that, sir,
”
I stated firmly.
“
I
’
m just not sure this falls under something you tell your boss. But I
’
m new to the p
aranormal
community, and the only other people I know in the community are you and our agents. This definitely isn
’
t something to bring up to them
—
”

“
Thomas, stop rambling and just tell me
.
”
Chief Monroe chuckled.

“
Right, sorry, sir,
”
I
mumbled
,
taking a deep breath before continuing.
“
Vlad
sent someone to kill me tonight. When the vampire bit me,
I went to scream and something magic flared inside of me
.
”

“
What
kind of magic
, Thomas?
”

“
That
’
s the kicker, s
ir,
”
I answ
ered.
“
I don
’
t know, he says he
’
s mine now.
”

“
You
sovereigned a
vampire to you?
”
h
e asked, the astonishment clear in his voice.
“
That
’
s not possible.
”

“
Yeah, that
’
s what
Vlad
told me.
”

“
You told this to
Vlad
?
”
he yelled
.
“
W
hy would you do that?
”

“
I didn
’
t know it was a big deal, Chief,
”
I answered sheepishly.
“
I didn
’
t want him to send someone else to kill me when he found out I stole his vampire!
”

“
Okay, okay, Thomas
.
”
H
e sighed
.
“
Why did
Vlad
send someone to kill you?
”