Twisted (Rogues Shifter Series Book 3) (33 page)

Fred was looking at the figures with a surprised expression. "These salaries are high. I'd like to keep up the teen evenings, so I'll take a pay cut to fund it. I think it's important for them to have a safe place to hang out. And I don't want to have to charge admission. They buy plenty of burgers and cokes to pay for the staff and the bands play for free."

"We'll add it to the budget. You don't need to take a cut. It's a great idea."

I'll have a staff hired in one week and I'll take care of ordering supplies and food. I used to order for Kent."

"Bridgett mentioned that. I have one other request. I'd like two security guards and two servers to be hired from the vampire community, if possible."

He frowned. "That's not going to work out so well. We'll have fights every night if we start to attract a vamp crowd."

"Do you know Christian?"

"Yes. He has a nest in a big house on the north side of town. He's not a bad guy, for a vamp." He gave me a wry smile.

"He's living here with my permission and under my rules. Eleanor was the Overseer of the entire region. When I executed her, it became my responsibility. Hire from his nest. They'll behave themselves or I'll make sure they don't see another moonrise. You just have to lay down the law with the weres who come in. I think you'll attract more shifters with vamps working in the bar. Shifters are much more tolerant of other supes. It's a lesson we would all benefit from learning. And you won't make much of a profit if your only clientele are wolves."

"I really think that my wolves are capable of handling security."

"Not all of the nearby nests will stay away just because you say you're a 'were bar'. It's best to have a couple of vampires on hand to deal with them. And if you can attract vampires as customers, they're usually free with their money. I suggest that you get in some top shelf liquor."

"And what if they want to feed?" Fred's expression was skeptical.

"If the donor is eighteen plus, and not being forced by glamour, then there should be no problem. We can use the upstairs as a lounge for that purpose. But no sex of course."

"And if they insist on sex, or they're hurting their donor?"

"That's why we have vamp security guards. We'll also let everyone know that I'm your backer and won't be pleased if they aren't following the club's rules. I have no problem with tossing an uncooperative vampire out of my territory or even helping him meet the sun if he's hurt someone seriously. I don't believe that it's in the best interests of the community to put one supernatural group above another."

He shrugged. "Well, I guess I'm willing to give it a try."

"Good. Now
we can plan some strategy to help you out with your problem.”

Fred's pack ha
d been given an ultimatum to move out of the area or else face the consequences. Time was up tomorrow at sunset, not very original I had to admit.  We all decided that Fred’s pack should reply to the email immediately, stating that they would stay out of Pine Ridge territory, but were definitely not moving from their own. Also, the reply should ask where they wished to meet for ‘negotiations’ to avoid a battle.

From the tone of the original letter, we understood
that Pine Ridge would be showing up for the slaughter and not interested in negotiations at all. Fighting anywhere near a town was expressly forbidden by the laws of every supernatural community.  We told Fred not to mention that he's hired our team.

The reply was emailed out and an answer came back five minutes later. “We’ll find you.”

“How many are there?” Sasha asked.

“Around fifteen males. I don’t know if they’re bringing any females.” So we picked a field
miles from town and sent off that location. We made plans and calls and left feeling good about what we’d accomplished.

I pulled into the driveway and turned to look at my lovely mate. “Jackie…”

“I feel better. I promise I’ll go to sleep early and I’ll eat three meals tomorrow.” She took my hand and held it to her heart. “It’s beating so fast because I’m excited about the fight. I really want to kick some werewolf butt. We can go to Faerie tomorrow night after the fight.

I find it so hard to argue with her when her eyes are sparkling and her pulse is racing with excitement. I got out
of the car and opened her door, reaching out with my hand as she stood. She was waiting for my answer so I pulled her close to me and wrapped my arms around her. “Eat something now, please. And have Samson sleep with you until I can get there. I have things to work out with Sasha.”

“Oui Monsieur
Cuvier.” She kissed my cheek and I playfully smacked her butt, making her giggle as we walked together into the house, closing the door behind us. She headed off to the kitchen for a snack and I alerted Sasha that I needed to speak with him in the office. Sasha was thrilled that I was sending him to deliver my very special message in person to Nathaniel. I made it clear that Liam was to get him there and only to serve as backup if there was a problem. Sasha could be as frightening as an ancient when he was in battle mode. I told him he’d go at midnight tomorrow. I didn’t envision the were battle to be much of a workout for him or the others. Bridgett had said that they were all weak and underfed. She and Sinc would sit out, but the rest of us would fight: Fred and his three other weres, Ethan, Kyle and Jackie and then me and my nest. Our eleven against their fifteen. It would be over quickly.

Chapter Sixty

Bridgett: 3:00 AM Tuesday

I couldn’t sleep, again. I had a lot on my mind, but still, this was really getting old.  An email had come in from Lady D. that I should be ready to leave on Thursday morning, which only gave me two more days. I didn’t know how often they’d let me come back, but I knew that Jackie and Garrett would be able to visit me once in awhile. Still, I'd miss everyone.

Because I knew that I wouldn’t see him
at all while I was away, I'd miss William the most. There was no way the fae Elders would let a vampire wander around among their citizens. Faerie blood was the ultimate high for vamps, and even though the fae were generally more powerful, they wouldn’t be taking any chances. Nope, it was pretty much a definite that the fae weren't letting William in, which sucked big time.

I crept quietly down the stairs to the first floor and looked around. Garrett was in with Jackie since she’d had a bad day yesterday, but no one else was on the first floor so I walked down to the basement. I knew the other vamps would all be up, they didn’t usually pass out until dawn. I needed some company, even if it meant hanging out with the two playing pool.

“Nice look, Bridgett. Are you twelve?” Sasha was looking me over so I glanced down at myself.

I was wearing a long tee shirt that had a teddy bear on it and a pair of pink boxer-type shorts. I shrugged. ”Jeez, I didn’t know this was a formal party. I’ll run back up and get my diamond necklace. Maybe you should think about putting on a shirt, Sasha.”

“Why? Don’t you like what you see?” He moved gracefully toward me, giving me his sexiest grin, his abs tight enough to bounce a quarter on and his gorgeous blue eyes sparkling with mischief. He knew I was checking him out so he turned around to give me the whole picture, and the back view was definitely just as nice. He was one very hot, arrogant asshole of a vampire. He thought I’d back away but instead, I narrowed my eyes and stepped right up to him, so close that I could breathe in a lungful of his sweet cherry scent.

I had to look way up to meet his eyes, which seemed to amuse him.
“You’re not all that, Sasha.” I whispered. Heinrich started laughing and Sasha arched an eyebrow, still only inches from me.

“Not even one kiss?” He
teased.

“Not happening.
” I grinned at him good naturedly.

“Your loss, little
cheetah.” He sauntered back to the pool table, leaned over to make a shot and then winked at me. “He’s in his room as usual, working at the computer. Rick and I are going out, right Rick?” He straightened up and laid down his cue then glanced at Heinrich and gave him a
look
as he put his shirt back on.

Heinrich laughed again and put down the pool cue. “Sure Sash, we’ll leave the lovebirds alone.”

“We’ll be back in a couple of hours. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” They both laughed on their way up the stairs. Gee, Sasha, that left me free to do just about anything. Maybe he wasn’t that bad after all.

I knocked on William’s door and heard him tell me to come in. He was at his desk working at his computer, but when I walked in he closed it and reached out his hands for me, indicating that I should sit in his lap. I took a leap and landed with a thump and we both laughed
as he wrapped me in his long arms.

“I heard what you said to Sasha.” He kissed my head, obviously pleased with my reaction to Sasha’s invitation.

“He likes to flirt. But with me he knows he hasn’t got a chance in hell.” I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “I think he and Heinrich want you and me to—to be together.” I rolled my eyes. I always say too much. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that.

He took in a deep breath of my scent and then sighed. “You’re going away on Thursday.” I nodded and buried my head against his shoulder. “Do you think they’ll let me visit you?” He rubbed my back gently, his hand making circles and sending tingles down my body. My body fit perfectly nestled against him, and I felt an ache deep in my heart when I thought that I might not see him again for two years.

“I don’t know, but I hope so.”  I was trying to keep a positive attitude, but it was hard.

“You shoul
d be upstairs fast asleep by now.” He kissed my head and then my cheek, working his way down to nuzzle my ear and my throat. My body was anything but sleepy.

I reached up to twine my fingers in his gorgeous red hair. “Can I stay with you, Will?”

“You never call me Will. I like it when you say it.” He ran his fingers through my hair in response. It felt so good that I pressed my head against his hand.

I trembled just a little, nervous yet sure of what I wanted. “Will, I want to sleep with you tonight.”

“Sure. I love feeling you next to me.” I got up and pulled him over by the foot of the bed. He wasn’t really getting what I was saying so I took a breath and tried again.

“
Liam told me that because I’m single, I might be propositioned while I’m in Faerie. He said that all I’d have to do is say no and they’ll back off, politely. They’re all pretty classy there, except for Kennet. No one would try to force me or anything. They wouldn’t want Jackie or Garrett to get pissed off.” I know, I know, it was kinda low of me to play this particular card, but I was a little shy about putting what I wanted into words.

I watched his face turn serious. He jerked me closer and I was a little surprised to see some silver dots popping in his eyes. “You’re
mine
, Jet. I’ll kill anyone who touches you.” He kissed me hard and pulled me possessively against his body.

He’d said exactly
the right thing. “Am I yours? Do you want me to be only yours? For all time?”  My lips were so close to his that I could taste his sweet breath, so I drew in his scent to give me courage. My heart was pounding a mile a minute and my body was hot and cool at the same time. I wanted him. I wanted him to claim me and I wanted him to make love to me. He knew what I wanted, because he could smell my desire.  But it was more than wanting sex, I wanted to be his lifemate because I was sure that he was the person I was meant to spend my life with.

I ran my han
d from his shoulder down his perfect arm to twine my fingers around his. ”I don’t want to be a single girl in Faerie, Will.  I haven’t felt like a single girl since that first night when you gave me your blood to heal me. I want you to claim me, before I go away and I don’t see you again for two years.”

He ran his knuckles gently across my face, and I closed my eyes. “Is that the only reason?“  He asked.

I moved his hand behind my waist so he’d pull me closer, and he did.. “And because I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” He leaned down and kissed me, his lips and his tongue making me crazy for him.

He whispered his w
ords, but I drank down each one as they found a permanent home in my heart. “Bridgett, I’ll love you forever. You’re the moon and the stars in my previously very dark world.  I claim you as my mate.” I threw my arms around him and kissed him so hard that we fell onto the bed, tangled in each others arms and legs. We pulled apart giggling, and then scooted up closer to the headboard.

“And I claim you as
my
mate”. I started to unbutton his shirt, but he stopped me by putting his hand on mine.

“If you’re not ready,
we don’t have to go any farther.” It took some strength for him to say that, since I knew he wanted me as much as I wanted him.

“I’m ready, Will. I love you so much and I trust you.
We’re mates now. We'll be lifemates soon. Shifters take this shit
very
seriously.”

He laughed, “Vampires too.
Just listen to me. You know that by choosing me, a vampire, you’re leaving some important things behind. I can’t ever give you children. We’ll never be together during the day and I’ll always need to use donors, other women, like Garrett does, only I’ll be taking blood from them.”