Damon (The Protectors Series) Book #1 (18 page)

meant. Pulling her into his arms he pressed her head into his chest reaching for his phone. “Jared get

over to Nicole's fast, bring Sid and Patrick.” He clicked the phone closed seeing the other turtle laying

a few feet away with the word BITCH carved into its shell. Yeah, the bastard was gonna pay.

Nicole kept busy in the days that followed the break in at her apartment. Slowly her apartment had

taken shape to where it looked as it had before with no hint of a break in except for the small table Ren

and Stimpy had called home for years. It stood empty, a gruesome reminder of what had happened. A

knock on her office door sent the unhappy memories to the back of her mind. “Come in.”

Pam stuck her head in the door, her face showing signs of strain. “Mitch wants you in his office pronto

and boss-zilla is in there with him.”

“Great.” Nicole tossed the file she had been updating. Joining Pam in the hall she really took a closer

look at her friend. “You okay? Sorry, but you look like crap.”

Pam's eyes shifted before turning back to Nicole. “Yeah, just stuff at home. No biggie.”

Feeling like the worst friend in the world, Nicole sighed. “I'm sorry Pam. I've been so caught up in my

own drama that I...”

“Hey, don't sweat it.” Pam stopped her. “It's not a big deal. Just tired and cranky. PMS and all that jazz.

Now go on before boss-zilla comes a huntin.”

Nicole watched as her friend headed down the hall, her step not as light as it usually was. Making a

mental note to pick up on this conversation after her office visit with Mitch, she turned and headed

toward his office hearing his voice booming from behind his closed door. “Ugh....don't want to go in

there.” Nicole sighed to the empty hallway. Damon had left on an errand, but Jared was in one of the

offices looking through case files to find any clue that might lead them to the master mind behind the

blood trafficking. They had added so much security stuff to the building she doubted the US Army

could breech the doors.

Closing her eyes briefly she sucked it up and knocked before opening the door. “You wanted to see

me boss?”

“Yes, we did.” Catherine Ross, aka boss-zilla, replied from behind Mitch's desk tapping the end of a

pencil on a stack of files. “Sit down Ms. Callahan.”

Nicole glanced at Mitch who wouldn't meet her stare. He leaned against the far wall staring a hole in

the side of Catherine's brown bobbed head. Taking a seat where she could look at them both she

remained silent, her sixth sense telling her that she was not going to like what happened in the next

second. Looking at Catherine, who had no problem looking her in the eyes, she thought she would be

pretty if not for the permanent scowl on her face all the time. She was a short woman, but she packed

so much attitude she seemed as tall as Mitch, even though her feet probably didn't touch the floor as

she sat in Mitch’s chair.

“I am just going to come to the point.” Catherine began, the taping of the pencil stopped. “You are

being placed on a mandatory leave of absence as of this minute. We will hold your job until the danger

to you is over.”

“But...” Nicole leaned out of her seat ready to do battle.

“I said mandatory Ms. Callahan.” Catherine's voice was level and sure. “There are no negotiations in

this matter. Not only are you in danger, but as the incident the other night at the charity game proved

others are in danger also.”

Nicole quickly glanced at Mitch who finally glanced her way. “I'm sorry Nicole, there's nothing I can

do.”

“He's right. This is happening and if I feel that there is too much resistance in this matter I have the

authority to terminate, which includes, anyone who tries to interfere.” She eyed Mitch with a cock of

her nicely shaped brow.

“But they're after me.” Nicole knew she was fighting a losing battle, but dammit she had to try. This

was her job, her life.

For a minute it looked like Catherine's eyes filled with sympathy, but then the boss-zilla side overcame

and the scowl quickly replaced it. “What happened at the charity game was because of you Nicole. We

cannot take the chance of another employee getting in the line of fire or one of the children in your

care.”

Nicole hadn't thought of that or maybe she had and was just too selfish to see it that way. Confusion

and a sense of loss hit her, feelings of defeat came at her in waves. “I don't want that to happen. I

guess you're right.” God those words tasted bitter.

“Listen, as soon as this blows over and they catch whoever this is, your job will be waiting for you.”

Catherine stood picking up her briefcase. “I'm sorry it has come to this Nicole, but it's not worth the

risk.”

“I understand.” Nicole nodded, waiting for her to leave.

Boss-zilla had a few words with Mitch before Mitch closed the door to his office and sat heavily at his

desk looking haggard. “Dammit!” He hissed, not looking at her.

“She's right Mitch.” Nicole looked up smiling sadly. “In all my standing up for my job I really didn't

think what the consequences could be for others. I could never live with myself if something

happened to someone here at work or God forbid, one of the kids. Just so much is happening so

quickly I haven't thought it through. I'll just get my stuff and leave.”

Mitch stood with her. “Keep yourself safe until this bastard is caught. I need you here. The kids need

you here.”

Nodding, Nicole stopped before walking out the door. “Who's taking my cases?”

Mitch stared at her for a long moment. “I am, so don't worry about anything and I will keep you

informed on all of them.”

Turning quickly, she gave him a tight hug then without meeting his gaze she hurried out of his office

before she could breakdown. “Thanks Mitch.” She called out. “And don't mess up my filing system.”

She added the teasing remark although tears filled her eyes.

Once in her office Nicole stuffed as much as she could in a backpack she had in her office then left

making her way to where Jared was. She better let someone know where she was going. She made

enough mistakes by taking off and didn't want to cause more of a stir than she already had. Walking

into the office where Jared sat at a table with files laying all around him, she cleared her throat. “Find

anything yet?”

Jared glanced up rubbing the bridge of his nose. “Maybe.” he sighed. “Have you noticed that a lot of

Chad's cases were older boys?”

Sitting down across from him she dropped her backpack. “No, not really.” Nicole frowned. “Why

would that make a difference? I mean most of the cases we get are predetermined by someone else.

Most of the time Mitch.”

“I understand that, but most of them have an addendum stating that he requested the older boys ages

13 to 17.”

“What difference does that make?” Nicole's troubles forgotten.

“Because the blood of a vampire becomes more potent the older the vampire gets.” Jared leaned back

in his chair. “Have you ever tried Crimson Rush before?”

Nicole looked horrified. “God no!”

Jared chuckled. “I bet you'd drink Damon's.”

“And you'd lose that bet.” She snorted.

“He hasn't taken yours either?” He squinted at her.

“No.” Embarrassed she glanced away. Being with a vampire that didn't yearn for your blood was pretty

much a confidence killer. God, how screwed up was she to want someone to want her blood.

Ugh...she was truly losing it.

“Do you know that if you were to mate with a vampire it's for life and you would need their blood?”

Jared watched her closely, a secret smile playing across his lips.

“I heard something like that, but that's just with vampires.” Nicole replied. She wanted to ask more,

but didn't want to look too pathetic by wanting to know more about human and vampire relationships.

“I mean a vampire and human can't be mated.”

“Nope.” Jared tried not to chuckle. He loved messing with this woman.

“Nope what?” Nicole frowned. “Nope I'm right they can't or nope I'm wrong they can?”

“I can see right through you Nicole.” Jared laughed shaking his head. “Nope you're wrong. We can

mate with humans. It totally depends on our responses. Some call it magic if you believe in that sort of

thing.”

“Well, I didn't believe in you guys, so magic doesn't seem so far fetched now does it.” Nicole grinned.

“I don't know what it is really and I have lived this life for hundreds of years. I do know when you

find your mate it is like nothing you've ever felt. If we mate with a human our blood is their substance

to keep them young and alive. If a human's vampire mate dies the human dies, unless she takes to

another vampire.”

“Why not just turn the human?” Nicole wondered aloud.

“Not all humans live through the change so most vampires don't chance losing their mates.” Jared

leaned back to the table shuffling through files.

“Have you ever found a mate?” Nicole asked curious.

Jared stopped in mid shuffle his eyes flashing straight to hers. “No, I haven't.” Jared replied.

“Hopefully, before my time ends, I will have found that perfect someone. I've seen it with others and it

is intense once they're mated. It's a love that nothing or no one can ever come between.”

Nicole sat in thought wondering what that would feel like to be loved like that by another person,

vampire or human. She had never felt love in any fashion or form, but she knew her feelings were

strong for a certain vampire and that scared the crap out of her. What if Damon found his mate? How

would she cope with that? Feeling her stomach clench at the thought Nicole stood up wanting to

change the subject. “Do you think you could take a break and take me home?” Nicole hated being a

burden in any sense.

“What, you playin' hooky the rest of the day?” Jared joked, but seeing her face he turned serious.

“What is it Nicole?” Jared stood, walking toward her.

“I've been placed on a mandatory leave of absence. It seems I'm too dangerous to have around.”

Nicole shrugged her shoulder hating the fact she was starting to feel sorry for herself and damn, didn't

that rub her the wrong way.

“Ahhh...I'm sorry.” Jared placed a large hand on her shoulder. “Things just aren't going your way are

they?”

A bitter laugh escaped her lips. “As Mitch would say, my life has turned into a real shit storm.” Nicole

grabbed her bag.

Damon pulled up on his bike as they were heading to Jared's car. “What's wrong?” Damon demanded

watching Nicole closely. “I told you I would be back for you.”

“I've been put on mandatory leave of absence.” Nicole frowned, hating repeating the news over again.

Nodding, Damon didn't question it, which she fell a little more in love with him for. She really didn't

want to talk about it. “Come on.” Damon replied making room on the bike. She swung her backpack

on her back and climbed on.

Jared smiled with a wink at Nicole. Grabbing the helmet tied to the back of Damon's bike Jared placed

it on her head, buckled it under her chin then tapped the top of it. “Cargo is ready to go.” Jared

chuckled at Nicole's scowl.

Nicole wrapped her arms around Damon's waist pressing her face against his strong back. God, she

loved the bike. She felt so free every time they rode it, like flying. Every time she ask him to go faster

he would refuse saying he wouldn't risk getting her hurt which was sweet, but aggravating. Taking the

old road next to the river Nicole watched the passing scenery trying to forget the last forty-eight hours

of her messed up life. Wrapping her arms tighter around Damon's waist she decided to ask one more

time. “Please go faster Damon.” She called out over the roar of the wind.

This time Damon shifted and they were flying down the road, the scenery passing so fast she couldn't

make it out anymore. Smiling, she let everything go at that moment except for the feeling of the bike

under her and the vampire in front of her.

Damon opened the door to her apartment and did the 'all clear' thing as usual making her wait just

inside the door. She dropped her backpack on the floor and waited to get that homey feeling she

always got when coming home to her tiny apartment, but it didn't come and she was afraid it never

would. Damon flashed back to her side in a second after checking every corner of her place.

“It's safe.” Damon glanced down at her intently.

Nicole nodded, walking further into her apartment glancing to the table, which had been empty since

the break-in, out of habit. This time something was sitting on it. Curious Nicole took a few steps and

stopped, her hand flying to her mouth. Walking quickly to the large bowl she looked down seeing two

turtles lazily laying on rocks sunning under the lamp Damon had placed over them. Tears filled her

eyes blurring the small turtles.

“I know it's not Ren and Stimpy, but....”

Nicole threw herself at him not letting him finish practically crawling up his body holding on tight, her

face buried in his neck breathing in his scent.

He chuckled. “Ah...you're welcome?” He held her just as tight before gripping her hair gently in his fist