Galin (7 page)

Standing up, she started toward him but he
stood as well. She wasn’t sure what he had been planning but she was leaving.
Looking at Kip, she put out her hand. She wasn’t sure he was going to take it,
and when he did, the two of them moved toward the door. Agon, another arrogant
man, stepped in front of her.

He stared at her for several seconds before
he threw back his head and laughed. He moved out of her way and she stopped
before leaving just to look at him. He bowed low and smiled at her when he
stood up.

“I was going to ask you if you thought it safe
to leave here, but I can see that whatever tried to take you on might be
getting more than he bargained for. You are very…angry, are you not?” Not
bothering to answer him, she went out of the house and to her car. Kip got into
the passenger’s side without her saying anything to him and she started the
car. Dusty was glad she’d not had to remind him to buckle up. They were on the
highway when he finally spoke.

“Those people have wings and they’re in your
house. I’m not…what do you suppose they want?” She glanced over at him and tried
to think how to answer him when he spoke again. “The man in my dreams had wings,
but his were dark, a bloody red dark, and he looked…hot.”

“Hot?” He nodded and she looked out the window
again. “I have no answer to that, Kip. I’m sorry. But he called me. Today when
I got back from the store. He said he was going to…he said he was going to take
you from me. And I’m pretty sure he’s going to try, but I’m not going to let
anyone take you from me.”

Kip sat there through the next three lights
without saying a word. When she pulled into a pizza place he turned to look at
her. She felt her heart break for him. When he looked out the window again she
wondered if he was going to speak and waited.

“Why not?” He looked at her when she didn’t
answer him. “Why aren’t you going to give me to him? I don’t blame you. I’ve
not been very nice. I’ve been a real bastard to you. I know that now. I should
have…Mom was never good with money. I don’t have a clue why I suddenly expected
her to have a stash for me.”

“You have been a bastard to me, but I’m
thinking…I should have been there for you. At least given you some clue as to
what was going on with us.” He nodded and she watched a tear roll down his
cheek. “I’m not going to give you to anyone, Kip. You’re my family and all I
have in the world. I love you.”

“But you could if you wanted to. No one would
blame you, not even me.” She reached for his chin and turned him to her. “I
don’t want to go with him. I don’t know what he is, but I don’t want to go. If
you’ll let me, I’ll try harder to be a better kid for you. I don’t want to be
back in the same place I was before. Not in that kind of house, being without
food or heat. I never…you’ve given me more in this one month than my mom did
for me in all my life. I’m not even sure that she liked me all that much most
of the time. I know she…she told me several times when she was high that she
wished I’d never been born. I sort of forgot that in my being pissed off at
you.”

Dusty unbuckled her seat belt and slid to
him. When she pulled him into her arms, he started sobbing and begging her to
give him another chance. By the time he was finished crying she’d told him
several thousand times that she loved him. When he leaned back on the seat he
looked like he’d been drained, just as badly as she felt. Her tears, her cries
had felt like they’d been wrenched from her as well.

They sat there for several minutes before Kip
spoke. She didn’t interrupt him. Dusty simply let him talk. She knew that they
both needed this.

“She wasn’t a good mom. Not even close. I
think she loved me for the money when it was coming in but…it was mostly the
checks she got every month for me that had her keeping me. And the food stamps.”
Dusty wanted to deny that but didn’t know how. He was right by all accounts. “There
were times when I’d have to steal food just to get a meal. I’ve never been to a
movie or out to eat. Not unless you count the hospital food when she was…when
she was hurt.”

“I don’t even count hospital food as food
sometimes.” He laughed, which was what she’d hoped for. “We should have a date
night, you and I. A time when we go out and see a movie. I love movies.
Especially when they’re on the big screen. And dinner. I can’t afford a great
big meal, but a burger and some fries a few times a month should be fun, don’t
you think?”

Nodding, he sat there for several more
minutes just staring out the window. Dusty knew that their relationship was
tedious at best, but she was glad that he’d softened a little to her. When he turned
to her she could see that whatever decision he’d come to was huge.

“The man who burned me, he’s real, isn’t he?
I mean, I know that I had the burn and all, but he’s real. It wasn’t just a
burn I got and then dreamed something else to cover it.” She nodded, not
wanting to lie to him again. “Will he kill me, you think? Or hurt me really bad?”

“I don’t know. We’ll have to talk to the
people who do know.” He nodded and looked out the window again. “You have a
protector. Galin. He said he’d keep you safe.”

“He didn’t that night.” Dusty nodded. “I’m
thinking that if I’m going to be safe, I have to…we have to do it on our own. I
don’t think anybody is going to keep us as safe as we can. Not if we work
together. Be…be a family.”

“I think you’re right.” They got out of the
car and walked into the high-rise where her business was instead of the pizza
place. She was sure that whatever was in the break room would settle better
than a pizza would about now. She showed him around and was glad for once that
none of the staff was there. All five of them. For now anyway.

She’d heard from the landlord. Not only had
he raised the rent to an outrageous amount, but he’d told her that she’d have
to pay for the electric and the heat when it was on. Then there was the
parking. The garage that they’d been told they could use was just behind the
building she rented and they’d been using it for free. Now it would cost her if
they stayed. She couldn’t pass on that cost to her employees. She didn’t pay
them much as it was.

Denise had told her yesterday that she’d
start looking for another building, but the amount they could afford wasn’t
going to make it easy. She had no deposit should they want one, no money for
office equipment if it wasn’t supplied, and if it didn’t include some sort of
break on the parking, she just couldn’t do it. When Kip entered her office, he
stood at the window that had a view of another building and smiled at her.

“You’re not gonna get a tan from here, are
you?” She smacked him gently on the arm as they both looked out. “You like
working in an office? I would go crazy in here. All cooped up with nothing but
a desk. Unless you play games all day. Do you?”

“I do if you think about it. I play around
with designs and templates.” He made a face that made her think that he didn’t
agree with her assessment of games. “I love what I do. And I think I’m pretty
good at it. I just hope I can keep doing it.”

When he looked at her she told him never
mind. They were having a good time right now and she didn’t want to spoil it
with news she knew might not happen. As they left the building she looked at
her car and nearly stopped when she saw a man leaning against it. But then she
recognized Galin and told Kip to go on ahead. She wasn’t sure what to do with
the man since he’d nearly had sex with her then told her he didn’t want her.

“You should know that you were never alone.”
She nodded when Galin spoke. “I should like to have a conversation with you
soon. We have things to work out.”

“No, we don’t. You’re Kip’s guardian and I’m
okay with that. But there is nothing else we need to talk about. Stay away from
me and we’ll be just fine.” He took a step toward her and she took one back. “You
keep that up and you’ll not be his guardian. I’m not shitting you, I’ll go to
your Boss and have Him give us someone else.”

“Your protector is missing.” She didn’t know what
that meant so said nothing to him. “Jacob hasn’t been watching over you since
the night after you were hurt. It was why you were injured the way that you
were. I think that the man who hurt Kip took him.”

“Are you saying I had something to do with
that?” He shook his head and looked around. She had a feeling he was talking to
whoever was watching over her now. “Carter said that you and Kip have made up.
I’m glad for you both. But you must keep safe. There is much at stake for both
of you.”

“We’re going to do that. On our own. We’re
not going to depend on anyone else.” He started to speak but she cut him off. “I
would very much like for you to watch over Kip but leave me alone. I don’t want
any more to do with you than you do me. Stay away or so help me, I’ll go to
someone that will make you—” He moved so quickly that she had no time to dodge
him. He pulled her to his body just as fast, taking her mouth like he owned it.

The kiss was harsh, hard, and consuming. When
he pushed his tongue past her lips and slid it along her own, she moaned and
grabbed onto his arms. Then he gentled the kiss and pulled her tighter to his body,
she could feel his erection and pressed her hips to his. It seemed that
everything around them faded and it was just the two of them. When he lifted
his head, Dusty had to hold onto him or fall, but when she looked into his eyes
and saw the triumph there, she pulled back. When she nearly stumbled he reached
for her, but she slapped him away.

“Is this a joke to you?” He started to speak
again but she’d had enough. “I fucking hate you right now. The big bad immortal
protector has to dominate the little human because he can. Does it make you
feel good about yourself? Are you going to go back and tell all your friends
how you made Dusty McGee pant for you before you tossed her away? Again? This
is…stay the fuck away from me.”

“I didn’t mean—” She glared at him when he
stepped in front of her. “You don’t know what it’s like for me. I don’t want a
wife, yet I can’t think when you’re around.”

“Get over it.” Getting into her car, she sat
there for several seconds before she felt she could drive. Kip put his hand on
hers when she started to put the car into gear. She looked over at him.

“Take a deep breath and don’t kill us.” She
nodded and started to cry. Laying her head on the steering wheel, she cried and
cried until, like she’d done for him, Kip pulled her into his arms and held
her.

When she felt better she drove them home with
extreme caution. As soon as they pulled into the driveway she went inside and
ignored the people still there. Leaving them to do whatever they wanted, Dusty
went to her room, stripped down in the bathroom, pulled her oversized tee-shirt
over her head, and crawled into bed.

She hadn’t gotten a damned thing done that
she’d wanted to. The groceries hadn’t been put away properly and not a bit of
laundry had been done. Closing her eyes, she hoped that tomorrow would be
better. But she was sure, as surely as she was laying there, that her life was
no longer going to be even close to what could be considered normal.

Chapter 5

Judith opened the door and slipped into the
room that the lady at the desk, Denise, had told her was Dusty’s. Well, she’d
not really told her as much as she’d been thinking about her boss and Judith
walked by her to see the other woman. Judith wanted to hire Dusty’s firm, but
she also wanted to find out if she was all right. Yesterday had been a hell of
a day for the woman. The chair was facing the window and Judith started to
leave, thinking that Dusty was out, when she started talking.

“You were right, Denise. I’m done. That call?
It was the new landlords to tell me when the new rules start. My rent is
increasing to fifty-five hundred a month, nearly twice what it is now, and we
will no longer be able to park in the garage under the building or in front of
this one at all. I suppose he thinks we should simply teleport ourselves to
work. Unless, of course, we want to shell out an additional five thousand
dollars a month per car. Then there is the added bonus of me having to sign a
fifteen year contract that states if I should go out of business or move out of
this building, I will be obligated to pay all and any money owed for the rest
of the contract. Oh, and let’s not forget the twenty-two percent increase on
the rent yearly until the end of the contract.” There was a very audible sigh. “I’m
so fucked. And out of business as of now.”

“Not necessarily.” Dusty stood up and turned
to her so quickly when Judith spoke that the chair started going round and
round as she stared. “You should shut your mouth. It’s not very professional.”

Her mouth shut with a snap and Judith sat
down in the chair across from the desk. It took her a few moments, but finally
Dusty sat down as well. She was embarrassed, Judith knew, but she waited for
her to get her shit together.

“You weren’t supposed to hear that.” Judith
nodded. “I mean, I was ranting. I know that it sounded whiney but I was only
ranting. And Denise is the best person I know to rant to. She listens, offers
advice I usually ignore and…and you shouldn’t have heard that.”

“I understand. And it was a pretty good rant
as far as I could hear. But I don’t think it’s the end of your business.” Dusty
got up and went to a small table that held a tea pot and several little tins of
tea on it. As she stood there making up a tiny tray with cups and saucers,
Judith looked around the room. It was busy work and Judith was all right with
it. But the office, now this was not the office of a ranting woman.

It was nothing at all like her home. Uncluttered
and everything in a nice cubby, yes, but that was about all. There were shelves
that held books and nothing else, a table with four chairs that were pushed all
the way in and perfectly cleaned of anything but three pens that were in a neat
row. There was not one personal thing in the room. When Judith turned back to
Dusty, she was handing her a cup, then sat down in the chair next to her.

“I’m not allowed to hang things on the walls
here. Not that I probably would, but I thought it would be nice to show off
some of the work I’ve done. The landlords, new and old, are in advertising, and
I think for some reason they think of me as some sort of competition.” She
shrugged. “I really want to apologize for what you walked in on. But you were
uninvited.”

“So I was. But I would like to talk to you
about helping me with my company. I need someone like you to make me shine.” Judith
took a sip of tea as she let Dusty take it in. She could see that she was
excited, but there was a sadness there as well.

“I’m really sorry, but as you know, I can’t
do it. Not now. I can’t afford the kind of rent they’re asking me to pay, and I
can’t work from home. I won’t do that to either of us. It’s a place where I go
to relax and be me. I won’t be able to do that if I know that there is a
project waiting for me in the other room.” She stood up and moved to the
business end of her desk. “I have to be out in thirty days. I’ll do what I can
to get you started on some things, but that’s about all I can do. The men that
I rent from, they’re larger, have a much bigger budget, and will be around long
after I’m finished.”

“I don’t want them, I want you. And I have a
building that you can use.” Dusty paused in writing something down on a sheet
of paper. “It’s not far from my business and it’s empty as of right now. The
work being done on it will be done in a few days, and I want you to rent it from
me.”

“I can’t afford a deposit right now. Much
less the startup costs of opening somewhere else. Everything that’s in this
office is a rental and not through me. Even the desks we use out there, we’re
renting from the landlords. It’s all I could do to get started. And after a
while…well, with Kip living with me, my finances have changed a bit.”

“I completely understand. But as you have no
idea what the building looks like, how much the rent is, or even what’s already
in the thing, you can’t make a decision just yet.” Judith stood up. “Come on. We’ll
have a look at it now.”

Dusty was putting on her coat when Judith
reached for Michael and Agon. Each of them answered her with a laugh. She loved
these men and knew that if anyone could pull off what she wanted these two
could.

Is the building across from us still for
sale?
Agon said it was.
I want you to buy it for us. And if you can see about
moving some of the workers over there to make it look like they’re renovating
it, I’d appreciate it. I’m bringing Dusty over and she’s thinking of renting it
from us.

We do not own it, love. Do you think it
possible I call the bank first?
Agon laughed again
. Or do we want to give
her hope?

She needs hope so bad right now, it’s going
to be a slow uphill battle to bring her around.
She told him about
the conversation she’d overheard.
I need her. I think that she’s going to be
married to Galin soon, if she doesn’t murder him first, and I want her to be
friends with me.

I will have it ready.
Michael asked her
what else she would need when Agon told her he was calling the bank.

What do you know of office equipment for a
large advertising firm?
He told her nothing.
Then could you come to her
business, look around, and try to make her think all that stuff is already
there? I don’t mean all of it, but like desks and lighting. You know, business
stuff.

Of course. Business things. I shall see what
I can do for you. Does this woman…you think that she and Galin will match well?
I ask because I do not believe she is happy with him at the moment.

She’s not. He told her he didn’t want her and
has told her that they’d have to work around it. I think the next time I see
him, I might have to work around his head. The arrogant idiot.
Michael laughed and
told her to be careful.
I will.

By the time they’d made it to the street
Judith had heard from Agon twice. The building was theirs and there were nine
men working on it as they spoke. He had Dan go over to it immediately to tell
them if it was a sound buy.

The banker was most cooperative. He has had
this building on his books for some years and was ready to have it taken down
for the taxes. I have gotten a very good deal on it. One dollar.
She asked him how
he’d done that.
We are to make improvements on it within eighteen months and
have a renter in after two years. I assured him that would be no problem. While
I was there, I purchased two more such buildings. You will soon have more
friends than you know what to do with.

And not only had Michael been able to see
what they’d had in her other building, but he’d been able to purchase the
things in the office for nearly nothing
. It was very used. Perhaps we can
purchase more such items for future use. I do believe that was the most fun
I’ve had in some time. I have never wiggled before.

Haggled. It’s haggled, not wiggled.
She thanked him.
You’ve
done very well, Michael. I just hope we can convince Dusty this is the right
move for her.

You are doing well, my lady. I am very proud
of you. Miss Dusty will not know what has hit her.
Judith hoped so. She
really liked the girl.

~~~

There were half dressed men all over the
place and each of them seemed to be having a wonderful time. Dusty watched as
one man, who was obviously in charge, moved up a ladder like it was as easy as
walking on the ground. She noticed he had a mark on his arm and then saw that
all the other workers did as well. She thought it was something of a carpenters
mark, but Judith came up behind her and smiled.

“They’re protectors too. When they have a
charge, a person they’ve been watching over, die, they come and work here until
their time is up for rest. Most of these people will be moving on in a few
weeks. Others, like Dan, will stay forever. He needed it.” Dusty watched as he
pulled sheet after sheet of drywall down like they were nothing more than sheets
of paper. When he turned and caught her staring at him, he winked and came toward
her.

“Your building, I presume?” She shrugged, but
Judith told him yes it was. “Good. It will be lovely when we have finished with
it. There will be nine offices on this floor and three on the upper. Someone
had used it at one time as an apartment, so it will be a nice office for you.”
He took her upstairs and she could see it all from his description.

“What about those windows…do you know what
they look out over?” Dan took her to the boarded up window and stood behind
her. When he touched his hands to her head just above her ears he told her to
close her eyes.

There it was, the view. And what a view it
was. She could see a park with a swing set and two strollers sitting near a
park bench, while the women watching over them, each with one hand on a handle,
spoke as friends would, friendly and with laughter. Trees in the park danced in
the wind that was blowing gently. Cars moved along a road that looked like a residential
area, and there was a large pond just a little further out from the park. She
turned to look at him when he took his hands away.

“You would like this view, I take it.” She
nodded. “I could enlarge the opening for you. Make the window twice the size it
is now and put it from floor to ceiling.” She started to nod, then shook her
head. “You wish it to be bigger?”

“It’s not my building. I mean, I’m thinking
of renting it from Judith, but I don’t have it and it’s only going to be a
rental if I do. You should really check with her about any changes like that.
I’m thinking that none of that will be cheap. She might want no window at all.”
He smiled at her and she had a feeling he was humoring her. “I’m not going to
be saddled with a bill that I can’t afford because you think you can bamboozle
me into something she doesn’t want.”

“Bamboozle? I have not heard that word in
centuries.” He laughed heartily and she smiled at him. “I would never harm you
in any way, my lady, but would very much like to have you pleased when you sit
in a building that I have given care to. If Lady Judith does not disagree with
your window, I shall have it put in for you. But I do not believe she will
care.”

Dusty wasn’t so sure…windows were expensive.
She knew because last year she’d had all new ones put into her home, and she
was still making payments on that. Then there were the ones she’d had to
replace when that guy had shot up her home. Dusty just realized she’d never
gotten a bill for that. Making a mental note to call the people, she moved
around the large room thinking of all the things she could do with it. If she
rented it. And boy oh boy, did she want this office building.

It was perfect for her…lighting all over the
place, electrical plugs every couple of feet. The break room was empty, but she
had an old table at the other building that belonged to her. Several of the
desks were oak, one was cherry. Their smooth surfaces had her itching to run
her hands over them just to be sure.

As she was shown around the rest of the
building she fell more and more in love with it. The desk that had been left
behind by the former tenants would also be saved, and was in the perfect place
for her office, looking out over the room but with the view of a lifetime
behind her. Dan thought it to have been put in the building, then walls built
around it, it was so large.

By the time she was ready to beg them to let
her rent the building, Judith had invited her to lunch at her shop to talk.
They were sitting down to a crisp salad with fresh vegetables and grilled
chicken when Kala walked in. Dusty was so excited about the building she didn’t
even think it odd that these women always seemed to be together. When her tea
was brought to her, Judith told her the rent.

“That’s not enough.” Judith cocked a brow at
her and Dusty blushed. “I’m sorry, but you know that it’s not. I mean, I’m
paying more than that now.”

“You are, I’m sure. But we have gotten a
grand deal from the city. And part of the deal was to have a renter by the time
we are ready to open the doors. The rent will be four hundred per month and
that’s final. Or you can find another place to work.” Dusty looked at the
building and knew for as much as she didn’t have much in the way of choices,
the building was perfect for her. “You can start moving in tomorrow. Kala and I
already have enough business for you to keep working for a long time.”