Heart of the Warrior (25 page)

"Moving up in the world," Lakota said.

"That could have been you if you hadn’t left,
Kota."

"Eh, I was never the political type. You know
that."

Yeah, Lakota had been far from the political type. They
didn't usually allow barbaric animals to serve in office.

Stryker cut in to the conversation. "Can you find your
way out, Kota? I need to get back to the data center. I’m running intel
tonight."

"I can walk him out," Tristan said.

"Okay, I’ll see you Monday night, Kota." Stryker
nodded to Tristan and Gregos then spun on his heel and marched away, his combat
boots thunking heavily on the tiled floor.

"So, what are you doing tomorrow night?" Gregos
said as the three turned and began walking toward the exit.

Tomorrow was Saturday, and as far as he knew, the only plans
he had would be with Gina if she agreed to see him. "Nothing, yet.
Why?"

"It’s St. Patrick’s Day and I’m having a huge party at
my home. We do it every year."

"What? Are you suddenly Irish?" Lakota laughed at
him.

Gregos joined him. "Heavens no. I’m still Greek vampire
through and through, but I do love a good excuse for a party."

Tristan nodded. "And he throws some of the best."

"I’ll bet." Lakota remembered that Gregos always
had excellent taste and flourished in social settings. A career in politics
suited him so much better than it ever would have suited Lakota.

"How would you like to come?" Gregos said.
"I’m sure Christa would love to see you, and you can meet my son, Arion.
Christa and I have a surprise for him tomorrow night."

"Who else will be there?" Lakota asked. He didn’t
want to be the odd man out in a room full of personal friends, and he hoped Sev
might be there. It could give them an opportunity to at least talk.

"Everyone." Gregos arced his arm through the air
with a flourish as if to include the entire world.

"My whole team will be there," added Tristan.
"If you’re worried about not knowing anyone, don’t worry. My guys will
make you feel at home because they won’t know anyone else, either."

Good. That confirmed Sev would be there.

"Can I bring a date?" Lakota wanted to invite
Gina. He was really starting to like that female.

"Absolutely," Gregos said. "So, I’ll put you
down on the guest list then?"

Lakota thought about it for a second then nodded.
"Sure. I’ll go. Sounds like fun."

This was turning out to be a good night. He had gotten a
job, bumped into an old friend, and now had a social engagement on his calendar
that he could use to get to know Gina better, as well as his son if all went
well, although that kid had a great right hook. He remembered the shot he had
taken at Felice's and rubbed his chin.

"Excellent." Gregos pulled out a card. "This
is my address. Arrive any time after ten o'clock. Party attire."

"What exactly is party attire?" Lakota said.

"Whatever you want it to be. Christa has provided green
masks, hats, and all the typical St. Patrick’s Day fare. It will be the event
of the season."

They reached the double doors that led into the lobby. The
receptionist looked up at them as they stepped through and he smiled at her and
rapped his knuckles on the counter as Gregos and Tristan said a few parting words
to each other.

"I’ll see you Monday," he said to her.

"Congratulations." She smiled warmly. "You’ll
like Stryker. He comes off brusque, but he’s really a softy."

He winked. "I can tell."

She giggled, and he glanced back at the two males.

"Welcome to the team, Kota," Tristan said.

They shook hands all around then Tristan disappeared into
the back as Gregos walked out with him. "It’s good to see you again, Kota.
Real good. You seem different. Good different."

"I am." He nodded and swept his gaze up and down
the street out of habit. "I’ve only been in Chicago a few days and I
already feel like I’m home."

"We’ll need to get together for dinner one night next
week so we can catch up."

"Absolutely."

"We’ll set it up tomorrow at the party." Gregos
chucked his shoulder and stepped around to the driver’s side of a black and
grey Bugatti and waved.

Lakota sized up the magnificent car, trying not to look too
impressed, but he was. It was clear Gregos was doing well for himself. When you
can plunk down over two million dollars for a car, you had to be doing well.

"See you then." Lakota waited for the car’s engine
to roar to life just so he could hear it purr then he returned to his Suburban
and headed back to the Trump.

Severin would be pissed at him for joining AKM, but that was
his problem. Lakota had joined AKM for him, not Sev. The two would have to find
a way to work together, but being on different teams, that shouldn't be too
hard. Then maybe over time, Severin would get used to seeing Lakota and the two
would eventually be able to proverbially kiss and make up.

Now, to more immediate needs. Before he returned to the
hotel, he needed blood then he needed to see Gina. He couldn’t get that
beautiful female off his mind for some reason, even though his daughter had warned
him during dinner last night that she wasn’t what she appeared to be. Marie
hadn’t elaborated, and Lakota didn’t really care. Gina was the first female he
had been attracted to since Mary, even though she really wasn’t his usual type.

And, really, how dangerous could she be?

Gina stayed behind Lakota, dematerializing and
rematerializing at intervals as she followed his Suburban back toward the
hotel. She had followed him tonight to see if he would lead her to Sev, but he
had gone to AKM instead. Still, Sev worked at AKM. Maybe tomorrow?

He passed the turn-off for the Trump and continued until he
came to Michigan and turned north toward the Magnificent Mile. What was he
planning to do? Go shopping? His Suburban slowed and he turned west onto a side
street, then north on Rush, then east back to Michigan.

He was trolling for blood. Gina could tell. Finally, he
parked. Gina ducked into the shadows as he got out, shoved his hands into his
coat pockets, and hoofed it up the sidewalk into a crowd. Gina stayed with the
Suburban. He wouldn’t be gone long.

Fifteen minutes later, he reappeared, walking down the
sidewalk, licking his lips and wiping off his mouth as if he was paranoid he
still had blood on his face. He got in his Suburban and started back toward the
hotel.

She hurried up to her room and deposited her rifle case in
the bottom drawer of her dresser and quickly changed into something that looked
less military than the black-on-black she had worn to tail him. No doubt he
would come pay her visit. As long as she didn’t end up in bed with him, maybe
chatting with him would give her some insights into how to reach Sev? But
seriously, she couldn't sleep with him tonight. No, no, no.

As she expected, a knock came on her door within minutes.

She opened up. "Lakota. This is a nice surprise. I
thought you had decided to stand me up."

"I got a job," he said, stepping inside. He
wrapped his arms around her as if he had been eager to see her.

Those strong arms picked her up and she found herself gazing
hungrily into his blue eyes before glancing lower at full lips that were still
rouged with blood.

"You fed." She pushed the door closed behind him.
It closed with a satisfying click of the latch.

"Uh-huh." His body pressed against hers. "I
got a job, I fed, I bumped into an old friend, and tomorrow night I’m going to
a party." He pulled back slightly. "You want to go with me?" His
expression read loud and clear that he hoped she would.

"A party?"

"Gregos Savakis’s house. He’s an old friend."
Lakota nuzzled her neck and her defenses began to crumble. He was sexy and knew
just how to touch her to stoke her fire. "My son is supposed to be
there."

Severin? Severin was going to be at the party?

"You mean…the one you told me about?"

"Uh-huh." He nibbled her neck and backed her
toward the bed.

He really was persuasive.

"So? How about it?" He pulled away and burned her
gaze with his. "Go with me?"

Oh, now how could she say no to that? "I’d love to
go." She wrapped her arms around his wide shoulders and pulled him closer.
"Will you try to talk to him, then? Your son?"

"I’d like to." He leaned down once more and licked
her neck as he purred. Well, shit, didn't that just get her juices flowing and
turn her all the way on. His hands started to tug up her shirt and she didn't
stop him.

Lakota nibbled her nape. "Hopefully, it will be neutral
enough ground that he won’t punch me again."

"Of course he won’t," she said, running her hands
over his chest and back up over his shoulders. He was so tall compared to her.
Like a lion compared to a house cat. "You feel good." The words came
out unbidden.

"So do you."

His mouth found hers and that was all it took. Clothes flew
off in record time and his hard, naked body crashed down over hers on the bed,
sinking inside her in one smooth stroke. They both gasped and she gripped his
shoulders as he bent and took her nipple in his mouth. She was so small
compared to him that he had to practically bend like a pretzel to stay inside
her and suck her breast at the same time, but it was worth it. Oh, God, it was
worth it. His flicking tongue puckered her flesh and sent an erotic pulse
straight to her clit.

"Yes, oh God, yes!"

Before she could stop herself she came.

She would kick herself later for falling back into bed with
him, but oh, the sacrifices she made for her job.

Arion tightened the green tie around his neck then pulled on
the charcoal grey suit jacket.

"Nice threads." Sev stepped out of the bathroom
with a towel wrapped around his hips then pulled a pair of boxer briefs out of
the top drawer of his dresser.

"It’s kind of expected."

"What? That you need to wear a five-thousand dollar
suit to a party?"

Ari sighed. "Something like that."

Sev walked around the bed and slid his arms inside the
jacket and around Ari’s waist. "After tonight, you won’t have to wear that
shit unless you want to. I like you just fine in your jeans and T-shirts,
babe." He kissed him and shrugged one shoulder indifferently. "Or out
of them. I'm not picky."

They smiled at each other.

Ari had officially decided. Tonight was the night. He would
come out, tell his father he was gay and that he was quitting his job as an
enforcer. Over the past couple of days, he and Sev had talked it over. He would
move in, provide music lessons out of their home –
their
home – and play
at the local clubs whenever he could book gigs. He had friends at a few of the
clubs, so he didn't think that would be too hard.

Hard was what the two of them had undergone the past couple
of days. The nights at work were endless and painful for them both. They had
both made masturbating an art form just to get through their shifts in one
piece, and twice Malek had asked if he was okay. And at the end of each night,
the two had wasted no time flying out of there to get home and back in bed with
one another. Sex had never felt so good, even if it did mean they were running
on fumes from lack of sleep.

But all that would end tonight. This was it. Ari couldn't
live like this, anymore, keeping secrets when he all he wanted to do was show
Sev off to the world.

"I’m scared shitless. Look." He lifted his hand.
It trembled. "I’m not even there, yet, and I’m already nervous."

Sev snagged his hand from the air and kissed it before
giving it a squeeze. "I’ll be there, and you’ll be fine, babe. Just think,
after tonight you won’t have to hide, anymore, and you’ll wake up in my arms
every night and go to sleep inside them every morning. Won’t it feel good to
have everything out in the open?"

Sev was right. It would feel good. So why did it feel like
he was waiting for the other shoe to drop? "Okay, okay. You've sold
me." He checked the clock. "I’ve got to get. I’m supposed to be there
already."

"I’ll meet you there." Sev kissed him then pulled
away. "I love you."

"I love you." Ari grabbed Sev for one more kiss.
"I’ll see you later."

He took the stairs two-at-a-time, opened the garage door,
and hopped in his BMW. He grinned at how quickly his relationship had
progressed with Sev, but that was how it worked between mates. It didn’t take
long for the bond to develop, and then they became inseparable and the next
thing they knew, one was making a space in the garage for the other’s car.

Ari thought back to that night in his kitchen last month.
That was when the mating had really started. In hindsight, he knew that now,
because he could see all the signs from the weeks that had followed before he
and Sev had met up in the gym not even a week ago to change the course of their
lives together. His body had made it clear he'd mated, hadn't it? The ache in
his chest, the confusion and aggression, the moodiness. Those uncomfortable
symptoms were side effects and signs of a formed bond that was angry he and Sev
hadn't been together. From what Sev told him, he had experienced the same side
effects, except his moodiness had flown off the charts. Way worse than Ari's.

How had he been so blind? Well, not anymore. His eyes and
his heart were wide open now. He was happy. God, he was so happy.

As he drove to his parents’ home, he ticked off the plans he
needed to make. He would need to sell his house – well, his parents would,
since it was in their name – put in his notice at AKM, re-string his guitar,
tune the piano, put together a plan to market himself to the local families for
lessons. Sev’s house was large enough for him to dedicate an entire portion of
the first floor to his piano lessons. He would teach humans in the afternoon
while Sev could allow them in, and they would keep the drapes closed and
explain that Ari was allergic to the sun. He could teach vampire students at
night while Sev worked.