Page 22 of Stolen Oath
The lady all but forgot to be freaked out when she saw the Benjamins. She was nodding excitedly like a bobble head, hugging the cash to her chest. I found myself gliding closer to the door where they were all standing, ready to reach my hand out and remind the alpha I was here too and he needed to pay up if he wanted me to keep my trap shut as well. Fortunately, I caught myself in time before doing something stupid like that. I’m sure Char would have a field day when I told her about it.
“Thank you.” Dimitri smiled at the woman and she would’ve dived for him if Angela didn’t pin her with a glare.
“My pleasure.” The blond bobbed her head a couple more times and darted away leaving the tray and the broken glass forgotten in the hallway.
“That would’ve been a disaster.” Dimitri made a point of closing the door soundly while I stood frozen staring at the two of them like a creep.
“What if she heard something?” Angela dropped the act of a feral beast and began wringing her hands in distress.
“She didn’t.” The alpha tucked one hand in the pocket of his pants while raking the fingers of the other through his hair. “She didn’t lie when she said she wasn’t sent to eavesdrop. I would’ve smelled a lie, and so would you.”
“Unless she was compelled to believe she wasn’t sent to overhear something.” Angela wasn’t backing down and I found myself inching closer. “There must be a reason why half of the house is full of vampires. There are things you don’t even know that have been going on. I fear I don’t even know everything that’s going on despite all my efforts to stay informed.”
“As I was saying before this whole charade,” he shook his head on a sigh, “that would be too much effort to simply confirm we are a couple, Angela. Let’s be reasonable.”
“We are talking ancient prophecies here, Dimitri. People die to protect them, and…” Spinning on her heel she sashayed toward the mini bar at the edge of the office. “…some will go to great lengths to ensure what was written will come to pass. Never doubt that.”
“I never disagreed nor did I dispute any of the prophecies.” Tucking his other hand in the pocket as well, the alpha rocked back on his heels. “All I’m saying is, we can’t afford to start getting paranoid. If we look for enemies around every corner, I’m sure we would find them.”
“They are around every corner.” After filling a glass with straight scotch, she turned to face him and tossed it back until half of it was empty. “That’s strong.” The she wolf coughed, and blinked fast to dispel the tears gathering in her eyes.
“As it should be.” Dimitri walked over and took the drink from her fingers. “We have a solid plan, Angela. We need to stick to it.”
“You don’t say.” Drawling, the blonde squinted at him. “It was not me that brought the two females here, now was it? What were you thinking?”
“I told you what I was thinking.” Calm and collected as always, he took a sip of the scotch and watched her for a long moment over the rim of the glass. “Someone is trying to remove one or both of them from the face of the earth and everything tells me it’s connected with this…With me.”
“You honestly think they are part of the prophecy?” All color drained from her face and she held her breath for the answer.
“Indubitably.”
“You think she is the one on your tattoo?” Angela’s hand rose up as if to touch him but she thought better of it and let it drop to her side. “What a mess.”
“It’s only a mess if we allow it to be.”
“It’s not like I wanted this.” She stepped around him so she could pace the office, wearing a track in the thick, blood-colored rug. “My father did this without my agreement too. But I came to terms with it. You should, as well. For all our sakes.”
“I have it under control.” Dimitri muttered under his breath and at the same moment turned to look over his shoulder straight at me.
My heart stopped before rattling raucously in my chest.
“I hope so.” Angela was about to say something else since her lungs filled with air but she was left with her lips parted and her hand halfway raised toward the alpha when the door burst open and Char rushed in followed by Angela’s father.
“We have a problem.” My bestie gasped, hanging onto the door handle like it was the only thing holding her up. She must’ve been running.
I almost gave myself away when I tensed to go help her but Dimitri beat me to it. Thank the stars.
“What’s wrong?” Angela hurried to her father, concern etched on her pretty face.
“A pack of hyenas is circling the premises with a full nest of feral vampires. They are on something, Dimitri. None of them are responding to anyone including the elders of their kind who were invited here.” The old alpha faced his soon to be son-in-law. “We have a house full of people, most that haven’t seen a problem they couldn’t fix by throwing money at it.”
“We must find Alaska.” Char ignored everything that was said and my heart warmed from how much she cared about me. “Like now. I don’t care if the damn hyenas start gnawing on guests like they’ve found chew toys, you are helping me find my friend first, wolf.”
“Come, Miss Marietti,” Dimitri left Angela and her father gaping at him when he took Char by the upper arm and strode out the open door. “I think I know where your friend might be.” He glanced back as if sayingyou better be there before us, Alaska.
I tiptoed after them without a second thought.
CHAPTER12
