Authors: V.A. Dold
A dark dirt covered figure rose from the floor and snatched the other around the back of his neck, lifted the body over his head and slammed it to the floor.
Rose screamed and stumbled back until the wall ended her retreat.
“
Are you okay?” A very bloody and dirty McHottie asked Rose. “Did he hurt you?”
Before she could answer,
Dark Hair attacked McHottie again from behind.
What is this guy, the terminator?
Dark Hair hit her hero full force, but he didn't so much as teeter or flinch. Dark Hair had a length of silver chain and wrapped it around McHottie’s neck and shoulders.
Enraged,
McHottie grabbed Dark Hair’s arm and flipped him into the wall so hard a crack formed.
He slid to the ground, and must have had enough as he scurried out the door.
McHottie hissed at Scruffy and grabbed him. “Get out of my town or die.” He threw him out the door, all the way to the center of the street.
Finally McHottie snatched the limp body of Blondie and tossed him next to Scruffy.
Her sexy hero turned to her again. “Did he hurt you?”
“
Just a bloody nose, are you okay? Are you bleeding or is that Blondie’s blood?”
“Blondie?”
“The blond guy you wrestled with on the floor.”
Etienne chuckled. “Oh. No, I am fine. It is his blood.”
Relieved to be alive, she was shaking so badly she wasn't even sure how her legs continued to hold her upright.
Seconds later
McHottie sagged to the floor.
Kneeling next to him she was a bit confused,
he just told her he wasn’t injured. Then she looked closer at the chain wrapped around his neck and shoulder. “Why did he wrap you in chains, and why is your skin smoking where it’s touching you?”
“If you would please remove the chains, I will be happy to tell you.”
A shiver ran up her spine, this wasn’t normal. “I don’t think so. Explain first and then I’ll think about it.” She had just gotten away from a gang of rapists she wasn’t going to trust another stranger simply because he was polite.
Sighing,
he said, “I am a vampire.”
Falling on her butt, she crab walked away from him until the wall stopped her
retreat.
“I am sorry, I did no
t mean to frighten you. I am normally not so abrupt but as you can see I am having a very bad day.” Lifting his nose he took a long sniff in her direction. “You know the Le Beaus.” A smile broke across his face. “And…” He cocked his head to the side. “My good friends Jack and Michael from Denver.”
“Ye..Ye…Yes
,” she stuttered.
“Cade
is a very good friend of mine. How is his lovely wife Anna?” he wheezed.
Refusing to go near him
, she asked, “You know Anna? And wait a minute, you don’t mean my foster brothers, Jack and Michael?”
“
Yes, I do mean your brothers. I met Anna a few months ago. I hear congratulations are in order, they have a baby on the way.”
Keeping a close eye on him she dug her cell phone from her bag.
Anna answered, “Hi, Rose, are you finished shopping?”
“Not exactly, I need you to come to me on Decatur
ASAP. I’m a half block short of Governor Nicholls Street.”
“Are you okay? You don’t sound right.”
“Not really, I was mugged and the man who saved me says he knows you and my brothers. I’ll watch for you on the sidewalk.”
“I’m only three blocks away, are you hurt? Did you call 911?”
“Not yet, Anna, please just hurry.” She could hear Anna running.
“I’m coming as fast as I can.”
Rose turned back to the vampire. “If you really do know Anna and she says you’re okay, I’ll get those off you. She’ll be here any second.”
He gave her a pained but regal nod. Anger darkened his eyes as he glanced to her torn shirt. “The Le Beaus
and your family will not take their treatment of you well.”
Never taking her eyes off him, Rose barely made it back to the sidewalk before Anna ran up. “What happened? Oh
my God, you’re bleeding!”
“I was grabbed from behind and got punched trying to get away. A man came to my rescue but I think he might be insane.”
Eyeing her friend with concern Anna stepped through the destroyed door and gasped. “Etienne, what the heck happened here?”
Rose put her hand on Anna’s arm. “You know him?”
She looked at Rose. “Yes, he’s Cade’s friend.” She turned back to him. “Etienne, why are you on the floor?”
Before he could answer Rose added, “He said he’s a vampire.”
“Of course he is.” She waved off Rose and knelt next to him examining the chains trying to decide how best to remove them.
“What the
hell, Anna! You believe vampires are real!” She got down next to Anna, ready to protect her.
Gently taking Rose
’s face in her hands. “Sweetie, I’m so sorry to drag you into my insane world, but yes they are very real.” She saw Rose wasn’t buying it. “Okay, I get it. I’d need proof too. Believe me they are very real. But, don’t be afraid of him, he’s a very good friend.” She turned to him and asked, “Etienne, may I ask you to show her your fangs?”
Without hesitation
fangs appeared at the edges of Etienne’s sexy full lips.
Rose grabbed Anna and tried to drag her toward the door. Patting her hand,
Anna said, “I’ll explain this, I promise. He won’t hurt us. Do you trust me?” Her eyes searched Rose’s face.
“You’re absolutely sure about this
, Anna? He could be a crazy person who files his teeth.”
“I guarantee you, Etienne is real and would protect us with his life
. He would never hurt us.”
Rose looked between
her friend and the man who rescued her. He hadn’t hurt her when he could have and he risked himself to help her. Rose began to pace the dingy room and grumbled to herself. “Anna says she knows this guy and he won’t hurt us….do I trust that? No. But I believe Anna…hmmmmmm, maybe give him a chance but stay prepared to knock him the hell out. Those teeth are coming nowhere near either of us!” She hefted her pipe as if testing its weight and balance.
Yeah, I can do that.
“I’ll give him a chance, but only because you know him.” Then she looked him directly in the eye and pointed her pipe at his mouth. “But if he gets to
o close with those choppers, I’m whacking him with my pipe.”
Anna looked horrified and shook her head. “I have so much to explain to you.”
Rose joined Anna next to Etienne again and helped unwrapped the chains, cringing as her shaking hands caused the chain to touch virgin flesh and sizzle.
It had burned its way into his skin and left an angry looking wound.
He moaned in relief as his burns instantly healed. “Thank you.”
“You
’re welcome,” Rose said hesitantly.
“Anytime. And thank you for protecting Rose
,” Anna said.
He sat for a moment recovering, then stood to help the ladies from the floor. Rose hesitated to take his hand
. “Please, allow me.”
She placed her trembling hand in his and accepted his gallant assistance.
“That was either very brave or very stupid, jumping into the fight with a pipe,” he said with a slight reprimand in his tone.
“You fought someone with a pipe?” Anna’s voice went up a few octaves.
Scoffing, “I grew up in a very rough neighborhood and I’ve taken a lot of self defense classes. Believe me, I’ve dealt with worse than this.” She glanced to the vampire, “So, Etienne, is it?” she asked as she wiped her hands clean.
“Etienne Delacour.” He gave her a regal bow
. “I am in your debt.”
“I’m Rose O’Leary.” She offered her name as she began to feel less skittish around him
. “I think it’s more like, I’m in your debt. So….silver, huh?”
“
I know who you are, little Rose. I would appreciate it if you didn’t share that information with anyone. We don’t like for our weakness to be public knowledge.”
“
What do you mean you know who I am?”
“Twenty six years ago your brothers came to me for help with a lecherous, filthy man who had hurt you in unspeakable ways. They knew a few of my men from the streets and asked to speak with me. I was happy to rid the world of such a foul human. After that Jack and Michael remained in touch with my people and when they were old enough I partnered with them in their construction business.”
Rose stared at him then slowly sank to the floor. She needed a moment to absorb what he’d confessed.
“Hun, are you okay?” Anna brushed Rose’s hair from her face.
“I always wondered what happened to that bastard. For years, I expected him to show up and haul me back to his horrible shack of a house.” Rose sat quietly for a minute, then she took a deep breath. “Thank you, Etienne. I owe you more than I can ever repay.”
“You owe me nothing, but I would like to count you among my friends.”
“I would be honored to be your friend and your secret is safe with us, but I think those other guys know something too,” she teased. A sure sign she was becoming more comfortable.
“Not to worry, I
will find them and deal with the problem,” he said as he brushed his pants off.
“Well, thank you
, Etienne, You really did save my life. So you are the silent partner my brothers are in business with?”
“Yes, they are very bright, talented young men. I have tutored them in the finer points of business and they flourished. I wish I could get them to relocate here. My fair city needs their talent to recover from the hurricane.”
“I’ll talk to them about it the next time I call them. Um, Etienne, do they know you are a vampire?”
Shaking his head he laughed. “
Yes, they do. You are a pleasure, Rose, a unique human. I am glad we are finally friends. I watched you grow into a beautiful young woman and take on the business world in your own way. I always wanted to meet you.”
“I
’m glad too and I’ll take that as a compliment,” she said as she grinned at Anna’s gaping expression.
“That is the first time I’ve heard you laugh
, Et. It sounds good on you.” Anna smiled. “Is there anything I should tell Cade about her attacker or was it a horrible coincidence?” Anna’s voice was filled with concern.
“I will call him, and no, it was not a coincidence. Will you be remaining in the Quarter or going home?”
“Rose? Do you want to go home or would you like a stiff drink to calm your nerves.”
“I’ll take the drink
, but I’d rather have it in the safety of your home.”
Etienne stepped forward
. “I do not trust that man to not return and try again. I will have one of my people follow you home.”
“Thank you, I’m grateful for all your help and concern
,” Anna said as she hugged him and motioned for Rose to precede her out the door.
Rose plucked at the ripped shoulder seam of her blouse
. “This was my favorite shirt.” She scowled.
“I think we should get to the car as quickly as possible, before some
one sees you and calls 911.”
Finally belted inside the safety of the car
, Anna looked Rose in the eye. “I’ll tell you what little I know.” She put the car in drive and headed for home.
“I
met Etienne when I was dating Cade. He had something to do with keeping Tim away from me. I’m told a vampire can make you forget things and command you to do things. I’m not sure what that includes, but he commanded Tim to live in Las Vegas and never return to Louisiana. For that I’ll be forever grateful.”
“Is he the only one?
He said he had men.” Rose leaned in closer, intrigued.
“No, there are more
. I have no idea how many though. I about choked when you made the fang and pipe comment.”
“Why,
did I offend him?” She was horrified now that she thought back on it.
“Um
…He’s the king of the vampires and you threatened him with an old, rusty pipe.”
“Shit!” Rose sat back in her seat and squeezed her eyes shut. “Can we call him or something so I can apologize?”
“Cade has his number if you want to call him.”
She let out a huge breath
. “Next time elbow me or something. Damn girl.”
Anna glanced at her and busted out laughing at her appalled expression. “Can you tell Cade exactly what happened when we get home?”
“Is this about the mob again? Because those muggers are not part of a mob, they looked more like crazy homeless people.”
“Etienne said it wasn’t a coincidence, he knows something about your attacker
s that has him worried.”
“
Well, all right, if you think it’s important.”