Star, Starland Vamp Series, Book 1 (41 page)

Zac smiled, pouring himself another cup of coffee. “What?”

“Waking up next to you,” I replied with a sly smile.

Zac laughed. “Well, I hope so because you’re stuck with me!”

Then with my eyes trained to his, I wrapped my arms around his waist. “Well, I hope so.”

“Okay, let’s go,” John replied, already headed toward Rick’s Mercedes SUV as I laughed. We were all going to have to watch our public displays of affection around him.

“Come on, everyone!” Rick announced, heading toward the door. “Let’s not keep Abbott waiting.” Then he looked at Zac, and added, “Uh … sorry … you’re father.”

“Hey, don’t change anything on my account!” Zac replied with a shrug then took my hand as we walked out the door and climbed into the back of the van along with John. Rick and Annie took the front.  

Soon, we were on NY-28 S headed toward Washington D.C. when Annie announced, “Hey, maybe we can go shopping in D.C. after we see Abbott.”

Rick laughed, rolling his eyes and smiling. But this time, I couldn’t argue with her.

“Sounds good,” I replied, as Zac laughed, watching Rick as he moaned and shook his head, rolling his eyes again. “I need some clothes badly.”

“Oh, goodie!” Annie replied, joyously clapping her hands and bouncing up and down in her seat as I laughed.

“Annie, you’ll never change,” I replied, secretly glad of it. I’d really missed her over the last few years and was glad we were all together again.

“But you wouldn’t want me any other way, would you?” Annie asked, giving me a wink. I couldn’t help but laugh.

We all bantered back and forth as we turned onto I-81 S, then soon made the final turn onto MD-295 S, which took us into Washington D.C. We pulled down the familiar alley that led to the secret tunnel and to the underground parking lot.

As we pulled up to the guard house, it looked like things were back to normal. They’d already replaced the guard arm on the security booth from our last visit.

“Hey, Mac,” Rick greeted the guard, showing him his ID. “How’s it going?”

“Eh, same old same old,” the well-built security guard replied, then frown when he eyed me, obviously remembering my last visit with Zac. I smiled sweetly as he waved us through.

In the elevator, Rick logged in the six protocols and the eye scan, then we were soon on our way to the twentieth floor.

Stepping off the elevator, we walked down the familiar hallway to the steel room and wide desk at the end as my stiletto heels clicked noisily upon the floor. This time, a no-nonsense heavy set woman sat behind the desk. It was clear this receptionist was all business. The other receptionist must have quit after her last adventure, cowering behind the desk.

It was just as well. You have to have guts to work for the CIA, even as a receptionist.

“Hello, I’m Mrs. Holloway,” the elder woman announced without a smile, then indicated the chairs. “You can have a seat. Mr. Abbott is expecting you.”

Annie sat on a nearby chair, daintily crossing her legs. John sat a few seats down from her, while Rick stood, looking around, in full agent mode. Zac took my hand and pulled me to a set of chairs, when Mrs. Holloway came back into the room. “Mr. Abbott will see you now.” And with that, she turned her attention to some papers lying upon the desk as we ushered ourselves in.

“Welcome!” Abbott said with a smile, then shook Rick’s hand and hugged his son. This was an entirely different greeting than the last time I came for Zac’s assignment. “Please, sit down.” Abbott said warmly, indicating chairs spaced intermittently within the room. He must have brought in more for this occasion. John sat on a chair next to a wall near a plant, taking in the surroundings, while Annie sat, looking as comfortable as she would waiting in a doctor’s office. Nothing ever bothered her. I sat next to her and Zac sat on my other side as we waited.

“What’s this all about, Sam?” Rick asked, already through with the pleasantries.

“Relax, Rick,” Abbot said, indicating a nearby chair. “I’m not quite ready to begin yet.”

Then I started putting the pieces together. “If this is about another assignment …” I began, but Sam quickly held up a hand to stop me.

“Sorry I’m late,” a familiar baritone voice bellowed through the door as I shook my head and smiled. “Traffic is murder this time of day!” Verus said, busting through the door, putting us all on alert until we realized who it was.

I smiled to myself and shook my head. “Hey, V, how goes it?” I asked, as he sat down in a nearby chair.

“Pretty good, actually. I visited Marilyn last night …”

Immediately, I held up a hand with a smile. “Too much info, Verus!”

He laughed as Abbott called us to order. “I’ve called you here today so you can meet your team,” Abbott said, gesturing to everyone within the room. “Take a look around the room. This is your new team, that is, if you all agree.”

“Please tell me you don’t have another assignment for us yet …” I said, rolling my eyes, but Abbot once again held up a hand to cut me off. That was twice.

“I realized that some of you are green,” Abbott continued, and everyone knew he was speaking of John and Zac, “but they will receive the necessary training and you more experienced members will also help them in their training.”

“Okay, that’s it!” I said, standing, pulling Zac to his feet and headed toward the door. “I’ve heard enough.”

“Sit down, Star!” Abbott said, and without thinking about it I crossed the room at vamp speed, once again going for his throat when Rick stopped me.

“Don’t think that anything has changed between us, Abbott,” I replied as my eyes flared. “You can ask, but you will never order me to do anything.”

“Very well, then,” Abbott replied sarcastically, his voice sickening sweet. “Star, would you please hear me out?” Then he indicated a nearby chair. Zac watched the exchange, ready to intervene if needed, but said nothing.

“I’d rather stand,” I said, crossing my arms, watching, my green eyes flaring.

“Very well,” Abbott said, then continued. “Like I was saying, this will be your new team, if you so choose.”

I was about to say something, when Rick gingerly touched my arm, indicating to let him handle it. “Why are you telling us this, Abbott?”

“Well, you all did such a great job bringing down Drake I thought you should stay together,” Abbott said, then smiled. I looked around the room and honestly couldn’t imagine a better team. We all were different with different talents, but we complemented one another, as well. Whether Abbott knew it or not, we were already a team. But Abbott knew it, as he indicated in his next words, “I have an assignment for you.”

“That’s what I thought,” I said, smiling, as I headed for the door, but Zac stopped me. 

“Abbott, we need some down time,” Rick said, then took Annie’s hand with a smile and joined us at the door.

“I need to finish high school,” Zac said, smiling, melting my heart with its brilliance.

“And so do I,” John said, also joining us at the door, smiling. We were already sticking together, much to Sam’s dismay.

Abbott laughed in spite of himself, then he turned to Verus. “Well? What about you?”

“Hey, wherever they go, I go,” Verus replied, joining us as we all laughed.

“Take all the time you need …” Abbott replied, but I ignored him.

“Shall we?” I asked my new team with a grin as Abbott droned on.

“Yeah,” Rick replied, as Annie, Zac, and the rest of my team smiled. “Let’s do it.”

“Call me when you’re ready!” Abbott said, calling after us as I walked out the door with my new team members, some old members, some new, but one thing I knew for sure, we were definitely a team. More than that. We were a family. “You guys are great together!” Abbott’s voice called after us as we laughed and headed toward the elevator. “Star?” Abbott called after me, rushing from his office as Mrs. Holloway frowned, watching the exchange.

“Bye, Abbott!” I said sweetly with a smile as we stepped onto the elevator. “I already have an assignment,” I added, holding the door open, looking at Zac. “Finishing high school!”

“But, Star! Rick!”

“Bye, Abbott,” Rick said with a grin as Annie waved discreetly, smiling.

As the elevator doors closed, I knew it was true. After all we had just been through, high school was all the adventure I needed. At least, for a while. 

Theresa Oliver

I grew up in southern Indiana, across from Louisville, Kentucky, in Clarksville, Indiana.
In my childhood, I fell in love with the power of the written word, a love affair which has continued my whole life. I moved to Florida, where I have lived much of my adult life. I attended the University of Tennessee at Martin, Martin, TN, and earned my Bachelor of Arts in Communications, News Editorial sequ
ence, and then a Master of Arts in Teaching, Early Childhood Education sequence, from Armstrong Atlantic State University, Savannah, GA. I am currently a writer and a full-time teacher. However, my biggest adventure is as a mother of three beautiful boys. But most of all, I love writing and want to share it with you! I currently reside in Kissimmee, Florida, with my husband and children.