Lewis sat in his newly remodeled restaurant. He’d been working on it for so long that he despaired of ever getting it completed. He looked around at the finished tables, the accents on the walls and other areas, even the pretty rugs had been put in places to warm the room up.
There was a section for a coat girl, a checkout place, and a hostess station. The soft drink machine had been set up a week ago, the beverages brought in today and tested. And yet he wasn’t sure it was a good idea to open the place. Or even, for that matter, if he could open it after all this work.
Two weeks ago he’d been on cloud nine. None of his family had guessed he’d been in here working after dark, after he’d worked all day with one or all of his brothers on their homes. His mother had known, of course; she was hard to hide anything from. But none of his brothers or sisters-in-law knew. And now he was done. Even the menus, something that he’d slaved over for a month, were printed and stuck in the new menu holders he’d had specially made.
The Dragon’s Lair, the name he’d come up with for his new venture on the spur of the moment, was printed on the front. A beautiful blue dragon stared back at him from its place under the name. And now, as he sat there, he wondered what he’d been thinking. His mate was coming, and he was ill prepared for her.
If not the next one arriving, then soon after he’d have his mate. A prospect he wasn’t sure he was looking forward to. Not that he wouldn’t do his best by her, but he also was terrified of what she’d want from him. Women in general, as far as he was concerned, were simply scary beings.
The others had their mates. Not he or Vance, but they were coming. Lewis did smile at the thought of the woman who would be for his brother. A woman would have to be pretty brave to try and come to terms with Vance. Of course, she might be just what he needed in a wife. Someone to take away the shadows.
My lord. Lewis sat very still, not knowing the voice that had spoken to him. But he had a good idea it was the dragon. He also knew what it meant for him to be able to speak to him. I was hoping t’would be you. The thought of talking to Lord Vance frightens me just a little.
“You? You’re a dragon. How are you afraid of my brother?” Lewis laughed. “Okay. Never mind. I know the answer to that already. He’s a little different than the rest of us.”
He is, sir. Very much so. I will assume, since you and I can speak now, that the new miss is coming for you. Lewis nodded, saddened by the thought. You’re not happy? The woman who comes here, she was born just for you. For this time in your life. A mate for all eternity. Someone to—
“Yes, I get it. And I don’t know how I feel, to be honest. I have my life the way I want it. Things are going well for me at this moment. I’m not sure how a mate would fit in.” He told him very well, from what he’d seen of the others. “Yes, but I’m not sure how I’m to go about helping her. In the event that you’ve not noticed this about me, I’m not an artist like Jorden. I don’t have a great job that keeps me busy like Grady does. Kenton has his job saving lives. Dalton is working as a cook in the diner. Me? I have an empty building that I thought could make a great restaurant.”
Is there a reason that you’ve changed your mind about that? From what I hear from the others, you are quite the cook. He told him he was a chef. Then chef. What is holding you back from doing just what you want?
“A mate.” He wasn’t sure that was a good answer, but it was the only one that he had. A mate would change things. She’d want to do things her own way, have certain things in order. It was why other than taking out the furniture that he had no use for, he’d done nothing to his home other than paint the walls a sort of white color and take up the carpets. He was waiting.
You think a woman would want you to be different? For you not to be as happy as you can be? Lewis said he had no idea. That is very true. But for all you know, she could be someone that is as lost about a relationship as you. Or she could be...I believe that Gavin calls it a ballbuster. His teacher is like that. I have no idea what that means, but I get the feeling that it isn’t a compliment.
Lewis laughed. “No, it’s not. And I’d not say that around my mom or his mom. Mine would start keeping a list of things to reprimand you for when you’re released. And Jasmine would more than likely want to know where you’d heard that, and since you can’t lie and tell her someone else told you, you’d get Gavin in trouble.”
You might be correct. I will refrain from saying anything like that again in the future. But, I have not spoken to the young miss. I know nothing about her save she has picked up the piece sometime in the last day. Master Caelin, he said for me to leave her be and that he’d take care that she got here safely. I was so happy to hear from him after all this time. His mother, she would be so happy as well. Lewis asked him if Caelin had said anything about him. Not yet, sir. He does not know who the miss is to be paired with. I will only talk to him when he speaks to me. He is afraid that someone will find out he lives.
Lewis had an idea that everyone knew by now. It was still hard to wrap his mind around the fact that the dragon and the two men had been around longer than all his brothers combined. He thought of something else.
“His name is Caelin. What do you think we should do to keep you two straight?” The dragon said he’d decided to be called Warrior again. Just as his mistress had called him long ago. “I have another question. I mean, it’s come up now that we’re understanding a little more about our history than we did before. Why are we dragons and the queen, she only, the ruler of them?”
It is a good story, my lord. One that I will enjoy telling you. When the babe was born, the queen could have no one around her or the king, her husband, might find out. They were all loyal to her and only her, but the king, as you have guessed, was not a good man at all. He would have harmed them, killed who he needed to so that he could be well informed. Lewis said that made sense. With her powerful magic, she turned me to a human for just a little while so that I might assist her in the birth of her son. It was for only a day. So during the last days of her breeding, she would change me into a human for a bit longer each time, only to return me to being a dragon.
“She must have been extremely powerful.” Warrior said that she was the greatest witch of all times. “So, what happened then?”
When the child was born, he was weak. I think it was because she was. I was afraid that the queen would die, and if she did, the child would be unsafe. As a human, I would not have been able to protect him as I needed. Had she died, I would have remained a human for all time, you see. Lewis stood to get himself a glass of water as Warrior continued. Just after his birth, the young king became ill, his frail body nearly not strong enough even to suckle. So I gave him a bit of me, some magic and blood. But it was only with the permission of his mother that I was able to help him, and thusly all of the McCade men after him.
“Did you know that by doing so that you’d make his children dragons?” Warrior laughed. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”
I made him a dragon. He was weak, you see. My blood was enough to not just heal him, but to change him into something more. His mother, my queen, could also change into a dragon when she wished, but hers was with magic. Young Caelin, he could shift any time he wished because it was in his blood. Sometimes, it was at the oddest of times too. Lewis laughed when Warrior did, thinking of all the things that could go wrong with a child who knew not to be afraid of someone seeing him. The staff did not know of him, as you know, so he and I, we’d go out into the fields far from the castle and I’d teach him to be the best dragon I could. His mother, she taught him the ways of her magic, how to use a sword and to hide.
“He was as much a warrior as you were then.” Warrior thanked him. “I guess that I should confess to my family what I’ve been up to. I don’t think they’re going to be upset, but I’m in need of their help on some things. Like…well, I almost hate to admit this, but I haven’t any idea where to order wholesale food from. There are other things as well. Linen cleaning service. Staff and what they should wear. I’ve been so focused on the place that I completely forgot about the running of it.”
I think you will be surprised at how much they know of what you are doing. He nodded. His mom knew, but she’d not betray him. However, each of them were an open book on anything should they only want to take a peek. You’re a good man, Lewis. Everyone that meets you, they know this as well.
“I thank you, my friend, and you are a wonderful friend to me.” As he began making a list of things he needed to discuss with his family, he thought of all the other things in his life that were going on. Too much, too many things going on at the moment to make him feel good. So, Lewis made him a list, several as it turned out, and concentrated on that one thing.
Several hours later—really, the only thing that had gotten him to look up from it was his belly growling over and over—Lewis thought he had a pretty good idea of what he was going to need. Even making the lists, not having any of it done, it made him feel better. Lewis liked lists.
Now all he had to do was find a time when they could all get together. Looking around, he knew what he had to do. It was time to christen Dragon’s Lair. Pulling out his phone, he messaged everyone that they were to come to dinner at the Lair.
~~~
The alley between the two buildings was as clear as they could make it without raising suspicion about them being around. Vance looked over at Dalton, and wondered not for the first time if this was a good idea. Should he have taken the chance of doing this alone rather than bringing him in on it? He was sure that Dalton would be helpful, but he didn’t want him to be hurt. Dalton was smart, good with a gun, and wouldn’t take unnecessary chances like…well, like he would. Dalton was the best there was as far as he was concerned.
Stop overthinking this. He looked at Dalton again when he spoke. You told me, like several hundred thousand times, what I’m to do, and I’ll do it. I swear to you. It’s a good plan. We’re going to come out on top of this.
This is not going to be like anything you’ve ever been on before. Dalton told him he was well aware of that. You don’t understand. You could be shot.
You mean like you have been? Or perhaps knifed? Vance didn’t like the fact that Dalton knew about his injuries. Nor that his wife had firsthand knowledge of a lot of other things. Did I tell you that we heard from Jeff?
I spoke to him. He had too, and now had knowledge that he was pretty sure would get them both killed. Especially Jeff. For now, I’m putting this on the back burner. I need to get other things finished up before I can think of the men who have the trackers and figure out who they are. They’re going to be paying for what they’ve done to me.
It was a lie, and he was pretty sure that Dalton knew it was. Not only did he now know who had put them in his body, but the man who held them tracker too. A man that would be dead soon, he just wasn’t aware of it yet. He moved closer to the window to see into the building before he let his mind wander too far down that path.
Vance could see the men working in the building. For three weeks now he’d been watching the ins and outs of the place enough to know their schedule. Delivery trucks were in on Saturday night. Sunday it was sorted. Monday through Wednesday they were stamped, and invoices were made out on Thursday. On Friday, today, they were boxed up, crated, and put on trucks to hit the stores that were paying less than half of the going rate for the shit.
As he made his way to the front of the building, leaving Dalton where he was, Vance assumed the role of one of the drivers. Just a few days ago he’d found one of them in a nearby hotel, and had taken not just his identification, but anything else that he had. The man, Howard Daniels, wouldn’t be needing it anymore.
Startled out of his thoughts, he looked at the man who pointed a gun at him. Vance was armed as well, with more than just a gun, but he didn’t draw on the man just yet. He was waiting for the right time. And this wasn’t it.
“Who the fuck are you?” He showed the man his ID, and stood still while he seemed to be looking it over for a test later. “Well, Daniels, you were to be here over two hours ago. You got you some pussy call or something?”
“No, I had shit to do.” He rocked on his heels, wondering if this was going to be up before he began. “You want me to drive or not? I got a better gig if you don’t.”
The man pointed in the general directions of the trucks that were lined up against the back of the building. Vance made his way there now, looking to see if the same amount of guards were on duty as had been.
There are four men coming in. Two different limos, and a huge fucking truck. Looks to be armored. Like those suckers that come to pick up cash. Vance told him that was normal. Normal? There is nothing normal about this, Vance.
Okay, then it’s normal for this shit. They both laughed, and Vance felt his tension roll away a little. I’m going to have one of the trucks, once I leave this building, I’m going to make a left. You be at the corner, like we planned.
Deal.
Vance started the truck up and tried to calm his heart. He was just letting out a long soft breath when someone pounded on the window. Rolling it down, he looked at the man there. He told him to get out.
I might be in trouble. Dalton said he was close. Just don’t get caught. When I get out of here, you might not want to be too close. I don’t take prisoners when I’m in shit.
Good to know. He got out of the truck when the man told him to. Vance, you might be in more trouble than you think. There is some major shit going on out here. There are three…no, four cruisers coming in. Two of them aren’t marked.
Good guys or bad? Dalton said he didn’t know just yet. Stay safe, or Mom will kick our asses.
Vance was afraid. Not for himself…he’d been at this too long to care if he lived or died. And now, it seemed, he couldn’t die, but could be fucked up pretty bad. The man, no nametag to call him by, was looking over his identification again.
The thing was perfect. Better than he’d ever had made for him before when the government was involved. Vance had contacted Jeff, the gay nerd, as he called himself, a few hours after he’d gotten Daniels’ information and told him he had something for him to do. It was to take the license that he’d gotten from Daniels reworked to be his. Jeff told him he wouldn’t be caught for having a bogus license, and he’d make sure of it. The man handed it back to him without a word.
“Something up?” The man, Vance decided to call him Fats, said to shut the fuck up. Vance would, but only as long as it suited him. Dalton told him he was down to four men, not six. You killing them off, little brother?
Yes, they drew on me, so that makes it all fair in love and war. He laughed. Down one more. These guys are really armed. I mean, some of this shit, I’ve never had the opportunity to see up close before. You should—
When Dalton stopped talking, Vance felt something move over his body. He was sure it was his dragon, a beast that wasn’t far from him, but he also knew that it would never come out. Not until he was unlucky enough to have a mate.
As he stood there waiting to be told what he was doing now, he looked around the big building. For all intents and purposes, from the outside it looked like it hadn’t been touched in decades. But inside, it was state of the art.
Tables were lined up with several stamping areas. There were boxes of gloves to use for the people not only stamping there, but also carting them into boxes. Boxes he was sure had been stolen as well. They were marked just like the ones that legitimate stores would receive. The man in charge of this operation had gone to a great deal of expense to get this thing working. And the amount of money he was making made it all worthwhile.
Vance? I’m pretty sure that the person who is running this shit just got here. And you’re not going to believe who it is. Vance asked him if it was the mayor. Yes, I guess you would know that. But he’s not alone. The governor is with him. Did you know that too?
No, I had an idea it went further up the line, but not how far. Were they in one of the limos? Dalton told him separate. Figures. Why share a ride and save gas and emissions when you can fuck up the world and steal too?
The mic at the shoulder of the man holding him went off. It was difficult to understand, but from the look on the man’s face, he’d bet he wasn’t happy about it. Vance started to ask again what was going on, but the man turned and walked away. Vance got back in the truck and started it up. It was time to get the evidence that he needed.
I’ve got pictures, and the cameras we set up are running. Vance thanked his brother, glad now that he’d thought of it. Also, the cops that came in, they’re with the mayor. Protection, I guess. I’ve got some names to turn over, when and if they find someone to come in and take charge.
I’m sure they think they have. In you. Vance smiled when his brother started cursing. Yeah, you kiss your mate with that mouth?
You can’t seriously believe they’re still thinking I’m going to take this job, do you? Vance said he would if he was them. Not going to happen. I just don’t have it in me anymore to do that.
I don’t blame you one bit. But as you can tell, they need someone to come in and take care of shit. He moved his truck forward when he was waved out. They’re moving us. Be ready.
This was the tricky part. He had to get out, his face and the truck information on camera. Then he had to be shown leaving the lot with all the goods, so that they’d not come back later and say that he’d gotten the truck with the contents from somewhere else. All good if you considered that he was willing to nearly lean out of the truck to do so, but he hadn’t expected to have company when he did this. The mayor and governor showing up was a nice touch, but also made his job just a little more dangerous.
Camera is rolling on all of it.
He told Dalton that he was coming out now, but paused when he noticed that the governor was coming toward him. There were guards behind and in front of him, and Vance knew there was going to be trouble. As casually as he could, he reached into his boot and pulled out his gun. It was lying beside him when his door was pounded against once more.
“Vance? How the hell did you get in here?” He looked around. There wasn’t any way that he knew who he was. “You are Vance McCade, aren’t you? Heard tell you were looking to come in and try and make me look bad.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He got out and put his hands up when he was told. The gun at the back of his head was a little nerve wracking, but he complied. “I’m Howard Daniels. You must have me mistaken for—”
“I have a picture of you.” He showed him the grainy yet very noticeable picture of him. “I heard that you were the best of the best. Probably a lie, I’m guessing. And not a very good one, if you ask me. But then, I’m not going to have to tell you that you’re pretty much fucked with this one.” Vance said nothing, trying to figure out who would have told that he was going to be there, and all he could come up with was the trackers in his body. “Here’s what’s going to happen now. You’re going to go with these fellows right here, and they’re going to take care that you don’t fuck with things that don’t have shit to do with you. This money we’re making? It’s going to go to some pretty nice things.”
“You are pretty well informed, Conrad. What do you suppose is going to happen when all this hits the paper?” Conrad Washington only laughed. “You think I’m kidding? Have a look to your right. You’ll see a man with a camera pointed at you. Just behind you is a nice big van with listening equipment in it that’s been recording for several weeks. What do you suppose they found?”
“You’re lying. Not that it matters. You’ll be long dead before any of this gets thrown out of court. I’ve had you thoroughly investigated, my man, and you are done. Do you really think I’ve just gotten into this line of work? How the hell do you suppose I financed all the pretty things I have?” Conrad laughed. “You just behave yourself, and I’ll have these nice gentlemen do their job quickly.”
“Come to me, babies.” He wasn’t sure it would work. Vance had no mate, but he was in trouble. He was an immortal, yes, but he didn’t like pain any more than the next guy. So when the little dragons came to stand on either side of him, he put his hands down. “Conrad, I don’t think you’ve done enough research on me. If you had, then you know that I never give up, nor do I lose.”
The dragons moved as one. Vance was knocked back; he wasn’t sure what had hit him, but his head exploded in pain just as he saw the small, hot flame. Smiling, he let the darkness take him.