Draco

“Again,” I roared, throwing the sword back at one of our soldiers. “You must be prepared.”

“We’ve done this like a hundred times,” Carlotta complained. These men were weak in comparison to the way they had been centuries ago. We didn’t truly age, but they allowed the modern way of life to make them indolent. It was time to prepare them for a true battle.

“And you have yet to best me. Again,” I ordered. They needed to be on their game. “What you don’t all understand is that we can be attacked at any time. They aren’t just fighting with swords. Their weapons have the ability to blow you up. Then it’s dust for you. Do you want to be the next ones to perish?” I asked; my anger seeping through with every word. With their lack of training, they were more likely to be slaughtered.

“No, Draco.” He took his stance and this time had knocked me to the ground. “Is that better?”

“Yes, now again. I want to see that fire. I want to burn in your gut. Remember it’s you or them. They won’t let you kill them.”

“Draco,” Falcon called out. I turned and that was when they set me on my ass again. I got to my feet, then scowled at the soldier. I was ticked off, but at the same time, proud. Taking any advantage over the enemy would be essential. After all, they had the same skills and finding their weaknesses was difficult.

I walked over to Falcon. “What brings you here?” I asked.

“I wanted to talk to you.” He looked around at the crowd of men I had practicing.

“Sure.” I turned around and addressed the soldiers, “Keep working.”

“Let’s go for a walk,” Falcon demanded; his body language told me that this was going to be a personal conversation. We headed out into the woods a good distance away from the castle.

Once we were out of earshot of the soldiers, I asked, “What’s up?”

“I should as the same of you. You have spent every waking hour away from the castle. You have a mate there with a son that needs your attention, too,” he scolded me. I knew I had a family there and I longed to be a better warrior for them. I rolled my eyes and turned around. Throwing a punch, I felled a small tree. “What the hell is this about?”

 “I’m not weak, Falcon,” I told him. I started to lift the tree, pumping it up and down.

“I know that. What’s with the constant need to avoid the woman you belong to?” Damn it, I wasn’t in the mood for a fucking lecture especially when it comes to Charlotte.

“Because she deserves a warrior that can protect her. And since we are only mated once, I must be that warrior.”

“What she needs is a mate, a father for her child, and most importantly to be cherished. I know that you’re upset about almost dying. Fuck, I still think about it. But you have to understand that even the best of us get knocked down.”

“I could have failed her.”

“Your cowardice is failing her now.” I tossed down the tree that I had been pressing.

I stomped toward my longtime friend and got in his face. “Are you fucking calling me a coward?”

He stood tall, refusing to balk. I wouldn’t expect him to do it either. He was the warrior and leader our men needed to be.  “That I am. You have strength and courage, but the one time you need to act more human, you chickened out. You love her with all your being, don’t you?”

“Of course I do, but…” I thrust my hands through my hair.

“Don’t start. It could have happened to any of us. I was injured as well and if it wasn’t for my soldiers, I wouldn’t have been there either. You will have other battles to show the vampire world that you are the last man they would want to pick a fight with, but you have to put that aside and focus on your mate.”

I rested my forehead a tree, concluding that he was right— as always. “You’re right, my old friend.”

“That I am and that’s because I’ve learned to be the better man than vampire for my mate. And besides, I’m already back in action,” he remarked, tossing me a wink. Lucky fucker.

“I must see to it soon. Right now, I have to prepare to meet with my suppliers. There’s still much to be done to get the castle rebuilt. But I promise you, Falcon. I don’t want to lose her. I will fix this.”

He clapped my back. “Good. Make it right. I can’t have my seer missing shit because her mate is running scared.” I was about to tell him to fuck off, but he was gone. He and I needed to have some practice runs together. I’d love to knock him on his ass at least once. I laughed because after four hundred plus years, he was still there. I was glad things were back to the way they were before we met our mates. Now, one more round with these fuckers and off to my meeting.

~~~~

“Ah, Mr. Romano, welcome. Please come in,” Mr. D’Angelo greeted. “I see you haven’t brought your lovely wife.” He looked around. Probably wondering if she left me after our last meeting. I ticked her off that day.

“She’s resting at home with our son,” I informed him with a little upbeat pep in my reply.

“Ah, congratulations are in order,” he cheered, clapping his hand on my back. “A cigar?” I never picked up the habit. Some of the vampires did, but I liked the clean living.

“No, thank you. But yes, we are thrilled with our boy.”

“What fine name did you give him?”

“Marco,” I told him while looking around his large office. There was a double wide window that looked down on his warehouse below. I swear I caught a glimpse of a body being dragged off.

“Very nice, please sit. Let us discuss this extremely large order you called in for. I couldn’t believe my assistant when she came in to hand it to me.” He cocked his brow at me, wanting an explanation. This wasn’t the run of the mill order and this man wasn’t the run of the mill honest businessman. I was dealing with a kingpin.

“Yes, well. Let’s say, someone betrayed us.” My tone came off hard as hell because even thinking about the De Rosas sent me on edge.

“Wait, my people wouldn’t have said a word,” he argued; his face turning red in anger as if I was accusing him and his men.

I shook my head. “I didn’t say them. As it is, they attacked destroying my friend’s castle.” That seemed to calm him down. He needed to relax because I could be over the table and break his neck before he knew what happened to him. I didn’t want to because then who would I get my shit from?

“Castle? Wow, there aren’t that many of them around. Which one?” His curiosity was peaked.

“Castle Lombardi.”

“Oh, in Lombardy. I’ve never been there before. It’s not one people tour.” No one had. Falcon made sure it stayed off the radar. Mr. D’Angelo’s Italian background may have made him aware of its existence.

“Yes, well now it’s in disarray. My friend would like it rebuilt as it was. Stone and all. We are able to acquire some, but I want the latest security tech added to it, plus the raw lumber and such from yourself.”

He gave me a slight nod. “I understand. You know if you need any help disposing of bodies or anything you can always give me a call,” he offered. It was quite generous, but my orders were enough to pay for his operations for several years. His generosity was based on my usefulness. I liked the shady businessman, but I’d had more bodies fall than he could even imagine.

“No, I don’t need any assistance. Trust me when I say my people are more than effective.” He smiled at me and I wonder if he thought I belonged to the Costa Nostra or something. All thugs were a dime a dozen to us. We had something they didn’t, supernatural abilities. Although, I feel like sometimes, some of our enemies belong to the mob.

“Please have them delivered, yesterday,” I told him, standing up to make my exit.

“Understood.” He walked me out, and I transferred the money as soon as I hopped into my rental. Now to see about that wife of mine.