Chapter Seven
An hour later, Summer heard a familiar voice as they were crossing the lobby. To her amazement, her clothes had been cleaned and returned, along with a delicious breakfast. When she admitted to not liking coffee, Fenrir called the coffee shop and had a hot chocolate with whipped cream brought up.
“If you don’t bring Summer Donovan to me in the next two minutes, I swear I’m going to beat you to death with my man purse and dance in your blood.”
“Vincent?”
She hurried to where two large, muscular guards were standing shoulder to shoulder, filling the open doorway and effectively keeping Vincent from entering the building. She could just see Vincent’s head over their shoulders.
“Who’s Vincent?” Fenrir asked as he followed her across the lobby.
“Summer? Are you okay? What are you doing here? I thought you were coming home last night?” Vincent asked.
At a command from Fenrir that she did not understand, the guards turned sideways, allowing her friend to pass into the lobby.
“It’s a long story. How did you find me?” Summer said as Vincent rushed to her, wrapping her in one of his famous bear hugs. Only this time, being in her bestie’s arms didn’t feel comforting, it felt wrong.
The low-throated growl from just behind her gave a strong hint as to why she shouldn’t be in another man’s arms.
“Um, Vincent, you’d better let me go,” Summer said, not wanting bloodshed so early in the morning. She’d read enough paranormal romances to know that Fenrir was feeling very territorial and would tear Vincent apart if he didn’t stop hugging her.
“Release her,” Fenrir demanded as he wrapped a hand around one arm and gently pulled her back. As soon as she was free, he pulled her into his arms and rubbed his body all over the front of hers, replacing Vincent’s scent with his own. “Mine.”
“Summer, what the fuck is going on?” Vincent asked even as he stepped back and raised his hands to shoulder level. “Don’t worry, handsome, she’s not my type.”
Summer kissed Fenrir before patting his back. “I’m fine. I’m yours. Vincent is no threat. He’s my best friend and roommate.”
Fenrir’s arms tightened as he frowned down at her. “Your roommate is a man?”
Vincent answered before she could open her mouth. “She has her own room, handsome. Plus, I’m gay. Now, who the fuck are you?”
Though she tried again to pull away from Fenrir, he did not seem inclined to release her. “Fenrir, this is my best friend and roommate slash landlord, Vincent Barnes. He’s a headliner at The Burley-Q. It’s a drag show just down the street from The Gin Room. Vincent, this is Fenrir North.”
She did not go into an explanation of who Fenrir was, because, like how she’d come to be here, it was a long story, and she wasn’t sure she wanted just anyone to know it. Even though everyone in sight was no doubt a supernatural being, she just felt it was better to keep their private life private.
Before she could come up with anything further to say, Fenrir brushed a kiss on her forehead before pulling one arm back, leaving one arm around her shoulders. “We need to get moving, Summer. Daylight’s burning.”
“John Wayne, right?” Vincent said as he stepped up to Summer’s other side.
Fenrir looked surprised. “Yes.”
Summer wasn’t surprised when he didn’t elaborate any further. She just hoped Vincent would accept the answer and not ask anything further.
“Oh, how did the audition go?” she asked as they walked out of the building and approached a black limousine idling at the sidewalk.
Vincent shrugged. “Same old story. I thought it went well, but they’ll let me know. And we both know what that means.”
Summer nodded. “Too tall, too short, too blond, or not related to or sleeping with the director, producer, or playwright.”
“Yep. Where are you guys going?”
Summer glanced at Fenrir who nodded. “We’re going to the apartment. You need a ride?”
“That would be great. And on the way you can explain what you’re doing with this tall drink of water, and if he has any gay friends.”
One of the two guards they’d picked up as soon as they’d stepped out of Fenrir’s apartment stood at attention by the limo’s open back door.
Fenrir waited for her to climb in before waving Vincent in.
Only then did he follow and the guard closed the door and took his place in the front seat beside the driver.
“Where to, Konungr?” the driver asked.
“Summer? He needs your address.”
After giving the driver their address, Summer settled back into the soft seat and tried to figure out what she could tell Vincent and what she needed to leave out. Looking at Fenrir, she licked her lips as she met his dark chocolate brown gaze.
Fenrir nodded, which she took for permission to share their story with her friend. Taking a deep breath, she started at the beginning and hoped no one in the car took offense that she was exposing their secrets.
****
Though he was tempted to take over the storytelling from his mate, he allowed her to share their story.
He just didn’t tell her that he would be wiping Vincent’s memory after they cleared her belongings from his apartment.
He just needed to replace the memory with something that would cut all future ties between them.
Or maybe he should bring Vincent with them for the summer hibernation.
Listening to Summer share the story of their meeting and how she’d ended up across town from their apartment, he was impressed with her storytelling abilities.
Once they returned home, he would find out if writing was an interest she had, or if she was just good at it.
Because he was as caught up in her tale as Vincent appeared to be.
She finished just as Beck pulled to a stop in front of their apartment building.
It was a neighborhood that was in the process of being reclaimed and renovated, but there was no real security that he could see.
Vincent appeared stunned by the story, his eyes wide and face pale as his gaze shot from Summer to him and then back again several times.
“So you’re telling me that we’re sitting in a car with three shapeshifters?” he whispered.
“Two shapeshifters and a vamwolf,” Fenrir corrected. “I am a hybrid of wolf-shifter and vampire.”
Vincent’s eyes grew wider. He swallowed hard before asking softly, “She’s not in danger from you, is she?”
Fenrir was impressed by this human who was more worried about Summer’s safety than the fact that he was sitting in a car with three paranormals who could easily tear him apart without breaking a sweat, if they chose to.
“She is my mate. She will never be in danger from me,” Fenrir assured him.
Meeting Beck’s eyes in the mirror, he had a crazy thought.
“Would you like to join us for the hibernation? You would be under my protection, of course, but we’re always looking for guests who are interested in providing entertainment each evening.
You might also meet someone who interests you.
And you’ll be paid triple what you’re making at the Burley-Q. ”
“There are gay supernaturals?” His mate asked the question before Vincent could.
“Of course there are. There were even gay Vikings, back in the day. It was just not recorded in the history books,” Fenrir said with a smile.
“What do I have to do?” Vincent asked.
“Get two weeks off your job and pack whatever you want to bring with you for the next two weeks,” Fenrir said as he nodded to Beck.
As Liam climbed from his seat and came to open the door for them, Vincent pulled out his phone and sent a text. “I never really liked that job, anyway. The stage manager was too handsy.”
“Very well then. When the hibernation is over, we’ll help you find a new position,” Fenrir said just before he exited the car.
“You can do that?” Summer asked as she followed him.
Fenrir smiled at his mate before pulling her in for a quick hug. “I am Konungr. I can do anything I want to help and protect my family.”