Chapter 40
40
C ole looked at the couples on the dance floor in the V lounge, a large room in the Scanguards headquarters building that was reserved for vampires and their families. The reason for it was what the bar served here: blood on tap. And not just one type of human blood but all of them, and it was free. However, not all vampires and hybrids partook of it, because the vampires who were blood-bonded to humans could only drink their mates’ blood.
The assembled vampires, hybrids, and their families looked relaxed and carefree as if the ordeal they’d all been through earlier in the day had simply washed off them like rain cleared the air. It had been a little harder for him to rid himself of the fear and the worry he’d felt when he’d found out that Vanessa had been captured. He never wanted to feel those feelings again, but he knew somehow that putting themselves in danger was par for the course for any Scanguards employee. He knew that he had a snowball’s chance in hell of convincing Vanessa to quit her job. What she did was a part of her, and she wouldn’t be the woman he loved if he tried to change her.
Since the rescue earlier in the day, he and Vanessa hadn’t had any time alone. They’d been surrounded by her colleagues, friends, and family. Vanessa had introduced him to everyone he hadn’t met yet, and he felt at home among the preternatural creatures who seemed so human in their interactions. He felt at home for the first time in the many years since he’d lost his father. At the thought of him, he felt pain in his heart. His father would have been accepted by these people. They could have been his family. And he could have found love among them. He knew this pain would always be within him, though he also knew that the rest of his heart would be filled with love. The love of a good woman. The love of a family. The love of this preternatural community.
Gabriel approached and put a hand on his shoulder. “You all right, Cole? Still a little shaken?”
“I’m calmer now. But I’ve been thinking about my dad.” He gestured to the happy crowd. “He would have been at home here.”
“And we would have welcomed him with open arms,” Gabriel replied. There was a moment’s pause, then he added, “Cole, wanna join me and Samson for a quick word?”
“Sure.” Cole set his glass of whiskey on a nearby table and followed him, as they made their way to the fireplace, where Samson stood.
“Samson.” Cole extended his hand.
Samson shook it. “Cole, it’s good to see you.”
“Likewise.”
Samson and Gabriel exchanged a look, before Samson began, “I wanted to speak to you because you turned out to be an integral part of the rescue operation today—”
“You’ve already thanked me for that earlier,” Cole interrupted.
“It’s not about that. It’s about an offer I have for you.”
Cole raised his eyebrows. “Yes?”
“We would like you to join us here at Scanguards. I understand that you have your own company, and maybe you don’t have the time or the interest—”
“The company runs itself,” Cole said quickly. He wasn’t really needed for the day-to-day. And if he was honest, what he’d done today had been exciting despite the danger they’d all been in. The thought of being part of Scanguards definitely piqued his interest.
Gabriel grinned, and Samson continued, “While I would love for you to use your skills by working in logistics, there’s something we require from all of our team members before that can happen.”
Curious, Cole looked at Samson. Was he asking him if he wanted to be turned into a vampire? “Samson, if it means for me to become a—”
“A bodyguard,” Samson interrupted.
“A bodyguard?” Cole let out a relieved laugh. “Fuck, yeah, sure. I thought you wanted me to become a vampire, but I don’t want that…”
He caught Samson’s and Gabriel’s glances. Had he just insulted them? That wasn’t his intention. “Not that I wouldn’t be honored,” he added quickly.
Gabriel stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. “My daughter would stake me personally if we turned you into a vampire.”
“I would do it, really, if it was the only way to be with Vanessa,” Cole assured him, “but she mentioned that a vampire’s mate can live just as long…”
Gabriel smirked. “I’m glad she explained that to you. And I’m sure you know that she enjoys drinking your blood. I have no intention of robbing her of that if that’s also what you want.”
“She told you that?” He felt a little embarrassed to be talking about this with his future father-in-law.
“She doesn’t have to. I can see it.”
Cole acknowledged Gabriel’s words with a nod.
Samson grinned. “But we would like you to undergo our bodyguard training.”
“You would do that?” Cole asked, excited. “I would love to learn skills that can help me protect her.”
“Protect me?” Vanessa’s soft voice came from behind him. She put her arm around his waist and stepped next to him. There was a sparkle in her eyes when she looked at him. “I thought I was the one meant to protect you. ”
“I believe today I was the one protecting you,” he said meeting her gaze with a smirk. “Not that I’m looking for a thank you or anything.”
Vanessa beamed at him, but before she could say anything, Gabriel interrupted. “I think that’s our cue to leave these two alone, Samson.”
“You’re right about that,” Samson replied. “So, we’re in agreement?” He extended his hand to Cole, and he shook it without hesitation.
“Yes!”
“Welcome to the team, Cole.”
“Thank you. Both of you.”
As they disappeared in the crowd of Scanguards employees and family members, Cole turned to Vanessa. “How about a dance as a thank you for your rescuer?”
“Is that all you want?” Her eyelashes fluttered.
“That’s all I want right here. All the other ways I’ve come up with for you to thank me… Well, I’d rather not have anybody watch, no matter how much I like your family and friends.”
“I can’t wait to find out what you’ve planned,” she murmured seductively.
He led her to the dance floor and pulled her into his arms. Slow music came through the hidden loudspeakers in the ceiling, and they swayed to the rhythm of the music. It felt good to hold her, to know they were both safe here among their friends and her family.
Cole caught sight of Thomas and Eddie dancing, whispering to each other, gazing into each other’s eyes. For a moment, he couldn’t stop looking at them. Thomas had saved Vanessa’s life, and killed Milo without a moment’s hesitation. What was going through him now? After all, Milo had been his lover once.
“Is Thomas okay?” he asked, looking into Vanessa’s face.
A soft smile played around Vanessa’s lips. “He will be. He’s a strong guy. And he’s got Eddie. I’m sure it wasn’t easy for Thomas. It’s one thing to kill a bad guy you don’t know, it’s another to have to kill one that you once loved. Though in either case, it’s not easy.”
Her words reminded him of what Vanessa had done for him, when she’d staked the vampire who’d attacked him not far from his condo. “I’m sorry you had to kill for me.”
“I would do it again in a heartbeat.”
Cole stroked over her cheek. “I would do the same for you. I want you to know that.”
She pressed her cheek into his palm. “And I hope that you’ll never have to kill for me or for anybody else.”
He slid his lips over hers and kissed her gently. “Would it be rude if we left the party early?”
“How early?”
“Right now.”
“I don’t think anybody will notice. Look around.”
When he let his eyes roam, he realized that everybody only had eyes for their partners.
He smirked. “Then what are we still doing here?”