Chapter 26-

by Michelle M Pillow & Mandy M Roth

Vampire vs Lycan

Michelle nervously watched as Mandy held up a dress. Okay, dress was a nice assessment, considering what Mandy held was two strips of black leather. Seeing Mandy’s hopeful nod, she slowly shook her head in denial.

“If you make me put that on, I will quit your wedding,” Michelle stated. “The answer’s no. And, before you ask, I’m not wearing that same thing in red, or green, or purple, or pink, or oran—”

“Okay, okay,” Mandy laughed. “I get it. No ass hanging out for prude girl. Geesh. How am I supposed to have a black leather themed wedding if the maid of honor won’t wear black leather?”

“You’re not having a black leather themed wedding. Armando forbids it. Remember?”

“Oh, huh. I thought he said no to the lycans wearing dog collars. I didn’t know he meant everyone.” Mandy laughed, and began looking for another dress. “That pretty much rules out the wedding dress I had picked out.”

“Well, at least you were planning on wearing a wedding dress. It’s more than I could have hoped for.” Michelle looked around. She couldn’t believe Mandy brought her to a place called Hell’s Boutique to look for gowns. Hearing a clanking of chains, she uttered without even looking, “No, Mandy.”

“Ah, come on,” Mandy whined. “Dmitri would love it!”

Michelle’s mouth opened to respond, but a smooth as honey voice interrupted her.

“Oooo, I like that one!”

Michelle frowned at the shopkeeper. She wasn’t in the mood to shop for bridesmaid gowns anyway. She wanted to sit in front of her TV watching bad horror movies and crying into her barrel of ice cream. Only, she couldn’t do that either. Brian was staying with her and he refused to let her have a moment’s peace—especially about Dmitri.

Anywhere she tried to go, she couldn’t think. The office was busy. She had five book projects going on there, and the editors were really starting to come down on her. She couldn’t concentrate on proofing.

Brian was at her house working on his latest photo assignment. His crap was everywhere, which wasn’t his fault, but she couldn’t even use her home office or her kitchen counters, or her bathroom turned darkroom, or the kitchen table.

Dmitri was at the Raven and she was being a baby about seeing him until she had at least five minutes to contemplate what had happened, if she wanted it to happen, what she’d say to him, what she wanted to say to him, if she truly did love him or is she was just horny as all hell! Did she want a relationship? Did she not want a relationship? Did he even want a relationship? Maybe he just needed sex? Who the hell knew anything at this point? And now she had to dress shop for a stupid bridesmaid dress that she’d hate for one day and never wear again to celebrate the happiest event in her best friend’s life! When all she wanted was to fall into bed and sleep!

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” Michelle screamed, yelling so loud her whole body shook. She pressed her hands to her temples, unable to take the pressure. Stopping, she turned glassy eyed to Mandy and fell on the floor—passed out.

~*****~

Dmitri shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He was supposed to be doing the club’s paperwork, but he kept getting distracted. Who the hell was this Everest guy anyway? And how the hell did Michelle know so much about him?

“Hey, Dmitri,” Armando said, ducking around the corner of the office from the basement entry.

Dmitri jumped and hurriedly clicked the computer screen. “Damn! Can’t you see I’m busy here? Why do you have to go all undead and sneak up on a guy?”

Armando paused and sniffed. “Busy, eh? Then why all the aggressive pheromone in the room? You look like you’re about to piss and mark your territory. Please, not on the carpet. I’ve already told everyone you’re house broken.”

“Why don’t you go suck on somebody’s neck?” Dmitri grumbled. “Leave me alone. I’m working.”

“What are you really up to?” Armando asked.

“Paperwork,” Dmitri said, unconvincingly.

“Dmitri,” Armando warned. “I can read you. Don’t make me. Your mind scares even me lately.”

“Fine!” Dmitri clicked the computer screen back over and frowned. “It’s Michelle’s latest books.”

“You’re reading a romance novel. No wonder you’re aggressive. I think porn might actually do you more good, perhaps lesbians....”

“Ha Ha. It’s called MOUNTAIN’S CAPTIVE,” Dmitri sneered, motioning to the screen. “I want to know when she was in Montana bunked up in some guys lodge. This Everest sounds shady. And the heroine? What a joke. Blonde hair? Yeah, Michelle is blonde.”

“They’re both probably fake names. Even when the people are real, they’re names are changed—usually.” Armando shrugged. “Mandy’s written several heroines with dark hair. Gwen, from DAUGHER OF DARKNESS. There are others, but I don’t obsess about them enough to remember it all. Hum, I actually liked Gwen. Reminded me of Mandy and I’d like to think all the men in it were me, in some form.”

“Even the elf?” Dmitri asked, eager to piss Armando off so he could have someone to rage with.

Armando’s lip twitched. “It was a faerie. Wait you’ve read Mandy’s books, too? What has happened to you?”

Dmitri frowned, and mumbled, “I wanted to support them. I figured I kind of had to read them all. Besides, Mandy’s are pretty violent at parts and a guy can get into that. I mean, who melts off a guy’s….”

“DON’T remind me.”

“Anyway, I needed a basis for comparison on Michelle’s novels. So, yeah, I read Mandy’s—those VAMPYRE PRODUCTION novels VALHALLA and VALKYRIE. Now there was a great series, I mean if you were a girl.”

“I sort of liked IMMORTAL OPS myself and the two PEACE OFFERING books weren’t bad. I haven’t had a chance to read MISFITS IN MIDDLE AMERICA though.”

“Why am I discussing romance novels with you?” Dmitri frowned. Armando shrugged as if it were no big deal. What had happened to them? They meet a couple of hot chicks and now they were reading romances instead of talking about the Supernatural Bowl? “I know where I was going. I was making a point.”

“By all means, please,” Armando waved his hand.

“All right, Michelle’s books. I’ve been doing my research. THE MISTS OF MIDNIGHT, I’m not bothered by. I mean, it’s about a ghost and we both know it’s rare that they date anything.” Dmitri paused and kept clicking. “Now, TRIBES OF THE VAMPIRE: REDEEMER OF SHADOWS, okay, she got that off you and Mandy—somewhat. I can buy that.”

Dmitri turned a sharp, suspicious look onto Armando. Armando smiled and held up his hands. “No, friend, I am not interested in Michelle and how many times do I have to tell you, we are and always have been just friends.”

“Fine,” Dmitri grumbled. “ULTIMATE WARRIORS: SILK, not concerned. Though the… um… imagination in the certain….”

“Sex scenes, Dmitri,” Armando chuckled. “You can say it. We’re immortal adults, you know.”

“Fine, the sex is hot,” Dmitri admitted. He kept clicking the screen over as he spoke, growing more agitated. “But then, we come to the next two. Her bestseller, DRAGON LORDS: THE BARBARIAN PRINCE. I mean, look at the cover. It’s a guy in a fucking loincloth! Now, this first one came out and I assumed it was like the others. Besides, he was technically an alien from another planet. But, if that wasn’t bad enough. She’s written about one of those Qurilixian men again. I knew that Ualan dancing with her that night was bad news. And now this guy has a brother?! DRAGON LORDS: THE PERFECT PRINCE my ass! If anyone named Olek or Ualan ever comes in here, I want to know. Michelle’s probably seeing a dragon shifter. I can feel it.”

“She’s not seeing anyone,” Armando said. “Rest assured.”

Dmitri spun around in his chair. “You’ve read something, haven’t you? You have to tell me!”

“I told you, I promised Mandy that if I did read anything off her or Michelle, I wouldn’t reveal it.” Armando shrugged. “My hands are tied with this one. Sorry buddy.”

Dmitri’s face contorted with rage. His gray eyes darkened, flickering with amber. His hands began to shake. He sized Armando up, knowing that if they fought they would be well matched. Vampire vs Lycan. Battle to the death or until Armando talks!

“I, however, did not promise not to read you.” Armando sighed. “Restrain the wolf, Dmitri. We’re not fighting over this. Why don’t you just call her and talk to her?”

“Because, all mighty mind reader, I’ve already tried that. She won’t answer at home, and if someone does pick up it’s her damned brother who threatens my life if I dare to come around his sister again. The damned secretary at her work keeps taking messages that are never returned. I’ve even gone to her office in person and got the ‘she’s not here’ run around. Mandy’s not talking and you’ve not been too much of a help. So tell me. How can I talk to her and straighten us out if I can’t even find her! I need to get out of here,” Dmitri said. “I need to get away from all this. I can’t take it. I’ve never felt this out of control before! I… I hate her.”

“No, quite the opposite,” Armando said. “You can’t leave, which brings me to the reason I actually came. Giovanni called. He really wants that lot next door and has made arrangements for us to meet with a realtor tonight. I can’t be here right away, so you’ll have to talk to him. I need you level headed for this. Neither one of us want to piss him off. Although, if Michelle holds out on you for another month you’ll probably be able to take on him and a whole army of undead.”

“Where are you going? Out with Mandy?” Dmitri sneered, though he was really just jealous and they both knew it.

“No,” Armando’s face became dark, his paler skin turning flush with a subtle rage. “The blood supplier has been trying to skim our stock when he delivers. I’m going to pay him a visit. If I have to, I will take what he owes us from his neck.”

“Why can’t I do that?” Dmitri grumbled, eager for a good fight.

“You don’t drink blood.”

“Oh, yeah.” Dmitri sighed, knowing he couldn’t get out of it. If Gio wanted it done, he had to meet with the realtor and make the deal. He sure as hell didn’t need that vamp pissed at him. Armando turned to leave. “Hey, wait, while you’re there, do me a favor and pick up some more A-pos. You guys are going through it like crazy.”

“Sure.” Armando started to leave, only to say, “If you want someone to beat on, go find Mike. He was screwing around with some redhead in the basement last night when he was supposed to be tending bar.”

Dmitri’s head lifted and a wolfish grin crossed over his features. Standing, he strode straight for the office door, “Oh, Mike!”

~*****~
Armando opened the backdoor to the club and stood silent or a moment. The sound of voices hadn’t surprised him, but the sound of one in particular did.

“Darren, this wasn’t nearly as painful as I thought it’d be.”

“Getting what you want never should be. I’m happy that you agree to my terms.”

Armando stiffened. What terms had Dmitri agreed upon and why? He adjusted his jacket and walked into the room casually, not wanting to give Mandy any more reason to be upset with him. The site of Darren decked out from head to toe in an Armani suit with his hair slicked back made him want to tear someone’s head off, preferably Darren’s. “Good evening, I’m not interrupting anything, am I?”

Dmitri turned and gave him a slight wave. “Hey, I just got done working out the kinks here with Darren Simons, the owner of the property we’ve just purchased.”

“Owner of the property?”

Darren flashed him a wolfish smile and he had to fight the urge to knock his teeth from his head. “I’m not the owner anymore… at least not according to the contract that your partner just signed.”
“Contract?”

Dmitri turned to Darren and motioned to Armando. “Could you give us a moment? I’d like to bring him up to date.”

“Oh, I’d be happy too.” Darren gave him a cold look. “It’s amazing what some people need to be brought up on. You’d think that with matters as important as this, that he’d already know. Just like you’d think people would know who’s been pumping in and out of….”

Armando saw red and lunged at Darren. Dmitri dove in front of him, effectively blocking his path.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Dmitri asked, thrusting him backwards. “Why the hell are you attacking a junior partner?”

“A what?”

Darren put his hands up as if to say ‘I’m innocent’ and winked at him. The demon within took over and before he knew it, his fingernails had lengthened, and his fangs had descended.

“ARMANDO! Enough!” Dmitri shouted. “Don’t make me have to shift. These pants are new and I sort of like them.”

Darren sat down in the chair and tossed his feet up on the table. “This is really pointless. Our time could be spent going over my conditions to the purchase.”

“Conditions?” Armando droned out.

“Listen, there’s a lot of things I’d do to help out a were, but taking on a pissed off vampire isn’t one of them. If you goad him one more time, I’ll let him go.” Dmirti said, turning his attentions back to Armando. “How do you even know Darren?”

Darren leaned back in the chair. “Did I forget to mention that I’m Mandy’s ex-husband?”

Dmitri’s eyes widened. He loosened his grip on Armando and stepped back. “Kick his ass, and then I’ll tell you about what I did.”




~*****~

Armando stared at Dmitri in disbelief. He couldn’t believe that his best friend had done something so foolish. “You gave the guy lifetime access to any of our facilities?”
Dmitri shifted and nodded his head. “Hey, seemed like a bargain because the guy knocked twenty percent off the price of the property, so….”

“So you gave my fiancée’s ex a free pass to interfere in our lives.”

“Right,” Dmitri said, before shaking his head. “I mean no. I didn’t know the guy was her ex. Hell, I didn’t even know she’d been married before. Do you think Michelle’s been married?”

Armando rolled his eyes and glanced towards Darren. “I will speak to our lawyers in the morning.”

“Talk away dead boy. The contract is rock solid.”

The phone rang. Dmitri looked at the two of them and laughed. “If you think I’m answering that and leaving you two here to kill yourselves, you’re dead wrong.”

“He’s dead, I’m just…” Darren began.

“A lycan wannabe.” Armando finished for him.

The stopped ringing and the sound of Mike’s voice filtered into the back office. “DMITRI!”

All men turned there attentions to Mike who had appeared in the doorway pale and breathing irregularly. “That was the hospital. Mandy asked them to call here… Michelle was taken in by squad and… and… something happened with her blood pressure and then….”

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