Safeword: Storm Clouds(43)

Kendra excused herself around 1:30 so the men could talk some without her around before Ranger went to bed. Eric walked her to her car and told her he was sorry they didn't get to come back and make love. She told him there would be plenty of time for that later, they kissed, and she went home. She contacted Abbot on the way home.

Abbot? Are you where you can talk?

Yes Kendra, are you okay?

Yes, I'm fine. Do you know what Special Operations Forces are?

Yes, where have you run into this?

Eric's uncle. He showed up tonight unexpected and I heard a heartbeat where one should not have been and I kind of immobilized him before Eric could tell me was friend and not foe.

You kind of immobilized him? I doubt you just kind of did it.

Right, but the reason I'm talking to you about it is that he's here interviewing with some firm that is hiring people like him out of the military. Drake Security. Heard of it?

Yes, it's run by Aaron Drake.

The supernatural that no one can figure out? I thought he went by Aaron Drakko?

He's using Drake now. And, is there any other Aaron Drake that I'd expect you to know?

No, I guess not. I didn't know he was in town.

Yes, he has recruited from the werewolves with Randall's permission, and of course he has the Lion's Amakhosi, the Lion King, on his staff, so he has some werelions as well. He also recruits exceptional humans, of course. He runs a top notch agency.

So, is there a chance that Eric's uncle will find out about supernaturals if he works for Aaron?

Not at first, but eventually, yes. Aaron tells the humans he can trust about werewolves and werelions, possibly more, I don't really know exactly what he's able to tell them. I doubt that any know what Aaron is though since that's such a big secret. I do know that he has humans that work alongside shifters and are present when they shift.

Which means that if Eric's uncle comes here to live and Eric and I continue to see each other I'll probably need to look into telling him about us sooner rather than later. Once he knows about shifters he'll figure out right away that I'm a supernatural. He's already pretty suspicious that I came up on him without him knowing it and then that I managed to take him down.

We'll cross that bridge when we come to it Kendra. I'll talk to you later.





Chapter Eleven





When Kendra arrived home there was a car she didn't recognize parked in the front of the house. As she went by she noted a New York license plate. The vampires all parked in either the huge garage or in an area at the back of the house designed so you couldn't see how many cars were there from the front. This was a very nice neighborhood, it was a neighborhood built around a golf course, actually. And the vampires didn't really want anyone knowing how many people lived here. If this were someone that was invited, the car's owner would have known to park around back.

Kendra parked and went in the back door as always and went through to the great room, curious about who the visitor might be. As she walked in, she froze.

"Norris."



Norris got up and walked to her, hugging her. "Hello, love."



"But, I thought you were... we all thought you were..."



"Dead. Yes, I know. And to be honest, I'm still not sure how I managed to pull myself back together. I just know I woke up a few hundred years later, underground. I dug my way out and stayed in Romania for a while until I could build up some wealth again, then moved around Europe, looking for you. It wasn't until I made it to the United States that I finally heard word of where I might find you. I've been in New York for a few months now. I thought about calling you, but to be honest, I really wanted to see you."

Norris was alive? She had mourned him all those years ago. She had loved him once, with all of her heart. And he was here, in front of her. But, what about Eric? Eric had said they weren't exclusive... but she knew that Norris would not feel the same way about Eric. If she and Norris started something up he would expect it to be exclusive. Plus, the last time she and Norris had been together she'd been submissive to him. In fact, he was the last man she'd ever submitted to. She was pretty sure she was more powerful than him now, which would mean he would be submitting to her. Would he be interested in a relationship where she was the more powerful one? She wasn't sure.

"Norris, I don't know what to say. I'm in shock, I think. And, it's been so long. I'm really glad you are alive. Have you met with Abbot yet to get safe passage in his territory? He didn't mention to me you were coming..."

"No, I haven't spoken with Abbot yet. I wanted this to be a surprise to you, so I'd know how you reacted. So far, your reaction isn't making me feel all warm and fuzzy, Kendaline."

Kendra opened herself up so Abbot could hear the conversation. "Norris, it's been over a thousand years! You've got to give me a chance to put all of this together. Meanwhile, I can't believe you went into a territory without obtaining permission from the Master of that territory. I hope you didn't think I'd make everything okay since I happen to be the third in command here. It is Abbot you've insulted here, not me, and it's Abbot you'll have to deal with."