"Ye'll be working under Connor, and ye'll be paid twice a month."
Phineas spun around to stare at Angus. "Paid? Like real paychecks?"
"Aye."
Phineas's mouth dropped open. "No one's ever offered me a real job before."
Angus regarded him sternly. "Doona make me regret it."
"No, no. I'll be cool. I–I need a job. I have family that depends on me. I can send them some money, right?"
"Of course. But ye canna tell them what ye have become, or what kind of work ye're doing. Believe me, they willna understand."
"I kinda figured that." Phineas's eyes glistened with tears. "I have a little brother and sister. They're staying with my aunt, but she's got diabetes real bad, so she can't work.
They all depend on me, and I–I've been real worried about them."
"You have no parents?" Emma asked.
Phineas shook his head. "My mom died of AIDS, and my dad ran off when I was little. I've been worried sick about my family. They don't know what happened to me, and those damned Russians wouldn't let me go."
Angus nodded. "Ian can drive ye home for a wee visit." He removed a wad of bills from his sporran. "This is an advance on yer first paycheck. Leave it with yer family, for I canna guarantee how often ye can go back to see them."
"That's cool, brother." Phineas accepted the cash.
Ian came back with a bottle of blood which he passed to Phineas. "I'm Ian MacPhie. I still doona know yer real name."
"Phineas McKinney." He took a swig from the bottle.
Ian blinked. "McKinney?"
Angus smiled. "Apparently he's Scottish."
Ian studied him with narrowed eyes. "I've known a few McKinneys over the years, but they never looked like him."
Angus shrugged. "He's one of us now. After ye drive him home for a wee visit, ye need to start his training."
"What training?" Phineas gulped down more blood.
"Martial arts and fencing," Angus replied.
"Oh hell, brother, I already know how to fence things."
Ian laughed. "We mean sword fighting."
Phineas's mouth dropped open. "You mean I get one of those gargantuan mother switchblades?"
"A claymore, aye." Ian grabbed Phineas by the arm and led him to the front door. "Ye'll be a warrior just like us."
"Cool." Phineas glanced back at Angus before leaving. "But I ain't wearing no skirt!"
Emma laughed as the door shut. "You're a sweet man, Angus MacKay."
He snorted. "I dinna help him entirely out of kindness. The Malcontents outnumber us, and Roman is opposed to transforming more honorable vampires. It puts us in a bind."
"I see." Emma nodded, then smiled. "But I still think you're sweet." He'd seen a goodness in Phineas that many would have overlooked.
Angus stepped closer to her. "So ye find me attractive, do ye?"
"Yes. And I trust you." What a huge change in just a few days. Only Angus could have managed that.
He held her by the shoulders. "Then trust me on this. Ye're in grave danger. I want ye to spend the night with me."
CHAPTER 16
Somehow Emma didn't feel that a night alone with Angus MacKay would be entirely danger-free. But it would definitely be exciting. "It's not as bad as you think."
Angus frowned at her. "Alek knows ye're the slayer. No doubt he's told Katya by now, and they're looking to murder you."
"Maybe, but they don't know my name or where I live. Until they figure that out, I'm relatively safe."
"Relatively is no' good enough. They know ye're mortal and easy to kill. They know I'm helping you."
"All the more reason for us to separate."
"Nay." He gently squeezed her shoulders. "I willna leave ye unprotected."
She fought the urge to melt into his arms. "It's not that I don't appreciate your concern. You're very kind—"
"Kind, my arse. 'Tis more a case of pride and stubbornness. I'm determined to keep ye safe, lass, and I willna be thwarted. I'm a man of my word."
An honorable, medieval knight in shining armor. He was so irresistible, she could almost forget about his undead status. Almost, but not quite. She touched his cheek. "I know you're an honorable man, but I don't think I should be alone with you."
"You're not alone," a strange voice muttered.
With a gasp, Emma spun around. Two men were standing by the staircase. Very handsome men. One was wearing a kilt. She recognized him as Robby from Paris. The other man was wearing an expensive suit and a knowing smirk. They must have teleported in.