N. Walters - Damek's Redemption

Sonia was talking with one of about a million cousins that were jammed into her parents’ large apartment. Some were in the kitchen and dining room, while the rest of them ranged around the living room. Children raced around, being fed and petted by the adults. One tiny blonde girl tripped and fell and before she could start to cry was picked up, comforted and sent on her way again.

He’d never been in a room with so many related people before. They were loud and boisterous and he found them endlessly fascinating.

“Not what you’re used to, eh?” Roberto stood next to him, pride on his face as he surveyed the large room. “We are many and you are used to being alone.”

“It’s not that different from the crowds at my nightclub.” That wasn’t quite true. There was a purity to this group, an openness and honesty that he’d rarely seen in his long lifetime.

Rather than being offended, Roberto gave a hearty laugh and slapped him on the back. A lesser man would have taken a header, but Damek didn’t move an inch. He simply stared at the half-breed werewolf.

“Just as loud, at least. It is a good thing we own the entire building and only family lives here or we would have many complaints.”

Damek didn’t think anyone would be stupid enough to complain about anything the Agostino family did. In spite of their open and jovial natures, there was no mistaking the deadliness of the males who watched over the females and children.

He turned to his host. “How old are you, Roberto?” He usually never asked people personal questions, but found he was curious.

The werewolf sighed and dragged a hand through his slightly graying hair. “I have seen three hundred and fifty years. I will live another hundred and fifty, give or take, but my Nicola will not last that long.”

“I’m sorry.” Now that he had Sonia, Damek couldn’t imagine living without her.

“That is the way of the world, is it not?” Roberto nodded toward his son, Vincenzo. Sonia had worked her way over to her father and was chatting to him. “My son will live to be a hundred or more, but he too will be gone in less than fifty years.” He turned to Damek. “You are luckier than most.”

Damek nodded. “I am, and I’ll take good care of her.” Sonia was smiling now as her father lifted her off her feet and swung her around. Her laughter reached his ears and lightened his heart.

“I would not let you have her if I did not think you would do so.”

“You could not have taken her from me,” Damek pointed out.

Roberto shook his head. “Maybe, maybe not. I have a lot of friends in low places, vampire. Do not forget that.”

Damek respected the werewolf and the family he’d built. He even admired the organization he’d built. The Keepers were indeed helping other paranormal creatures to adapt and thrive in the human world, living side-by-side without harm. But he was getting tired of being threatened by them.

A muscle beneath his eye ticked and he needed to get away from them all for a while before he did something he’d regret. Before he could make his escape, Sonia’s brothers stopped before him.

“How are you enjoying yourself?” Milo asked. He was a banker and the most even-tempered of the two brothers, but not by much.

Damek sipped his ouzo. “You throw quite a party.”

Stefano laughed and slapped him on the back. “You get used to us. Sonia is a package deal. Her family comes with her.”

“So I’ve come to understand.” His dry tone made both brothers laugh again. In the past few weeks he’d come to see how the family worked. Sonia talked to her mother every day and her grandmother at least twice a week. While he was glad they were close, he was happy they’d decided to keep living in Chicago. Too much of this togetherness would drive him mad.

Sonia laughed again and Damek smiled. Idiot that he was, he would visit her family as much as she wanted if it made her happy. She practically skipped to his side, shooting her brothers a nasty glare. “You’re not giving Damek a hard time, are you?”

“Who, us?”

Sonia laughed at Stefano’s look of innocence and shooed her brothers away. When they were alone, she wrapped an arm around his waist. “I know this isn’t easy for you. Thank you.”

She understood him so well and he loved her for it. He was also concerned for her. While she was getting stronger at resisting the bloodlust, it was difficult for her to be around large crowds for such an extended period of time, and it could come over her at any time. Unbeknownst to her, he was constantly monitoring her, ready to step in if needed. She was strong, but they both could use a respite from the large gathering.

“I was thinking it was time for us to take that side trip we talked about.” Craig had used the identification they’d found on the vampire hunters’ bodies and his computer skills and had found all three residences of the deceased hunters. Luther Kostas had lived right here in New York, and Damek wanted to search the Manhattan residence.

“Sure. They won’t miss us, and we’ll be back before they know it.”

Damek began guiding her through the room as he raised his hand and caught Jerome’s attention. The driver had been alerted earlier that they’d be going out later so he put down his plate of food and met them at the entrance. Unfortunately, so did Sonia’s mother.

“Where are you going?” Celia Agostino frowned at him and then at her daughter. “The night is still young.”

Sonia hugged her mother. “We’ve got to go out for a bit but we’ll be back. I promise.”

Celia searched her daughter’s face, finally sighed and patted her cheek. “Stay safe.”

“I’ll watch over her,” he assured her.

“I know you will.” She patted his cheek as well. He didn’t understand this family at all. They had no fear of him. It was totally disconcerting.

He opened the door and ushered Sonia outside and down the stairs. Jerome already had the car waiting out front. They’d elected to drive to New York, rather than fly, as it gave them more freedom to move about whenever they wanted.

Since Jerome already knew where they were going and the privacy screen was in place, Damek pulled Sonia onto his lap. She laid her head on his shoulder and sighed. “I’m having the best time.” Her hand settled against his chest. “I know this isn’t your idea of fun, so thank you for agreeing to stay for a few days.”

“I don’t mind your family.” They understood the necessary precautions and had already outfitted Sonia’s apartment with a state-of-the-art alarm system and installed metal shutters on all the windows. They loved Sonia and accepted him. He couldn’t ask for any more than that.

She laughed and hugged him. “You’re so diplomatic.”

He snorted. He’d been called many things in his life but that certainly wasn’t one of them. “We’ll get your things packed up and loaded tomorrow and leave the day after. I need to get back to the club.” He’d spent more time away from his business than he had there for the past few weeks, his need to stay with Sonia until she was comfortable with her new lot in life being paramount above anything else. Byron was handling things, but there was no substitute for the owner being there.

“I could help you.” She ran her fingers over his chest and shoulders. “We haven’t talked about what I’m going to do now that I’m suddenly unemployed.”

He caught her face in his hand and brought it close until their noses were almost touching. “I know it wasn’t easy for you to quit your job, but you can do anything you want. I don’t want you to overdo it until you’re stronger.”

Sonia smiled and kissed him. “I’m as strong as an ox and ready to go out of my mind if I don’t find something to occupy my time.”