The phone rang and his eyes opened. Doran sat up on the couch and looked around. The warehouse was their home and it was beginning to look it. He heard the phone ring again and he got to his feet. Crossing the room, he descended the stairs and entered the work floor. Glancing into the office, he found Aedan sitting at his desk with his boots perched on top. The man was reclining in his chair and flipping a pencil in his hand as he flipped through a file. Sighing, Doran stepped into the office and grabbed the phone after the third ring. "Hello? Yes we handle that. I can meet you at the club at eight. See you then." Doran hung up and looked back at his friend. The man flipped a page in the file and he shook his head. "It was your idea for this business." Aedan tossed the file onto his desk and dropped his feet to the floor. He got to his feet and left the office. Doran moaned and followed after the silent man. He caught him slipping his jacket on and caught his arm. "Where are you going?" Aedan fixed his jacket and said, "My job." An eyebrow went up and he asked, "What job? You don't answer any of the calls. I have to meet the client." Aedan's look silenced him and he heard, "I'll be back by sunset." Doran opened his mouth to speak but the man left. The door shut and he sighed. Shaking his head, he walked back into the office and picked up the file on the desk. Flipping through the pictures, he sat down and leaned back in the chair. The man had gone off the deep end when they opened their business and his mood wasn't changing. Doran wasn't sure how much more of this new Aedan he could handle. The man was careless about everything but the only problem was that he did his job excellent. Closing his eyes, Doran rested his head on the chair and sighed. Things had changed so much and it left his head spinning. The phone rang next to him and he picked it up with a deep breath. ______________________________________________ Watching the sun set, he stood along the pier and let out deep breath. His eyes narrowed as the last sun ray disappeared and he turned back to the warehouse. Pulling out his keys, he approached the building and stopped. Eyes burned into the back of his head and he looked over his shoulder. Shaking the feeling off, he walked inside the warehouse and found Doran in the office. The man hung up the phone and said, "About time you got back." He watched Doran get to his feet and said, "Sun just set." Doran shoved his jacket on and said, "That means we have to hustle." "Vampires?" "Two. Powerful from I was told." Smirking, he crossed the room and climbed the stairs to the second story. Moving through the living quarters, he entered his room and opened a cabinet. He pulled out a stake, cross, and a gun. Slipping them into his jacket and around his waistline, he left his room and returned to the first floor. Doran stood waiting at the exit and he followed the man outside. The air was cooler and the evening light surrounded them. Doran let out a sigh and they walked down the block. Crossing two streets, they came up on the club and stepped inside. Doran walked into the back section and he lingered by the bar. His eyes scanned the crowd and he got a drink to loosen his nerves. His eyes landed on a couple of people in the corner. A blonde woman sat on top of the booth and two men sat on both sides of her. Women joined the men and they laughed. He saw the ghost of a smile cross the blonde's face and frowned. A dark, black-haired man approached and the blonde looked straight up at the intruder. They stared at each other and she climbed over the company. Her hand caught up a jacket and she followed the man through the club to the alley exit. The rest of the company stared at their departure and began whispering to each other. Aedan put his glass down and approached the exit. Doran caught him and he held his hand up as he stepped out into the alley. Doran watched him walk into the dark alley and saw him slip his stake free. His eyes tried to find the two and then he heard a trash can get knocked over. Running down the alley, he turned the corner and saw the man go crashing into the wall. Doran rounded the corner and ran into him. The man got to his feet and his eyes glowed dark red. Aedan tightened his grip on the stake and saw the vampire lunge at the hidden fighter. Punching filled his ears and he saw the vampire receive a blow to his chest. The monster fell back onto the ground and wiped a small trail of blood from his mouth. He let out a laugh and rose to his feet. "Feisty. Let's see how much of a fight you put up when I drain you." He raced back to the fighter and they spun around. The vampire flew into the wall and looked down at his chest. The stake stuck out and he let out a growl as he collapsed into ashes. Doran let out a whistle and Aedan watched the fighter step closer to the pile of ashes. They knelt down and picked up the ruined stake and something flashing in the dark. Aedan saw the person slip something off from around their neck and slide the item onto the chain. The chain disappeared around their neck and the stake was shoved into the pocket. The person turned around and stared straight at them. Doran's gasp went past him and he felt the stake cut into his hand. The man broke from behind him and rushed the person. A barking stopped Doran inches from pouncing her and she slid her hand down her side. A black muzzle filled it and brown eyes looked back at the two men. She held her cousin's look and watched him grow pale. It disappeared slowly and he smiled as he offered his hand. Staring at him, she took it and slowly shook hands. "You're okay?" She released his hand and said, "I'm alive." Doran let out a breath and said, "Good." She looked past him and stared at Aedan. He was seething and she walked around Doran. The wolf appeared beside her and she approached Aedan. He held her gaze and she walked past him with Belenus following silently. Doran watched her disappear down the alley and looked back at his friend. "You're just going to let her go?" He looked down at his hand and found blood running down it. Loosening his grip on the stake, he put the weapon away and looked back at Doran. "Did you get the contact's information?" Doran sighed and said, "Yeah, I got it. The two are suppose to strike tomorrow." He flexed his bleeding hand and turned on his heels. Doran groaned as he walked away and followed. They left the alley and made their way back to the warehouse. He pulled out the keys as he approached and unlocked the door. Stepping inside, he pulled off his jacket and walked upstairs. Silently he crossed the room and stepped into the kitchen. Opening the cooler, he grabbed a chilled beer and crossed the room. He walked into his room and closed the door. Hanging his jacket over a chair, he dropped down into the chair and opened the beer. Taking a long drink, he let out a sigh and closed his eyes. ______________________________________________ Sunlight covered the pier and birds flew as boats passed through the harbor. She opened her eyes and looked up at the ceiling. Sitting up, she looked around the cabin and sighed. Shoving her hand through her blonde hair, she slid the covers off and got to her feet. Belenus lifted his head and watched her approach the sink. She splashed water onto her face and took a deep breath. Running into the two last night left her unnerved. She grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and took a seat on her bed. Looking out the window, she watched the harbor waves move past her and felt Belenus rest his head on her leg. She slid her hand along his head and tried to let the night before disappear with her sleep. She had come to this country to find the two that had killed Coyle. She had not expected to run into Doran, better yet Aedan. She remembered what her uncle had told her. After Coyle's death she had gone back to her hometown and gathered her items left behind. Her uncle had caught her and told her about her father being killed and Aedan being locked up. He said that the two men left after Aedan had been released from jail and headed to another country. She left her hometown and began tracking the two vampresses. A week ago she had landed up in this country and used the information Coyle left behind to get a place to crash. The deed was to a warehouse and she found out some other people had rented it out. Using the assets Coyle left for her, she purchased this boat and used it as transportation and shelter. Belenus nudged her arm and she looked down at him. He let out a whine and she smirked. Getting to her feet, she opened her dresser and pulled out some jogging pants and a hoodie. Slipping them over her tank and shorts, she pulled on her shoes and picked up a lead. She slid it onto the collar she had purchased for Belenus the first day they had arrived and picked up her keys. Belenus led her up to the deck and she closed the cabin behind her. A tug led her off the boat and down the dock. They walked along the pier and quietly approached a fisher's market. Belenus stayed by her side and she purchased some fish for him and a morning sandwich and drink for her. Walking down the pier some more, she took a seat on a round stump and unwrapped the fish. She handed it to Belenus and he rested at her feet. She took a bite of her sandwich and heard the horns from the harbor. Looking up, she watched the ships coming in with shipments and took a drink. "You're a long ways from home, Aine." Hearing her name, she looked over her shoulder and found Aedan watching her. He was wearing the same black jacket from last night but had on a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt. She saw the battle scars from the jail time and his new profession. Belenus lifted his head and stared up at the blonde-haired man. She took another bite of her sandwich and looked back at the harbor. "What are you doing here?" She chased food down with a drink and said, "My job." He studied her hardened face and slid his eyes over her. She looked malnourished and running on fumes. Her clothes seemed too loose on her and it made his stomach twist. He hadn't planned on running into her again but everything seemed to be against him. Seeing her last night was hard, but seeing her in the morning like this just left an ache in him he didn't want to feel again. She shot a stern look back at him and asked, "Did you need something?" He heard the crisp edge to her voice and said, "This is my town. Watch your step." She sent him a hard smile and said, "I'll be gone before you know it." Belenus finished his fish and got to his feet. She wrapped the remains of her sandwich and got to her feet. Shoving the food into her jacket, she walked Belenus around Aedan and they headed back toward the pier. Aedan let out a sigh and shook his head as he walked the opposite way down the pier.