After I got ready, I left the room to meet with Van Helsing.
He was waiting for me where he promised to be, sitting on the oversized chair, looking like he owned the place. Of course, the fact that he actually did own the place was something I completely brushed over.
Maybe he was looking for a roommate… with the number of times I have stayed over, I might as well apply for the position.
Let's face it, this place is a lot nicer than the one I can afford on a cop's salary.
Yes, I did have money squirreled away… maybe around 10 million dollars by now... but it's not like I can use that money.
Nothing screams a suspicious cop more than one that can live way beyond their means. But I grew up in a Gypsy camp. Some days, as far as I am concerned, having running water and indoor plumbing was a Gods sent. On other days, my entire being screamed out for a place like this… hard water pressure in the shower, not having to listen to your neighbors yelling and screaming, and not having to wonder what the heck they were doing upstairs at 2 in the morning.
"What are you thinking about, Little Gypsy," asked Viktor as he looked up from his iPad. I guess newspapers are too old-fashioned for this era.
"If you needed a roommate," I blurted out without thinking. He didn't even have to use his Van Helsing voodoo to get me to talk.
I slapped my forehead in disbelief. Could I go back in time and erase the last few minutes?
No?
Dammit!
"We can discuss that after we get back from where we are going," came his reply. As per usual, my brain stopped working.
"Wait? What? Where are we going and what are we going to discuss?" Frantically trying to put my thoughts in an order where his words made sense, I quickly got my shoes on and waited by the door.
"Wait for the discussion on roommates, and we are going to see the wolves," said Viktor, a slight smile on his face as he watched my reaction.
I blinked rapidly a few times… then my brain processed what he had actually said.
"See the wolves?" I purred, my voice deepening. Callie came out of my hair and wrapped itself around my neck as if it would stop another knife. I didn't pay attention to its actions, my mind focusing on the words… see the wolves… see the wolves.
"And what are we going to do when we see these wolves?" I continued, my voice never changing as I looked up at the Van Helsing from under my lashes.
Being a Gypsy with all my pride intact meant that I was honor bound to repay all debts… both the good and the bad.
I couldn't kill a person, or a wolf, simply because I wanted to, but if I was doing it to repay a debt or to save someone, then that was the grey area of the rules that I liked to play with sometimes.
"What do you want to do?" Asked Viktor, putting on his own coat and shoes. Standing up, he looked down at me. At times like this, you really understood the height difference of a foot and a half.
My eyes were distracted by his chest for a moment, but then I raised them to his face. "A life for a life is part of the Gypsy creed," I said, studying his face to try and see what he was thinking.
"But you didn't die," he growled, his green eyes never leaving mine.
"Au contraire mon frere," I joked. "I did die. I was killed. The fact that I came back to life has nothing to do with it. A dishonorable act like that cannot be ignored."
"Do what you must, I will be behind you," said Viktor as he placed his hand on the small of my back and led me out of the condo.
The feeling I got from his words filled me with a warmth that I hadn't felt since Nicholas. I gently leaned into his hand, relieving in its strength.
"Even if I have to kill an Alpha wolf?" I asked, clarification important to me since I don't want to force Viktor's hand against me.
"Even if you have to kill an Alpha. He will just come back in 35 years anyways. I'm sure he could use the rest," assured Viktor and we entered the elevator and went down to where his convoy of vehicles was waiting.
"Do you ever go any place by yourself?" I was staring in wonder over the six black SUVs that were waiting for us as we exited the building.
Viktor's response was to chuckle. "Sometimes. But when confronting a wolf in his own territory, it is better to have a backup."
I nodded, not being about to refute that fact.
After all, we were about to walk into the belly of the beast.
-----------
It was about an hour's drive to the estate that Lucas Vseslav lived in with his personal pack of wolves. It was a huge area with a large mansion and a sprawling forest behind it.
The manicured front lawn belied a level of civility that the wolf standing on it contradicted.
Seeing us, the wolf took off running towards the mansion and, without breaking his stride, transformed into a man who now continued up the steps and opened the door.
The loud slam that came after made me chuckle.
"You know, I really wish they could transform back into their clothes. Why couldn't that be part of their curse?" I grumbled. I really did not need to see strange, naked, men a few hours after I woke up. In fact, let's change it to 'I don't need to see strange naked men' and leave it at that.
Once again, Viktor chuckled. Sasha, our permanent driver, looked back at him startled, as if he had never heard Viktor laughing.
I rolled my eyes at that thought. That man has laughed at me several times a day since we met. If fact, it was starting to become insulting.
"I agree," he said calmly as the convoy pulled up to the front doors and Lucas who was waiting at the top of the steps.
Viktor got out first after gesturing for me to stay put. At this distance, Lucas would know that there was another person in the car, but the doors kept my smell away from him.
"Why are you here, Hunter?" Lucas growled out, clearly not happy about seeing Viktor. His wolves stepped out the door after him, surrounding him in a semicircle of protection.
Seeing their actions, the Knights followed suit, their guns and swords at the ready.
"You have been accused of killing a human," said Viktor, his hand in his pant pocket, looking calm and put together.
The wolves growled in response. Lucas held up his hand and the sound was instantly cut off.
"I killed no humans," he replied, his gaze never leaving Viktor.
"The body of a Little Gypsy in a coffin says otherwise," countered Viktor.
"The Gypsy deserved to die for killing wolves," shouted a voice from the crowd. Lucas's head snapped around and he bit the air, still in human form.
Apparently, that was enough to intimidate the wolf into silence.
"We have nothing to do with it," stated Lucas again. "But let's go inside to discuss matters."