Page 2 of Fateful Reunion

Roxanne sighed. Great, so this wasn’t about her taking on a new client. This was about her advising Gabriel. Pushing her disappointment back, she said, “For what?”

“We got approached by a potential client. He’s not saying much, other than that he wants protection. He’s requesting four bodyguards and requires that at least one of them be a female.”

“Four? Who is he? The President of the United States?” she joked. Even prominent politicians rarely got more than two bodyguards assigned to them, unless a credible threat against them existed.

Gabriel didn’t laugh. “I have no idea who he is. Or where he came from. Eddie ran his profile through the system already…”

“And?”

“Nothing. Absolutely nothing. As if he doesn’t even exist.”

“Well, if he doesn’t exist, I don’t see why he needs protection.” She threw a few strands of her long auburn hair behind her shoulder. “You’ve got your answer. Turn him down. So if that was all you needed, I’ll see you later.”

“That’s not why I asked you up here.”

Roxanne arched an eyebrow. “What then?”

Gabriel pointed to the door. “I want you to join me while I interview him further. Figure him out, you know.”

“Since when do you need me to figure out a client?”

“Well, I would normally ask Wesley to sit in on this one, given the circumstances.” He shrugged. “But since Wes has decided to chase after ghosts, I figured the next best person is a woman with an intuition as sharp as a knife’s blade.”

At his compliment, Roxanne felt her chest fill with pride. She was valued here at Scanguards. Respected. It was something that had eluded her in the past. But all that was behind her. She’d started a new life, far away from her old one. If only she could bury her past once and for all, she’d be happy, but despite the many years that had passed, certain memories kept resurfacing.

“Ready then?”

Gabriel’s voice jolted her from her thoughts.

“Sure, lead the way.”

Her boss opened the door to the conference room and walked inside. She followed and let her eyes roam. A man stood with his back to them, staring out through the window into the dark night. Roxanne pulled the door shut behind her and inhaled, recognizing one thing immediately: the man wasn’t human, nor was he a vampire. He was a witch. No wonder Gabriel had wanted Wesley to be here. Now she understood. Apparently, even Gabriel didn’t fully trust a witch.

“Mr. Dubois,” Gabriel prompted. “Shall we continue our talk?”

“I was just admiring the view,” the tall stranger said, turning. “Let’s—” His gaze drifted to her and his words died.

As did everything inside Roxanne. Her heart stopped, her breath rushed from her lungs, and all the blood froze in her veins as if she’d fallen into a vat of liquid nitrogen. Maybe that scenario would have been the better option, rather than having to face him. Rather than having her heart broken once more.

One word made its way past her paralyzed lips, squeezed out by the last breath of air her body was trying to hold on to. “Charles.”

~ ~ ~

He thought he’d been prepared for this moment, but he wasn’t.

“Roxanne.”

Seeing her was like a dream, just like the many dreams he’d had of her, of once more gazing into her gray eyes and being under her spell. Because even vampires could cast spells. Roxanne had done so twenty-three years ago and spoiled him for every other woman. She’d made him regret his actions every single day and night. But he’d had to do it, so they would all be safe.

Purposely, he hadn’t searched for her after that fateful night when he’d had to leave her. Fate had dropped a responsibility into his lap that he couldn’t shirk. But soon, he would be absolved of his duty and free again. Soon, he could try to redeem himself in Roxanne’s eyes and hope she would forgive him.

She was exactly how he remembered her. Her red hair still hung down past her shoulders. Her red lips were full and plump. Her long legs were encased in tight black pants, accentuating their length. He remembered all too vividly, how she’d slung those legs around him and urged him to take her harder. Her vampire strength had been the biggest turn-on he’d ever experienced. But despite Roxanne’s overwhelming physical power, they’d always been equals. All because in his arms she’d turned soft and yielding, and had purred like a tame kitten whenever he’d brought her to climax. Those had been the moments when he’d seen into her soul and realized that he’d never be free of her. She’d stolen his heart.

Only now, that same heart was in danger of being ripped out of his chest, if the furious look in Roxanne’s eyes was anything to go by.

“I see introductions aren’t necessary.” The implied question came from Gabriel Giles.

But Charles had no intention of airing his grievances in front of a stranger. This was between him and Roxanne. Between him and the love of his life.