Page 1 of Dozer

Chapter 1

Dozer

I stared at the fancy invitation and considered all the things it might mean.

Basically, I was politely being called to Homewood for a meeting with the new Master Vampire. I’d met him a few times at social events, but there’d been no reason for more than that between us. What the fuck did he want from me? And did the fact he’d mailed it to my home mean it was personal? If this was something club related, it would’ve gone to the clubhouse, right?

There was no sense standing in my kitchen, guessing. I took a picture of it, used our secure app to text it to Brain, our chapter’s VP, and added,WTF?

Brain called me back on the app. “To my knowledge, no one else has received one of these. Let me make a few phone calls and see if I can figure out what’s going on.”

“Thanks, because the last time I was obligated to go to a Master Vampire, it was the worst night of my life.”

“Understood. That isn’t going to happen again. You’ve done nothing wrong. Hold tight while I figure this out.”

Hours later, I was working security at the restaurant when Brain arrived and nodded for me to go into the office with him. Gonzo was working the bar, and I made sure he saw me going with Brain, so he’d know to keep more of an ear out for trouble until I returned.

“Moira will only tell me it’s a friendly visit and you have nothing to be concerned about,” Brain told me when the door closed. “I had Dawg try to call Kirsten, but she’s not answering her phone, and a little research tells me she’s in Alfheim. She probably wouldn’t have known why you were being called, but I thought maybe we could have an ally for you on the premises.”

“I kind of have to go though, right?”

“Yes. The question is whether you go alone or not.”

I shrugged. “He can handle three of us as easily as he can handle one of us. Hell, he could probably fight the whole club without thinking twice. It isn’t like there’s going to be safety in numbers.” Marco is more of a badass than any of us had realized, until he was attacked and we saw what he’s capable of.

“The subtext here points to this being personal,” Brain said. “From his residence to yours, rather than from the coterie house to the clubhouse, or from one of his businesses to the clubhouse.”

I shrugged. “Right, but his residence is also the home of the Alpha Wolf.”

“True, but her name isn’t listed on the invitation, and when they send these out as a couple, both names are listed. The big party invitations have no names, but a picture of the five people who live there, to show who the invitation is from without having to worry about what order to list them. This is specifically from him to you, without either organization being referenced.”

“As much as I’d like to get an assurance of safe passage, my guess is the act of asking for it could be seen as an insult.”

Brain nodded. “Marco’s worked too hard to keep the city as peaceful and social as it was when he stepped in. He took the time to understand the connections, and he’s done nothing but support them since he’s been Master. I think we have to assume he has good intentions.”

“Anything else I should consider? Surely he won’t expect me to dress formal? Should I wear my jeans and cut, or do I show up without flashing my colors, since he sent the invitation to me at home?”

“I think your usual clothes should be fine. Cut or not is another question, and it could go either way.”

“Then I’ll wear it. Can’t hurt to remind him I have my club behind me.”

Club rules say we don’t wear our vests when traveling alone, so I’d have to take it with me and put it on when I arrived, but that was fine.

* * * *

Nine days later, I rode my bike up the twisting turns of the mountain road. The fact he gave me more than a week’s notice also leaned more towards this being something casual, rather than time-related. Or it seemed logical.

No one was manning the gate, so I drove straight through, past the farmhouse to the main house. The place seemed empty at first glance while I took my helmet off and put my cut on, but I could sense multiple eyeballs on me. Plus, I knew there’d be video surveillance, though they had the cameras well hidden.

An eagle shifter opened the front door as I stepped onto the porch, and he walked me downstairs without saying a word. Most of Marco’s security are eagles, while the wolves use hawk shifters for aerial security. With Cora and Marco living together, I wondered how the hawks, eagles, and wolves were getting along. Not to mention the King of the Lions also lived here, though he kept his pride at a different property.

It was still daylight out, so the vampire hadn’t been able to greet me aboveground. So far, nothing seemed amiss, and I tried to exude confidence and nonchalance, though I doubted I was pulling it off.

“Welcome, Dozer. I’m so glad you could make it.” Marco waited for me at the bottom of the steps, another good sign. It’s a power thing, having someone brought to you, and he came as far as he could to meet me. “Come, I’ve set up some snacks in the main common room on this level. Cora is off handling pack business, and Kirsten is in Alfheim, which means neither of her men are in residence, as they’re rarely here when she isn’t.”

“But it isn’t just you and me,” I noted.

“No. A few vampires do better living here than in the coterie house, and I rotate some of the coterie’s flock in so I can make sure we’re all properly fed. We also have a security team. It’s just the two of us in the room, though.”

---