2 Are You An Enemy?

Cover art by Melody Simmons of bookcoverscre8tive.com. Story by Serena Walken of serena-walken.com

Bose knocked on the door of Roxie Malone's house. Behind him, he kept six official territory leaders, plus some legal teams. This wasn't a simple every day asking for permission date. He knocked on the door again.

A man answered in a simple vest and jacket. His first words were hello, but he noticed the entire crowd as well.

“May I help you, gentleman?”

“Mister Malone I presume?” Bose asked. “Hello, we are here on behalf of Hero. There is some business we would like to discuss with you.” He gestured for the leader of the legal team to present papers. “You may go over this if you like,” he said, “it is a basic 'no speak' policy. We are going to be mentioning large amounts of money and private information that should remain classified until or if it is cleared for non-classification.”

Mister Malone was bumped aside by Mrs. Malone. “What is going on?”

“I don't quite know,” Mister Malone admitted as he gestured to everyone. “These are Hero's representatives.”

“The Hero?” Mrs. Malone asked.

“Yes, the Hero,” Bose answered. “As soon as you sign those papers, then we can get started. Do you like drives in cars Mr. and Mrs. Malone?”

After they signed, they entered the large car. It had the length and extension of a limousine, along with chairs and a table. “Okay. Hero has become interested in your daughter, and he wants to get to know her better,” Bose said as the legal team brought out more papers. “Mainly, we are talking about a date.”

“How would our daughter even know him?” Mister Malone asked.

“He met her recently, and it seemed . . .magical I assume?” Bose wasn't dumb enough to tell the entire truth. “What would you say is a fair price for a few hours with your daughter?”

“To Hero, the defender of everything?” Mrs. Malone laughed. “It's an honor, isn't it?”

“Fifty thousand,” Mister Malone disagreed. His wife shouldered him. “Trust me, he can afford it.”

“They should eat in public though,” Mrs. Malone added. “Privacy is how things happen.”

“. . .yeah.” Bose held his tongue. He doubted even the public would keep Hero from trying something if he saw the need for it.

***

Roxie held her breath as she heard the press beating on the windows. A date. She was upset that they set her up without her knowledge, but it was with Hero. The Hero. Thoughts lingered about those eyes last time, but her friends had reminded her of so much more. He wasn't an ordinary man, and maybe the eyes were just a sign of that? Something primal that he inherited.

His actions in the past spoke louder. He had never hurt anyone, and he'd saved the world multiple times from other projects. She couldn't even walk to a single class without someone mentioning someone he saved that they knew, or when they saved them one time.

He had touched about everyone in some way. It had to be in her head, but then, what that guy said about the pheromones? It haunted her too.

But it was one date. In public. There shouldn't be anything to fear. When they came to a complete stop, Roxie could barely make out the restaurant she was supposed to eat at with him. The door opened up for her and she stepped out. Since she was going on a date with Hero, she kind of expected some form of press, so she put on a long blue dress. It was shorter on top, but elegant, not slutty.

When she was a little girl, she imagined what it would be like to be famous. With people wanting to know everything about her, snapping pictures, and walking gracefully across a red carpet. She knew now. It was half terrifying.

There were the biggest muscle-bound guys she'd ever seen holding back the press. Everyone wanted a shot of the girl who Hero had chosen to date.

Chosen. Why did he choose her? No, she had to keep the fear down. Walking down the red carpet, she tried to pretend she didn't expect someone to approach and smash into her. The bodyguards had all the bases covered.

The restaurant opening was beautiful, flowers and glass decorations adorned it. She moved forward into it. It wasn't empty either, it had been packed. Everyone had grown quiet as she entered.

Okay. After a minute, a few people went back to talking. A man came up to her and introduced himself as Bose. He gently locked her arm with his and led the way.

Hero was there. His arms were on the table, and his hands were in a fisted position beneath his chin. His eyes, they were much the same as last time. She was seated by Bose and a waiter came up.

“The usual?” The waiter asked Hero. Hero didn't nod. The waiter turned toward Roxie. “And you, ma'am?”

“Um, whatever he's having,” she said, not even knowing the menu.

“Are you sure about that?” The waiter asked her. “It's more of an exclusive piece.”

“She said she wanted it. Give her a slice of mine.” Hero spoke. His voice was rarely heard on TV. He hardly liked to be on TV. It was another reason people had respect for him, he'd never be caught on some commercial. That voice was better than TV anyhow, it was deep and sultry. Brave. Everything a girl could imagine. His whole body was perfect, except for that stare. He was still staring at her.

“Yes. Sorry.” The waiter cleared his throat. “I will make a note that one piece will need to be more done than the others.”

“I don't like well done,” Roxie mentioned. She hated well done, it was tough and flavorless. This night wouldn't be going down in her history as the greatest night, except that she choked down well done meat.

“It won't be well done, but we will keep it within a legal standard of 'done' for people.” The waiter fidgeted, uncomfortable with having to explain.

As he left, Roxie looked back toward Hero. He made her so nervous, why couldn't he look at her normally? “Um, hello again.”

He didn't answer at first. “Hello.”

Well, that was a start.

It was coming back again to Hero. The visions. He saw himself jumping over the table and stabbing her right in the chest. He saw himself reach over to her and kiss her tenderly.

What was wrong with him?!

Bose had set up a whole week before the date. He was mad at first, wishing he could just touch her. Have her! As time went by, he became less crazy, but as soon as he smelled her coming to the restaurant, he couldn't control himself again. A growling mine thought kept running through his head. He wanted her, on that table, now. To kill her or to kiss her.

He moved his feet up and down, trying to keep himself under control. Instinct said grab her and run, but he was not an animal. He was a human, he was! He could do this. That scent was just there to throw him off. He'd prove she was an enemy in disguise, take care of her, and the primal instinct would go away.

It needed to. He couldn't go out and stop others if he couldn't stop staring at her dress. Why that dress? Nope, eyes, straight forward.

Her eyes. They had never seen war, never seen bodies, and never seen blood. An ordinary woman's eyes. No sign of an enemy, although a part of him screamed she had been. The part that didn't want to get messed up with her.

Look at those eyes of hers. Curious but scared. Frightened. She shouldn't be frightened unless she had something to hide. He wrinkled his nose slightly, narrowing his gaze on her. When he had taken her friend Alexandra around, she had no fears of him.

As the food came, he dug right in. He had to test Roxie to see if she was on the up and up. His slabs of meat were always large, several inches thick. He couldn't stand cooked meat, even 'rare' wasn't rare enough for him. Only warming up the meat a little was perfect. The inside, delicately raw. Naked. But even with as 'done' as hers was, she should complain about it. If she were a project, she would. Then, if she was just working for one, it wouldn't bother her. It would at least get him closer to the truth.

Roxie tried making conversation. Twice, but he couldn't even seem to hear her. A couple of times his eyes wandered over her, but overall, he kept staring. When his food arrived, she didn't look at him anymore. The steaks were . . . round slabs of raw meat, like something just cut up down its belly.

“Ma'am.” The waiter brought out her piece. A single piece, but it was twice the size of a steak. At least it was plainly cooked. After seeing him eat, medium rare would have looked even nicer than what they considered done. She grabbed her knife and fork, cutting into the top. As she took a bite, she noticed the meat was different. It wasn't bad though. As she took another bite, something happened.

She jumped in her seat as she felt Hero holding her leg below the table. What was he doing?

“Roxie. Be honest.” He leaned in closer to the table. “Who are you?”

Who was she? “Roxie Malone. You paid my parents for a date.”

“But why did you get under me so much?” He held her leg tighter. “Truth. Are you an enemy?”