Friends or foe

Jos had loved every minute of the 8 hours they'd been riding across the smooth clear waters. Her cell phone storage was filled to the max with pictures of the beautiful blue-green waters of the Adriatic Sea and the many curious creatures that called it home. She leveled the camera against the setting sun, sighing as she snapped one last picture. "I'd wondered this morning why we didn't fly out with Drake and the others, but now I'm glad we didn't." She tilted her head to the side as she leaned against the seat and studied the light bouncing off Arei's handsome features. She lifted her phone and snapped a picture of him this time. "I still wonder though… why a boat?"

Arei sent her a quick grin. "Because it's hard to navigate the areas around where we are going. There really isn't room on the island for vehicles, so a boat is best." He shrugged arrogantly. "Plus, if the need arises, there will not be much that could outrun her… man or beast…"

Jos knitted her brows. "It doesn't seem to go all that fast."

He chuckled as he pulled the throttle father back and the boat began to speed up even more. "I'd thought you'd want to enjoy your surroundings… but if speed is what you want, she can handle quite a bit more."

Jos swallowed hard as she clutched the seat. "More?! Please no…"

He laughed as he eased off the throttle. "You should have known I wouldn't own something that wasn't capable of at least matching my own speed."

She swallowed hard as she nodded. "Yes… I assumed… but didn't realize man-made devices could reach such speeds…" Her eyes widened more as land came into view. "Are… are we already there?"

He nodded with a smirk. "We are. Welcome to the city of Venice, kitten."

Her awe grew the closer they got. The beautiful city lights shined brightly over the many canals running through the city, each lined with vibrant, brightly lit shops. Even at this hour, the walkways and bridges were lined with people all enjoying the cool breeze of the waters. The boat slowed considerably as Arei pulled it into a slip in front of a stunning canal front Hotel. Her eyes dazzled in delight as she turned to him in question. "This is where we're staying?"

Arei checked the GPS of his cell phone. "It's the address Drake sent." He typed a quick message before lowering his phone and sending her a smile. He brushed back the wild, tangled strands of hair from her face. "It's a shame we'll be here under such bleak conditions. There are tons of beautiful places I'd love to show you while we're here."

Her smile widened as she nuzzled his hand. "We could always stay longer… once the mission is over."

He leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers. "Perhaps we could make it even more memorable by eloping while we are here…"

[NO!] The booming voice echoed through Jos's mind causing her to flinch.

Arei frowned as he leaned back. "Not exactly the response I'd expected..." His eyes studied her as she gripped her head. "Another headache?"

Jos kept her eyes squeezed tightly closed as she nodded. "Yeah… sorry… It had nothing to do with what you said." She lied as she forced a smile. "I do want to marry you… and it is beautiful here… But I would rather have an actual wedding with my friends…"

"If you say so… As long as you haven't changed your mind on marriage altogether." His phone vibrated pulling his attention away from her. He blew out a sigh. "That was Drake. He said they are waiting in the lobby." He grabbed their bags and stepped out onto the small dock before reaching out a hand to her. When she seemed to hesitate, he frowned. "You haven't changed your mind… have you?"

Jos quickly shook her head. "No! Not at all… It's just…" She blew out a sigh. "It's beautiful here… but I get a bad feeling… is all…"

He nodded as she took his hand. "Yes, I'll not be at ease until we know more, and Chary is with us… I wish…" He closed his eyes and stopped himself. He shook his head as he blew out a sigh.

Jos studied him. "You wish Ry were here?"

He nodded. "I do. His tracking abilities would come in handy more than any one of our individual skills ever could in this situation."

Jos nodded. "You're right… I too wish he were here… I hate that he left like he did… for the reason he did…"

Arei squeezed her hand. "He had other reasons. There's no point for you to carry all the guilt of those actions… besides, you said Artemis has gone looking for him. If anyone could bring him back safely it would be her."

"And if she can't?" Jos muttered; sadness etched deeply in each word.

He brought her hand to his lips and placed a kiss there. "She will."

As they stepped through the main lobby of the hotel April stepped nervously away from Drake. She wrung her hands as she forced her gaze to meet the intimidating yet soft aqua eyes staring back at her. "Th…Thank you for talking him into letting me be a part of this… and…" Her nerves eased slightly as Jos's stoic expression shifted to one of dumbfound. She swallowed hard as she forced herself to continue. "And for forgiving me of the incident on the cliffs… I… I am not quite sure what came over me that night… I am truly sorry… and… and…"

Jos pursed her lips as she waved away the awkward apology. "What is there to forgive…" Jos's eyes met the man standing behind Drake. "I'm a monster… after all…" Her eyes softened as they shifted back to April and forced a smile. "How are you? Hopefully, you have not been beating yourself up over what happened?"

April looked up at Jos, obviously shaken as she shook her head. "I…"

Drake stepped forward taking April's trembling hand. Before falling in love with April, he'd always been too blinded to Jos's allure to see her as threatening… but now looking at the cool cadence of the creature standing before him he couldn't help but think back to the security footage. He pushed those thoughts to the side. She was, after all, yet to do anything without first being provoked… that he knew of, at least. He gave April's hand a reassuring squeeze. "She has, but after your words at the Embassy I had hoped the two of you could work out any remaining issues… amicably." He pulled April into his embrace and held her tight. "As I'm sure we will all be working closely together for the majority of the foreseeable future." He smiled down at April. "Or at least that is my goal in all this."

Jos nodded, taking comfort in Arei's protective hand at the small of her back. "As I said before, I have nothing but love for the wolves. I know they have their own ways about them…" A smile curved her lips. "And I also know the kind of crazy they are capable of on full moon nights especially when love is involved." Jos couldn't hide her blush as she recalled all of Russ's many 'attacks' on her. She cleared her throat and smiled warmly. "All is forgiven and forgotten."

A relieved smile spread across Drake's lips as they closed the distance between one another. Drake extended his hand to Arei and then Jos before digging in his blazer pocket to produce a pair of room cards. "This will be your apartment. I hope you don't mind, but April will be beside you." He nodded behind him. "Russo will be down the hall but still on the same floor."

"You didn't have to, but thanks," Arei replied as he took the cards.

"It's our mess the two of you have agreed to help clean up and seeing as how I can't be here to assist you, it's the least I can do." He tightened his hold on April as his smile fell. "I hate to ask more of you… especially with the stressed circumstances… but I would hope the two of you could also protect April as well."

Jos smiled warmly as she stepped forward and took April's hands in hers. "You have my word. No harm shall come to you." She pulled the girl into a tight hug. "I meant what I said. I do not hold any ill regards for you." She held her out at arm's length. "Besides, I don't want to make enemies with the new queen by bringing harm to her best friend. I know how much a good friendship can mean to someone." She added with a wink.

Tears of happiness filled April's eyes as she hid her face against Jos's shoulder. "Thank you…"

Jos pulled her away once again and gently brushed away the girl's tears, her own threatening to fall. "That's enough of that. You're going to make me cry. What do you say we go get freshened up then make these handsome men of ours take us out for dinner?"

April perked up. "Yes, that would be great! We walked around when we got here and everything smelt so amazing. I don't even know where to start!" She turned quickly to give Drake a parting kiss before grabbing Jos's hand and pulling her toward the elevators. "I'll show you our rooms. They are connected by a door inside as well! It's almost like it's one big apartment."

Jos couldn't help smiling as the young wolf continued to prattle on. She'd been so lost in the girl's cheerful jabber that she hadn't realized until they were inside the elevator, doors shut, that the men had not followed.

The second the elevator doors had closed Arei's smile flattened, and the friendly atmosphere quickly shifted. He turned his harsh gaze to Drake and Russo. "This mission cannot have any unexpected hiccups." He narrowed his gaze on Russo. "Either you're with us and willing to forgive and forget any past discretions between the vampires and Jos… or you're out now." He sent Drake a knowing glare. "You know as well as I, the council will not forgive her again, and I will not lose her again." His gaze became ice cold. "If that means I have to intervene to prevent such occurrences… then I will without hesitation." A cold, cruel smile curved his lips. "If you think the actions which have landed her in trouble by the council have been bad… you should see the atrocities I've committed in their name." His smile widened as he stepped closer and bent enough to be nearly nose-to-nose with Russo. "Never underestimate the amount of torture a man can undergo without death. It's enough to make her killings look merciful."

Drake swallowed as his gaze fell to the growing puddle around his guard's feet. He cleared his throat and forced the tremble from his words. "I… believe you've made your point."

Arei snarled his nose up at the cowardly man standing directly in front of him as he took a few steps back. His eyes moved over the other man's wet pants with a look of disgust. "As long as we're on the same page…" He turned and headed for the elevators without looking back.

Russo swallowed hard. "Are you sure about this, boss?"

Drake ran his hand through his hair as he blew out a heavy sigh. "Yes, I am." He clasped Russo's shoulder. "It's simple really… Don't fuck them… us… over and you'll live to see your family. If you think that will be too hard for you to handle, leave now and I'll send for someone else." He studied the silent man. "Can you handle that or not? Your only purpose here is to provide intel on the locations and find a way to get them inside when the time comes."

Russo forced his frozen body to react. He swallowed hard as he nodded. "Yes, sir."

Drake patted his shoulder once again before wrinkling his own nose. "Good… then perhaps you should go clean yourself up…"

The color that had drained from Russo during Arei's threats came back in an embarrassed flush as he quickly nodded again and made haste toward the stairs. He felt sick as he scaled the stairs, his wet pants clinging to his leg now. One shoe sloshed with each step, making him feel even sicker. He thought over all the intel he'd gathered on the group after Drake had announced he would be working with them… and the large man had not been exaggerating… if anything, based on the information he could pull up he was playing it down. The giant man had a well-earned spot in history as a warmonger… trained since childhood and participating in some of the bloodiest battles throughout his many, many years. He'd thought it understandable back in the man's earlier years of life given how hostile the world was then… but the long file of brutality still continued from what he had read. According to Embassy records Drake had given him access to, the man was still sent out to handle the worst of the worst cases that came across their desks. His capture rate was the second highest employed by the council with the highest interrogation stats, beating out even his sister Charybdis who'd been dubbed the siren of sins. He blew out a huffed breath as he shut and locked the deadbolt of his apartment door before leaning against it. "And lucky me… I'll be working with them both along with the Kraken…" He took his phone from his pocket and tapped the side button. He stared down into the picture of his family set as the lock screen. "I'll do everything I can to make it back to you… I swear it…"