Damon (The Protectors #1)
Teresa Gabelman
Chapter 1
Nicole Callahan’s piece of crap on wheels slid sideways into the wet parking lot, the muffler clanged loudly as she slammed her brakes to stop in front of the old warehouse. Man, she hated to be late and because her face got in the way of someone’s fist she was really running late.
Peering into the review mirror she groaned. Her eye was already turning a lovely shade of black. Oh well, it wasn’t the first black eye she’d ever had and it probably won't be the last. Grabbing her bag out of the backseat, she climbed out and trotted toward the door. Glancing around the parking lot quickly, it looked like she was the last to arrive. With a deep breath she pushed open the door. “Well, this should be a freakin hoot.”
“Good God Callahan, what happened to your face?” Mitchell Reed yelled as she blew into the room.
“I could ask you the same thing boss” Throwing her bag down she felt everyone’s eyes on her.
“Stop being a smart ass and tell me what happened?” Mitchell stomped toward her. He was a huge man with a permanent scowl as if he was ready to bite your head off any second. Most of the time, in her case, he was ready to do just that.
Grabbing her sweats and t-shirt out of her bag she headed toward what looked like a bathroom. “My routine check wasn’t so routine. It seems Mr. Mullins has an addiction that his new foster child is supplying. I caught him in the act of draining the poor kid. He didn't appreciate the interruption.”
“Son of a bitch.” Mitch cursed then turned toward the workout area. “What the hell are you stopping for? Get your asses’ moving.” he yelled sending everyone stumbling over each other.
Nicole came out of the bathroom in sweats and a t-shirt, her long blonde hair pulled into a messy ponytail. “Can you explain again why we’re here?” Nicole tossed her clothes on her bag as she passed it, stopping in front of Mitch.
“Ah...have you seen your face?” Mitch’s hands tightened into fists, his scowl fierce. “This is getting more and more dangerous. I can't have you guys out there without training.”
“Yeah, I know.” Nicole agreed, looking around hating again that she was late. Everyone else was running laps. Her eyes landed on three guys standing in the middle of the running group. “Who are they?”
“They, for the next couple of months, are your instructors.”
“Dang, could they be any bigger?” They were huge. The tallest of the group turned to glare at her, looking highly annoyed. “They make you look like a midget.”
“Yeah, well, guess you better get your ass out there Callahan.” Mitch shoved her toward the group of runners. “Looks like they don’t like anyone being late.”
Nicole stumbled into the group and took off jogging. “About time you got here Callahan. You think you’re special or something?” Chad Evans, better known as jackass, complained as he huffed past her.
“I know I am.” Nicole snapped, then added under her breath. “Jerk.”
Nicole caught up with Pam Braxton, who she usually partnered up with on cases. “What happened to you?” Pam huffed, sweat sliding down her face.
“Got caught with my hands down.” Nicole grimaced. Running was making her eye throb. “Is this all I’ve missed so far?”
“Yeah.” Wiping sweat off her face with her shirt, Pam kept pace then nodded toward the three men in the middle of the mats. “They just came out and said to start running. God, I think I’m going to die. How in the hell is this going to help with our jobs? I'm not going to be doing any job if I’m dead.”
Nicole chuckled as she glanced at the three men. Mitch stood with them talking. She looked away when they all turned to glare at her.
“Okay, everybody stop and take a knee.” Mitch’s booming voice echoed off the warehouse walls.
“Take a knee? What the hell is he talking about…take a knee?” Pam moaned as they headed toward the men. “If the SOB doesn’t let me sit on my well cushioned butt I'm going to flop over right here on this mat and die. I didn’t see him running. Did you?”
Nicole grinned. Pam was a trip. They became fast friends the day they met. Nicole knelt on the mat helping Pam down. Where Nicole was short and curvy Pam was tall and stick thin.
There were eight employees who worked for Mitch in the Special Family Services Department of Clermont County. Special meaning they worked with vampire and human children. Nicole and Pam were the only women and it had been an uphill battle for both of them. Most of the men, along with Mitch, had accepted them, but Chad and his little followers of merry jackasses did everything in their power to make the ladies lives in the department a living hell. It was just the eight of them standing between innocent children in the county and the ones who would use them for greed. No one else wanted the job. In all honesty it was too dangerous for most and the small paycheck every two weeks didn't inspire new employees.
“Jesus people.” Mitch shook his head in disgust. “Breathe in through the nose out through the mouth. I can’t hear myself think with all that huffing you wimps are doing.”
Nicole cocked her eyebrow at that. Her breathing was just fine since she ran a minimum of five miles a day.
“Yeah, I know Callahan. You’re the shit when it comes to running.” Mitch stepped to the side, slightly away from the three men standing behind him.