Black Magic Rose Read Free

life. She couldn’t argue. She’d completed enough workers’ comp reports to know Kiernan didn’t play nice. And if Dr. MacDuff hadn’t sent Bernie, Cader’s electrician, to install motion detectors at her house the day of the brushfire, she’d probably be renting a room at the local motel.
    “And if he takes you, it won’t be to help decrease the amount of workplace violence in his organization.” Dr. MacDuff had a way of tying everything to Sofia’s number one personal agenda. She’d never worked in a place where it was not only perfectly acceptable but encouraged to beat the hell out of new staff during the training period. She could not allow it to continue.  
    “Can’t Osgar come home with me?”  
    “Osgar needs to train the new recruits. He cannot spend all his time guarding you.”
    “He’s monitoring all the trainers?” Sofia asked, stressing all . She’d already had a run-in with Rick, Osgar’s second in command. He clearly disagreed with her definition of acceptable training practices.  
    “I’m sure he is.”  
    She’d managed to convince Dr. MacDuff to assign Osgar to her for day duty. If she’d thought quick enough, she’d have suggested that simply being at Cader during the day was enough and that Osgar could guard her at night. Instead, she thought she’d save herself from being guarded by another werewolf, a very pleasant, very young man who talked her ear off, making it completely impossible for her to get any work done.  
    Dr. MacDuff gave her what she wanted. Osgar by day. And then got what he wanted and assigned her Dragomir by night.  
    Sofia sucked in her cheeks and glanced into the lobby. The dead man faced the exit. His black leather duster covered all but his boots and a couple inches of his jeans.  
    “As much as I enjoy spending time with you, Sofia, I do have a meeting to attend. Are you coming or going?” He stepped toward the stairwell.
    “Dr. MacDuff…”
    “Sofia.” One word and his tone said it all.  

Chapter Two
    Sofia’s Camry bounced along her unpaved driveway. She knew the half-mile ride well and easily maneuvered around the potholes and ridges. She’d lived in the chalet-style home most of her life. It officially became hers a couple months back when her mom died.  
    She pulled into her usual spot directly across from the porch and pushed the gearshift into park before taking a deep breath. She’d managed to get past him without having to speak. But now she’d be very clear on her expectations and what he was allowed to do.  
    A truck pulled in beside her, dwarfing the Camry with tires four feet tall, a truck bed that had to be six feet long, and an engine compartment that could easily house the Camry. Rays of light shot into the woods, illuminating a twenty-foot area.  
    Why does every vampire have to drive something ridiculous? Porsches, Hummers, jet airplanes. Can’t even one of them drive a normal vehicle?
    She huffed, pulled her gold cross from beneath her blouse to lie exposed on her chest, and reached for the handle. The door opened before she touched the lever.  
    “There is absolutely no need for you to have any contact with me,” she snapped without turning to face him. “I can open my…”
    The door closed.  
    Sofia threw open the door. “That was rude.” She pulled her handbag and lunch box from the car. “You will stay outside. You have no need to come in. You can simply do that thing you do and sniff around to figure out if anyone has been on the property. I’ll wait here.” She slammed the door and leaned back against the car, arms folded across her chest.
    Dragomir didn’t move.  
    She waited, tapped her foot, and refused to look at him, knowing he was staring at her. More easily than with any other vampire, she could always tell when he was watching her. It was one of the many things about him she did not like. Other vampires didn’t make it so obvious they were looking. But Dragomir made no secret of it. He