Blaze (Queen's Birds of Prey 2)

“I love this, Bryson. A company that truly cares for their employees. We’ll even put the cafeteria over there.” She started yelling to tell Mercy what they were going to do. “I can see it all working out for the people here. And with a pharmacy just across the street, they can pick up things quickly that they might need.”

By the time they were leaving the building, his mind was buzzing with ideas about both the places where he was going to be working. He’d not asked again if he could run the printshop, but he could talk her into it. Bryson wanted to work someplace that he had a stake in. And working at this place and where the things were stored for people in need, he was happy as he’d been in a long time about going back to work.

When they were having lunch together, something that the birds did at least once a week, he knew that they didn’t use their cell phones, nor did they discuss work. Today, however, work was all they talked about. Even the other women had ideas for them to get clothing and such for the warehouse. He was humbled by the way they kept thanking him for coming up with the idea. By the time they were finished, not only did he have a list of people to call for donations, but also a list of manufacturers that he would call to get a start on the coats. It was fast coming up on Thanksgiving, and it was already cold.

When he got home, Bryson went straight to his office and started working. Blaze was out on another project, and wouldn’t be home until dinner.

There were two messages on his desk, and one that asked him to come to the kitchen. Not sure why someone would have taken the messages or what could be in the kitchen, he made his way there with a little trepidation. Not that he thought anyone would hurt him in this house, but he just didn’t know right now.

“Lord Williams, my name is Todd. If you wish for me to have a last name, then I’d need help figuring one out. I have been a friend of the birds for a great, great many years. I was the person who took care of the household that her ladyship, Queen Dante, lived in.” Bryson took his hand when it was offered. “I am not a human, but a shifter tiger. I was born one, but was given the ability to live out a long life to care for those in need at the new village. It is my honor to serve you and Lady Blaze.”

“Thank you.” Todd then introduced him to his lady wife, Stella. She would be there to fix any meals they wished. “You’ll be cooking for us then? Cooking is a passion of mine. I do hope that you’ll allow me in here on occasion to cook a little myself.”

“‘Tis your house, my lord.” Bryson smiled at her. “I was wondering if there is anything that you’d not eat. I know that Blaze, being a hawk, has tried a great many things. But you, I haven’t any idea what you might like.”

“I’m easy to please. I’m more of a comfort food man. I do like sweets, but I try very hard not to eat any of them because I don’t want to be as big as a house someday.” Todd told him that as a mate to Blaze, he’d never gain an ounce. “Really? That’s wonderful to know. Yes, you make all the sweets you want then, Stella. My sister, she’s going to be staying here awhile with us. My father isn’t to come into the house—you were told that, correct?”

“Yes. Lady Blaze has said that we were to call the police, and if he gave us any trouble before they arrived, he was to be buried deep in the back yard. I think she was joking, my lord, but it’s difficult to tell sometimes.” Bryson laughed, and told them that he had difficulty telling at times as well. “If he does come around and makes a nuisance of himself, I will pounce on him and make him sorry that he ever came here. I will make sure that your sister is safe as well.”

“That is all I can hope for.”

As he made his way back to his office to work, he thought of Clara. He’d not seen her today. Bryson thought it best to tell her that their father was around and knew that he was married. Of course, he wasn’t just yet, but he would be in a couple of days. All they were going to do was have it filed at the courthouse that they were indeed married, and that would be the end of it. Blaze didn’t want anything showy, and he didn’t have anyone that he’d invite except Clara, so it was settled.

She answered in the third ring. “I’m sort of busy here. Can I call you back?” He told her about Dad and that he was around. “Yes, he had the manager of the hotel where he’s staying give me a call to have his bill paid. Moron. I’ll be there for dinner tonight. I’ve already gone by the house and packed me up some things for while I’m staying with you. I need to get a car too.”

“I do too. I have my old truck, but it’s not all that good in snow. And it’s coming—the snow, I mean.” She said that she had to go again. “I love you, sis. I’ll see you tonight.”

By the time Clara showed up at a little after six, he had found ten manufacturers that were more than willing to help out Mercy. Not only did they have coats on their books that they wanted to get rid of, but they also had boots for kids that hadn’t sold so well, and were willing to let those go too. Bryson spoke to the owner of a very expensive toy store about getting some of their toys brought in as well.

“You tell Mercy that I’m willing to help her out with any project she has. And if she has something that she’d like to donate again this year to our Christmas baskets, that would

be fine too. You’ve got yourself a hell of a woman there in Blaze, Bryson. The whole family is a great bunch.” Bryson told him that he thought they were as well. “Yes, you tell them that if they need anything, money included, they only need to call me. I’ll get them donations from everyone I know. They do good for anyone that needs it. Even helped me out when I was just starting out. I’d not be the businessman I am today without their help. You tell them that Howard never forgets a favor. You tell them that.”

“I will, sir. I really will.”

Every call was like that—businessmen and women who had been helped in one way or the other by the women that he’d come to love. Then they would return the help whenever asked. They paid it forward as well.

If Bryson didn’t already love them all, he would have fallen in love with them from all he was finding out about them. They didn’t brag or put out that they were these good people. You just knew it. Bryson was proud to be a part of their family.

Chapter 5

Blaze wasn’t sure what she was looking at. It was difficult for her to concentrate on things today. She was actually thrilled when Clara joined her in the office that she was working in.

“I think I need your help. Not so much as help as I need to use you as a sounding board. I was offered the job as head of the region’s FBI unit. It’s not a large group of men and women, about ten, but it’s a huge promotion and better pay. Much better pay than I’m currently getting.” Blaze asked Clara if she wanted it. “I think I do. But I keep coming back to what my boss told me a week ago. He said that you have to be able to balance work and family, and he’d never been able to do that. I don’t know that I’d be any better at it.”

“All right. Let’s talk about the other parts of it then. The money. Do you want the job for the money or for the job?” She said that money would come in handy. “True. But you do know that when Bryson and I came together, you became a part of what I am. Also, you are wealthy as well. Very much so.”

“Immortal.” Blaze told her that it was more than that. “What else did I gain? I’m not sure what you mean when you say that I’m wealthy. I don’t have any more than I did before I met you.”

“As far as myself and the rest of the women are concerned, you’re entitled to have as much as you wish for anything that you need.” Clara shook her head. “Okay, then let me ask you this. You’re going to be around forever. I do mean forever. You cannot be killed. Hurt, but not killed. Also, you have to know that you can’t be an FBI agent forever, because it’s a public job with humans. They’ll notice that you’re neither aging nor dying.”

“Okay, I guess I never thought of that. What does that have to do with your money?” Blaze handed her a couple of sheets of paper. They were college applications. “I’ve got a degree, thank you very much.”

“I have several. I was so many different things in my life that I can’t remember them all. I did it when I was bored.” She could tell that Clara wasn’t getting it. “You will be bored with life, Clara. I can tell you, too, that with boredom comes trouble. Even if you never get another degree in your whole life, you will still want to do things. Blowing glass, perhaps. Or learning how to be a racecar driver. I’d not recommend that one because you will be able to walk away from horrific accidents when others won’t. They’ll wonder what you are.”

“You’re saying that I can use your money for anything like that.” Blaze shook her head. “Then I still don’t understand.”

“What is it you’d like to do? Do you want to make a difference? Do you want to build something that others will be able to use? Or do you want to see the world? We’ve all done that. Several times over. It’s what we do now to keep from losing our minds—help others.” Clara said that she thought she was making a difference. “You are. Everyday. But how long before you get bored with that? I’m not saying that you positively will be bored. There are some that do the same thing day after day, and love it enough to be able to not care how much longer they do it. But I don’t see you as a forever kind of woman. You will need to change it up. And having the money to make it happen will go a long way to helping you achieve it. Also, it’s not my money, but yours and Bryson’s and mine. There is a great deal of it, I promise you.”