I want to thank treewitch703 for the awesome job she is doing!

Mr. Northman still stood there looking down at my son with a smile on his face. When Izzy fell back to sleep. I covered her back up and went to Andy. Andy stared at Mr. Northman with suspicion in his eyes.

"Are you going to allow me in so that I can discuss this with your mother?" Mr. Northman asked. He couldn't pull his crap on Andy like he could me and I didn't raise my boy to be an idiot.

"I promise to behave myself, Mr. Harrison," Mr. Northman says to my son like he was his equal.

"It's okay, baby. You go back to bed," I whispered to my boy. I patted him on the shoulder. So proud of my little man. He looked up at me with concern and worry filling his green eyes. He didn't want to leave my side. He wanted to let his male instincts take over. "I'll be alright, sweetie," I whispered again and kissed his forehead. Andy reluctantly went over to the bed and slid in next to his sister, watching the vampire through the door the whole time.

"Don't you dare sink one fang into her, vampire. I'll go after you if you do," Andy said, voicing one last warning. A smile crossed Mr. Northman's full lips. Pride flickered in his blue gaze.

I walked outside and shut the door behind me. There was no way in hell I was going to let any vampire into my home! Even if it is only a cheap motel room. The vampire looked down at me with wry amusement. I didn't know this stranger from Adam, but I swear he looked jealous for a moment. What did he have to be jealous of? I really am as poor as a church mouse. As the human woman living in a filthy roach motel, I should be jealous of him.

"I promise you, Belinda. If you come to work for me, you will never have to live like this ever again," he said in a soft soothing voice.

"What if I choose to live like this?" I ask, testing Mr. Northman.

"In my time, you would be living like a queen, but we are not living in my time, now are we," he said. He gave me a sad look. "Your children deserve better than this, Ms. Harrison," he added.

The vampire is right, my kids do deserve better. Even I deserve better. Once upon a time my life didn't amount to a hill of beans, but not now. I have two of the best reasons to keep me going. I don't care that my kids aren't perfect, because Lord knows their mother isn't, but they really do deserve better.

"What do you expect me to do? What is my job at this…."

"It's a bar, Belinda. All I want you to do, is do the job you do best. Wait tables, that is all."

"No lap dances? No pawing hands?"

"No Belinda. I watch out for my people. I will not even let the patrons do that, unless that is what you want. All I ask is your loyalty. Work hard for me and I will treat you well," he said.

"I have one question. How do you know so much about me? Cal only knows my name, nothing else."

"You are a woman that watches out for her family. I can see that. I have my ways of finding things out, Belinda," he said. I knew right then just to drop it. He had no desire to tell me.

"Will you really foot the bill for my Izzy's school? It is expensive."

"Anything to get you to work for me, Belinda. I need the best and I can see that you are the best at what you do. I do promise, no funny business. You will be no one's donor or pet if that is what you choose. You have my word on that," Mr. Northman said.

"Sounds tempting, Mr. Northman," I said, taking a few minutes to think about it. I really have nothing to lose except my kids. My kids are all I have. Then again, am I going from one evil to another? I guess there is only one way to find out.

"Can I quit at any time? I've heard that your kind can be very possessive. I don't want somebody finding my remains in the bayou, if you know what I mean," I said. He laughed. Apparently I amused him as much as my son did.

"If you feel you must leave, I will not stop you, Belinda."

"No more of that mind mojo crap either."

"You mean glamour. You have my word. I do not intend to make a meal of you either, unless that is what you choose. I see you have plenty of responsibilities outside of employment," he said, looking past me to the door of my motel room.

"You sure drive a hard bargain, Mr. Northman," I said, scratching my curly red hair.

"No, your son drives a hard bargain, Belinda," the vampire laughed.

"Alright, where is this place and when do I start, Mr. Northman," I finally say.

"Behind the Toy 'R' Us in the strip mall. As soon as you possibly can, Belinda. Call me after you give your present employers the usual two weeks notice," he said.

"You want me to quit both of my jobs?"

"Yes Belinda, you will be employed exclusively by me when you are working for me. I ask that you have no side employment. There may be a chance I will have to call you in for special events. No worry, I will pay you extra for your troubles. I shall also pay you if the bar closes for any reason. Trust me, it will happen," he said and my jaw dropped. Who the hell does he think he is? I have never had someone treat me so high handedly!

"Of course, I failed to mention that as soon as your employment starts, you are to move into one of my condos. Also, you will no longer call me Mr. Northman. I shall be called Master or Cheiftain ," he said in a smug manner. The gall of him! Many nasty words spun through my mind. Words that I would punish Andy for saying and a few that I'm just afraid to use myself. The white knight that came to rescue me turned out to be a toad. More like a pillaging Viking. At the time I never realized how close to the truth I was with that last line.

"Do you still wish to work for me, Belinda?" He asks me. A billion thoughts ran through my head again. Then I thought of the sleeping children. Then I just answered lamely, "Yes Master."