Thanks for all your encouragement, I appreciate all who have read and/or reviewed. Just a little bath time fluff before the serious stuff starts~~~~~~~

Chapter 6

Mick entered their home, hearing Beth upstairs. The renovations in the master bathroom were underway, and he heard his wife's annoyed voice from the doorway. He quickly went upstairs to find her with her hands on her hips, talking to a human.

"Why can't the marble match the shower?" Beth asked, frowning.

"Ma'am, it would be from a different quarry, and it's really hard to get the same color and markings. A nice ceramic would look very nice. I can show you—"

"What's the problem?" Mick interjected.

Beth turned to him, and he could feel her frustration. "He says we can't find the same marble as the shower. I wanted it to match."

Mick closed his eyes for a moment. This is why he let the designer who originally did his loft to do whatever she wanted, without his input.

"Doesn't the other stuff look as good?"

"I suppose, I just thought it would be better if it was the same," Beth said. She hadn't wanted to make too many changes to the loft, although Mick was always insistent it was now their place, and encouraged her input.

"Do you want to look at the others?" she asked.

The contractor immediately spread out the samples of tiles, and Mick examined the colors. "I like this one."

"Really?" Beth said.

"It looks good and I don't think it has to be exactly the same." He gave her a small smile that he knew would melt her objections.

Dragging her eyes away from her husband, she said, "All right. Go ahead with this tile."

The contractor gave Mick a grateful look, and said, "It will be installed tomorrow."

Mick saw the large, deep tub with the holes for the spa jets. "It's a nice bathtub," he commented.

"Oh, yes." The contractor gushed, now that the other issue was resolved. "It's top of the line, plenty of room for two." As he continued to extoll the tub's features, all Mick could think about was getting Beth into the ice cold water, naked.

When the man took a breath, Mick interrupted. "When will we be able to use it?"

The contractor consulted his paperwork, and said, "Once we're done with the tile work, give it 48 hours, then it will be all set. We'll test it before we leave and give it all a good cleaning."

When he packed up his gear, Beth showed the human out and came back upstairs to see Mick examining the new tub. She dropped her shirt to the floor and unhooked her bra as she came toward him, her eyes crystal and her fangs out.

"All this talk about water makes me think you're a dirty boy," she said, silkily.

"I am?" he said hopefully, his own vampire surfacing as he watched her walk toward him.

She pulled off his shirt and grabbed his belt, unzipping his jeans. "Oh, yeah. Since the tub's not done we'll have to make do with the shower," she growled and pushed him toward the marble enclosure.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Josef was staring at his compter screen, frowning when his wife breezed into his office.

"What's wrong, hun?" She asked.

His concentration broke and he looked up at her with a smile. "Just some business."

Simone sidled up to him, insinuating herself on his lap. "What's the matter, markets down?"

Josef nuzzled her neck, allowing his vampire to come out at his wife's sensual appeal. "No, just working on the French deal."

Simone said, "You mean Lance?"

"Yeah, he finally figured out someone is after his investments and trying to cover himself," Josef frowned.

Simone moved to hug him closer. "Well, you probably thought he'd do that when he realized his losses."

"I'd hoped I could almost bankrupt him first."

"First?"

"Yeah, I've got another plan in mind."

"What?" Simone asked

He pulled away a little, and Simone felt him withdraw from her.

She frowned, "I'm not going to like this, am I?"

He stood up, placing her on her feet. Simone felt his distress and began to be afraid. "Josef what are you doing?"

"I'm going to ask some people to put their lives in danger."

"Who?"

Josef shook his head. "I don't want to say until I've talked to them. They have every right not to go along with my plan."

"Will it be dangerous?" Simone asked.

"It could be. I need someone to go undercover to convince Lance to leave France. It has to be someone he doesn't know, and that rules out most of us."

It was on the tip of her tongue to suggest going herself since she'd never met the French vampire, but that idea died when she realized how young she was compared to Lance. She knew she didn't have the skills to deal with such an old vampire. Her shoulders slumped a little, and Josef's smile told her he knew what she was thinking.

He took her hand and kissed it. "I know you want to do something, but this is a job for professionals."

"What about Coraline? I thought she was going to help us," Simone said.

"Huh," Josef grimaced. "I don't trust her. I'm keeping her busy with Mick. Even if she's not working with Lance, I can't believe anything she says. I'm having Mick lead her in an entirely different direction."

Simone crossed her arms, giving her husband the 'Look'. "Is that fair to either Mick or Beth? I talked with Beth yesterday, and she's not happy Mick is hanging out with his ex. She knows it needs to be done, but if it's all a smoke screen, shouldn't you tell them?"

"Of course not. Mick's barely a hundred, and Coraline can read him like a book."

Josef ran his hand through his carefully styled hair, "After we're done with Lance and the Duvall's, you can all chew my butt."

"They won't be happy."

"They'll be happy that Lance is dead and can't come after us anymore," Josef growled. "It's my responsibility to protect us, and Lance has caused trouble one too many times."

Simone sighed, and perched on Josef's desk. "I know you're trying to take care of us. Will it be that risky?"

"It could be. The people I'm going to ask have to go deep undercover to convince Lance to leave his security."

"What if they won't do it?"

Josef sighed again. "Then we're going to have to find a way into his stronghold and we might lose some people."

She knew that meant Josef would be in the thick of it, and her heart clenched in alarm. "It can't come to that. And you know Mick will want to go, probably Beth, too."

Josef shook his head, but didn't say anything and it reinforced her fear. "Josef, can't we just ruin the Duvall's and watch them? Avoid having to fight?"

He looked at Simone, the woman who had given herself to him, and saved him from his perpetual agony over Sarah. "He almost killed us and he's not going to stop unless I destroy him. I have to make Lance come after me, after us, so we can take him away from his base."

She could tell Josef was on the edge, and realized he was concerned about asking people to risk their lives for them. Wisely, she gave him a hug, without saying anything.

Josef held her, feeling her caring and support. He could only be comfortable stripping away his veneer with his wife. He let her go, saying, "Are you leaving now?"

"Unless you need me to be here."

He gave her a smile. "No, why don't you go home. I'll be there as soon as I can."

Simone got up and straightened her dress. "The office is done and we're going to have a cocktail party to open the new space. Beth is arranging it."

Josef smirked. "I'm sure Maureen did an excellent job." He knew Sofia's mother had borrowed some of the artworks he had stored away to decorate his wife's new office. He had yet to see it, as Simone wanted it to be a surprise. "I'll make sure I'm available."

Simone bent down to kiss him. "You'd better be. Remember, you're getting a percentage of our business."

Josef stood up, grabbing her around the waist, splaying his other hand around her upper back to kiss her.

"Mmmm," she mumbled into his neck. "I'll be expecting you at home."

After Simone left, he waited in the silence. He'd told everyone but security to leave for the night. He didn't want any witnesses for his upcoming interview. Soon enough, he heard his door buzzer.

He opened the door and James, his head of security and Annie, the assistant Cleaner entered. They both felt Josef's tension, and James did a quick mental inventory to see if he'd done anything wrong in the last few days.

"Thanks for coming," Josef said. He walked back into his office, with the two vamps following. "Please have a drink," he indicated the bar.

Both Annie and James declined. Josef turned to them. "I won't drag this out. You know what happened to us in Geneva?"

They nodded. James had gone to Europe to help, and told Annie about it when they got back.

"We got the bastard doctor who poisoned us, but it was Lance Duvall behind it. He's been after Mick and me for a while, and he almost succeeded this time."

Josef went to the bar and made himself a drink and joined the other two. "Duvall isn't going to stop," Josef said. "I have a plan to take him out, but I need your help."

"Whatever I can do, boss," James responded.

"Don't answer so quickly," Josef said, starting to pace. "This will require sacrifice and patience. I need someone to go undercover and approach Lance Duvall as a traitor."

"Would he believe that?" James asked.

"He will if Annie turns on me after I get you killed in a dangerous situation," Josef said, raising his eyebrows at James.

Annie nodded and James exploded in anger. "You can't send Annie, I won't allow it."

"Allow it?" Annie turned to her lover. "You don't tell me what to do. I'm a Cleaner, who better for this operation!"

Before James could respond, Josef let his vampire energy out into the room. "Enough!" he growled.

They both looked at Josef, who scaled back his power and said sternly to James, "I know you want to protect Annie, but in this case she's the obvious choice."

"What do you want her to do?" James asked, barely placated.

"She's out for my blood and she's going to tell Lance that I'm going to be in Vancouver, without security to talk to my investors about a new discovery."

"What discovery?" Annie asked.

"When we raided the doctor in Geneva, we found out he was working on a chemical formula that would allow vampires to be immune to the sun."

Both James and Annie sat stunned for a moment. "Is it real?" She asked.

"Yes, I have someone working on it, but it's not complete. I believe Lance knew about it and he'll be motivated to get it for himself. It's very valuable."

"So what will Annie have to do?"

Josef looked at Annie. "You will have to be convincing that you want me dead after what I did to James. Can you do that?"

She thought a moment and said, "Yes, I think I can."

"You need to be sure, because if he senses any hesitation or deception, he'll back off or kill you." Josef held up his hand to stop James' objection.

"I can do it." Annie said. "How old is Duvall?"

"About 260."

Annie smiled slyly. "Well, I've got some years on him, so I'm sure I can keep him from knowing my real purpose."

James cursed to himself. He knew Annie was older, but he still didn't want to put her in danger. "Are you going to send her over there alone?"

Josef refilled his drink. "I plan to have someone go over to be a liaison and help her if she needs it, but I haven't decided who."

"I'll go." James said, determined.

"You can't. We'll be broadcasting that you died and you might be recognized."

James didn't hesitate. "Then get me some fake ID and I'll shave my head or something. No one will recognize me then. Besides, I speak fairly fluent French, and I could just be a transient vampire passing through Paris."

Annie looked in alarm at James and knew that would be the best disguise, but mourned his long dark locks.

Josef sat back behind is desk, thinking. "That could work." He asked Annie, "Do you speak French?"

She shook her head. "A little, but I've never spent any time there."

"It doesn't matter," Josef said. "Your job is to convince Lance that you want me dead, and the formula will be the impetus to get him to come himself."

They all sat silent, absorbing what had been said. Then Josef spoke. "It's going to be tough for both of you. James, you'll be dead, and we have to broadcast that throughout the community." He turned to the Cleaner. "Annie, your job will be worse. You'll have to appear to go rogue, declaring that you want me dead. You'll be on the run. You'll have new ID and plenty of money, but only Bella will know the truth. I'll be considered an asshole for allowing one of my people to be sacrificed."

James drew an unneeded breath. "You think this will draw Duvall out?"

"If Annie can convince him how much she hates me, then yes, I think it will work. It's a lot to ask. The only other option is to try to get into their stronghold in Paris, and I think lives will be lost if we try it. We don't have the advantage there. It would be easier if we can get Lance out of his comfort zone."

Josef continued, "He's already tried to get Mick and Beth through the Paris council and tried to poison us in Geneva. He's not going to stop until one of us is dead. If I could get him to face me one-on-one, I would, but he's too cowardly for that. he always goes through intermediaries."

Both James and Annie were quiet, and Josef said, "Think about it. I'm not requiring you do this. I know it will be a risk. But if Lance succeeds in killing me and Mick at some point, our region will be in chaos and all our people will be in danger."

James took Annie's hand. "When do you need to know?"

"Within the next few days. If you decide to go, we need time to get your ID's and set up the scenario of your death."

They stood, and nodded at Josef before they left. Josef finished his drink in one gulp, and shut down his computer. He needed to get home to see Simone. She was his solace and he sorely needed her now.

xxxxxxxxxxxx

"What's taking so long?" Lance Duvall growled into the telephone.

Coraline smothered a smile. "I told you I just got back into town," she lied. "I need to wait a couple of days before I contact Mick. I don't want to scare him off."

"Merde, I don't have time to waste. That Kostan is trying to ruin us. I have to stop him." Lance calmed himself. "Coraline, this is for the family. You must get information about what Kostan is doing."

"Oui, mon frère. I already told you he might try to get into the castle and to add to your security."

"And how did you hear that?" Lance asked, suspiciously.

"Ah, even in San Francisco there are rumors at the clubs that Kostan is after you," she lied again. She had been in Los Angeles the whole time, but Lance didn't need to know that. "Perhaps after I speak to Mick, I will make the rounds of the clubs here in LA and see what I can find out."

"Oui, that is good. Tell me everything you hear."

"Just remember your promise that Mick won't be harmed. I don't care about the rest."

"Oui, d'accord," Lance said, impatiently. "I gave my word."

"Of course. I will call you when I find out more."

The call disconnected, and Coraline sat back satisfied. She didn't trust Lance to spare Mick, but she would find out Lance's plans and make sure Mick was out of danger. She knew it would work out and Mick would be hers again.

TBC

Lots of double-crosses going on, but with Coraline and Lance that's normal. Next, will Josef's plan work out? Thanks for reading and reviewing.

After a long time, I finally have a permanent job, but I will try to keep my updates coming on a regular basis.