Free Kissing with Fangs by Ashlyn Chase Page B

poof. Damn. There has to be a way to end this without bloodshed.
    ***
    Four hours later, the guys had moved all of Claudia’s furniture into her new apartment over the tea shop and were getting ready to leave.
    â€œOh. I almost forgot something,” Kurt said. He pulled what looked like a chess piece out of his pocket.
    â€œWhat’s that?”
    â€œIt’s called the little warrior . It’s a charm for protection. Call it a housewarming gift.”
    Claudia accepted the piece and turned it over in her hand. It was a little larger and more elaborate than a chess piece. The warrior looked like a Viking wearing armor, a helmet with horns, and a fierce expression. He was even holding a sword.
    â€œUh…thanks.”
    â€œWhat are you going to name him?” Kurt asked.
    Claudia was about to smirk when she noticed that Kurt looked perfectly serious. He was rarely serious, so she stopped and considered the question. Maybe he was superstitious, but that was no reason to make fun of his gift. “How about Alexander, for Alexander the Great? He looks like he needs an impressive name.”
    Kurt nodded his approval. He spoke directly to the statue. “Alexander, this is Claudia. She is a good friend and a woman of great integrity. She deserves a safe haven in which to live. You are now honor bound to protect her and her home.”
    Claudia didn’t know what to make of this. Should she laugh? Something told her not to. Maybe changing the subject would be best. “Uh… Can you both stop in tomorrow for a free lunch? I want to thank you for your help tonight, and it’ll give me a chance to prep for the grand opening the next day.”
    Tory grinned. “I’d never turn down a free lunch.”
    â€œNeither would I,” Kurt said. “But are you sure you want to do that with only one day to unpack and settle in before the madness starts?”
    â€œAbsolutely.” She hugged them both and said good night. As soon as her door was locked, she leaned against it and sighed. Glancing across the living room, she spotted Kurt’s extra key to the building on the side table.
    Oh, shoot. She could wait to give it to him the next day, but he was right here. She grabbed it and opened her door ready to trot downstairs. Then she looked at the warrior in her hand. When she heard their voices, something made her stop and listen.
    â€œI know. I’m worried about her too.”
    â€œAt least we got her out of Cambridge. I’m almost sure that’s where the facility is. With so many of us over there trying to find it, she’d be bound to wonder sooner or later.”
    Facility? What facility? Were they talking about me? Ruxandra? Could this night get any stranger?
    Just then the outer door opened and shut, cutting off their conversation.
    What was going on? Did it have something to do with Ruxandra finding her? She figured Anthony’s jealous ex had simply followed him there.
    And what kind of facility could they be looking for? Had Ruxandra opened a secret gym or something? She was always in great shape and was certainly strong as hell, which she demonstrated anytime she heaved a chair at somebody’s head.
    I should ask. I wasn’t really eavesdropping. It was more like accidentally hearing, and it sounded like they were protecting me from something they didn’t want me to know about. But perhaps she needed to.
    Claudia set the warrior on the half wall beside the door, then charged down the stairs and flew out onto the sidewalk. “Kurt! You forgot your keys.”
    The two guys turned around. Kurt strolled back to her and held out his hand. “Sorry about that.”
    Claudia pulled the keys away and held them firmly in her fist. “What were you two talking about just then?”
    Kurt glanced over his shoulder at Tory and asked absently, “Uh, just when?”
    â€œWhen you were leaving. I heard you say something about a facility in