Hidden In Plain Sight

How Much Longer

Bela's POV

I hated living in this human town. After we got word to the council about what was going on in the pack, we packed all our stuff and got out of dodge before what we knew would come could happen. I was unsure how other packs would feel about what we had done, so we decided to stay clear of them and headed to the human areas. After only being here for a few months, I wish we had taken our chances with others of our kind. Humans can be so clueless and they are weak. I was able to secure a job with a security company. With my background of being a warrior, I had the training that the owner wanted, yet all of his other employees lacked the skills. Pathetic. He even has me training them with hopes that more will be like me. He pays me very well. It's amazing how much you can get out of someone when they are afraid you will leave and start a rival company.

Victor chose to find employment that was less conspicuous. I never understood how a man could love to bake. We grew up together and even as children he loved to bake and even cook. Had I not walked in on him with a couple of different she-wolfs, I would have thought he was gay. Not that him being gay would have mattered to me. Friends should never judge one another. Still, if it made him happy, who was I to complain? Plus, it gave him the ability to find the best places to eat. He's like my brother, but I don't want him cooking for me every night.

I have just finished a training session. I swear newly shifted wolves complained less about what I asked of them. I even asked for less of these humans, knowing they couldn't handle how I really trained my men. The boss walks up to me as I am finishing getting dressed after my shower.

"How are they doing?" he asks.

"There are a few promising ones, but you have a lot of soft men. If you want to get higher-paying gigs, you really need to invest in men who can fight or at least hold their own in a fight." Was my swift reply.

"That is actually what I was coming to talk to you about. I have been approached about a security detail tonight for a famous local singer. I know most of my guys are not truly ready for anything like that. I was hoping maybe you had a friend or two who might help you take care of it though." He looked at me sheepishly after he finished.

Even though I had denounced my title as Beta, I was still very intimidating. Looking at this man, it was hard to believe he ran a security company. He never gets his hands dirty, always leaves that for the brawn. I crossed my arms and glared at him.

"I'm already doing all of your more dangerous jobs because these weasels you hired can't handle the work load. Honestly, even the ones who have some potential are useless. All they want to do is stand a glare at people. Their hand-to-hand fighting skills are zero. I don't even think I will ever be able to get them to my level," I was fuming now, "Now you want me to take on even more. What's worse, you want me to bring in my friends to help."

"I know it's a lot, but this job will help me expand. I can hire more men like you, because with clients like these I will have more money to offer them. Your salary alone kills me. I barely make it each month." He was almost in tears.

At least he knows that without me, he would make no money. He's also not fooling me. I know just how much he has in the bank. I watch him cook the books every month. It keeps the other idiots from asking for more money. Another thing to show just how weak and stupid humans are.

"I have a friend who can help me with this one. He is all I will need for the job. But he and I get 70% of the profit to be split between us." I watched his face turn red after I finished.

"70%. That is outrageous. I will make nothing on this job." he screams.

"Then I guess you are going to have to see if any of your other guys can handle it." I sneered back.

I watched as a look of defeat came across his face. He knows all too well he has no one, and it kills him when he has to admit it. He is far too easy to manipulate. He may be stupid, but he is not the dumbest person I have met in my time here. But money makes weak men do whatever they have to keep just a little bit of it.

I head home to see if Victor is there yet. His car is in the driveway and there is another one sitting there as well. Great he has company. I don't hear noises coming from the house, but that means nothing. They could have just finished. I walk in and stop when I see them sitting on the couch. Victor stands up and the girl shrinks back into the couch.

"Bela, don't be mad. Her boyfriend was beating her. I said she could lie low here for a few days." he stammered out.

"Vic, we talked about this. Just because I work in security, it doesn't mean that I can save everyone. Why didn't you just intimidate the guy?" I retorted.

"Because you're scarier." He shot back.

I had to hand it to him, he was right. Between the two of us, I was the scariest. I turned to look at the girl. She has a pleading look in her eyes. I hate that I can't let a woman be taken advantage of. It all started with her, the one I can't get out of my mind.

"Three nights, you need to have somewhere safe to go. If you can't find something, I know a few places, but you have to do some of the work. I don't like to do everything myself," I said, looking her in the eyes.

"My brother is driving this way as we speak. I shouldn't need the three days, but thank you." The girl said relief written on her face.

She grabs her bag and Victor shows her to our only spare room. He returns in a few minutes.

"How dead am I?" he asks.

"Still deciding. The blow will be lessened after tonight, though." My eyes met his and I saw his face drop.

"Let me guess he really needs this gig. If he doesn't get it and more like it, his place will go under," he says, making wide gestures much like my boss.

"Isn't that always it?" I replied.

"How much longer are you going to do this? You could take this business from that guy and make it 100 times more profitable. Godess knows you aren't going to move on. We have been stuck in this town for far too long," Victor said, shooting daggers at me from his eyes.

"I know man. I want to move on too. But you bringing home strays isn't helping. We are stuck here for at least another three days. Might as well make more money for us to take when we finally get out of here," came my swift reply.

"So what's the gig?"

"Celebrity security detail. 70% of the taking is ours."

"You sure know how to negotiate."

"That's why I'm the one in charge."