“Because the source is now dead. The interrogation took a nasty turn when it got too intense. The people making this blood are using it as payments. The undercover operation is still underway, and our officer did what they had to in order to follow the original investigation. Should you run across any information, Captain Hale Banner and Captain Brazen Mordel must be present for the interrogation when you take them to Araya. I’m your first call, she’s your second, and the captains will be your third. As advocates, the captains will be taking in all information for both species, and they’ll report to their groups every time something is found.
“Please get started on this right away,” Clay prompts, and people almost rush from their seats.
Fuck. I’ll have to see Hale so much more now. Damn it.
“They’re in a hurry,” I murmur.
“This is a really big fucking deal. I didn’t know we had an undercover working a blood scam. If this works, I’ll be around to hold you a lot longer than I thought I would be,” he smolders out, and my heart almost breaks.
“I’ve never given the human problem much thought. I didn’t think about the effect it could have on you,” I almost whimper.
“It’s not going to affect me anymore. Let’s get back up to the room and start packing. I’ve got several contacts I can get a hold of, and we can stop by on the way home.”
“That sounds good.”
“One more thing,” Clay quickly interjects before everyone disperses. “We’ll be escorting Sevian Whissman to Stringham today. He’s the full blood who went rogue and attacked seventeen humans ten years ago. It was one of the worst outbreaks we’ve dealt with, and we’ve finally reached the point of his execution. He’ll go to Stringham for the next two months, and then he’ll be put to death by the sun’s sentence. We’re in need of volunteers to help us with this if anyone can spare the time.”
“We’ll help out,” Brazen chimes in.
“We will?” I whisper.
“It’s on our way,” he continues while ignoring me, and Clay smiles softly while accepting Brazen’s offer.
Hale takes a deep breath, and his eyes reveal the grimace his mouth stifles when Brazen’s lips find mine by surprise.
“I love you,” he murmurs softly.
I smile foolishly, and then he starts walking me out of the room and away from the complicated man whose name haunts my dreams. Hale.
“Why did you volunteer us to help out?” I ask while clinging to his hand in the sea of business suits.
There’s not a damn person in pajamas. Jackass.
“It’s on our way, and I’ve escorted prison runs for dangerous infectors before. It should be a smooth run.”
“I hate prison runs,” I grumble, and he snickers lightly.
“Grayson and Angelica should be out since his test isn’t too far away. I’m sure he’s practicing, and we could have the place all to ourselves before we join them if you want me to make it up to you for volunteering us,” he sizzles out.
I stifle my smirk, and then I show him a very sexy vixen’s lip bite before giving him my come-hither look. He playfully growls before wrapping me up in his arms, and then I feel the wind against my back as he lifts me to the air. I laugh uncontrollably as he rushes me up the stairs, and I force all the bullshit out of my head as the door to the apartment closes.
Grayson is all smiles as he walks over with his officer’s credentials. The fact his test scores were altered to keep him out of guarding the parking lot is still a secret from his egotistical ears.
“See Araya. I told you I wouldn’t be walking in circles or opening doors,” he snarks far too cockily.
He acts as though he’s the marksman Brazen is rather than acknowledging his meager skills.
“Just don’t shoot yourself in the foot before we get back,” I grumble.
Brazen jogs over with a menacing grin, and I know he’s thinking that our afternoon of entertainment we’ve had. I let my blushing smile free, and he leans into my window to kiss me.
“Angelica and Grayson are going to ride in the middle of the pack to drive the SUV back. You and I are taking lead,” he chirps.
“Hale and I will be following behind you, and the prisoner will be riding behind us in an armored vehicle,” Clay chimes in as he walks up behind Brazen.
My eyes flash to the rearview mirror instantly, and I see Hale climbing into his convertible. I really wish he wasn’t going.
“I’ll get us started,” Brazen says with upbeat enthusiasm, and then he takes his driver’s position.
