She kicked across the aisle and nailed him in the shin with her pointy boot. He rubbed at the bruise, but didn’t lose his smile.
The second they landed, he heaved a heavy bag over his shoulder and thanked the crew that had transported them. Metal clanked in his bags. Adair eyed him suspiciously.
He winked.
Damn, she’d forgotten how infuriating he could be. She didn’t let him see her grin.
Within the hour, under the cool glow of the moon, the wind rushed over the bow of the boat, tangling in Adair’s hair. Bracing the steering wheel with her knee, she tugged her hair into a knot and then re-aimed for the yacht ahead. “How did you get ahold of such a big boat on short notice?”
Blayk ran his fingers through his hair and blushed. “Um… friend of a friend.”
She slowed the engine of their boat and docked at the back of the yacht. Hopping out at the last second, Blayk secured the line. “Come on.” He nodded. “You first.”
Hesitating at the lip of the rental boat, Adair scrunched her brow. “Thanks to the wind, I can’t smell a damn thing. Where have you taken us?”
She could hear laughter, voices, arguing. But the sea breeze was too dense and muffled her senses.
“Don’t trust me?” When she glared at him, he shrugged, “I could go first, but I’m not exactly welcome in there.”
“I am probably a gigantic fool for trusting you.”
Knocking her gently on the arm with a light punch, he winked, “Probably.”
She went for it. As she reached the top, she still couldn’t scent anyone aside from the light scent of human laced with wolf. The corners of her mouth quirked up as she realized what that meant.
Bodie’s laugh echoed down the hall as Lana regaled the team with a story about Vann’s rare misstep in questioning a recluse hunter outside of Bangkok. A deep rumble from Vann as he said, “Fuck off,” but she heard the lightness in his tone at the friendly retort.
Sensing Blayk following cautiously behind, Adair pushed her shoulders back, refusing to be nervous. She wasn’t the one who misread the situation. Bennett was the asshole here.
And he was pissed.
And he’d sensed her the moment she came aboard. His jaw was clenched, his eyes were already on the doorway before she came into view, waiting. Gaze unwavering, he silently dared her to defend herself. Or to pretend nothing was wrong.
Behind her, Blayk shoved her forward a step and moved into the room like he owned the place. Aside from Quinn, the team was all here, plotting and joking.
Bolting out of their seats, the team looked ready to end him.
“Wait–” Adair moved to stand at his side.
He raised his hands in casual defense and cleared his throat. “My associate here…” he began, flashing her a playful wink, “would say that she’s not here to defend herself. Stubborn ass didn’t want to come in the first place.”
Tapping her foot on the teak, she scowled, refusing to argue. “And my associate is too stupid to let you all know that he comes in peace.”
The team eased, not as eager to attack, but none sat back down. Astrid asked, “How did you find us?”
Adair answered, “Lizzy was grateful to have her husband back, unharmed, plus a few tips as to where she could find bloodsucking vampires to slay. She’s already gathering her team and going for Calloway’s friends in Seattle.”
Flinching, Bennett held her gaze, but didn’t drop the menacing glare.
“I don’t know what Bennett has told you, or what he gleaned from the unusual scene at the warehouse. Blayk will side with us because he is like many other vampires, perhaps most, and doesn’t want to see Tromos rise any more than you do.”
Jaw clenched, Bennett feigned a lightness to his voice. “And we should trust him why?”
Crossing her arms, Adair huffed, “Oh, of course. Never trust a vampire. Even one that is on your side.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, I guess I don’t move with the times as fast as some. First time I saw this guy, he turned me into a vampire. Next time, after he’d abducted my father, he was all over my I-refuse-to-commit, it’s-complicated girlfriend. Please forgive my thickheadedness.”
Lana cleared her throat and teased her hands in her dark hair. “We’ll leave you two to talk this over.”
