Authors: AE Jones
“I need to speak privately with my father for a moment. Doc, would you please join us?”
The three of them walked back into Misha’s room and shut the door.
Dalton’s fingers wrapped around my arm and he dragged me down the hall, away from the guards.
I shrugged out of his grasp. “What the hell are you doing? I don’t need another Neanderthal in the mix right now.”
He practically growled at me. “Would you just chill for a minute?”
“What’s the big deal?”
“Stop pissing the guy off, already. At the rate you’re going, he’s not going to want to talk to us at all.”
“As far as I’m concerned, I hope we’re done talking.”
Dalton let out a harsh breath. “Did you get a good look at the list Doyle gave us?”
“No, why?”
“Because Boris was number two on the list of supes with enough money to buy Hampton’s head.”
“Great.”
“Yeah, and right now he’s not exactly feeling cooperative.”
I stared down the hall at the closed door. “I can’t believe he’s Misha’s father.”
“Misha has never talked about him before?”
“No. I thought his father must be dead.”
The door opened and Doc stepped out. She motioned to us. “Kyle, Misha wants to see you now.”
I walked toward the room, Dalton close behind. Doc held out her hand and blocked his progress. “You need to stay out here with me, Joe.”
“Play nice,” he muttered to me.
I stepped inside. Misha was back in bed. His father was standing at the foot. I walked over to Misha’s side.
“What’s up, Mish?”
“I have declared you my
sestra
.”
“Sounds ominous.”
“It means you are Misha’s sister…a member of our clan,” Boris offered.
My throat tightened and I swallowed hard to clear it. “Why?”
“Misha explained you saved his life. He is beholden to you and has asked that you be adopted into our clan.”
“But I’m not a demon.”
“No, but we have adopted other non-demons into our clan when it is merited.”
I started to protest, but Misha reached for my hand. “Please, Kyle, it would be an honor.”
I met his gaze for a second. “Okay, as long as I don’t have to drink demon blood or anything like that.”
Misha laughed. “No, nothing like that. You just need to say ‘yes,’ and it’s official.”
I squeezed his hand. “Yes. Now, you’ve had enough excitement today. You need to rest a while. If you’re a good little demon, I’ll bring you some pastries later.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I glanced over at Boris. “I’ll leave you two alone now.”
I stepped out into the hallway. Dalton waited for me.
“Where’s Doc?”
“She went back to the morgue. She told me what was going on. So…you’re a demon clan member now?”
“Yes.”
“Does that mean we can ask Boris some questions?”
“We’ll find out soon enough.”
Chapter 17
Boris sat in a chair with both guards flanking him. It seemed a bit over the top. Kinda reminded me of
The Godfather
, but demon-style.
“How may I assist you?” he asked.
I glanced at Dalton who nodded for me to proceed. “When Misha was attacked, we were collecting information from a source.”
“And what did this source tell you?”
“It’s not a secret in the supernatural community that Hampton’s head is missing, and that apparently someone is willing to pay a lot of money for it. We’ve compiled a list of supernatural community members who have the money and connections to offer this type of reward. You’re on the list.”
Boris shrugged. “It makes sense, since I do have both the money and the influence, but it is not me.”
Dalton interrupted, “Why would someone want his head, anyway?”
“Misha asked me if it was possible for a demon to extract memories from a dead vampire.”
“And?” I coaxed.
“And, I don’t think it’s beyond the realm of possibility.”
I stared at him for a moment. “Are there demons on earth with this kind of power?”
“There shouldn’t be, no. But that doesn’t mean someone from the demon realm with that kind of power is not here right now.”
“Misha also mentioned a demon might be able to harvest another demon’s powers.”
Boris leaned forward. “Yes, but it is not advisable. That demon would be beholden forever to the demon who lent him these powers. He would become a virtual slave.”
“Have you heard anything about what Hampton might have known that would cause this much trouble?” I persisted.
“No, we have not heard anything about what specific knowledge they might wish to extract. May I ask who else is on the list?”
Since I had not had a chance to look at the list, I turned to Dalton, but he hesitated.
Boris smiled. “If you are reluctant to say, perhaps I could tell you who should be on the list and you can tell me if I am correct.”
Dalton nodded.
“Besides me, the most obvious choice is Josiah Akers. He is the head of the Pavel clan. Sebastian, as a Founding Vampire, would also be high on the list. He has both the power and the money. Since Hampton was one of his, he would also have added incentive to locate him if he was involved in Hampton’s dealings. Seamus Griffin is the head of a large contingent of shifters in the Midwest and East Coast. He also has the means. Was I close?”
“You got them all.”
“Yes, well, there is one other who should be added to the list.”
“And who would that be?” I asked.
“Why, your boss, Nicholas, of course.”
I flinched slightly, which I’m sure Boris noticed. “Why would Nicholas be involved? He’s the one trying to stop this.”
Boris shrugged. “The one thing I have learned about Nicholas over the years is you cannot always determine his motives or predict what he will choose to do.” Boris stood. “I will contact you if I hear anything that might help you. I will also have my elders work on the drawings Misha brought me.”
I stood as well and walked over to him. His change of demeanor was more than unnerving. “Thank you for helping us with this. I have to ask though, why the turnaround?”
“You saved my son’s life and he has declared you his
sestra
. So you are now my daughter.”
“And it’s as simple as that?”
He grinned, reminding me of Misha. “Yes. I will contact you with any information I find.”
“Thank you.”
I watched the three of them walk out. Dalton chuckled beside me.
“What?”
“You are blessed, woman. How you can go from pissing off the head of a demon clan one minute, to having him wrapped around your little finger the next is beyond me.”
“I am a master of diplomacy.”
“Well, Miz Diplomat, I think we need to talk to a few more people on this list.”
I smiled. “Ready when you are.”
Dalton drove back to the office. He took a corner a little too fast, as evidenced by the squealing tires. “Sorry about that.”
I shrugged. “No problem. Compared to Jean Luc you drive like an eighty-year-old grandma.”
“Thanks, I think. So what did you think of Boris’s story?”
“Since we don’t know why everyone wants the head, I can’t rule him out completely, but I just don’t feel he’s in on this.”
“What about Boris’s suggestion to add Nicholas to the list?”
“Nicholas would have the power and the means to pay for the head. I hate to sound like a broken record, but until we know what’s locked inside Hampton’s skull, we can’t rule anyone out.”
“I agree. I think it’s time for me to get to know Nicholas,” Dalton murmured.
Fifteen minutes later we parked and trudged up the stairs to the office. When I opened the door, Dolly popped up.
“How’s Misha?” she asked.
“He’s doing fine. Doc wants him to rest for the time being. Didn’t Jean Luc tell you how he was?”
“Yeah, but you know vamps, they never get worked up about anything. I needed to hear it from someone else.”
“He should be back in a couple of days. Why don’t you go home, Dolly, it’s late.”
Dolly walked back and fetched her purse from her desk drawer. “Jean Luc told me how you saved Misha’s life. If you were a man, I’d kiss you and tell you what a big pair you have.”
I laughed. “Thanks, Dolly.”
I walked around the reception area toward the back office with Dalton in tow. Jean Luc was nowhere to be found. The coffee pot was frantically calling my name. It was hard to believe Misha had been shot just this morning. It felt like a week had passed.
I held up the pot. The remaining dregs had turned to sludge. I dumped out the burnt offerings and filled the carafe at the sink, opened the cupboard and reached for a filter. An image flashed in front of me. It was a bracelet with heart-shaped charms dangling from my wrist. I stared at it for a second and then blinked. My wrist was bare.
“Kyle, are you okay?” Dalton asked.
Dalton and Jean Luc were standing next to me. I wasn’t sure when they had gotten there, or how long I had been standing and staring at the cupboard, for that matter. I lowered my arm to hide the trembling. “I’m fine. I think I just need something to eat.”
“When you called and told me you were coming back to the office, I ordered food from the Thai restaurant you like so much,” Jean Luc volunteered.
“Thanks. I haven’t eaten anything all day. While we’re waiting, why don’t you tell us about the supes on our list.”
Jean Luc flashed away and, within seconds, flashed back with his laptop, which he set on the table.
“I have taken the liberty of adding the names to the white board with notes under each.”
“We’ve already talked to Boris. He came to visit Misha.” I added.
Jean Luc asked cautiously, “What did he have to say?”
“You smug little vamp. I know Misha is Boris’s son.”
Jean Luc’s smiled. “I am glad you know the truth. Who told you?”
“Misha. He declared me his
sestra
.”
“Why do I always miss the excitement?” Jean Luc shook his head.
“It wasn’t very exciting. Misha asked me to be a member of his clan and I said yes. I did tell him there would be no drinking of demon blood.”
Jean Luc grimaced. “I should hope not, demon blood is bitter. When they induct you at their next clan meeting, you will only be naked for a short time before they clothe you in the sacramental robe of his people.”
“What!”
Jean Luc laughed. “You are delightfully easy to upset, Kyle.”
“Let’s get back to the list,” I snarled.
“As you know, Josiah Akers is the head of the Pavel clan and is very well connected, despite the fact the Pavels segregate themselves from the rest of society, supernatural and humans alike.”
I stared at the board. “What about Griffin? Isn’t he the same shifter who told the Connors not to let me help Trina?”
“Yes. Griffin is in charge of a large portion of the shifter population. I am not sure how the shifters would play into this equation, if at all.”
“He still should be questioned anyway,” Dalton said.
“So should Sebastian.” I studied the list for a moment. “But I think Akers should be the first one we talk to.”
Jean Luc answered, “Nicholas will need to pave the way for these meetings. He wanted me to call him when you were back in the office. I gave him an update on Misha and what happened today.”
I glanced over at Dalton while Jean Luc placed the call. A few seconds later Nicholas appeared on the monitor.
“Kyle, it’s good to see you’re safe.” Nicholas’s eyes moved to Dalton. “You must be Joe.”
Dalton nodded. “Nicholas.”
“Jean Luc told me what happened this morning. Doc has forwarded me her findings on the bullet. Do we know anything about the shooter yet?”
“No…but once Misha is up and moving again, he may be able to give us a description,” I said.
“Do you think the shooter works for someone on the list?”
I shook my head. “I don’t think so. I think there is another player in the game right now. My gut tells me it’s linked to Cowell.”
Nicholas’s eyebrows rose. “The dead priest? Why do you think so?”
“Because we think the shooter is human, since he was using bullets that are toxic to all supernaturals. Supes don’t normally hire humans to do their dirty work.”
“So the names on the list are your suspects for what?”
“They have the means to pay three mil for Hampton’s head. Is there anyone else who should be added?”
Nicholas sat quietly for a moment before responding. “Are you tactfully asking me whether I should be added?” He shrugged. “If you are simply considering money and power, then I should be on your list. But the more important question is motive.”