Hunting Season (Aurora Sky (10 page)

I glanced at Jared, dubiously. He studied the cuff of his sleeve without comment.

“It occurred to me that if a killer such as Jared could reform his ways, why not others like him?” Melcher asked, voice rising in excitement.

My jaw dropped. “Wait a minute. You're not suggesting what I think you are… are you?” I took a step toward Melcher's desk. “Are you saying you're going to start recruiting vampires?”

Already-turned vampires, that was. At least I'd kept my mouth shut on that little tidbit. Despite my outburst, they probably figured I still thought I was human, albeit one who suffered a near-death experience at the hands of a madman.

Melcher lifted his chin. “It is the perfect solution. No more accidents. No more initiation. No more mandatory infection. We have only to poison their blood and send them into the field.”

“And why would a vampire willingly kill another vampire?” I asked.

Melcher straightened his back. “They would if they want to be on the winning team. Being an informant or a hunter offers certain protection. We look after our own.”

Yeah? Tell that to Dante.

“Some agents recognize their duty to serve from the start. Others require incentives.”

Jared smirked.

I looked from him to Melcher.

“Why are you telling me this?” I asked.

Melcher leaned back. “Miss Ward tells me you got close to Selene Ericson on your first tasting assignment.”

Selene? Melcher had wanted me to kill her… now he wanted to recruit her?

“We played pool together, that's all,” I said. “I thought you wanted her dead.”

“Yes, she's been something of a troublemaker, but we're already spread too thin in this state. If Ericson attends the tasting Friday, she's dead. If we recruit her now, she can make her life count for something. We are fighting a war, and we need all the soldiers we can get. Once Diederick flees, we'll need an insider to keep an eye on the vampires who run in other circles—the ones attending Stanton's party, for instance.”

“What does that have to do with me?” I asked.

“I want you to come with us when we recruit Selene,” Melcher said. “She'll likely be more receptive around an agent she's familiar with.”

Selene had been all friendliness and charm. It had been a huge relief not to run into her when Melcher instructed me to end her life the weekend before. Now here was a way to save her, grab Jared, possibly Melcher, and get Dante back.

I folded my arms. “And if she refuses?”

“She won't refuse,” Jared said. “I guarantee it.”

Right, because Jared did whatever necessary to get what he wanted. I only wished he'd start putting that kind of tenacity into locating Giselle.

“What about her partner?” I asked.

“Randal Hammond,” Melcher said with a nod. “We need you to go into their home first and put him to rest.”

Kill him. Why couldn't Melcher come out and say it like it was?

“When?” I asked.

Melcher reached under his desk, pulled out a smart phone and set it on his desk. “I want this done while Miss Ericson is out of the house.” Melcher looked at Jared. “That will give her further incentive to join our ranks if she comes home to find her benefactor is dead.” Melcher turned his attention back to me. “I have an informant on her around the clock. I need you to be ready at a moment's notice to go in when we receive word of an opening.”

I tilted my head. “We're all going together?”

Melcher had said “come with us” to recruit her.

“That's correct. Once you have put Randal down and Jared has convinced Miss Ericson to join the agency, I will bring her back to base for debriefing.”

Just like that. Snap, snap.

I couldn't do anything about Jared and Melcher while they were on base, but if they were to leave base…

I had to fake cough to cover my smile.

This was better than the setup at the palace. Thanks, boys, for making things easier all of the sudden.

I still had to play along. I straightened my spine. “If I do this, I want you to turn Dante's dog over to my care.”

Melcher didn't make an immediate answer. I could practically hear him gathering his thoughts, like papers shuffling through his brain.

“You've been under a lot of stress,” Melcher said slowly. “One of your partners was abducted, another stabbed.” A long pause followed before he continued, “I will have Agent Parker bring you the dog.”

I breathed out, overcome by gratitude even though Melcher had been the cause of my turmoil from the beginning.

“However,” Melcher said, voice deepening. “If the animal interferes with your missions in any way, I'll take him away for good.”

“Understood,” I said between clenched teeth. “When can I expect him?”

“By the end of the day.”

Guess I wouldn't be going to school that afternoon, either. I wasn't in the mood anyway, but I certainly wouldn't go now, not at the risk of missing the drop off.

I stood up. “Can I go now?”

Melcher nodded. “Be ready for my call.”

I nodded and turned quickly, afraid my face would betray my thoughts. I'd be ready, all right. Once Jared and Melcher stepped off base, I'd go Armageddon on their asses. Now I just needed Fane and Noel to help me plan exactly how to pull that off.

7

The Jeep sputtered and died when I first started it up. I wasn't paying attention to what I was doing. I was too excited.

We needed chloroform and rags. Better yet, sleeping gas. Throw a couple of those smoking canisters inside Selene's house with Melcher and Jared inside and go in after them with gas masks on. Or shoot them with tranquilizing darts.

If we didn't have access to that sort of weaponry, we could always go old school and taser the suckers.

The Jeep started and kept running on the second try. I drove through the parking lot in first gear then went up to second and third on road to the gate.

I was dying to get home and call Fane. We wouldn't have to wait for Friday. One of the biggest challenges was not knowing when this operation would go down. As Melcher had said, we needed to be ready at a moment's notice.

The sight of the gate always filled me with relief, especially once it appeared in my review mirror. I slowed the Jeep as I approached the manned booth and waited for the gate to lift. I waited and waited, anxiety beginning to creep into my fingers. I tapped at the steering wheel.

A young man in camouflage stepped out of the booth, gun holstered at his hip, and approached my window. I rolled it down.

“Agent Sky, Agent Melcher would like you to wait for him here.”

My heart plummeted.

I had an insane urge to press down on the gas pedal and keep going—smash through the gate. I wondered how far I'd get before Jared caught up and headed me off or—more likely—ran me off the road again.

“You can park in one of the spots to the right.”

The guard looked me over with mild curiosity. Why wouldn't he? I was a teenage agent. Did he realize what kind of agent?

I looked at his expression to see if I could detect anything, but he'd already taken a step back to return to his post.

With one last longing look at the gate, I pulled over into a single row of parking spots. A larger lot across the way flanked a visitor's center. Getting on base was usually the challenge, not getting off.

Once parked, I snatched my phone and dialed Fane. A black SUV approached the exit then veered over into the lot where I'd parked and pulled in beside me.

I quickly turned off my phone and shoved it inside my pocket.

Jared stepped out of the SUV's backseat. He slammed the door shut behind him, walked around the front of the Jeep, and sat in the passenger's seat.

“Selene's on the move, let's go,” he said.

“Now?” My heart couldn't drop any lower than it already had.

First the palace, now this. Why couldn't I catch a break?

“Yes, now,” Jared said. “Follow the SUV.”

The SUV had already backed up and re-entered the exit lane. I shifted into reverse and eased back.

“Hurry it up,” Jared said. “The point is to get in before she returns.”

I glared daggers at him, biting my tongue to keep from informing him that I'd only just begun driving again after the accident he'd caused.

We'd barely made it through the gate when Jared asked, “Who were you calling?”

“What?”

“When we pulled in you had your phone out. Who were you calling?”

“I was checking messages.”

“Sure you were,” Jared said.

I shoved the Jeep into third gear a little too roughly and the vehicle lurched forward.

“You're not half as sneaky as you think you are, Raven. Don't think I doubt for a moment that you'd hand me over to Giselle without a second thought if you had the chance.”

Well, if it was honesty Jared wanted…

“You're right,” I said. “I would. It's your fault we're in this mess. If you hadn't dragged me into your revenge mission, she wouldn't have gone after Dante.”

“This one's on you,” Jared said. “You just had to let Giselle go, didn't you? That's what I get for taking women into the field.”

Venom rushed through my blood. “Excuse me?”

“I know,” Jared said, waving a dismissive hand in the air. “This is the twenty-first century. If you ask me, the good old days are behind us, but I adapt to the times.”

My eyes narrowed to slits.

“It was a straightforward mission,” Jared continued. “Leave no vampire alive.”

“
You're
a vampire,” I said, through clenched teeth.

“Reformed,” Jared said, puffing up his chest. “Once my benefactor showed me the blasphemy that is my kind, I vowed to help him put an end to this evil plague.” Jared leaned into me, cupping a hand over his mouth as though sharing a secret. “And can't beat the benefits.”

“How can you joke?” I demanded. “You killed Agent Crist then pinned it on Andre Morrel so you could murder him and his family for revenge.”

Jared's smile dropped. “I didn't kill 'ol sourpuss.”

“Andre didn't,” I countered. How else would Jared have gotten her cross pendant unless he removed it from her cold body? Who else would have a motive? But Jared looked genuinely affronted by my accusation.

Jared swiped a hand down his blazer as though killing Crist was beneath him and just the thought needed brushing off.

“That part is true,” Jared said. “Andre never had the backbone to do what it takes to survive in this world.”

I lifted my chin. “It looked to me like he was doing quite well for himself. The whole family looked better off without you.”

Jared's eyes narrowed. Of course, I had to go and pick a fight with him in a moving vehicle—one that required both hands and both feet to operate. I wasn't just playing with fire, I'd stepped directly into the inferno.

“Pull over,” he said.

My heart rate picked up. “Why?” I demanded.

“You're taking too long. Now pull over and let me drive.”

“Like I'd ever trust you behind the wheel of a car,” I said.

“This isn't about trust,” Jared said. “It's about following orders.”

“I need to drive home first and get my dagger.” I thought of the sleeping powder Noel had hidden in the tea tin. I couldn't imagine Jared pausing for a drink. It's not likely he'd allow me to take any type of detour, but it was worth a shot.

“I told you, we don't have time. You can borrow my knife. Now pull off onto the shoulder.”

I flicked the blinker on and pulled onto the side of the road. Cars zipped past. I imagined running into the road shouting that a killer had kidnapped me. But working for the agency was worse than being held hostage. There was no getting away. Beating them at their own game was the only way out and so far they kept blocking my moves.

With the car in neutral and hand brake lifted, I jumped down from the Jeep and cast one last wistful glance at traffic.

I gave Jared a wide birth as we crossed paths in front of the Jeep. He glowered at me as we passed, eyes dropping to my arm. If we weren't on route to Selene's, I had no doubt he'd grab me as he'd done at the totem park in Sitka.

As soon as we were both seated, Jared pulled onto the road in front of another vehicle, speeding up before the driver had a chance to rear end us.

I forced a neutral look onto my face.

“They're dead,” Jared said smugly.

His eyes were on the road as he sped through traffic until he'd caught up with the SUV. Once he had, he glanced over at me and smirked. “My family. The traitors are dead, and I'm not. Who's better off now?”

This didn't seem like the right time to mention Giselle wasn't technically dead. I ought to consider myself lucky Jared hadn't snapped my arm in half. Not yet.

I'd never forget the way he snapped Henriette's neck or crushed my arm in his grip when he showed up at the palace and said, “Don't ever disobey me again.”

“And no one knows Giselle better than I,” Jared said.

So he hadn't forgotten her.

“If you ever hope to see your partner again, you're going to need my help.”

I needed Jared's help the way a tire needed a nail. What I really wanted was to have him bound and gagged, ready for delivery.

“You think I'm bad,” Jared said, “but you never witnessed my precious daughter slicing open a victim with her sword. ‘Fastest way to the vein,' she used to say.”

And Dante was currently stuck with the psycho vamp. “You said you can help get Dante back. How?”

“Simple,” Jared said. “We go hunting.”

My frown deepened. This wasn't what I had in mind, but if the end result was the same, I guess I could alter my plans. They weren't exactly going smoothly thus far.

“Okay, so how do we hunt down a vampire whose whereabouts are completely unknown?”

“We go to her.” Jared lifted his chin. “You have her phone number. Call her. Tell my precious little pumpkin that you've captured me and want to make the swap.”

“Just like that?”

Jared grinned. “Just like that.”

I sat up. Real hope filled my belly. Maybe I would actually manage to rescue Dante before the week was out.

I moistened my lips. “When?”

“After you complete your assignment Friday.”

I sank back into my chair. I wanted to make the call right then and there. Not kill Randal. Not help Melcher corner and coerce Selene. Not kill a house full of vampires. But what choice did I have? Jared wasn't going to the palace, and he hadn't given me time to set a trap at Selene's. Things would go a lot smoother if he arrived at the swap willingly.

“What happens at the swap?” I asked.

“I kill her, and we get an agent back.”

I chewed on my lip. “She's not just going to let you walk in and kill her.”

“Never mind that. She'll come up with a plan, and we'll let her think she's the one calling the shots… at first.”

Everyone seemed to be trying to call the shots on this one. It made me worry about how it would all play out.

Jared sat back, expressionless.

I took note of the intersections we passed. As we neared mid-town, the SUV entered a turn-only lane and slowed at the light. Once the light turned green, it passed an industrial area that turned into a neighborhood.

Most of the homes in the neighborhood we entered were one-story, ranch style, older structures. They were modest and slightly run down with paint peeling from the sidings, but they looked cozy.

The SUV passed more houses before entering a large parking lot in front of a community center. It stalled in a deserted row in back. Jared pulled the Jeep alongside it and parked.

“Get out,” he said.

I glared at him then stepped out of the vehicle. Jared headed me off, opening the backdoor to the SUV.

“In you go.”

His tone really annoyed me. I clenched my teeth together. Damn if the mother sucker wasn't right. I needed him if I wanted to get Dante back.

I hoisted myself into the SUV, noticing Melcher had a driver beside him in the front.

Jared quickly got into the back through the opposite door. As soon as the doors were shut, Melcher's chauffeur drove out of the lot and back through the neighborhood. He slowed when he reached a detached one car garage beside a narrow gray house that reminded me of a trailer.

Is this where Selene lived? I'd pictured her in something nicer—something more like the palace or lodge, not this modest house. This was worth putting up with her keeper, Randal?

Perhaps a home was better than nothing, but I thought Selene would have been able to do a lot better.

The SUV stopped in the road.

“Take care of Randal and call me as soon as it's finished,” Melcher said. He lifted his wrist to look at his watch. “It shouldn't take long.”

I turned to Jared. “You said you had a knife?”

“Did I?” he asked, tapping a finger to his corner lip.

I narrowed my eyes. “Yeah, you did.”

“Well, I don't. Guess you'll just have to find something in the kitchen. Any pointy object will do.”

“Thanks for nothing,” I grumbled as I exited the vehicle.