Page 20 of John’s Yearning

“Eventually? That might be too late for these children.” Maybe it was already too late. Maybe some of them had already experienced horrors that would damage them for life.

Samson sighed. “If things change, if we can free up some men to help, we will. But as things stand now, I don’t see that happening anytime soon. I’m sorry.” He rose and marched out of the room.

John remained standing there, staring at Gabriel and Quinn. Both looked back at him with regret in their eyes. He cast a pleading look at Gabriel. “And the hybrids? Can’t they be assigned?”

“They already are,” Gabriel said and motioned to Quinn. “Quinn’s already put them on the roster according to their level of skill and training. We’re using them where we can. And much earlier than I would like to.”

“You do know what those people will do to these girls, don’t you?” John said, his jaw tight, his fists clenched. “What they’ve maybe already done.”

Gabriel squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, while the scar on his face seemed to pulse. Then he rose. “John, you have your orders.”

He left the room, while Quinn shuffled through his papers. “Damian and Benjamin are waiting for you in the V lounge. I suggest you get on with your work.” He rose and walked to the door. There he looked over his shoulder. “I wish there was something I could do.”

John grunted to himself and waited until Quinn had left the room. Then he sank back onto the chair, exhaustion and lack of sleep catching up with him. Or maybe it was just the knowledge that he had to face Savannah with bad news.

Scanguards wasn’t going to help her find Buffy.

9

The twins were indeed in the V lounge, though they didn’t seem to be too broken up about having had to wait for John. The rather lovely barmaid, a vampire female, made sure the handsome young hybrids weren’t bored. Just like their father Amaury, Benjamin and Damian were dark-haired and blue-eyed, with broad shoulders and an abundance of charm. It was easy to tell them apart, even though they were identical twins. They wore their hair differently, Benjamin preferring a shorter, more cropped style, while Damian’s hair grew over his ears and hugged his nape, though it was not as long as his father’s. In temperament though they were quite similar.

John actually liked the two hybrids. They were intelligent and easy to get along with. More than that, they were fun to be around. They had great taste in music, a dry sense of humor, and weren’t easily offended. Both loved fast cars and drove Porsches, the same model their father drove. And while they clearly adored their parents, they were the kind of kids who were self-contained, realizing that their parents were also a couple that needed their own space. Because of that they’d recently moved out of their parents’ penthouse in the Tenderloin district, a rather seedy neighborhood in central San Francisco, and into another unit in the same building, which Amaury owned.

“Hey, John,” Damian called out to him. “Want a drink before we head out?”

Having had plenty of blood earlier when the lounge had been empty, John shook his head. “I’m good. Drink up.”

Benjamin downed the last inch of his glass, then wiped a drop of blood from his chin. Although hybrids drank blood—they had to if they wanted to maintain their vampire strength—they could also eat human food. Benjamin and Damian consumed plenty of both and had the physical strength to prove it.

Damian tossed the barmaid a charming grin and a promising wink, then placed his empty glass back on the counter. “See you later, babe. Gotta save the world.”

She giggled and blew him an air kiss.

John refrained from rolling his eyes and waited for the twins to join him.

“Where to?” Damian asked and gave John a pat on the back as if they were buddies.

“You tell me. You’re the one who wants to save the world,” John shot back.

Benjamin slapped his brother over the head from behind and said, “Doofus!”

Instead of being insulted, Damian chuckled. “You would have said the same to her had I not been faster.”

“Good thing you’ve always been a bit faster than me. Wouldn’t want to get in the way of you making an ass of yourself.”

“Shall we, gentlemen?” John interrupted and pointed to the door.

Both Benjamin and Damian made exaggerated curtsies as if they’d rehearsed it, then laughed at each other when they realized they’d both thought of the same comeback.

“Seriously, John,” Damian said as he and his brother followed him to the elevators. “What’s the plan for tonight?”

“Yeah, what can we help you with?” Benjamin added.

“Help?” He doubted that either of the two jokers could help him with what he had to do first. “You can get in your cars and follow me. I’ve got a quick visit to make.”

“Great, who are we visiting?” Damian asked.

The elevator doors opened and John stepped in, the two hybrids on his heels. “You aren’t visiting anyone. The two of you will stay in your cars and wait for me. It’ll only take two minutes. Got that?”