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“Considering she was turned over five centuries ago, and the girl’s serpent has not taken control, I think that question is moot. But even if you do not, Agent, that is not for us to judge now. We were explaining to Ms. Constantine about what happens when a vampire is sired.”
“I think I understand,” Sara said. “The serpent is bound, but it’s always fighting to get out. So what happens if Lucius Dragos’s serpent gets free?”
“He would undergo the Holding again if he is able. If not—or if he has harmed others under the serpent’s influence—then he would be executed.”
Doyle snorted. “Or else he’d be pardoned.” He turned to face Sara. “We live in a harsh world, Constantine. But it ain’t always a fair one.”
* * *
“He’s not stupid,” Tucker said. “He might not know you popped a vision, but the guy’s gotta know he lost the ring. So why would he still be hanging around LA? Maybe he figures the sheen wore off before we got it to a seer?”
“He wouldn’t assume shit,” Doyle said as he stepped into the RAC jumpsuit. Not standard procedure—broke about a dozen regulations, actually—but no way was he hanging back and letting the Recon-and-Capture team go in first. With Dragos, Doyle intended to be front and center. And close enough to see the hate in the smug SOB’s eyes when Doyle snapped the binders around his wrists. “He’s got a plan. Dragos doesn’t do anything without a plan.”
“Got a clue what it is? Because if he’s just sitting pretty waiting for us, it must be a doozy.”
Tucker was right. Lucius Dragos wasn’t stupid. Far from it, in fact. If Doyle didn’t hate the bloodsucker so much, he’d actually respect the hell out of him.
Doyle shot his partner a quick glance. “You’re right, and I don’t have a clue. Which is why we’re going in fast and hard. Pulling out all the stops.”
“If I were Dragos, I’d be long gone. Odds are we didn’t find all his escape routes.” Tucker started climbing into a RAC suit as well. “I bet he’s in the wind.”
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“Going with my partner.”
“You think that’s a good idea? Your brand of mojo ain’t gonna work on a guy like Dragos. And as fucked up as it might be, I’ve gotten used to having your scrawny human ass at my side. I’d rather not see it get ripped to shreds.”
“You go, I go.” He smiled broadly, then slipped on the face cover. “Besides, I got my magic duds.”
Doyle bit back a curse. “I’m not watching your ass.”
Tucker returned an evil grin. “But I’ve got such a cute one.”
Doyle just shook his head, knowing better than to argue with Tucker. Then he turned to Tariq, the mission’s RAC team leader. “We ready?”
Tariq’s yellow eyes flashed in the glow of the rising sun. “Let’s do this thing.” The muscular jinn lifted an arm, signaling to the team, and then rushed forward, his touch disintegrating the lock on the store’s front door.
“Clear.”
“Clear!”
“Over here, too. All clear.”
Within moments, the team’s calls echoed through the cavernous space as the team split up and searched the premises.
No one.
“Team Two, report,” Tariq said into his comm.
“Got nothing,” came back the response. “Tunnels all dusty as shit. No sign anyone came through here, at least not touching ground. He coulda moved as mist, but we would have caught him. Had officers at all exit points and hematite nets set up,” he added, referring to the nets constructed from the mineral that disabled vampires, even in their mist form.
“He’s in the wind,” Tariq said. “Came here for something, but didn’t stay. We knew going in Dragos would be a hard capture, but this isn’t over. You’ll find him again.” He reached up to activate his comm again, presumably to recall the team.
“No,” Doyle said. “He’s here. The bastard is here someplace.”
“Another crypt?” Tucker asked. “A tunnel to it that we missed?”
“I can get the team searching,” Tariq said. “It’s a legit possibility.”
