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“Oh.” Cat straightened. “Then put a watch on Noah, Don, 24/7. Any sign of the supernatural, and we move in. Maybe we can catch Max at his own trap.”
Don rose. “I’ll make the call.”
Bones rose, too, holding his hand out. Cat took it and gave it a quick squeeze.
“While you and Don play Bright Eyes with the staff, I’m going to talk to my team about your new status.”
Bones smiled at the prospect. “Yes, and do give your bloke my regards. Can’t wait to start working on him.”
Her gaze turned pointed. “I know who you mean, and it’s workingwithTate, Bones. Not on him.”
This time, his smile showed the tips of his fangs. “Right.”
* * *
It tookforty-five minutes to mesmerize the staff into forgetting they’d ever seen him, and another fifteen for Bones to supply Cat with the pint of blood he’d promised her. Afterward, Don directed Bones to Cat’s office, which was a picture of controlled chaos, much like Cat herself.
She wasn’t alone. Tate and Juan were with her, as was a tall, muscled black man who’d been the hardest to put down when Bones fought her team. Even now, he stood ramrod straight despite having several cracked ribs, a busted shin, and so many bruises his dark brown skin was tinged purple.
Cooper Masika, born in Philadelphia to a Ugandan immigrant and a Sicilian one. Don had expedited Cooper’s parents’ citizenship in exchange for Cooper’s tenure, and from what Bones had seen, Don had gotten quite the bargain.
Bones drew Cat next to him, ignoring the glare Tate leveled at him. Sod had better get used to seeing him touch her.
“Bones, this is Cooper,” Cat said, not knowing that Bones had compiled a dossier on him. “You already know Tate and Juan.”
“Good to meet you, Cooper, and you’ll soon feel better,” Bones said, adding, “Don drained a pint from me just now,” to Cat. “Seems the head pathologist didn’t want to stick me himself. Fellow was quite jittery around me, in fact.”
“Probably because you made dinner out of his assistant,amigo,” Juan said dryly.
Cooper stared at Cat. “We’re letting him eat people?”
“Apparently,” Tate snapped.
Cat gave him a quelling glare before turning to Cooper. “Brad Parker plotted with another vampire to kill me. Did you hear about the shooter last night? You can thank the late Mr. Parker for giving away my location and my weaknesses.”
Cooper’s gaze raked over Bones with cool assessment. “Then Parker deserved it. Eating him was too quick, though. He should have suffered first.”
Bones let out a chuckle as he kissed the bullet graze on Cat’s temple. “You and I will get along famously, soldier.”
“This is fucking ridiculous,” Tate muttered.
“Are you in or out, Tate?” Cat said sharply. “I want you with me, but I can’t force you, and the time to decide is now.”
Tate gave Bones a hostile glance before crossing his arms. “I’m in. I’d never leave you, Cat, especially when you’ve got death breathing down your neck.”
Oh, yes, he’d benothingbut trouble.
“Very funny, but he doesn’t breathe,” Cat said in the same sharp tone. “Now that the details about our newest team member are settled, I’m leaving. I’ve got a family reunion to plan.”
“Que?” Juan said.
“Tell you that part later,” Cat said with a sigh. “Suffice it to say that the vampire we’re going after will look very familiar.”
“Be careful, Cat,” Tate called out as they left the office.
“Always am,” she said in a cheery tone.
“Not even close to true,” Tate said under his breath.
