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It took Marek a heartbeat to recognize Sascha’s voice. He shook off the futile anger and resentment toward his long-dead father and sprinted out to the main floor, where CDI members worked at their desks in an open office layout.
“Give me an update,” Marek ordered in a curt tone.
Sascha typed a few keys and the screen showed an aerial image of several buildings clustered together.
“Rowan saw Hunters take two vampires and followed them to this building here.” Sascha pointed to the middle building on the screen. “It belongs to an import-export company. I’m still digging through the ownership structure, but I’ve got the building’s blueprint ready.”
“Tell him not to do anything rash and wait.” Marek hesitated before pushing on. “Ask Darren to assemble the team. We’ll head out tonight.”
“Will do, boss.”
“Leah, contact the airport and get the transport ready to go in an hour. Please also let House Mahal know we’re coming.” Denver was House Mahal’s territory. While CDI was neutral and its members could freely enter any vampire territory on business, Marek still found it good practice to inform the Houses ahead of time.
“On it,” Leah said, all business. Dressed in a silky purple blouse in a pencil skirt, with her brunette hair in curls, she was currently his only human employee in Vegas and oversaw their communication with other vampire Houses. Normally, Marek wouldn’t hire a human for this job, for vampires didn’t do well taking requests from humans, but Leah was Julian’s mate, a well-known fact in their society.
If anyone gave Leah an attitude, they risked a visit from Julian. No sane vampire wanted a visit from Julian Blackmore for any reason, good or bad.
All threats aside, Leah had a way with people. In a few weeks, she’d formed strong relationships with her communication contacts at the different Houses in the States. She’d somehow learned everyone’s favorite flavored blood and sent each a case. When Marek complained about the cost as a joke, she’d said it was worth it for the House’s cooperation.
Everyone turned to the right as a big, hulking Viking vampire appeared around the corner. Power clung to him like a second skin. Though he wore an expensively tailored suit, underneath the sophistication was a wild and dangerous monster waiting to be unleashed. The other vampires froze, seized by an instinctual fear to run from the deadly predator.
Leah’s pretty face split into a loving smile as if the male strutting toward them like he owned the world couldn’t kill everyone in the room in five minutes.
Well, not Marek. It’d been a decade since he and Julian had a serious bout with one another.How long can I last against Julian this time?
When Julian reached them, he leaned down and gave Leah a long, deep kiss, as if they hadn’t seen each other for days. The scent of their arousal filled the room, and everyone except Marek looked away uncomfortably.
Marek leaned his hips on the desk and crossed his arms. In a wry voice, he said, “This wasn’t what I had planned for tonight, but go on, please give us a show.”
As he’d expected, Leah broke the kiss, her cheeks flushed, and glowered at him. “In your dreams.”
He gave her an unrepentant grin, unbothered by the dark frown on Julian’s harsh features. He’d worked long enough with Julian to know the vampire’s standard expression.
“Nah, I only dream about my mate.”
A gasp escaped Leah. “That’s right! You’re mated!”
“Not yet,” Julian said. “You haven’t completed the bond.”
“She’s not ready,” Marek said. Why was he explaining this to Julian? It was none of his business.
Her eyes bright with excitement, Leah asked, “She’s in Vegas, right? Can I meet her?”
Marek hesitated. Olivia meeting someone as spirited as Leah wouldn’t end well. For him. Or for Julian. The last thing he needed was for Leah and Olivia to ally together. Yet, if Olivia formed more ties to Vegas, it might make her stay here happier.
It might show her a future in Vegas, with him, with everything he’d built.
“Yeah, she’s here,” Marek said. “I’ll introduce you.”
Leah’s lips curved into a wide smile. “Great. I’m so excited!”
Julian leveled his gaze at him. “I came to talk to you. Let’s go somewhere private.”
A heavy stone settled in Marek’s stomach. “Sure. Follow me.”
Marek led Julian back to his personal office. He settled into the leather office chair behind the desk while Julian closed the door behind them.
“Your next interview is in five minutes,” Tristan reminded him.
