Page 80 of Tin God

“Absolutely not, but sometimes we share a cabin in the summer.” Lev lifted both eyebrows suggestively. “The days get very long here.”

“I can see that.” She held up the wadded paper. “I’ll tell her you’re a pal o’ mine.”

“Oh no.” He shook his head. “She might get jealous.”

“For real?” She frowned. “I’ll be sure to mention that I’m a mated vampire.”

“That might help. But really, all Pam cares about is money. Just pay her and she will send a boat for you.”

“Got it.”

Mika had given Brigid the address to a safe house where they could rest during the day, but she doubted they’d be there more than a night.

“Lev?”

The big man turned back from walking to the cargo plane. “Yes?”

“Where do you think Zasha is?”

He frowned and crossed his giant arms over his chest. “You know, Zasha likes people. I think they will be somewhere where people will pay attention to them.”

That was an interesting take. “So no isolated cabin in the woods?”

“Maybe if it’s close to a city or a town.” He shrugged. “Or maybe not. I’m not the smartest vampire.” Lev’s voice went quiet. “But I feel sorry for Zasha. Even now. Life was very cruel to them.”

“They don’t deserve your pity.” She hiked her backpack over her shoulder. “I’ll see ya around.”

“Unless Zasha kills you.” Lev sighed. “So in case that happens…” He walked over and threw his massive arms around Brigid’s stiff shoulders, hugging her with a hearty embrace and kissing first one cheek, then the other. “It was good to know you, Brigid Connor. I would like to meet your mate someday. If he comes to avenge your untimely death, I will help him.”

“Right.” She patted his back. “That’s sweet, Lev. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Say goodbye to the small violent wind vampire for me.”

“Sure, I will.” Brigid turned to walk toward the dim outline of a hangar in the distance, leaving the Russian earth vampires behind her.

She and Tenzin were on their own.

When she reachedthe safe house, Tenzin was still nowhere to be found, but she pulled out her phone and put a call through to Gavin Wallace, the immortal tech tycoon Lee used to work for.

“Brigid?” He answered her video call after one ring. “Are you with Tenzin?”

“Not at this exact moment because she’s flying over Juneau right now.” Brigid looked up at the ceiling. “I’m staying at a safe house that Oleg?—”

“I’m sending you another address. Are you on a Wi-Fi network?” Gavin snapped his fingers, and someone handed him a pen and paper. “Get off Wi-Fi.”

Brigid disconnected from the house Wi-Fi that had connected to her tablet and walked outside, using an insulated hotspot that Lee had engineered for her and Carwyn. “I’m on Lee’s network now.”

“Always use Lee’s network.” Gavin scribbled something on the notepad and held it up. “Write it down.”

“You think this place is compromised?” She didn’t hesitate to set her tablet on the backyard picnic table and write the address Gavin gave her on the back of a receipt. “Oleg hasn’t betrayed us in the past.”

“And he might not intend to” —the note disappeared— “but he also might not know who in his organization is vulnerable. Don’t use any connections he gave you from now on. I have people in that area.”

“You’re really pissed off about Tenzin and Ben’s apartment, aren’t you?”

The Scotsman glowered at the screen. “My wife could have been injured. No matter her associations, Chloe should be off-limits.”

Gavin wasn’t only a technology entrepreneur—his main business was a network of very exclusive clubs around the world that operated like neutral territory for various immortal factions. Going after Gavin Wallace or any of his people meant that you forfeited the shelter of his businesses and had no safe ground to meet with a rival.

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