Page 11 of Thicker than Blood

A shiver rolls down my back. Is this really happening?

“I’m putting you in charge, Geordi,” Meredith announces without preamble. “I need you to work with Elias and get intel. Obviously the goal is to suss out who’s behind this uprising, find their weaknesses, and eliminate the threat. You’ll be given access to any and all resources you need. Bernard has the police manpower available, and if we need to bring in military force, we can.”

“Why me? Shouldn’t it be someone with some kind of authority?”

“No. You understand the vampires better than anyone else. You know how they work, how they think, and with Elias’s help, you’re in the best position to help us.”

Enyo squeezes my shoulder. I feel a little sick, but I nod anyway. Am I really ready for this? Do I have a choice?

Meredith steps forward, taking my chin in her hand and giving me the motherly look she’s so good at. “You can do this, Geordi. You’ve trained for it. Trust your instincts with Elias, but don’t forget the rules.”

“I won’t.”

“He’s… charming. Don’t let it distract you.”

Of course she knows how hard it will be to ignore the gorgeous, very sexy, and all too tempting vampire. “I’m on it.”

“Keep me posted, huh?” She musses up my hair. “I have full confidence in you.”

“I won’t disappoint you.”

“I already know that.”

Meredith leaves with Luci and I slump forward on my lab table, burying my face in my arms. “Ugh.”

Enyo rubs my back. “This is exciting, Geordi and I’ll be here too.”

I lift my head. “Promise?”

“Of course. Call Elias back.”

“Is that step one?” I pat the work surface, looking for my planner under all the research notes I was working on.

“Yep. Step one: Let the vampire know you’re officially a team.”

My stomach does a little flip, whether that’s from excitement or pure terror is unclear. I’ve dreamed of a moment when I could put all my research on center stage. I’ve fantasized a million times about befriending a vampire so I could see them outside of a clinical setting. And Elias Caswell himself has starred in more filthy thoughts and jerk-off sessions than I care to admit even to myself.

Now I’m going to call him and casually discuss a working partnership. I’m going to go behind my mentor’s back to test a vaccine when I have no idea what effect it will have. No problem. I’m totally chill about this.

Yeah, and Nosferatu is the sexiest man unalive.

CHAPTER 5

Elias

The phone ringing draws a grumble of discontent from me. I have a feeling I should get used to the disruption of my peace until this whole mess is sorted.

I walk over to answer it, if only to make the shrilling stop. “Elias. State your business.”

“Hi. I mean, um, hello, Elias. This is?—”

“Geordi.” Simply hearing his voice makes me smile. I do love a flustered mortal. “What a pleasant interruption.”

“Yeah, sorry to bother you, but I think you wanted me to talk about the partnership or whatever we’re calling it?”

“You’re not bothering me. I am most interested in what you have to say.” I sit in my armchair near the fireplace in my sitting room, crossing one leg over the other. “Go on.”

“Okay, well I don’t know if you’ve heard but?—”

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