Page 39 of Just Dare Me
“I should know. I was there.”
“And they designed America to be…ground zero for the underworld?”
“A safe haven for all, including the underworld.”
Now it’s Madison’s turn to scoff. “Well, that turned out to be an epic fail.”
“Is it?” He glances at me. “Agent Davies?”
I throw my hands up. “Hey, don’t drag me into the middle of this.”
“Too late. You dragged yourself in by being the first FUA agent in theworldto successfully assemble a diversified task force.”
“Wait, I did? I am?”
“And not just humans and underworlders, but several different factions which aren’t ‘supposed’ to get along: Detroit PD, Washington FBI, underworld FUA, a high witch, even a fey queen. All working together.”
“Yeah, but it’s not like Iassembledthe team. I’m not their leader. We’re all just…” I stop talking, because I realize I’m giving him more ammunition.
He smirks. “Exactly. You’re all just…friends, partners, lovers.Family. If you guys can do it, why not everybody else?”
“Okay, yes, we’re all very proud of Shayne and her team,” Madison says, “and this has been a very educational and patriotic discussion, but will you please just answer my question? Are you really here to help us stop East Side? Are you—and by extension the United States government—for or against the demons outing us to the world?”
Standing to his full height, he states firmly, “Against.”
Director West considers him carefully, still not convinced. “But you do side with the government in that you think we should be made known?”
“Yes. But that choice belongs to all of us collectively, not any one organization, and definitely not a shit-heel like Arael Moaz.”
Madison gives an approving nod of her head, finally appeased.
“And for the record,” Adrian continues, “no, I am never purposefully obtuse—that’s impossible for an alpha—nor am I delusional. An asshole, however? Maybe. But it comes with the job. You’ve never had to be a cold-ass bitch?”
“Many times.” Lowering into her seat, Madison flips through the list of sorcerers, then tidies them into a neat stack. “I can handpick a dozen sorcerers from this list to comequietlyinto the Agency to hear you out. But you and only you. Anybody else would be an insult to them. Once they’re on board, they will serve as your agents totactfullyreach out to the rest of the list, thus completing your task with minimal friction. Acceptable?”
“And appreciated.”
“Oh, good,” I interject. “Now you can answer my question. Are you for or against shooting Jay on sight?”
“For.”
“No. Still?”
“It’s the only way to be sure.”
“Asshole,” I grumble.
Madison calls in a junior assistant to take a coffee order. She gestures to us. “Whatever they want, as well.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the assistant stammers, then hands Madison a sticky note. “Also, this message came in for Agent Davies. It was a while ago, but you said not to interrupt.”
“For me? Who was it?”
The assistant glances nervously at me. “She didn’t say. It was so fast.”
Madison reads from the note. “It says, ‘Agent Davies. You hit our…’” Her face drops.
“What? What’s it say?” My heart bottoms out when she looks at me, and she seems almost scared, which I always thought impossible for Director West. Shooting to my feet, I snatch the sticky note from her outstretched hand. The message is a single line:
