Page 65 of Addicted in Blood
The rest nodded, and Devon stared at the screened windows.They had been dimmed from the bright light, and I considered opening them, knowing he enjoyed the sunshine, and it might improve his mood.He turned back to Simone.“And you trust your source on this?”
She grimaced but nodded.“I don’t have the best history with him, but he’s never been known to lie.His faults lay elsewhere.”
“Since he’s the only lead we have, what’s the plan?”Devon tapped his fingers on the arm of the couch.He’d been running hot and cold with his strength and attention spans.It had only been an hour since receiving new blood, and he seemed energized with each new point of their investigation, but when he stared at the hearth, I expected him to leave the group to find a book to curl up with.
I placed a hand on his leg that began to bounce, and he quieted.
“He’s currently renting a house on the west side.”Sergi played with his tablet, and one of the screens of the entertainment center popped to life.The residential district looked to be a decade old.A red circle had been drawn around one of the homes.“According to Simone’s source, he’s similar to other fixers who like to keep souvenirs.We’re hoping he likes to keep them close.”
“You want Cressa to go in and snoop around.”Devon didn’t appear to like the idea, and I didn’t think much of it, either.It wasn’t that I wasn’t game.It seemed a simple enough task, assuming the cadre could keep Gheata away from the house long enough, but it put me too close.
When Sergi nodded, Devon shook his head.“If anything goes wrong, she’ll be connected to me.If she were to find anything in the house, it would be considered tainted evidence.”
“Then we don’t let anything go wrong.”Simone rose and walked to the screen.She used a laser pointer as she spoke.“The entire block is mostly humans with a few shifters.Gheata is the only vampire that we know of.There are numerous entrance and exit locations, and we can have backup at each of them.”
“Do you know Gheata’s schedule?”I was intrigued as another thought came to mind.One that would require a lot of bargaining.
Simone nodded to Sergi, who replaced the map with a detailed time schedule complete with dates, times, and observations as she continued, “For the most part, his schedule is unpredictable.But that would be expected for a fixer, whose assignments vary.”As the data slowly scrolled on the screen, it didn’t take long to see what she was talking about.Sometimes he left early and came home as if he were working a standard eight-to-five shift.At other times, he came and went several times in the same day.While his movements continued to change during the day, similar events became apparent.
“We think we’ve found one weakness.”The screen stopped, and Simone pointed to two entries.“These events occur between eleven p.m.and three a.m.and match surveillance videos outside a club called Vipers.And don’t ask how we got the videos.”She glanced at Bella.“It’s trustworthy.”
“That’s a vampires only club.”Lucas leaned back in his chair.“It makes sense he’d stick to that type of club based on what we know of him, but keeping to a routine seems out of character.”
“I’m not sure he’s thinking like that,” I added.“It’s not unheard of for cautious men to make idiotic mistakes.If I understand what a fixer is, they would be meticulous in planning and executing jobs.”When I received nods, I warmed up to my premise.“And he’s been doing this for centuries.Even the best get sloppy.After all this time and never getting caught.”I shook my head.“I think he’s the best when he’s on a job, but when it’s his personal time, he’s gotten used to no one coming after him.Others are too scared of him to bother trying anymore.”
“Overconfidence.”Devon ran a hand through his hair and kept his focus on the screen.“Something even the most practical vampires could be accused of.”His smile was self-deprecating and warranted in light of his recent actions.“It’s a solid start, but I’m not comfortable with Cressa going in.”
“I agree.”I waited for my words to sink in.It took longer than expected, and something nagged about his slow response.I caught the moment my words registered, but it was Simone who spoke.
“You don’t want to go in?”She was confused, and it made sense.I wasn’t typically the shy one.
“I didn’t say I didn’t agree with your idea, but it shouldn’t be me going in.”
“Who do you suggest?”Her stance had become the one she used in the training room.The one that should intimidate me, and if it were just the two of us in the room, I might have backed down.Today, I felt the safety in numbers.
“This is something I wanted to bring up to Devon, but we were leaving for New Orleans, and then the Boretsky thing…” I shrugged, slipping a quick glance to Devon, whose brows had lowered, fine lines appearing on his forehead.“I visited my old crew.”When Sergi and Devon both seemed ready to explode, I waved them down.“Just hear me out.My original reason was to see who sold me out to Sorrento.Once I learned who it was and what Harlow did to replace him, I realized the crew was a team we could use.”
“Why would we hire human thieves when we already have one on the payroll?”Sergi would always be the toughest sell.
“I’ve already stolen two items associated with Devon’s censure.Items snatched at parties that both he and I attended.We need to change things up because it won’t take long for a vamp to notice the connection between what was taken and who was at the events.I’m not saying there won’t be times I would be the best one for the job.I’m still your main thief.But there will be times, like this—” I nodded toward the screen, “—that a secondary crew would be better.His new hacker, Roxie, is a whiz with tech.If Gheata’s place is rigged with security, which I’m sure it is, she can get the crew in and out without anyone being the wiser.”
“How well does this human crew do with taking orders?”It wasn’t surprising that Simone would be asking.
I snorted.“Harlow doesn’t take orders from anyone.But here’s the deal I worked out with him.He plans the mission, but it has to be approved by Devon and Lyra.I’ll take lead, but Harlow has to call the shots once they’re deployed.”When Sergi and Simone got their hackles up, I shook my head.“This isn’t negotiable.They’re humans sneaking into vamp-controlled environments.The jobs will be high risk.He knows his crew, how they work under pressure, and has to be the one calling the shots during the mission.”
I looked to Devon.His focus had returned to the window.His creased forehead hadn’t changed, and though it was common for short delays in response as he considered his options, I was concerned the effects of the beast, or my blood, were still impacting him.
“I agree with Cressa.”Everyone in the room turned to Lyra.“She’s worked with this Harlow on many missions.As you stated, Simone, Cressa is our resident thief, and when a mission requires those skills, we should hold her recommendation in high regard.I also understand the security breach of her discussing the Family without our approval, but now she knows.It doesn’t lessen the fact this solution might be the best we have.”
All eyes turned to Devon, but I wasn’t sure he was listening anymore.
“Cressa,” Lyra’s tone was cool and tempered.“Could you work up a plan with Harlow and Sergi?”
I nodded enthusiastically, but Sergi glanced to Devon and then Simone.Simone nodded her acceptance.
“Excellent.”Lyra clapped her hands together as if she’d just won a prize.“Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like Devon to take me for a walk through his garden.It’s been a long time since brother and sister has found time to reminisce.”She held her hand out to him.“Come walk with me, brother.”
Devon turned away from the window, and his frown drained away.He squeezed my hand then rose, and taking Lyra’s arm, walked out of the room without a backward glance.
