Page 58 of Destined for Shadows
Melena nodded. “Giving her a little space clearly didn’t work.”
“We’ll work out a schedule for one of us to be with her at all times, and I’ll enlist Tormod’s assistance as well. Bodyguard duty would be a good lesson for him.”
“Especially if it gets him out of that compound for longer periods,” she said.
Bartol studied the sensor. “I know you have your own duties to attend to with your government job, but it would help if you could find more time to help me search for Griff. We have to find him.”
“I know.” Melena rubbed her face. “I can’t begin to tell you how many fires I’m putting out on a daily basis since DHS is still getting the hang of dealing with supernaturals. Still…there is a lot I could hand off to Patrick. I’m just a control freak is all.”
Bartol would ask to use Patrick instead, but for reasons no one understood, a male sensor’s range was half as much as a female’s. Emily’s father was also mortal, which made him too vulnerable against a vampire like Griff. Melena was the best choice to assist on this hunt.
“If we work together, perhaps we can end this quickly,” Bartol said, a plan forming in his head. “You can drive and tell me when you sense any young vampires. I’ll flash over to check them out.” He surmised they could cover a lot of ground that way.
“Sounds like a plan.” She gestured for them to leave the room. “Just give me a day or two to hand things off to Patrick first.”
Bartol walked with her outside. “That’s fine. I cannot leave Cori until she is fully healed anyway.”
“You’re waking her up tomorrow morning, right?” Melena asked, stopping on the porch.
“Yes, but I will watch over her for at least another day to be sure she’s fine.”
The sensor grinned. “You do realize that after she wakes up she’ll start flirting with you again. We both know you’ll start wanting to flee after about ten minutes of it.”
“I can resist her if it means keeping her safe.”
The sensor arched a brow. “But why do you bother? It’s just sex.”
“Don’t start,” he growled.
“That’s why you’re cranky all the time.” She shook her index finger at him. “You’ve got Cori right there, willing to help you out, and she’s not even asking for a serious relationship or commitment. Take her up on her offer. I promise it won’t kill you.”
“Don’t you have your own family to worry about?” he asked.
Her expression turned serious. “Bartol, I consider you part of my family as well, or I wouldn’t bother you about this.”
He opened his mouth, then closed it. The last time he’d had any sort of family was when he was very young, but even those memories had mostly faded. He didn’t dare dream of having such a thing again. “You don’t know me that well.”
“I know you enough,” she said, giving him an earnest look. “We spent enough time in Purgatory together that I believe you deserve love and family just as much as anyone else. Take care, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He watched Melena saunter away. More and more, he understood how the woman got under Lucas’ skin despite her being a “hated” sensor. She had a heart of gold, much like the woman resting inside the house. He turned on his heels and went in to check on Cori again. Like a moth to a flame, Bartol couldn’t resist while she wasn’t awake to see how much she fascinated him.
