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practically threw myself after it as the knock sounded again.
Relax, kids, Adam s voice said from the hallway. It s just me.
I grabbed the Taser anyway, my heartbeat still hammering wildly. I stayed on my
knees for a moment, waiting for the adrenaline rush to calm. Meanwhile, Andy opened
the door.
I looked up, expecting to see Adam, but instead Brian came flying through the
doorway to land on his hands and knees. I blinked in confusion, finding the strength to
stand up. Adam strode through the door behind Brian, his eyes narrowed.
Look who I found trying to leave the building, completely unprotected and unarmed,
Adam said.
Andy had started to close the door, but Dominic pushed it open again, entering the
apartment less dramatically than Brian or Adam had. The whole tableau left me
completely unbalanced, but I did my best not to show it.
If I d known we were having a party, I d have baked a cake, I said.
Andy and Dom laughed, but neither Adam nor Brian seemed to think that was
particularly funny. Adam glared at me.
I thought you loved this guy, he growled. And you were just going to let him walk
out of here for Der Jäger to chew up and spit out?
My throat tightened as Brian struggled to his feet. I could see the rug burn that
reddened the heels of both his hands, and indignation surged through my veins, even as I
realized Adam had probably done a good thing by preventing Brian from leaving.
You didn t have to manhandle him like that, asshole! I said, then hurried to put
myself between Adam and Brian. I had more to say, but Dom interrupted.
Time out, both of you. I know how much you love to fight, but we ve got more
important things to do right now. His voice was firm and authoritative, sure of himself. I
kept thinking about him as a mildly submissive beta male mainly because Adam was so
dominant but Dom had a steely backbone hidden beneath the nice-guy surface. And he
didn t seem to be intimidated by Adam s death glare.
I stayed out of it as the two of them stared at each other as if they were having a silent
conversation. And if I hadn t seen it happen before between the two of them, I d have
been shocked to see Adam actually back down. He held up both hands in a gesture of
surrender. Meanwhile, Brian looked back and forth between Adam and Dominic and me.
His gaze finally settled on me.
You know these guys? he asked.
I realized with a little shock that Brian had never met Adam and Dom. Not while
conscious, at least. I cleared my throat.
Uh, yeah. These are the guys who rescued you when you were kidnapped. Adam
White, I said, pointing, and Dominic Castello.
Brian took a moment to absorb that, turning his attention back to Adam and Dom.
Thanks, I guess. He looked more closely at Adam. I ve seen you on TV. You re the
Director of Special Forces, aren t you?
Adam nodded.
Brian held up his rug-burned hands. So what s this all about?
Adam ignored him and looked at me. Didn t you tell him anything?
Dom put a hand on his arm. Take it down a notch.
Adam turned to him. When did you get so goddamn pushy? he complained. But I
noticed he didn t make any attempt to shake off his lover s hand.
Dominic s eyes twinkled with mischief, and he grinned. You can put me in my place
later.
My cheeks went hot as I sorted out the nuances in Dominic s words. I wondered if
everyone in the room heard them, or whether it was just because I had up-close-and-
personal experience with them.
I told him I had a rogue demon after me, I said a little too loudly, trying to cover my
discomfort. He made it clear he wasn t interested in my help, and I couldn t talk him
into staying. What did you expect me to do?
Adam flashed me a look that told me exactly what he d expected me to do, but with
Dominic s hand still on his arm, he managed to control his desire to tell me out loud.
Dominic smiled pleasantly at Brian. Maybe it s better if I do the talking so we don t
have to see any more of the snake-and-mongoose act. Adam and I snorted in unison.
Dom ignored us. Why don t we all sit down?
Brian thought about that a minute, then went to sit on the couch without another word.
Adam and Dom took the love seat, and Andy took the other end of the couch, leaving the
middle seat for me. He refused to meet my narrowed eyes, but I couldn t help thinking he
was doing a little matchmaking. Then again, maybe he just didn t like the idea of sitting
right next to another guy on the sofa. My brain was conjuring up ulterior motives for
everything.
I sat down and opened my mouth to say something I m not entirely sure what but
Dominic cut me off.
Please let me do the talking. I find you and Adam entertaining, but I doubt Brian and
Andrew are equally amused.
I made a zipping-my-lips gesture, and Dominic turned his attention to Brian.
The demon that s after Morgan is known as Der Jäger. From what I understand, he s
the demon equivalent of a sociopath, and we all believe the easiest way for him to get to
Morgan is through someone she knows and trusts. Which means you and I and Andrew
are all prime targets. He s already abandoned two hosts that we know of, which goes to
show how little respect he has for human life. If he took one of us, he would destroy us
and kill Morgan. I know you and Morgan aren t together anymore, but Der Jäger might
not know that and might not care even if he does.
Brian frowned at him. And where do the two of you come into the picture?
Adam and I are Morgan s friends, Dominic answered, which made Adam snort with
derision and Brian s eyes narrow in speculation. I supposed he hadn t caught the earlier
innuendo that had made me so uncomfortable.
I gave Brian a little prod with my elbow. Not that kind of friends, I said.
Adam chuckled and slung his arm around Dom s shoulders. Definitely not.
I rolled my eyes. Don t you two start.
Adam blinked at me innocently. Start what?
Anyway, Dom said loudly before Adam and I could escalate, with Der Jäger on the
hunt, we really do need to take precautions. Andrew is staying here with Morgan, and I m
staying with Adam. He looked at Brian. That leaves only you. It isn t safe for you to
just go back to your apartment and act as if nothing s wrong.
Brian stared at Adam. You re the Director of Special Forces. If you think I m in
danger from this demon, you can assign me some protection.
But Adam shook his head. I m not here in any official capacity. There are some facts
about this case that I can t divulge.
Like why this demon is after Morgan?
Afraid I was about to be caught in a lie, I tried to keep Adam from commenting. I told
him
Brian spoke over me. Don t tell him what you told me! I want to hear from Mr. White
himself why he believes this demon is after you.
Whatever Morgan told you is a lie, Adam said, and it was all I could do not to leap
out of my chair and smack him. She can t tell you the truth about this any more than I
can. There are things you are better off not knowing. This is one of them.
Brian ignored me like I wasn t even there. This doesn t have anything to do with why
Andrew that is, Andrew s demon kidnapped me, does it?
Adam grinned. Would you believe me if I said no?
We all knew the answer to that.
If my life s in danger, Brian said, I have a right to know why.
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