Dona cocked her head and grinned at the Warfem. “I think you broke it.”
Riane aimed a sneer at the damaged combot. “Yeah, you’d better stay down, you mechanical wimp.”
Moving to put his grav bar away, Alerio concealed a smile. No matter how grim a situation was, the comedy team of Riane and Frieka was always good for a grin.
Com message request received from Senior Investigator Alex Corydon, Alerio’s comp suddenly announced.
Speak of the devil. Open communications, he told the computer implant. “What can I do for you, Senior Investigator?”
“My team has a lead on the location of your spy, Chief Enforcer,” Corydon’s voice announced in his mind. “He seems to have taken refuge in twenty-second century New York. Please assemble a take-down team to make the arrest.”
Alerio’s mouth drew into a savage smile. “Believe me, Senior Investigator, it will be my pleasure.”
He dumped the grav bar into the rack with its fellows and started toward the door. “Riane, Frieka, grab your t-gear and assemble in the conference hall. We’ve got a lead on Terje’s location. We’re going to take the bastard down.”
“Yes!” Riane crowed, and trotted for the door, the big wolf at her heels.
Dona, for her part, stepped into Alerio’s path. “I want to go with you, Chief.” Her clear violet gaze met his, level and demanding. “I want—no, I need—to help take him down.”
He sighed. “You know better than that, Astryr. You haven’t been cleared in this mess yet. It’s a conflict of interest.”
Her delicate jaw firmed. “You don’t really think I’m involved in his plot, do you, Chief?”
“No, but Corydon certainly does. It’s his show, Astryr, and he’s not going to want you along for the ride.” Besides, there was another concern. Terje had tried to kill her once before, and Alerio knew damned well he’d try again if given the chance. It would be just like him to cut her throat on his way down. And Alerio had no desire to watch Dona Astryr die.
Violet eyes narrowed. He had the uncomfortable feeling she was reading his thoughts right off his face, and he mentally swore. She’d gotten to know him entirely too well.
“Let me play bait, Chief.”
“Forget it.” With an uncompromising slash of his hand, he stepped past her and strode toward the door. She followed him with long, angry strides.
Ivar’s obsessed with me, Chief. If he’s focused on me, that’ll give the rest of you a golden opportunity to take him out.”
“And give him a golden opportunity to kill you. Forget it.” But his steps faltered. She had a point. If she’d been any other Enforcer than the one who haunted his dreams, would he let her take the chance?
Alerio winced. Yeah, probably. If he kept her off the team, would he be putting the rest of his men in danger to protect her?
Shit. This was exactly why he had no business getting involved with her.
“Chief?” she asked at his shoulder.
“You’re in. If Corydon lets you go.” Without looking back, he strode out the door, silently cursing himself and the woman who had become his obsession.
Captive Dreams Page 31