Once showered and dressed on Monday morning, I stood in front of the mirror, fingering the North Star pendant, smiling at my reflection.
We’d enjoyed a languid weekend, except for yesterday after Fane had received a call and gone into the agency for an hour. When questioned as to the reason, his shoulders had sagged and he’d said what he had thought might be a Jared sighting turned out to be a false alarm.
I surfed the Internet in the parlor with Fane and Joss in the early morning, then left for the gymnasium to join Dante and his trainees. But when I arrived at the gym, the lights were off.
“They’re on mission,” I heard Fane say from behind me.
I whipped around. I hadn’t heard him follow me out of the parlor.
“What mission? Where?” I demanded.
“Fairbanks to take down Jab.”
“When did they leave?”
Fane stood stock-still. His eyes wouldn’t meet mine. “Yesterday.”
Understanding registered.
“That’s why you were called in on a Sunday,” I said. “Why didn’t you include me? I could have gone with them. I should be with them. Jab is my mark. I should be there for the takedown.”
Fane shook his head. “Everyone’s already in position. Dante has more than enough backup. I expect them all home by tomorrow.”
I folded my arms. “You should have at least told me. What happened to teamwork?”
Fane shoved his hands in his pockets, his eyes still not quite meeting mine. “My top priority is keeping you safe. Jared tried to take off with you at the lodge. I’m not going to make things easy on him by putting you out in the field.”
Anger coursed through me in an instant. “And until we apprehend him, you expect me to sit around this place listening to Christmas music?”
“I expect to keep you safe until such a time when Jared is no longer a threat,” Fane said, now looking directly at me.
I glared at him. Nostrils flared, I lifted my chest and straightened my shoulders. “If you ever expect to eliminate Jared, maybe you should put me in the field. I’m a disaster magnet, remember?” I asked, throwing past words of Fane’s back in his face. “Whenever I step outside, all the bad guys like to come out and play. I’m like catnip for villains. I know I’m not great at planning or execution, but I’m good at what I do.”
I started to storm past Fane. I wasn’t sure where I was going, only that I had to get away from him and the brain-splintering fluorescent lights. As I rushed by, Fane caught my arm and pulled me to him. His eyes bore down on me.
“I can’t lose you.” Fane’s chest rose and fell beneath my nose. His breath came out in ragged puffs.
I felt the anger slip away as quickly as it had flared.
I held him in my gaze. “You can’t keep me in the dark or locked away either,” I said.
“I know,” Fane said solemnly, his hand loosening on my arm. It dropped to his side as though in defeat, a gesture that pained my heart. He shook his head ever so slightly, eyes going out of focus. “I can’t shake this feeling that Jared will find a way to get the upper hand, despite our superior numbers and resources.”
“Let him try,” I said, throwing my shoulders back. “He’s going down.” Like Blondie said, one way or another. “I’ve seen it inside my head over a hundred times. It will happen. This I know beyond doubt.” Well, nothing in life was certain, but I liked the air of confidence the words gave me. Even more, I liked the way my voice of assurance made Fane’s shoulders relax.
Believe it and it shall be so. I could always hope.
I refolded my arms.
“Now that we’ve cleared that up, I want to hear what’s happening with Jab in Fairbanks.”
Fane chuckled. “You’re tenacious. Let’s go back to the parlor and I’ll give you the full report.”
Fane was correct about the swiftness of the operation. Dante, Noel, and the trainees succeeded in sending Jab into the great beyond late Monday night. Tuesday morning they’d taken a flight from Fairbanks to Elmendorf Air Force Base. Fane hadn’t wanted them on the highway.
I was eager to ask for the firsthand account of the mission Tuesday afternoon, but Dante and his crew took the day off after a long night in Fairbanks.
I paced the hallway outside the parlor on Wednesday morning, absently fingering the pendant Fane had given me.
The sound of heels clicking across the floor made me look up. Selene took graceful strides toward me. She wore a black pantsuit with a white blouse beneath her blazer, and a mint-colored purse hung from her shoulder. Her brown hair was pulled up into a stylish French twist.
I stopped fiddling with my pendant and smiled as Selene approached.
“Good morning,” she sang out.
“Hi.”
“I had fun going out last weekend,” Selene said.
“Yeah, me too.”
“Do you think we could do it again sometime?”
I scrunched up my face. Getting off base had been nice, but I didn’t see myself clubbing every weekend.
Selene took a step closer. “Not go out, but have a girls’ night,” she clarified. “You, Noel, and me. Maybe the two of you could come over this weekend?”
I stared at Selene, trying to come up with an excuse or way to postpone. There was nothing wrong with a girls’ night. I was more in the mood for a Fane night this weekend—all weekend.
Selene’s lips turned down as my hesitation stretched on.
“You know what? Let’s do it,” I said. “Girls’ night. Why not?”
I’d need to come up for air at some point. It would probably be healthy to spend a little time with friends and not attached to the hip day and night with my Italian vampire.
“What about Jesse?” I asked. “Will she be joining us?”
A shadow passed over Selene’s face when she frowned.
“That was only a one-night thing.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.”
Selene sighed. “The life I live doesn’t allow for close attachments.”
“It’s challenging,” I said, “but you deserve to find happiness.”
Selene stared at me for several beats then quickly blinked back tears. She dabbed at the corners of her eyes with her finger pads after which she patted her purse.
“Anyway, how does this Friday at seven sound?”
“Sounds good,” I said. “Need me to bring anything over?”
“Snacks if you want,” Selene answered. “I’ll prepare the cocktails. I’m headed home. If you see Noel, can you invite her?”
“Yeah, no problem,” I said.
“Thanks.” Selene squeezed her arm against her purse. “See you on Friday at seven p.m.”
“See you then.”
Selene turned and clicked away. Too bad she didn’t feel she could have a personal life outside the agency. She struck me as being lonely. There was a resigned sort of sadness surrounding her.
Good thing Noel was invited. Noel could always liven up an evening. Maybe I should suggest extending the invitation to Ashley. That girl looked like she could use a girls’ night with alcohol.
I was mulling this over when Dante rounded the corner. I hadn’t been expecting him before ten a.m., but I was happy to see him.
“Dude!” I called out. “You got Jab!”
I expected Dante to chide me for missing out on the action, but his head jerked as though startled to see me still at the agency.
“Oh, hey,” he said, coming to an abrupt halt. “Yeah, he won’t be a problem anymore.” Dante ran a hand through his hair, eyes darting up and down the hallway.
“That’s great,” I said. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks.”
“Did you find out if he killed Nicole’s friend?”
Dante looked me in the eyes. His shoulders slumped. “Yeah, he killed her and countless other women.” Dante shook his head from side to side and took in a deep breath through his nostrils. “Damn shame.”
“At least he’s dead now,
” I said. “Have you told Buck and Nicole?”
“Not yet. I should do that. Nicole will want to know.” Dante pulled his phone out of his pocket and walked away, head bent over his screen.
“See you later,” I called after him.
“See you,” he said, lifting his free hand into the air. His back was already to me.
Okay. Weirdness. Once Dante turned the corner, I pulled out my own phone and dialed Noel.
“It’s not even nine yet,” she whined through the speaker.
“Slacker,” I teased.
“What was that? I couldn’t quite hear. You said ninja master, right?”
“Right, that’s exactly what I said,” I replied with a laugh.
“That’s what I thought, especially since I helped take down Jab on Monday.”
“So I heard. I can’t believe I missed out, but still, that’s great.”
“Kickass, right?” Noel said, perking up.
Yeah, it was. So why wasn’t Dante getting animated over the success of the mission? Noel might be able to shed some insight since she’d been part of the kill team.
I looked up and down the hallway, which remained empty. Speaking here felt more private than inside the parlor with Fane and Joss listening in.
“Hey,” I said, “was Dante acting weird on mission?”
A momentary pause followed.
“Weird how?” Noel asked.
“I don’t know,” I shrugged, even though Noel couldn’t see me, “like agitated or upset.”
“No,” Noel answered. “In fact, he seemed like he was in a really good mood. Better than he has been in weeks. I figured being back on active duty pepped him up. That and the success of the mission. He looked extremely happy when he boarded the plane yesterday morning.”
“Hmm,” I said. “He looked distracted a moment ago.”
“Probably anxious to get back in the field,” Noel said. “Why don’t you ask him what’s up?”
“I don’t know. He didn’t look like he was in a talking mood.” I sighed. “Anyway, are you coming in this week?”
“Unless I’m needed, I don’t see the point of sitting around staring at the walls.”
I stared at one of said walls, dreary beneath the fluorescent lighting.
“Tell me about it,” I said. “Right now I feel like I have just as much chance of finding Jared by twiddling my thumbs and hanging around on base as I would sitting on Santa’s lap at the mall asking Mr. Claus to deliver the bastard for Christmas.”
Noel laughed through the phone. “With a bow on top,” she said once she recovered.
“No bow necessary. But I wouldn’t turn down ribbon if his arms and legs were tied in it.”
Noel sniffed. “Tried that once and it didn’t work.”
“Oh, it worked,” I said. “I should have never untied him.”
“That’s right. That one’s on you.”
I cleared my throat. “Anyway, Selene invited you and me over for a girls’ night at her place this Friday.”
A long pause followed before Noel’s incredulous tone came through. “Just the three of us at her house? What kind of girls’ night is that?”
“I think she’s lonely.”
“With her looks and charm I don’t see why,” Noel said. “Did you see how quickly she bagged a babe at Koots last weekend?”
“Maybe she wants a little social time,” I suggested.
“And I’m supposed to give up my Friday night in exchange for girl talk?” Noel asked in disgust.
I rolled my eyes at the wall, as though it were an onlooker listening in.
“You have an infinite amount of Friday nights.”
“Oh my god, don’t say that! Karma, hello? Nothing is infinite, not even a vampire. We should never take our good fortune for granted.”
I leaned my back against the wall and smiled into the phone. “I forgot about your inspirational side.”
“Shut up. It’s too early, and I haven’t had enough coffee for sarcasm first thing in the morning.”
“Uh-huh,” I said. “Anyway, I’m counting on you to be there.”
“What’s in it for me?” Noel asked.
“It’s called being a friend,” I replied. “Oh, and I’ll bring blood.”
Noel huffed. “I can get my own blood, but fine, I’ll come be a friend, which is a dick move, by the way, seeing as you’re outta here the moment Jared bites the dust.”
“I’m sure we’ll keep in touch and meet up later down the road. We have an infinite amount of time for that.”
“Karma!” Noel yelled over the phone.
I laughed.
“See you Friday night.”
I joined Dante and his trainees in the gym at ten, but forty-five minutes in, he clapped his hands together and announced we were done for the day.
“You all did me proud in Fairbanks. You’re free to go.”
Kate raised her hand. Dante didn’t notice so she called out his name. Even then, he seemed to look right through her.
“Do you want us to come in tomorrow?” Kate asked.
Dante’s eyes darted from side to side. “Yes,” he said immediately. “You should all definitely be here tomorrow. Definitely. I want everyone here.”
Kate’s eyebrows slanted. She exchanged glances with Jennifer, whose expression mirrored her friend’s.
I wasn’t the only one who found Dante’s behavior odd. Even Reinhardt and Gunter shared a bewildered look. Only Ashley looked bored and unconcerned. Not surprising. She probably regarded Dante as some kind of freak show.
“O-kay,” Kate said slowly. She bent down to pick up a pair of boxing mitts.
“Don’t worry about those,” Dante said in a rush of words. “I’ll take care of putting stuff away.”
“Until tomorrow then,” Kate said. She and Jennifer left the gym without a second glance.
Gunter’s eyebrows furrowed. He looked from the door to Ashley. “Aren’t they your ride?”
“I have my own car,” she answered. She pulled her hair out of a ponytail as she spoke and shook out her blond locks.
Dante hurried around the gym gathering up the mitts. I would have helped him, but he seemed intent on being the one to gather everything. Totally wacky.
“Do you mind sharing a house with them?” Gunter pressed Ashley.
She shrugged.
Reinhardt joined them. “Want to come over and help Gunter and me bake cookies?”
Dante stomped over, arms folded tight across his chest. “The two of you shouldn’t be baking cookies. You should be checking in with Josslyn to see if he needs any help sorting paperwork.”
Reinhardt gave a little jump. “Yes, of course. We want to help out any way we can.” He looked at Gunter, who nodded.
“Then hop to it,” Dante said.
“Okay, yeah,” Gunter said. He swallowed. “Let’s go, dude. See you tomorrow, Ashley. Aurora. Dante.”
“See you later,” I said, feeling bad for the two teenage boys.
What was up Dante’s butt? And since when did he want to put a halt to cookie making? Something was definitely up and I should just ask, like Noel suggested.
“Dante—” I started to say, taking a step forward.
Dante held his hand up. “Not now, Sky. I’ve got things to take care of.”
“Alrighty then, I’ll leave you to it,” I said, annoyance rearing inside my gut.
I tried to catch Ashley’s eye, but she was bending to pick up her mitts. Dante said nothing to stop her as she carried them toward the supply closet. I was surprised she wasn’t hightailing it out of the gym like everyone else, especially given her blatant hostility toward Dante. Maybe she enjoyed seeing him in an agitated mood. I wouldn’t go poking the bear if I were her. Not that Dante was behaving overly aggressive. Just weird.
I gave him one last glance before walking out. Dante didn’t notice. He was too busy scooping up boxing mitts from the floor like a parent cleaning up after his children before guests came over.
8
Rendezvous
The following day was even weirder when Dante called off training barely thirty minutes in.
“Why did he bother having us come in at all?” Kate asked in a loud hiss to Jennifer.
I had to admit, I was thinking the same thing. I stood, legs shoulder width apart, and planted my hands on my hips.
“Good job, gang,” Dante said, clapping his hands. “You’re ready for fieldwork, as you proved in Fairbanks. It’s good to keep up your skills. I encourage you to come in and make use of the weight room whenever you want. Keep in good shape. Jogging is excellent exercise, as well. Maybe Agent Sky could organize a group jog around the neighborhood in the mornings.”
I glared at Dante. I would have been tempted to flip him off if he bothered looking at me, but once again his eyes darted all around the room as though searching for something.
This time, Kate didn’t bother raising her hand or saying his name.
“Does this mean we don’t have to come in tomorrow?” she asked.
Dante’s head snapped up. “That’s correct,” he said with a nod. “Take tomorrow off.”
Ashley stretched a languid arm into the air.
Dante’s Adam’s apple bobbed when he swallowed. “Yes, Miss Scott?”
She lowered her arm slowly. “What if I don’t want to take tomorrow off?”
Dante’s face flushed.
I didn’t see any reason for him to be angry. He was the one acting freaky, and Ashley seemed to relish the opportunity to nag him.
Rather than snap at her, Dante circled his wrist in the air, looking flustered. “The gym is open to recruits seven days a week. Make use of it as you wish,” he said before turning away.
Kate, Jennifer, Reinhardt, and Gunter didn’t wait for a second dismissal. They paired up, boy and girl, girl and boy, walking out in a group, whispering among themselves.
Ashley folded her arms and stared at me.
I wanted to ask Dante what was up, but it was a little hard with her hovering nearby, glaring at me. Did she blame me for his behavior or something?
True North (Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter, Vol. 6) Page 10