Generation 18 (Spook Squad 2)

“Look,” Gabriel said, somewhat impatiently. “All I’m saying is that if Sethanon feared her enough to place a watch on her, we should not risk using her as bait in an attempt to catch the man.”

“We don’t even know if, in fact, it is a man we are after.”

Gabriel leaned forward and glared at his twin’s altered features. It was in moments like this—moments when he almost wanted to punch the cold smile from his brother’s face—that Stephan’s ability to shapeshift into the form of any male he touched became a problem. It was harder to restrain the urge to hit him when he wasn’t wearing his own face. “Damn it, Stephan, don’t play word games with me!”

Something flickered through his twin’s blue eyes. Anger perhaps. Or regret. “Do you, or do you not, agree that we must learn more about Sethanon?”

“Yeah, but—”

“And do you, or do you not,” Stephan continued, his voice soft but relentless, “agree that Sethanon’s interest in Sam might be the lever we need to draw him out of the shadows?”

Gabriel rubbed his forehead. This was one battle he wasn’t going to win—not that he ever won many against Stephan. “At the first hint of danger, I’m going in.”

“Samantha can take care of herself. She’s proven that time and time again.”

But this was different. This was leaving her roped, tied and blindfolded in front of an express train. “I won’t see her harmed.”

Stephan smiled. “And here I thought you didn’t care for her.”

“I’ve never said that. All I’ve ever said is that I don’t want her as a partner. That I don’t want to see her dead.”

“Have you ever considered the fact that this fear of losing partners is irrational, and that maybe you should seek psychiatric help for it?”

“Considered it? Yes. Acknowledge it? Yes. Am I going to seek psychiatric help? No.” He met his brother’s stony gaze with one of his own. “If I wanted to talk to anyone, I’d talk to our father.”

“Because, of course, you couldn’t talk to your brother.” Stephan’s voice was almost bitter.

Almost.

“My brother has a tendency to put the needs of the Federation and the SIU above the needs of everyone else—including his brother.”

Stephan didn’t immediately comment, just leaned forward and picked up a folder from the desk. “Here’s the file on your new partner.”

Gabriel ignored the offered folder and stared at his twin through narrowed eyes. “What do you mean, new partner?”

“I’ve told you before. All field agents, whether SIU or Federation, now work in pairs. There have been too many murder attempts of late to risk solo missions.”

“How many times do I have to say it? I don’t want a partner!” What was his brother trying to prove?

“Then you’ll remain at your desk and leave the fieldwork to the agents in your charge.”

He was tempted, very tempted, to do just that. But both he and Stephan knew that being confined for any length of time would make him stir-crazy.

Besides, he was more valuable to the SIU and the Federation in the field.

“Who have you assigned me?”

Stephan dropped the folder on the desk and leaned back in his chair. Though there was no emotion on his face, Gabriel could feel his twin’s amusement.

“James Illie.”

Who was the State Police officer they’d recruited after he’d made a series of spectacular arrests—arrests that involved one of the biggest vampire crime gangs in the city. He was good, no doubt about it.

The only trouble was, the man was a womanizer who was always on the lookout for his next conquest.

“It won’t work.” And Stephan knew it.

“Then make it work. And don’t try dumping Illie in the dungeons. He’ll bring in the unions the minute you try.”