Two of the three men in the main room swung around as we entered. Quinn was a shadow in the corner, but one whose presence I could feel through every pore.
"We're going to split into three groups," Jack said. "Rhoan, I want you to head into the Directorate and start writing up reports. Make sure they're encrypted and sent to Director Hunter only. Tomorrow morning, pick up some trackers and bugs, then head on over to the Blue Moon and do a thorough check of the club and its patrons. Riley's not going near the place until we know it's safe. Quinn, as we dare not risk any of the cars we have here, I want you and Riley to beg, borrow, or steal a vehicle, and drive around until we contact you to come in."
"And what will you and Kade be doing?" Quinn asked the question that was sitting on my lips.
"We'll be paying a little visit to the company who manufactures these devices." He held up the plastic-wrapped laser.
Rhoan and I shared a glance. If Kade was involved in something like that, he was definitely more than just a builder.
Jack tossed me a phone. "Don't go anywhere near that club until we call you."
"Just make sure you call me before three tomorrow. I doubt Misha will take kindly to being kept waiting."
"And yet he will wait. Remember, he's probably got as much to gain from all this as us. Let's move it, Kade." He headed for the door, but threw over his shoulder, "Rhoan, call in a cleanup team and ensure all Directorate goods are out of here before you leave."
My gaze shot across to my brother and I couldn't help my grin. Sometimes, things did fall into place.
He just rolled his eyes and shook his head as he said, "Quinn, do you want to head downstairs and find yourself a car? I'll meet you out front with Riley."
He waited until Quinn had left, then picked up the com-unit and walked over to hand it to me. "You do know he's going to check that all items were picked up from this place. Which means he'll realize soon enough this com-unit is missing."
"By which time, I'll have returned it." I kissed my brother's cheek. "Don't worry, I won't drag you into this one."
"How often have I heard that?" His voice was dry and I grinned. We both knew the answer to that particular question was "more often than necessary." He touched my elbow lightly and motioned toward the bedroom I'd woken in. "Let's go grab a bag of clothes for you."
I walked into the room and dropped the unit on the end of the bed then headed for the wardrobe. "I just hope the passwords I know will get me deep enough into the system to uncover who the hell Kade is."
"If you haven't got full codes, it might be better not to tackle the Directorate's data, but rather, go for outside sources. As his assistant, you have clearances into most Government systems."
Now there was a thought. And it was less likely to get me in deep shit with Jack. "Uncover what he isn't, you mean?"
He nodded, and walked across the cut-open window. His short red hair barely stirred in the cool breeze as he stared out into the night. Given his expression - or rather, the chilled lack of it - those creatures wouldn't want to attack a second time.
"If Kade is a builder, there'll be trade certificates, business registrations, stuff like that. And you should be able to find other pointers, like birth certificates and school reports, to confirm he is who he says he is."
"And if he isn't who he says he is, I'll beat the damn information out of him." Hey, I had to take my frustrations over fate and the shit she was shoveling my way out on someone.
Rhoan's sudden smile lifted the coldness from his eyes. "Or you could tease him, then withhold sexual privileges. That'll get the information out of him right quick."
I smiled. "Ah, but that'll be punishing myself, as well."
"There's plenty of wolves out there who'd be more than willing to cure that particular affliction."
"Not to mention a particular vampire who'd be more than willing," I muttered without thinking.
"Is that why he's still here?" Rhoan asked. "Because he's finally realized he let a good thing go?"
I snorted. "It's not the only reason, no. I'm never the only reason he's down in Melbourne."
My voice held an edge, and he frowned at me. "I thought we'd sorted all this out?"
I blew out a breath. I really should learn to shut my mouth. "We did. But I sort of offered him a compromise."
He shook his head. "That's not wise."
I shoved the com-unit in the bag and cushioned it with more clothes and a couple of pairs of shoes. "I know, I know. But if he could learn to deal with me having other partners, then I can't see the harm in it."
"The harm in it is that he won't ever change, no matter what he says."