"That bastard has used and abused me for the last time. It's about time he started taking me seriously."
"Slapping him in handcuffs won't make him do that."
"Maybe not, but just think of the pleasure it'll give me to watch his expression as I do it."
He snorted softly. "You haven't even asked why we're arresting him."
"Because he's with the dark mage."
Surprise flitted across his otherwise calm expression. "You knew that?"
"Discovered it last night." I hesitated. "I also discovered that changing shape mutes a vampire's compulsion."
He nodded, as if it were something he'd long known. If that were the case, he could have told me. "So you're the reason Jack was tracking him in the first place?"
"Yep." I downed the coffee in several gulps and rose. "What time is the raid planned?"
Rhoan glanced at his watch. "Jack wants us there at ten." He looked at me and smiled. "He knew you'd want in."
"I'm getting predictable, and that's just sad." I glanced across at the clock. "I've time enough to freshen up, then."
A hot shower didn't do a whole lot to shake the tiredness, but at least I felt cleaner. I grabbed some pants and a thick sweater to combat the chill of the day, then retrieved my boots from the grip of the dust bunnies under my bed. Not only did these particular boots have a nice big heel, but the heel itself was made of wood. A handy thing if a certain vampire got antsy. Not that I'd stake him with the intent of killing him, but hurting him just a little was a tempting prospect.
Once dressed, I grabbed my ID, credit cards, and cell phone, then headed out. Rhoan tossed me my gun. "If you forget it this time, Jack will kill you."
"Only if some tattletale tells him I keep forgetting it." I reluctantly strapped it on. "I don't want to start relying on these things, bro."
"I know. But sometimes, a werewolf's teeth and a vampire's speed just aren't enough. Trust me on this." He gave me a quick hug, then ushered me out the door. "And if you are going to do this job - and we both know you really have no other choice - then you have to learn to use all the tools of the trade. Whether you like them or not."
Speaking of tools... I pulled the phone from my pocket and turned it on. To find a dozen voice messages awaiting me, all from Jin. I listened to them as I followed Rhoan down the stairs. Each was basically the same - an apology, a demand that I ring. It wasn't until the last one that he sounded anything resembling contrite.
"That's one bad boy who has it bad for you," Rhoan commented, as he opened the passenger door of his old Ford and ushered me inside.
"He just adores the way I take a slap," I murmured, concentrating on sending Jin a semi-cold text message. I might be under orders to get into that dinner party tonight, but I didn't have to be all meek and mild about it.
"A lot of bad men seem to like that," Rhoan commented, after getting into the car and venturing into the traffic. "Must be something in their makeup. They get their rocks off on giving others pain."
I looked at him. "Is that why you enjoy the job so much?"
He shrugged. "Sometimes, different is good."
"Different from Liander, you mean?"
He gave me a keen glance. "I love Liander, don't get me wrong, but sometimes, I just need more. My work gives me that, Riley."
"He's not complaining about the men you do within your job. He's complaining about the ones outside work."
Rhoan sniffed. "Yeah, well - "
"Don't give me that 'yeah, well' bullshit. Liander's a good man, and he doesn't deserve the crap you hand out. At the very least, you should talk to him."
"I can't."
"Why the hell not?" My phone rang. I looked down and saw it was Jin. I ignored it and looked back at my brother, waiting for a reply.
He scrubbed a hand across his jaw as he looked in the rearview mirror. "Because I don't want to lose him."
I blinked. Of all the excuses I'd been imagining, that certainly wasn't one of them. "What?"