Madison set her dog bag on the coffee table next to the ice bucket, then sat next to Abigail. "I'm so sorry, Gregori, that I didn't recognize you right away. I was expecting you to fly in as a bat."
He nodded with a hint of a smile. "We try to be inconspicuous."
Abigail snorted. As if Gregori Holstein could ever be inconspicuous.
He glanced at her, and his eyes darkened to an intense green.
Her heart went back into warp drive. Dammit, he could probably hear that.
Abigail's dad leaned forward, his forearms resting on his knees, as he studied Gregori. "Now that we're helping you with your problem, I'm sure you realize that we expect something in return."
Gregori shifted in his chair as he unbuttoned his suit coat. "What do you have in mind?"
Mr. Caprese cleared his throat. "Your ability to teleport makes you an excellent candidate for covert operations."
Gregori nodded. "We can do covert. We've been covert for centuries." He leaned forward, his expression earnest. "But you must understand that our commitment to not harm mortals remains firm. We will not torture or assassinate for you."
Mr. Caprese huffed. "What makes you think we do that sort of thing?"
Gregori arched a brow, then pulled a bottle from the ice bucket.
Madison nudged Abigail and whispered, "Look! He's going to drink blood!"
"He can hear you," Abigail muttered.
He glanced at her, lifted the bottle in salute, then took a sip.
Yeech. She suppressed a shudder.
His eyes twinkled with humor as he licked his lips.
She looked away, her cheeks warm. The rascal was purposely trying to unnerve her. And succeeding.
"We won't ask you to do something you find morally offensive," her dad said.
The CIA director raised a hand in objection. "They were caught decapitating someone on video. I don't buy the morally superior act."
"That was a battle against the Malcontents." Gregori took another sip of blood. "Our warriors kill in self-defense like any good soldiers."
"So if you were attacked while on a mission," Mr. Caprese said, "we could expect you to kill in order to defend yourselves?"
Gregori frowned. "If necessary, yes. But it is rarely necessary when we can simply teleport away."
Mr. Caprese smirked. "Is that your usual reaction to danger? Run away and hide? I suppose that's how you've managed to exist in secret for so many centuries."
Abigail sucked in a breath. Gregori looked pissed. His eyes had narrowed and turned a more brilliant, luminescent green.
His voice was deadly soft. "Vamps have been risking their lives in battle against the Malcontents for centuries in order to protect mortals. You will not question their bravery."
"Of course not," her dad agreed.
Abigail watched Gregori, fascinated by the changes in his eyes. He seemed to be calming down now, and his eyes were returning to their normal shade of grayish-green. Still, while he'd been upset, the intensity in the room had felt electric and exciting.
He definitely didn't like being considered cowardly. She wondered what other hot buttons he had. What would happen if he completely lost control? Was there a bloodsucking monster inside him just waiting to burst free?
"Who are the Malcontents?" she asked.
"They are the true enemy," Mr. Whelan explained. "Evil vampires who believe they have the right to feed off mortals and kill them. Mortals would be defenseless against them in battle. But the Vamps have the same powers as the Malcontents, so they're our best bet at defeating them. We need the Vamps on our side."
"Then on behalf of our country, I would like to thank you for protecting us," the president said.
Gregori inclined his head. "You're welcome."
Strange, Abigail thought. Mr. Whelan made the Vamps sound like heroes. Protectors of the Universe with their black vampire capes and super powers. Come to think of it, she wouldn't mind seeing Gregori in a spandex costume.
"I'd like to hear more about teleportation," her dad continued. "How far can you travel?"
She sat up, anxious to hear his answer.
"I can go anywhere in the world," Gregori replied. "But it has to be nighttime wherever I'm going."
Abigail's dad exchanged a look with her, then turned back to Gregori. "Can you take someone with you when you teleport?"
Gregori nodded. "One person. Some of the older Vamps can manage two, but we usually stick with just one to be safe."
Abigail's heart raced even faster.
Gregori leaned forward. "What sort of project do you have in mind?"
"Nothing violent." Her dad waved a dismissive hand. "It would be more of a . . . humanitarian mission."
"Mr. President," the CIA director whispered. "We need to discuss this first."
He nodded. "We will. I just wanted to gather some facts beforehand." He turned to Abigail and lowered his voice. "What do you think? Would you be comfortable traveling and working with him and his kind?"
Her heart pounded in her ears. "It's hard to say." She cast a nervous glance toward Gregori. "I hardly know him."
"Then you need to get better acquainted." Her dad turned back to Gregori. "Would you mind spending some time with my daughter? Tomorrow night? Perhaps you could introduce her to your world and some of your associates."
His eyes widened. "If you wish. Yes, sir."
Abigail gulped. Did her father just set her up on a date with a vampire?
"I want to come!" Madison bounced on the couch with excitement. "Please, Daddy. I want to see the vampire world!"
"Yes." Abigail grabbed her sister's arm. "I'd like Madison to come, too." Anything to keep me from being alone with Gregori Holstein.
"Oh, thank you, Abby!" Madison hugged her. "It's going to be so much fun!" She turned to Gregori. "Where will you take us?"
"I - " He adjusted his tie and glanced at Mr. Whelan, who had just cursed under his breath. "Somewhere . . . public. I don't know any vampire places in D.C. There's a new vampire nightclub in Manhattan that's very popular right now."
"A vampire nightclub!" Madison clasped her hands together over her chest. "That sounds so exciting!"
Their dad frowned. "What goes on at this club? Is it a safe place for my daughters?"
"Completely safe. All the Vamps there will be drinking from bottles," Gregori explained. "They just go there to talk and dance."
"Then I guess it would be all right." Dad motioned to two of the Secret Service men. "Josh and Charles will provide transportation. They'll need to be with you at all times, and they'll report directly to me every five minutes. The girls will arrive in Manhattan tomorrow. We'll let you know where they're staying."
"Dad." Abigail touched his sleeve. "I have to go to work tomorrow."
"They can give you a few days off." He squeezed her hand. "This is important. We have to know if you can get along with this vampire and his friends." He glanced at Gregori. "And I need to know if I can trust you with my daughter."
Gregori nodded. "I will guard her with my life."
"Me too!" Madison clapped her hands merrily.
Their dad stood and gave Gregori a stern look. "I will hold you to that promise. My daughters are to stay safe and protected. If anything happens to them, if they come home just feeling unhappy, then our deal is off, and you and your vampire friends are on your own."
"I understand." Gregori stood and turned stiffly toward Abigail and Madison. "I will see you tomorrow evening at nine in New York."
Madison jumped to her feet. "Thank you!"
He nodded at her, then gave Abigail a questioning look.
Her cheeks blazed with heat. A date with a vampire? Her whole world had suddenly turned topsy-turvy.
Her dad gestured to one of the Secret Service men. "Charles will drive you back now."
"Thank you, but no. It's not necessary." Gregori took hold of Mr. Whelan's arm and glanced at the dog bag on the coffee table.
Dolly opened her eyes and sat up.
Abigail stiffened and stared at Gregori. "You - "
"We can talk tomorrow," he interrupted.
Before she could respond, he vanished, taking Mr. Whelan with him.
Chapter Nine
Gregori landed close to the side entrance to Romatech. He swore silently as he dug his ID card out of his wallet. Of all the stupid things - nowhere in his strategy plans had he counted on being a damned babysitter. He swiped his ID card while Sean Whelan pivoted in a circle.