I started to leave, but then paused.

"Bones, before we do this, I have to tell you something. You know I still care about you, obviously, but it's more than that.

I'm...I still love you. I've never stopped, actually, even though I tried to snap out of it over the years. I don't expect you to feel the same way, but-"

"I've never stopped loving you," he cut me off, coming over to take me in his arms. "Not for an instant. Even when I was so angry at you for leaving me, I've always loved you, Kitten."

He kissed me, a slow, deep kiss, like we had all the time in the world. I wished we did, but right now, I was afraid I might never see him again.

With a shuddering sigh, I pushed him back. "I'll give you another kiss later. Right now I'm too scared about what you're doing."

Bones smiled, undisturbed, and traced my lower lip with his finger. "I'll look forward to it. There's one more thing, and you must swear to do exactly as I tell you. Take this." He placed a sealed envelope in my hand. "Hide this in your clothes and don't open it until I tell you. This is the information I'd been waiting for, and I need to be there when you see it. Swear to me you'll wait."

"Quit being melodramatic." I thrust the envelope down the front of my shirt, tucking it in my bra. "Scout's honor, okay?"

"I love you." He made it difficult to stay mad at him.

That stopped me by the door, my hand on the k.n.o.b. "Don't get killed. No matter what."

From the look in my eyes, he knew what I meant.

"It shouldn't come to that, but if it does, I'll try not to kill any of them."

"Right." My tone was brittle. "I don't know if they'll show you the same courtesy."

This time, when I drove up to the guard gates on a motorcycle and took off my helmet, I was rushed through without hesitation. After all, I couldn't exactly hide a vampire on the handlebars, could I? I rode straight through to the entrance, literally leaving the bike by the door, and was met by Tate and Juan. They both looked awful.

"Christos, querida, we thought the worst," Juan exclaimed. Tate was less expressive, but he stared at the scratch on my forehead as if transfixed.

"Jesus. Is that from the bullet?"

"Sure is." Flippantly. "Were you one of my spies last night? Or did you get the report secondhand?"

We headed for Don's office. To my relief, I saw the building's doors seal promptly behind me. Good, Don was keeping everyone inside.

Tate still looked rattled. "Actually, I saw it on video. You were being recorded. Don has the tapes."

"At least I'll get to see how my dress looked, even though it's toast now."

"You looked beautiful, querida." Trust Juan never to miss an opportunity, no matter the circ.u.mstances. "Throw away that pulseless pale man and I'll take care of you."

"That 'pulseless pale man' saved my life, Juan," I bleakly reminded him. "I wouldn't be pretty with three holes plugged in my head, would I?"

Don stood when we entered, a rarity. He stared at me for a moment, and something flashed across his face I couldn 't name.

"Let me see it," I began without pleasantries.

He knew what I was referring to, and clicked a b.u.t.ton that flicked on the plasma screen as Tate shut the door.

Whoever had been filming me had a better vantage point than my would-be a.s.sa.s.sin. This looked to be from a neighboring building, since the slant was less steep. Dispa.s.sionately I watched the silent footage of Bones and me at our seats, the waiter bringing us the wine, him leaning forward, and me stroking his hand. The next scene was a blur of volatile movement that defied tracking with the naked eye. Then there was the unbelievable sight of the window exploding outward and a black -draped form free-falling with me before zooming off to wreck the van below.

The cameraman had apparently stopped filming and started moving, because the next footage was far more mundane. It showed the dead body of Ellis Pierson, and a close-up on the puncture wounds in the throat. Bones hadn't bothered to heal them.

He knew my team would scoop up the evidence.

Don clicked off the film and regarded me with guarded expectancy.

"I take it that was the hired gun?"

"Yeah. My date wasn't happy at his dinner being interrupted."

"Oh, your date got his dinner, all right," Tate muttered sarcastically.

"You know, Tate, I can't say I minded much at the time. After all, I'd just listened to a detailed description of how he was paid to blow my head off."

"Cat." Don rested his hands on his desk as he sat down. "You need to tell us about this vampire you're with. You start dating the undead, and suddenly you're targeted for a.s.sa.s.sination? From someone who knew exactly where you'd be? It's too coincidental."

"Did you just miss what you saw?" Exasperation filled my tone. "That vampire took a f.u.c.king bullet in the head for me!

Explain to me how that's hostile!"

"I've studied this recording frame by frame, Cat," Tate answered flatly. "He moved faster than a speeding bullet, literally, and then he jumped from a building and flew! So not only does he have to be a Master vampire, but he also has to be the most powerful f.u.c.king Master we've ever encountered."

Good thing Tate still hadn't recognized Bones from Ohio, even though he'd studied the film footage from last night. Maybe it was like the old prejudiced saying went, except for Tate, it was all vampires who looked the same. Still, that was an issue for another time. Let them keep thinking Bones was just some new vamp I 'd met. Later they'd learn the truth, but for now, it fit the plan to keep them ignorant of who he was.

"I'm not an idiot, Tate. I realized the same thing after he was finished with the hit man, but as I said, he obviously doesn't want me dead. He thinks someone close to me does, though, just from a different angle. He thinks it's someone here, and that Don is the key."

"What? Huh? Que?"

They spoke at once, and I waved a hand.

"He wouldn't tell me much, but said he had to confirm it. I have his cell-he'll call when he's finished. But he did mention a name, and said this person was connected. Maybe you'll recognize it, Don, because it doesn't ring a bell with me."

This part Bones had been very specific about. I didn't blink as my eyes met the older man's. "Maximillian. Ever heard of him?"

Something happened to Don's face I'd never seen. He blanched and almost looked like he'd faint. Motherf.u.c.ker. For Don to look that sick, he recognized the name, all right. "Why, boss, you look like someone just walked over your grave," I said softly.

Tate and Juan cast interested glances in his direction as well, but their faces were blank. Maybe Don was the only one in on the secret.

Don opened his mouth to speak, but was saved when his cell phone rang. He glanced at the number, answered it, and then shot me a guarded look and covered the phone.

"I, ah, have to go in the hall where there's better reception."

"Is something wrong?" I asked at once.

"No, no," he a.s.sured me while backing away. "Give me a moment."

Don left the office, and from the sounds of it, the entire sublevel as well, since I couldn't hear anything from him anymore.

Tate used the interruption to start on me. "Cat, you need to tell us who this vampire is that you're consorting with, and anything else you know about him, because he knows far more than he's letting on."

I bristled at being spoken to like a junior officer. "His name is Crispin, he's lived in and around Virginia for the last ten years, and he can go all night in bed." There. Take that and shove it.

Tate shot me an angry look. "That's nice for him, but it still doesn't tell us anything useful."

I shrugged. "Isn't the bigger problem who this Maximillian is, or how he's connected here? Don't you know the name?"

"No." His denial was immediate. From his expression, I didn't think he was lying, but I wouldn't have sworn to it.

Then Tate's cell rang. He glanced at it and frowned.

"Yeah...what? Okay, on my way." Tate hung up and then rose. "I have to go, Don needs me for something. Juan, he wants you to wait in here with Cat-and he says neither of you are to leave this room until he gets back."

Tate left. It was just Juan and I.

"Between Tate's jealousy and Don's paranoia, they're probably on a three-way call with my mother to discuss my lack of brains," I said bitterly. "After over four years and all the times I've risked my life, this is the payback I get. Cooling my heels with you babysitting me. What a joke."

Juan didn't reply, but his silence said it all.

"Juan." I swiveled to face him. "You're the only one who isn't operating with clouded judgment. There's more to a person than their temperature. You've seen enough to know that. Don't let them f.u.c.k everything up because of prejudice. Just look at all the facts before rushing to condemn anyone, that's all I ask."

"I owe you, querida. You've saved my life many times." Juan's normal playfulness was gone, and he was equally somber.

"I will give you the benefit of the doubt, but your lover...I owe him nothing."

I took his hand and squeezed it. "Then do it for me. Please. For me."

The door swung open as Don and Tate returned. Don was the first to speak.

"Cat, I'm sending some men to escort your mother here, where she'll be safe until we've determined who's behind the threat on your life. It's just precautionary. I have some calls to make and a few other employees to round up, so you can wait in your office. The compound will be locked down when they leave, as you requested. We'll speak when they return."

My stomach twisted with anxiety but I squelched it. Bones had told me to trust him. This time, I'd do just that.

"Fine. Go ahead. Get my mom."

Tate grabbed Juan's arm and almost yanked him out the door. "We're on our way."

TWENTY-THREE.

TIME LIMPED ALONG. IT WAS WELL OVER three hours before I heard activity at the far end of the compound.

Several of my team were there, talking in loud, excited voices. That was the only way in from the exterior to the fourth sub -level, where we housed the vampires. I strained my ears, then heard the unmistakable alarm bells for the reinforced elevator that was only used for transporting the capsule inside.

I barged straight into Don's office. He'd been on the phone, and with a supremely confident air, he set it down.

"They're back, and they've got the capsule with them. What the f.u.c.k is going on, Don?"

"Sit down." He inclined his head toward the chair, and with a huff I sat. "I'm afraid I have some disturbing news, Cat. I didn't tell you before because I couldn't risk you endangering yourself by leaving. Your mother called me earlier because she was afraid. Apparently your new vampire boyfriend phoned her to say he was coming over. Once he got there, he attacked her. She's okay, just cuts and bruises. After we arrived, he, ah, surrendered and was brought here. Already he's implied that he knows who's after you and that he's in on it. The men are securing him now, and then they will question him in detail."

"I want to see him," I said at once.

Don shook his head. "Not a chance. You're too emotionally involved, and it's clouded your objectivity. As of an hour ago, your access to the lower levels is restricted. You are to have no contact with any of the vampires. I'm sorry, but your actions have determined my response. Don't be too harsh on yourself. Many others have also fallen prey to their influence. Let this be a lesson to you, and I'll keep you informed."

He was dismissing me. I jumped to my feet, p.i.s.sed.

"Fine, if you want to be all bra.s.s b.a.l.l.s about it, then let me talk to Tate before he questions him. You can at least do that.

Bring Tate up here if you're so G.o.dd.a.m.n worried I'll cause a scene downstairs. He can meet me in my office."

Don gave me a look of thinly veiled annoyance, but picked up his phone and placed the call.

"He'll be here in fifteen minutes."

I slammed the door behind me.

If Tate expected me to be quivering on my couch when he opened my door, he was disappointed. Coolly I sat behind my desk and waved a hand at the door.

"Shut it."

Tate closed it and then folded his arms across his chest.

"I came like you asked, but you can save your breath, Cat. Nothing you say will change anything. We caught him red - handed at your mother's. She's lucky to be alive, if you can see past your concern over your lover to be bothered with that."

He looked mildly disgusted with me, yet his heartbeat still accelerated when I went to stand near him.

"Oh, I care more than you imagine, Tate. Not just about him, but about you as well. That 's why I'm going to ask you this first, and hope you do the right thing. Take Juan with you and let him out. Then we're locking down the building in emergency mode and finding out who our mole is. We can do this two ways, but it will get done."

His nostrils flared as he shook his head. "You've lost your mind, Cat. Just absolutely lost it! G.o.d, no f.u.c.k can be worth throwing your life away for-"

"I love him," I interrupted.

He cursed viciously before finishing with "Now I know you're crazy! You've only been seeing him a couple weeks and you think you're in love? That's f.u.c.king nuts!"

He grasped my shoulders and gave me a hard shake. I just closed my hands over his.

"Tate, once you accused me of not trusting anyone. You were right-I haven't. I'm going to trust you now, though, and I hope you'll trust me. When you saw him today, when you looked in his eyes and really saw him...didn't he look familiar?"