dead, in fact. Or with them, at any rate.”
76
“Speaking of dead,” Gideon said, “we’ve got a report of another Gen One killing overseas.”
“Christ. Picking them off like flies, aren’t they?”
“Or trying to, from the looks of it. Reichen’s following up on the report from Berlin. Got an e-mail from him that he’ll be calling in later today with an update.”
“Good to know we’ve got eyes and ears that we can trust over there,” Niko said. “Shit, Gideon. Never would have thought I’d have any use for a Darkhaven civilian, but Andreas Reichen is proving to be a damn good ally. Maybe Lucan ought to officially recruit him into the Order?”
Gideon chuckled. “Don’t think he hasn’t considered it. Alas, we’re just a part-time gig for Reichen. He may have the soul of a warrior, but his heart belongs to his Berlin Darkhaven.”
And a certain human female, from what Nikolai understood. According to Tegan and Rio, the two warriors who’d spent the most time with Andreas Reichen at his Berlin headquarters, the German Darkhaven leader was romantically involved with a brothel owner named Helene.
It was unusual for a Breed male to have more than a casual, shortterm relationship with a mortal woman, but Niko wasn’t about to question it since Helene was also proving instrumental in the Order’s intelligencegathering efforts overseas.
“So, listen,” Gideon said. “Cool your heels where you are, and I’ll let you know once I have your departure info for tonight. Sound good?”
“Yeah. You know how to find me.”
The murmur of a velvety female voice, soft from sleep, carried vaguely through the receiver.
“Ah, hell, Gid. Don’t tell me you’re in bed with Savannah.”
“I was,” he replied, leaning hard on the past tense. “Now that she’s awake, she says she’s tossing me over for a hot shower and a cup of strong coffee.”
77
Nikolai groaned. “Shit. Tell her I’m sorry for the interruption.”
“Hey, babe,” Gideon called to his beloved, blood-bonded mate of some thirty-odd years. “Niko says he’s sorry for being such a rude bastard and waking you up at this ungodly hour.”
“Thanks,” Niko muttered.
“You’re welcome.”
“I’ll check in with you again from the plane heading home.”
“Sounds good,” Gideon said. Then, to Savannah on the side: “Hey, love? Niko wants me to tell you that he’s hanging up now. He says you ought to come back to bed and let me ravish you slowly from your clever and beautiful head to your delectable little toes.”
Nikolai chuckled. “Sounds like fun. Put me on speaker so I can listen at least.”
Gideon snorted. “Not a chance. She’s all mine.”
“Selfish bastard,” Niko drawled wryly. “I’ll catch you later.”
“Right, later. And Niko—about the Yakut situation? Seriously. Don’t even think about being a cowboy, yeah? We’ve got bigger issues to contend with than trying to corral one loose-cannon Gen One. It’s not our area, especially not right now.”
When Niko didn’t immediately agree, Gideon cleared his throat.
“Your silence isn’t exactly giving me the warm fuzzies, my man. I need to know you’re hearing me on this.”
“Yeah,” Nikolai said. “I’m hearing you. I’ll see you in Boston later tonight.”
Niko closed his cell phone and slid it back into his pocket.
As much as it fried him to think of turning a blind eye to Yakut and his sick activities, he knew Gideon was right. What’s more, he knew that the Order’s leader, Lucan, as well as the rest of the warriors at the Boston compound would say the same thing to him.
78
Forget about Sergei Yakut, at least for the time being. That was the sensible, smartest thing to do.
And while he was at it, he would be wise to forget all about Renata too. She’d made her bed, after all. The fact that she’d evidently made it with sadistic scum like Sergei Yakut was none of Nikolai’s business whatsoever.
76
“Speaking of dead,” Gideon said, “we’ve got a report of another Gen One killing overseas.”
“Christ. Picking them off like flies, aren’t they?”
“Or trying to, from the looks of it. Reichen’s following up on the report from Berlin. Got an e-mail from him that he’ll be calling in later today with an update.”
“Good to know we’ve got eyes and ears that we can trust over there,” Niko said. “Shit, Gideon. Never would have thought I’d have any use for a Darkhaven civilian, but Andreas Reichen is proving to be a damn good ally. Maybe Lucan ought to officially recruit him into the Order?”
Gideon chuckled. “Don’t think he hasn’t considered it. Alas, we’re just a part-time gig for Reichen. He may have the soul of a warrior, but his heart belongs to his Berlin Darkhaven.”
And a certain human female, from what Nikolai understood. According to Tegan and Rio, the two warriors who’d spent the most time with Andreas Reichen at his Berlin headquarters, the German Darkhaven leader was romantically involved with a brothel owner named Helene.
It was unusual for a Breed male to have more than a casual, shortterm relationship with a mortal woman, but Niko wasn’t about to question it since Helene was also proving instrumental in the Order’s intelligencegathering efforts overseas.
“So, listen,” Gideon said. “Cool your heels where you are, and I’ll let you know once I have your departure info for tonight. Sound good?”
“Yeah. You know how to find me.”
The murmur of a velvety female voice, soft from sleep, carried vaguely through the receiver.
“Ah, hell, Gid. Don’t tell me you’re in bed with Savannah.”
“I was,” he replied, leaning hard on the past tense. “Now that she’s awake, she says she’s tossing me over for a hot shower and a cup of strong coffee.”
77
Nikolai groaned. “Shit. Tell her I’m sorry for the interruption.”
“Hey, babe,” Gideon called to his beloved, blood-bonded mate of some thirty-odd years. “Niko says he’s sorry for being such a rude bastard and waking you up at this ungodly hour.”
“Thanks,” Niko muttered.
“You’re welcome.”
“I’ll check in with you again from the plane heading home.”
“Sounds good,” Gideon said. Then, to Savannah on the side: “Hey, love? Niko wants me to tell you that he’s hanging up now. He says you ought to come back to bed and let me ravish you slowly from your clever and beautiful head to your delectable little toes.”
Nikolai chuckled. “Sounds like fun. Put me on speaker so I can listen at least.”
Gideon snorted. “Not a chance. She’s all mine.”
“Selfish bastard,” Niko drawled wryly. “I’ll catch you later.”
“Right, later. And Niko—about the Yakut situation? Seriously. Don’t even think about being a cowboy, yeah? We’ve got bigger issues to contend with than trying to corral one loose-cannon Gen One. It’s not our area, especially not right now.”
When Niko didn’t immediately agree, Gideon cleared his throat.
“Your silence isn’t exactly giving me the warm fuzzies, my man. I need to know you’re hearing me on this.”
“Yeah,” Nikolai said. “I’m hearing you. I’ll see you in Boston later tonight.”
Niko closed his cell phone and slid it back into his pocket.
As much as it fried him to think of turning a blind eye to Yakut and his sick activities, he knew Gideon was right. What’s more, he knew that the Order’s leader, Lucan, as well as the rest of the warriors at the Boston compound would say the same thing to him.
78
Forget about Sergei Yakut, at least for the time being. That was the sensible, smartest thing to do.
And while he was at it, he would be wise to forget all about Renata too. She’d made her bed, after all. The fact that she’d evidently made it with sadistic scum like Sergei Yakut was none of Nikolai’s business whatsoever.
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