get into the rest of it when the door opened and Ryan’s secretary brought in two cups of coffee. Temporary reprieve. Contrary to most police departments, RDPD had decent coffee, thanks to the ladies of the clerical staff who guarded the pot.
Ari had rehearsed the coming conversation in her head, but now it felt all wrong. She sipped her coffee and worked on a quick rewrite.
Ryan leaned forward to rest his hands on the desk. “Out with it, Ari. Something’s on your mind, and I’d guess I’m not going to like it.”
She nearly spilled her coffee, set it down.
Ryan grinned at her reaction. “You look like you expect to be sent to the principal’s office.”
“That obvious, huh?” Ari hid a flash of annoyance. Maybe she’d have to work on this inscrutable face thing. There was no easy way, so she just told him. “You know I talked with Rita, and that I’ve tried everything to confirm her story. Well, I finally gave up and called Andreas. You remember, the vampire you met at the Second Chance. I went to see him Thursday night.”
“And? You’re still in one piece, so I assume it stayed peaceful.”
“Of course. And I asked Andreas to help us.”
“Thought you’d already done that. And he didn’t seem too eager after the bar fight. Did he agree to find the witnesses for you?”
“Sort of. I asked him to work on the case with me. With us. Like another partner.” Ryan’s brows shot up, but he didn’t say anything, so she continued. “And I asked him to take me to Gordon’s nest.” She sipped from her coffee cup, peering at him over the rim, and waited for a reaction.
Ryan’s body stilled, his face settled into a frown. “And what did he say?”
“He laughed at me.”
Ryan relaxed and leaned back, a slight smile on his face.
Knowing she’d misled him, Ari plowed ahead. “But I didn’t give up, and eventually he changed his mind. Said he’d take me.”
“What?” Ryan exploded out of his chair. He shoved both hands through his blond curls, creating a disordered mass, and began to stride back and forth across the room. “Good God, Ari. You must be crazy! You can’t trust a vampire. And you can’t go into some vampire nest with him.”
“I already did.”
Ryan stopped, his feet glued to the floor, and stared at Ari as if she had turned into a two-headed frog.
“And I’m fine. Andreas went with me. We got what we needed and were back home in a couple of hours.”
If Ari had expected their success would make him happier, he quickly burst that bubble. His face paled, then flushed in sudden heat.
“Of all the lame-brained, idiotic things anyone could do! I know you have this big-time, supernatural stuff going for you, but even you can’t fight off a nest of vampires. How could you trust that…that creature?” He resumed his angry steps.
Ari didn’t want this to end in a big fight, so she decided to keep quiet until he simmered down. That turned out to be a good decision. One of few, according to him.
“You could be dead,” he ranted. “And I wouldn’t even know it. You’d just be missing. Since you didn’t bother to tell me, I wouldn’t have a clue what happened—or where to look. Did you tell anyone?”
When Ari shook her head, he rolled his eyes. After another minute or two of verbal venting, Ryan dropped into his chair, still shaking his head back and forth. “Why? Just tell me why?”
“Because I couldn’t do my job without him.” Ari leaned forward, eager to make him understand. “He has access to places we can’t go, places I can’t even find.”
“Maybe so. But no single case is that important.” His jaw set in a stubborn line.
“I don’t believe that, and neither do you. You put your life on the line every single day.” Ari gathered her thoughts. “I pledged to protect every member of the magic community, not just those I like. Or think are worth it. I never forget that oath. Just like your responsibility to protect the humans, even the bad guys sometimes.”
“I understand duty.” Ryan spoke with resignation. “But I don’t understand how you could trust him.”
“What was my choice? There wasn’t one. My brain hasn’t gone soft, Ryan. I know what he is, but so far he’s kept his word.”
“Lucky for you. I hope you don’t expect me to trust him.” His tone was acerbic.
“No,” she sounded resigned. “Not unless he earns it. But work with