Kiss of Midnight_ A Midnight Breed Novel - Lara Adrian [169]
“We have nothing more to go on than what I’ve presented here.”
Dante saw Lucan’s grave expression and understood where this was heading. “Ah, and so this is where we come in, is that it?”
“The Darkhavens have asked for our assistance in identifying and, if practical or even possible, bringing back any missing civilians we might run across in our nightly patrols. Obviously, as a part of that, it is in our shared interest to put a stop to Crimson and those who deal in it. I think we can all agree that the last thing the Breed needs is more vampires turning Rogue.”
Dante nodded along with the others.
“The Order’s willingness to assist with this problem is greatly appreciated. My thanks to all of you,” Chase said, letting his gaze settle on each of the Breed warriors in turn. “But there is one more thing, if I may?”
Lucan gave a slight incline of his head, gesturing for the agent to continue.
Chase cleared his throat. “I would like to have an active part in the operation.”
A long, heavy silence stretched out as Lucan scowled, leaning back in his chair at the head of the table. “Active in what way?”
“I want to ride along with one or more members of the Order, to personally monitor the operation and to assist in the retrieval of these missing individuals.”
Seated on the other side of Dante, Nikolai burst out laughing.
Gideon raked his fingers through his cropped hair, then threw his pale blue shades onto the table. “We don’t take civilians along on our operations. Never have, never will.”
Even Tegan, the stoic one, who hadn’t uttered a single word one way or the other throughout the entire meeting, was finally moved to voice his disagreement. “You won’t live to the end of your first night, Agent,” he said without inflection, only cold truth.
Dante held his disbelief inside, certain that Lucan would shut the agent down with the power of his level glare alone. But Lucan didn’t reject the idea outright. He stood up, his fists braced on the edge of the conference table.
“Leave us,” he told Chase. “My brethren and I will discuss your request privately. Our business here is finished for now, Agent Chase. You may return to the Darkhaven to await our decision. I will be in contact with you.”
Dante and the rest of the warriors stood too; then, after a long moment, so did the Darkhaven agent, retrieving his polished leather case from the floor beside him. Dante took a step out from the table. When Chase tried to move past him, he got the edge of Dante’s thick shoulder blocking his path. Given no choice, he paused.
“Folks like you call us savages,” Dante said harshly, “yet here you are, all posh and shiny in your suit and tie, asking for our help. Lucan speaks for the Order, and if he says we’re going to bail your ass out on this little problem, then that’s good enough for me. But it doesn’t mean I have to like it. Doesn’t mean I have to like you either.”
“I’m not hoping to win any popularity contests. And if you have misgivings about my proposed role in this investigation, by all means, state them.”
Dante chuckled, surprised by the challenge. He didn’t think the guy had it in him. “Well, now, I don’t mean to stand on ceremony, Special Investigative Agent Chase—’scuse me, Senior Special Investigative Agent—but what I do, what all of us in this room do, each and every night, is some dirty fucking work. We fight. We kill. We sure as shit don’t run some kind of tourist program for Darkhaven agents looking to build their political careers on our blood and sweat.”
“Nor is that my intention, I assure you. All that matters to me is my charge to locate and recover the individuals who’ve gone missing from my community. If the Order can stop the proliferation of Crimson in the process, so much the better. For all of the Breed.”
“And how is it you feel you’re even remotely qualified to go out on patrols with us?”
Agent Chase glanced around the room, possibly looking for support from any one of the warriors standing around the