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.