Charles looked doubtful. “Do they have any field experience?”
Gregori snorted. “Some of them have centuries of experience. A few of the newbies used to work for the FBI and CIA. There’s one guy who teleports into Langley without you guys knowing.”
Charles’s eyes narrowed. “I doubt that.”
“Do you want to see the medal the Brits gave Angus? During World War II, he teleported behind German lines and rescued some Royal Air Force guys. Got them all out alive in one night.”
“Then the British government knows about vampires?” Abigail asked.
Gregori nodded. “I told your father about it the other night. We’d like to have the same sort of relationship with the American government.”
“That sounds good to me,” Abigail said. “I’m going to recommend to my father that we go ahead with the mission.”
“Miss Tucker—” Charles started.
“I can’t afford to lose any more time,” she interrupted. “If the British trust these Vamps, then I will, too.”
Charles glanced at Gregori with a look bordering on disgust. “Josh told me about him. He’s not to be trusted.”
Gregori gritted his teeth. “I would never harm Miss Tucker. I’m sure she knows that.” He wasn’t sure at all, but he hoped she would verify it.
She didn’t. She looked away, her cheeks turning pink.
Damn. Did she not even like him?
As they approached the MacKay office, the door opened. No doubt the people inside had been watching them on the monitors.
Emma stepped outside. “Good evening. I’m Emma MacKay, vice president of MacKay S and I.” She smiled. “I worked for the CIA for a short time.”
“She’s a vampire?” Abigail whispered.
“Yes, I am.” Emma’s smile widened, and she pointed to her ears. “Super hearing. Please, come inside.”
Gregori stepped into the office, followed by Emma and Charles, who motioned for Abigail to remain in the hall.
“Remember me?” Sean Whelan shook hands with the Secret Service man. “I’m head of the CIA Stake-Out team.”
Charles quickly scanned the room, then gestured for Abigail to enter.
“Wow,” she whispered as she approached the wall of monitors.
“Impressive.” Charles eyed the stash of weapons in the caged-off area at the back.
“Miss Tucker?” Sean shook her hand. “Delighted to see you again. If there’s anything I can do to assist you, please let me know.”
“Thank you.” She gave him a curious look. “So you’re a friend of the Vamps?”
“Yes.” He nodded. “Of course I didn’t start off that way. As head of the Stake-Out team, my original goal was to terminate all vampires. But over time, I learned that the good Vamps were on our side, helping to protect us from the Malcontents.”
Charles’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. “Why are you here?”
“I drop by every now and then to keep an eye on things.” Sean wandered over to the table and poured a cup of coffee. “Would you like a cup?”
Charles shook his head.
Gregori bit his lip to keep from laughing at how Sean was pretending to still be mortal.
“My husband, Angus, will be back soon,” Emma said. “In the meantime, I’d be happy to answer any of your security questions.”
Abigail gasped and pointed at a monitor. “Four people just appeared out of thin air.”
Emma glanced at the monitor. “Yes, that’s my husband, Angus, and Roman Draganesti, CEO of Romatech. They’re teleporting Roman’s wife and sister-in-law here.”
Charles studied the monitor. “They arrived outside?”
“Yes, they’re coming in the side entrance now,” Emma explained. “Teleporting straight into the facility sets off an alarm. That way we can tell if any Malcontents have entered.”
“Excuse me.” Sean hurried out into the hallway.
“Dad!” Shanna called out to him. “What are you doing here?”
Sean winced and closed the office door.
“Dad?” Charles stepped closer to examine the monitor. “Those women are Sean Whelan’s daughters?”
Emma exchanged a look with Gregori.
He shrugged. They could hardly hide the truth. “Sean’s daughter Shanna is married to Roman Draganesti.”
Charles scoffed. “No wonder he’s friends with them.”
“Actually,” Emma muttered, “it took Sean several years to accept Roman as a son-in-law.”
Charles nodded, then shot Gregori an annoyed look. “No man would want his daughter involved with a vampire.”
Gregori scowled back. “Some women might think Vamps make excellent husbands. They don’t have to cook for us. We never snore. And while we’re passed out all day, they have free access to our credit cards.”