As dawn breaks, p.7
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As Dawn Breaks, page 7

 

As Dawn Breaks
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  “That’s not true.” His gaze bored into her. “Not at all.”

  “I’m a mutt, David. Unworthy and unwelcome.”

  When he flinched at the vile word, she sighed. Once again, the truth of her birth would stop any chance of a relationship forming. Not that there could be one. He was above her pay grade.

  “You’re no mutt. You’re beautiful and strong. A protector. Don’t let anyone tell you anything else.”

  Now she laughed. “A mutual therapy session?”

  He smiled, and his features lightened. “Whatever it takes, Genevieve. Tell me about this lilt in your voice.”

  She laughed. “Maman was born in France nearly two centuries ago. I guess a bit of that rubbed off on me.”

  “You weren’t born here?”

  “No. Down south, but when Maman was sent away, she went north. We lived there for about five… six years. Maman returned, and I settled somewhere in the middle because I needed to be me.” Away from the hate and threats. She kept the thought to herself. He didn’t need more right now, and she wasn’t yet ready to face the fact that there was a driving need to tell him everything.

  His gaze narrowed. “There’s more though, isn’t there?”

  She blinked. “Pardon?”

  “I’ve seen those called mutts before. They’re threatened. Were you?” As if he could see within her soul, his brow creased with anger. That frightened her more, because what else could he see? Discern?

  “You know, I’m sure our food should have been delivered here by now.” Genny smiled, though it was false and bright. She knew he wasn’t fooled by her attempts to deflect, but she didn’t want to discuss it any further.

  It was as if by magic when the food arrived.

  They ate in silence, both watching the other but neither making the next move.

  It made her jittery. Uncomfortable.

  By the time they’d finished, she could cut the tension between them with a knife.

  The bill came, and he quickly grabbed it, filled out the paper, and handed it back.

  “I intend to pay for my lunch,” she added.

  “I wanted to eat here, so I believe it’s my responsibility to pay.”

  “An ancient and not really PC stand, though.”

  He shrugged. “Perhaps, but it’s the way I work.”

  That left her dumbfounded. It wasn’t a date. But she wouldn’t push right now. Another chance would arise where she could even the balance.

  With that in mind, once the folder was returned, they stood and left the restaurant.

  Chapter 7

  David learned a lot about Genevieve Fernly during the afternoon. She didn’t like to waste words. The woman was driven but compassionate and, like him, was all alone in the world in all the ways that mattered.

  By three thirty, they’d returned to the office, and while he worked on his tablet, Genevieve worked like a demon, preparing a report, then the briefing. The team came together, and he raised a brow at the make-up. A lumbering man he was sure might be a bear shifter. Another was slight, but the glint in his eyes was dangerous. David couldn’t hazard quite what he was, apart from deadly.

  Genevieve, tiny but quick, and bringing up the last spot, a man she walked wide circles around. That caught his attention.

  He watched the interaction, and clearly the last man was new and untried in the team.

  When the man attempted to sit nearest Genevieve, David’s hackles rose. “Excuse me, but that’s my seat,” he said smoothly.

  The man stared at him. “Julien Avarre. You are?”

  “Yeux Secondes of House al bin Habbad. David Jardin.” He didn’t extend his hand because the man appeared to think he had some connection to Genevieve, and that ignited a deep and strange protectiveness towards the woman he wanted to get closer to.

  When Genevieve glanced at him, there was relief in her gaze, and he wondered at that. At least until everyone settled. Then she assumed a mantle of control.

  Methodically, she walked them through what they knew, circulated the printed images she’d taken earlier, and shared the intelligence she’d received from her “snitch,” as Genevieve called the unnamed person.

  By the end, he felt he knew exactly what would happen. When the team stood, so did he. They headed in all directions, retrieving—he guessed—firepower and protective clothing. Genevieve excused herself only to return moments later with a large ballistic vest and helmet. “You come with me, you wear these.”

  The vest was bulky and rimmed with high visibility striping. He wanted to refuse, but the look on her face told him that without it, he’d be excluded. So he took the vest, muttered a “Thank you,” and set about donning it while watching her do the same.

  Her fingers fumbled on one clasp, and without thinking, he reached out and attended to it.

  Their eyes caught, a zap of electricity arcing between them again. He noted the way her lips parted, the flash of awareness in her eyes.

  David stilled.

  The door opened, and in walked Julien Avarre.

  “I was…” The man stopped and looked over the tableau.

  David took a moment, swiped a curl that had come loose and draped over her cheek. Then he stepped back with a grin. “All done, Officer.”

  She blushed and grimaced. “Thanks.” The breathless quality of her voice had Avarre frowning.

  David guessed it was jealousy and couldn’t help but feel buoyed by the thought.

  They headed down the stairs, and the larger man looked at the vehicle. “I don’t know this car make.”

  Suppressing a smile was difficult, David admitted to himself, when they looked it over and declared it was “pretty damned good.”

  “It’s an early prototype. We intend to add further plating and shielding, and we’re actively looking for ways to make it lighter,” he explained.

  The giant grunted and continued his inspections along with the other officers. Finally pleased with what they saw, the officers climbed inside, their packages balanced on legs and in the vehicle's rear.

  He drove smoothly in the gathering gloom, stopping only to drop the first three officers at the location Genevieve had declared would be best.

  “We’ll have others standing by in preparation,” she told them before the doors opened and the officers alighted. “They aren’t necessarily aware of the full gamut of paras, so be careful. Our job is simply to capture and neutralize the vampires. The gang members will pose a significant threat, but the intelligence we’ve gathered leads us to believe they actually leave the vicinity once night falls. So, we need to find positions, hunker down out of sight until they leave, then move quickly.”

  Three would enter through the back, just in case anyone ran, and the rest through the front. Their backup would arrive soon, and David felt sure she wouldn’t begin the action until everyone was in place.

  He parked the car in the small laneway nearby. Watched as Genevieve positioned herself, eyeglasses raised, scanning the movements. He monitored the time, aware the day was ending and soon it would be time for the vampires to rise. Motorbikes roared, the sound of them splitting the silence. Seven bikes zoomed past, their passengers dressed in black and their masks painted with devils and bloodied Grim Reapers. None wore full face masks, but he guessed most humans would find them terrifying.

  “Look alive, everyone. Vests on, and make sure UV guns are set to stun. If we can take them, that would be best. No chances taken. I want you all coming home tonight.”

  She suited up, and David struggled to pull on his own. Genevieve swiped his fingers away and expertly fastened the tabs before jamming the helmet on. “You may be a good fighter, but you don’t take chances.”

  They climbed from the vehicle, and he watched her cast a glance to the building, then back, as if taking stock one last time. She inhaled. Clicked the talk button on her comms device. “Let’s go. Quietly to the doors. Three clicks for ready.”

  They moved, clutching guns at their sides, while his hand grasped the hilt of his sword. She hadn’t allowed him a UV gun, and he wasn’t sure if that pleased or irritated him more.

  In position, flanking the doorways, they waited, anticipation coating the air.

  Click. Click. Click.

  “Go! Go! Go!” Genevieve called, and they moved quick as lightning, boots thudding on the old floors. David followed the rest, just as they’d agreed.

  Growls and howls echoed, followed by a scream of fury.

  Every muscle tensed, and suddenly a man stood before David, anger darkening his brow. He moved at a speed the eye couldn’t follow, and instinctively, David raised his sword, more than aware of the copper tipping the edge, deadly to vampires.

  The vampire lunged, and David caught him, a glancing blow but enough for the vampire to tug back and bare his fully extended canines.

  The vampire advanced again, fury and pain clear in the pale, sweating visage. He charged, and David raised his sword, ready to parry. A nail, sharp as a razor, grazed David, and he hissed.

  He spun, ready for another pass when a black cat struck. Eyes golden green and wide, its mouth open and ready for the now darting vampire.

  Before David could thrust it aside, the vampire tackled the cat, and a crunch and then awful silence descended around him.

  The cat shivered, gave a single snarl. A wicked ripping sound filled the air.

  As he waited, the skin of the cat melted away to be replaced with miles of human flesh. When it was done, before him stood a woman, coated in the blood of a vampire, nude yet unashamed.

  David gulped as her eyes flashed with scorn. “I told you to stay back,” Genevieve muttered seconds before her eyes glazed over and closed, and she slid bonelessly to the floor.

  Opening her eyes, Genny couldn’t help but taste the sour remains of the blood on her tongue.

  “Pah,” she spat and hoped it would assist with removing the sensations that felt grimy.

  “Dear God, I’m so pleased you’ve woken.” A soft hand soothed her brow, a distinct contrast to the worried words.

  Genevieve stretched, suddenly aware that under the scratchy thin blanket, she was naked. She stilled and looked up.

  “What the actual fuck!” she snapped, her gaze connecting with David Jardin’s.

  “You saved my life, then collapsed.” He shook his head, a grin now stretching across his face. “It was tremendous. Risky, but you were amazing.”

  “Great, but I need my clothes and to gather my people. Who else was injured?” Her head ached, but that really wasn’t a surprise. After all, she’d been trying to ignore her inner cat for years. Successfully too, except now that it had escaped her body, she struggled with the after-effects. It took a lot of adrenaline and energy to make the change. “I feel like someone hit me on the head, and I’ve passed out in the middle of an operation. So, hand me those clothes, turn around, and let me dress, and I’ll get on with my job.” Her voice had a scratchy tone. She detested any form of weakness, and this ranked pretty damned highly.

  Without a word, her clothes were tossed over, and he turned his back.

  She rose, noting the shaking of legs and arms, and cursed silently. Shrugging into her clothes, she once more demanded a status update.

  “We think we’ve got them all. There were eleven, and one is talking. Likely because he’s scared stiff.” There was a hint of gaiety to the words, and she frowned.

  “We don’t harm or menace our suspects.”

  He turned, quirked an eyebrow. “No one has menaced anyone except you. Case in point.” He turned to the small doorway and indicated the woman watching from beyond. Her face was pale, her entire body quavering. “She saw what you did to the vamp, and that stopped her. She’s singing like a canary, in the old vernacular. Lots to tell, and we’ve only got some of it. She insists this is everyone who was bedding down here and looking for sanctuary from the one who made them all. Attar.”

  Genny’s breath caught in her throat. That name once again. “And?”

  “Your bear man says if I say any more, he’ll gut me with a paw. Your crew is edgy. Might should get out there among the troops, let them know you’re alive.” His eyes glinted in the light, and she snarled.

  “Fine. Whatever!”

  She lurched up to him, but before she could brush past, he reached out and swiped a gentle finger over her cheek. “I’m also pleased you’re okay. But I have a few questions for later.”

  Her eyes narrowed, and her gaze captured his. “Fine. Whatever,” she repeated.

  Genevieve knew she was acting like a dick. Fury at allowing the creature to emerge warred with the knowledge that she’d let the team down. All. By. Herself.

  Tromping into the other room, she saw the eyes flicking in her direction. From those now gathered and restrained with what appeared to be copper chains, there was anger mixed in with a dose of starvation.

  From the team, she read a mixture of relief and concern. She wanted to flick them off, treat those pesky emotions as insignificant, but they weren’t that easy to shift, she knew from long experience. “I’m okay. Just a minor hiccup.”

  Jones—the bear man, as David had termed him—scowled. Julien frowned, and from the others, there was a tense watchfulness.

  Jardin entered the room. “I’ve already alerted the councillor’s assistant, and she’s sending a secured vehicle and guards for this lot.” He nodded to the assembled vampires.

  “Puny human,” one growled low, but the bear man simply kicked out, and that ended with the vamp howling.

  The others remained silent, though certainly not cowed.

  She stalked from the room and found the human contingent waiting outside. Her quick conference suggested they should check the surroundings in case any of the Rocketmen had remained, lying in wait for an attack like this.

  Her skin crawled as if someone watched, and when she turned, she found Julien waiting for her.

  “I need to talk to you, Genevieve.”

  She raised her head, her mind helpfully playing through the various insults he’d thrown at her. Slut. Whore. Half-breed. Mutt.

  “Not at this time. We’re on a job.” She kept her words short and curt, hoping he’d read the hint that she wasn’t interested in passing the time, let alone talking about good times past. They didn’t exist. He’d wiped them out with the horrible things he’d said and done.

  He winced. “I need to explain.”

  She whirled, the well of anguish and recriminations close to the surface.

  Before she opened her mouth, David materialised in the gloom. “They’re here.”

  His eyes searched her face, as if Jardin knew Julien had come out here in an ambush, and she couldn’t think of a way to thank him without drawing attention to the fact that Julien had attempted to use this time for his own personal advantage.

  Instead, she gave a curt nod, turned on her heel, and marched back inside.

  Chapter 8

  David considered himself to be a reasonably calm human, yet something about Julien Avarre rubbed him the wrong way. Maybe it was the air of condescension about him. It could have been the way he tried to bark out orders before Genevieve could speak. It was more than likely the way he watched her, like some luscious dessert there for his personal delectation.

  Whatever it was, David had to restrain the urge to hit the man in his face. Right in the centre of his perfect nose.

  The only positive in the mess was it was clear Genevieve wanted to do exactly the same and regularly overturned his orders.

  Now that the arrests had been made, he could settle. Catch up on work he’d missed this afternoon. There were always texts and emails to field.

  Looking down, he turned on the cell with the flick of a wrist.

  The logo of the cell company flared along with a melodic jingle.

  “You could go, if you like,” she muttered, and he glanced at the woman in the front seat beside him.

  Everyone else had ventured inside, but she’d seemed reluctant to follow them immediately. Anxiety washed off her like a wave. “What you saw…” Genevieve gnawed at her lower lip.

  “I won’t tell. But I was wondering—”

  The alarm on his phone blared, and he picked it up.

  The message on his cell speared him. “The nest’s been attacked.”

  Bile, hot and sour, rose in his throat.

  “What?” Her demand was tight.

  “An hour ago.”

  She reached out a hand. “I’ll come with you. Hell, move over and I’ll drive.”

  Everything shifted to autopilot as he allowed her to steer him from the seat. Ensconced in the passenger side, he watched as she reversed in a quick sharp move, then demanded he press a button on her cell.

  “Where the fuck are you going, Fernly?” Belarmino demanded.

  “There’s been an attack on the al bin Habbad estate. I’m escorting the Yeux Secondes to attend.”

  “What the…? Why didn’t I know?” he bellowed.

  “We’ve just found out, boss. I’ll be in contact once I know more.”

  The quick exchange continued with Belarmino assuring he’d send reinforcements as soon as he could.

  The whole time, David sat in the seat. Shattered.

  I should have been there. He knew the dangers they all faced right now, and not to be present when those who relied on him most needed him emasculated him.

  Terror coursed through his veins. He’d become invested in those who inhabited this small ecosystem of the nest, and he’d let them down. Left them without the human defences, because he’d insisted on attending the destruction of this nest.

  Gutted, he sat back, running through the litany of readings and images he’d seen of previous attacks. His guts twisted into painful knots as they raced through the night.

  By the time they reached the nest, groups had formed in the courtyard, mounds of bodies lay in two piles, and the injured he could see had gathered about as if they’d been triaged.

  An ambulance screamed past, wailing its mournful song, heading for the big city hospital. He wondered how many others had already come and gone.

 
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