"Lissa," Merrill said after we'd gotten home and parked the Range Rover in the garage, "Wlodek has agreed to lend you to Anthony Hancock's department for a few weeks. Hancock wants additional security for a few functions, I believe, and has been begging for your help." The announcement shocked me a little, coming so soon after I'd been grilled over my three dates with Tony.
Tony. I hoped he wasn't planning to try to get me in bed with him the entire time. "When?" I asked.
"In two days. Russell and Radomir will accompany you in the Council's jet. They're taking you to Dulles International. Someone will be there to meet you."
"All right," I sighed. "I'll pack up tomorrow." Merrill was correct; Wlodek wasn't allowing me to huddle in a corner or wallow in self-pity. He was sending me out again less than a month after my stint in the sun. Humans received therapy. Vampires received assignments.
"I'm sending Franklin to New York in three days," Merrill came over to stroke my cheek with gentle fingers. "He and Greg will be in the states if you need anything." I nodded mutely at Merrill's words.
"Does Gavin know?" I asked after a moment.
"I phoned him earlier with the news," Merrill replied. "Of course he was not happy."
That might be a huge understatement. If Gavin knew I was going to be working anywhere near Tony, the jealous rages would come, I was sure of it. I was glad Merrill made the initial call; Gavin had to mind his manners with Merrill. I nodded at Merrill's statement and walked toward the stairs. As a form of rebellion against Wlodek, I planned to dress in pajamas and huddle in bed to read.
* * *
Franklin asked if I needed anything from town while Greg helped pack two of my wigs the following evening. Greg gave Frank the list of toiletries I needed after going through my bathroom and cupboards. The clothing we'd ordered online arrived so we spent some time going through it and washing what needed washing before packing up what I wanted to take with me. At least my fingers and toes were completely normal now, with finger and toenails. My eyelashes were short but they were there; my eyebrows were also short but there. Greg insisted on packing the eyebrow pencil and eyeliner he'd gotten for me. The man was better at that sort of thing than I was. Franklin just smiled at his honey and let him do his thing.
"There's a land line in the New York apartment," Franklin made sure I had that number. "And you already have our cell numbers. The address on your New York license is the brownstone that Merrill owns. If you get into trouble, head for that right away." Franklin and Greg kissed me on the cheek before they went to bed. Yeah, I loved both of them.
Tuesday, March thirtieth found me riding with Merrill into London so he could drop me off at the airport. Russell and Radomir were there waiting and my four bags were loaded quickly. Merrill leaned down to kiss my cheek before I climbed the steps to the jet, with Russell and Radomir right behind me. "Don't get into trouble," Merrill called before I went inside.
The door to the jet was shut and locked behind us; Radomir sat next to me with Russell across the aisle. This was how we'd sat the last time the three of us had been on a jet together. I'd flown to Paris to steal something back from Gavin's cousin René. I wondered what René was up to and if he'd stolen anything lately. That caused me to snort a little while the jet was speeding down the runway for takeoff.
"What is it?" Radomir asked.
I decided to be honest. "I was just wondering if René has managed to steal anything recently." Russell laughed aloud. Radomir smiled.
"I heard someone sent him enough glass panes to replace his window, all with tape on them," Russell grinned.
"I don't know a thing about it," I said, claiming innocence.
The flight was uneventful until we almost got to the states and then we ran into turbulence. We were knocked around pretty good and a couple of times I wondered if vampires could survive plane crashes. Thankfully, we didn't have to test any of my theories and Russell and Radomir, along with the pilots, were mighty glad they were spending the day in in D.C. and heading back to Great Britain on Tuesday evening.
My ride was waiting for me when we taxied in. Tony and a vampire I hadn't met were there with the usual, government-issue dark car. The vampire helped get my luggage stowed while Tony stood by looking important. He didn't say much, loaded me into the back seat of the car while the vampire agent slid into the driver's seat and we drove away after I said goodbye to Russell and Radomir.
"Lissa?" Tony turned in his seat to look at me.
"What, Tony?" He motioned for me to lean forward. I shouldn't have because he had my face in his hands immediately, kissing me like there was no tomorrow.
* * *
"What did you have to do?" Merrill asked Griffin. Griffin had arrived unannounced two nights after Lissa's near-suicide in the sun and put his hands on her. Things were much better since then, but Griffin hadn't returned until now. He'd brought a bottle of wine with him and he and Merrill were sharing it.
"Just a minor suggestion that you and Gavin weren't so terrible after all. Of course, if she becomes upset again, well," Griffin shrugged his shoulders a little.
"She refuses to look Wlodek in the eye."
"Would you?"
"If I'd been through what she has, probably not," Merrill muttered.
Chapter 4
"Tony, stop." I had to pry his hands away so I could sit back in my seat. "What was that all about?" I asked, my voice breathless from the extended bout of kissing.
"You think I don't hear anything?" he huffed. Well, that was unexpected.
"What did you hear?" My arms were crossed over my chest and I was still shaking a little from the aftermath of Tony's determined kissing. He shouldn't be doing that. Shouldn't.
"Lissa, don't ever do that again," Tony lectured. He knew. No way to know how he knew, but he did.
"Tony, before you start in like that, make sure you have all the facts," I said, turning my head to look out the window. Four weeks had passed since I'd tried to kill myself. Four weeks since I'd been beaten. I struggled to put it out of my mind as I watched portions of the nation's capital pass by my window. The streets we drove through were foggy and wet from rain that had fallen earlier; the streetlights we passed reflected off damp pavement. Light mist continued to fall as we made our way somewhere; I had no idea where we were going.
As it turned out, we were going to Tony's home somewhere in Arlington, Virginia. "This is Agent Ken White," Tony introduced the vampire driver to me when we arrived. He held out his hand so I shook it before unloading my luggage. Most men might feel intimidated by a woman who can lift your car, but Tony didn't seem to mind. Agent White didn't stick around either; he dropped the last bag in Tony's entryway, said it was nice meeting me and took off. I hoped Tony had a second bedroom—I didn't want to sleep with him and Gavin would likely tear both our heads off if I did.