Page 13 of The Dawning
She hooked her arm in Webb’s. “I’m sorry, Victor. I didn’t have time to tell you before now, since I was in the middle of fighting off attackers, but I saw them taking Matthew, and I couldn’t stop them in time.” Sadness washed over her.
Victor’s fangs descended, slow and deadly. “He’s not answering. I will massacre Roman Brown. And what the fuck is going on? Don’t answer that. I know. I’ve been privy to the meetings with the Council of Elders.”
Victor was a prominent figure in our world and went out of his way at times to do the council’s dirty work or help however he could.
Victor retracted his fangs. “Webb told me that Roman gave Layla’s phone to Sierra Dupont and that her father, Nathan Dupont, knows Roman. I don’t believe that. Like us, Nathan wants to protect humanity.”
Webb scraped a hand along his jaw. “Are you two close friends?”
“I wouldn’t say close,” Victor said. “His wife, Carmen, and my daughter, Alia, are good friends. The Duponts have been here for dinner.”
“Do they know Abbey has been staying here?” Jo asked, still tethered to Webb’s arm.
Victor bobbed his head. “Sure. Carmen adores Abbey.”
I growled. “They had to be the ones who alerted Roman. They know him somehow.”
Webb held up his hand. “Easy, Sam. Maybe they do. Maybe they don’t. Roman is probably surveilling every part of this city. He could have someone trailing Abbey from the base to this property. If I’m right, he could’ve also seen the Duponts leaving the estate. Maybe Roman confronted Nathan and brokered a deal to alert him when Nathan knew Abbey would be here.”
“Okay,” I returned. “But that doesn’t address how Roman’s men breeched the compound. Isn’t this place fortified? That’s why we chose this spot to protect Abbey.”
Jo pinned a hard look on Victor. “Sam’s right, Victor. What happened? The way I see it, Abbey was lucky I was here.”
I was preparing for a fight. Victor had an ego and was proud of his security and his team of men. He looked briefly at Wyman.
Jo pursed her lips. “Wyman didn’t leak anything or let them in. But line up your men, and I’ll find the mole, if there is one.”
Victor nodded, acquiescing instead of jumping down Jo’s throat for even suggesting he had a leak in his organization.
I grabbed Victor’s sword to do something with my hands when a thought zipped through my brain. “Are the Duponts vampires?”
Victor sighed. “No. But Carmen comes from a prominent vampire family. Like Alia, she chose not to turn so she could have children. Why?”
I walked up behind Wyman. “Those of our kind who have chosen not to turn, like Alia, for example, are the ones who are in jeopardy. Or humans like Matthew who have vampires in their family. Let’s face it—Matthew was the only true full-fledged vampire to come out of my uncle Patrick’s experiment, which was why he was taken. At least, I believe Carly figured out that puzzle piece. Considering they took Matthew, I’m banking that she has. She does have my uncle Patrick’s notes, which I’m sure include his formula for the serum he used on Matthew and probably identified Matthew by name in those notes.”
“So, you think Roman is targeting Carmen or Sierra?” Victor asked.
“Possibly,” I said. “I’m not a hundred percent sure, but Harriet believes the Aberdeen sisters would be model subjects for genetic altering because they have vampire blood running in their mother’s family.”
“They probably targeted Matthew to study his DNA makeup,” Jo piped in.
“Exactly,” I returned. “If I’m right, then Sierra might be on that list.” Maybe Alia and Carmen also. Hell, anyone who had vampire blood in their family history.
“If Intech’s experiments are a success, then others like Sierra will be prime candidates for their army,” Wyman said. His CIA mind was working through scenarios, and I liked that. He might prove to be valuable after all.
“Implant a chip into them, and Intech has control and super soldiers,” I added.
Webb pinched his chin. “We do have Intech’s head of security in our custody. He probably won’t tell us a lot, but we’ll try to pull out as much info as we can.”
“I’ll talk to Nathan Dupont,” Victor said.
“I can hack into Intech,” Wyman offered as he wiggled his tied hands. “And also their sister company, Camden Industries.”
I was sure Sawyer and his tech team were working that angle. Regardless, Wyman was returning to the base with me. I didn’t want him out of our sight until we could trust him. Roman’s men could’ve followed him from the hospital to Victor’s house for all we knew.
Webb kissed his wife on the temple. “Since I won’t be murdering this asshole”—he pointed at Wyman—“why don’t you retrieve Abbey?”
My sister left in a flash.
