Page 37 of Death Dance

ELEVEN

Ben is not going to be pleased.

My father’s uncle did more than merely observe Jeremy Breckenan in the Amazon. He isolated several conspirators, engaged in an act of kidnapping, and made an unpleasant discovery.

At least some of Breckenan’s associates and conspirators had lost their free will, acting on his behalf because they had to.

The boy in question had been born in Brazil, had been taken by Breckenan’s brood at age ten, and remembered nothing of his life until Dagan had made use of some vampiric magic and one of my stakes to free him from the influence.

If our intel was correct, Breckenan worked with another preternatural, one who could handle such enchantments. There were a few types it could be, but I came away with one key piece of information: against one, they were dangerous.

Against many, they had no hope of victory.

As such, when the hunt began, everyone would work together in groups of four to ten.

Upon boarding the Eclipse, I made a decision on who would be involved with my group, and the unfairness of the ploy pleased me. My team would consist of Emerick, my father, my brothers, Ben, Clarke, and myself.

I figured I would provide a charitable handicap for any unfortunate enough to face us.

It amused me that my brothers infested the same stack as my penthouse, and they had chosen their suites long ago. I questioned why all three were accompanying us on the ship, but I behaved for once in my life and waited for us to leave port and my father to pay us a visit before implementing my plan.

Before my father had a chance to say a word, I announced, “I’ve picked my team.”

He raised a brow. “I see you’ve decided to be assertive. As I was coming to fetch you so we can do a conference call with all the involved brood masters, I suppose knowing who you want on your team may be wise.”

“You, me, Emerick, Clarke, Ben, and those sons of yours.”

While he took a few moments to ponder my selection, he nodded. “Very well. It’s a strong team, motivated as well. However, Clarke is on a plane headed to Europe with your mother.”

“He’s going to be our eyes on the ground, and all teams are going to have at least one person who is cozy in Europe and in a group so this preternatural behind Paulo’s problems can’t get them all.”

“We do need a communications member, and Clarke is more than capable of handling that. It’ll do. Why do you want your brothers?”

“If I do so much as break a nail, everyone in the group is going to have a meltdown of the likes never before seen. If I actually get cut? The entirety of Europe might end up razed by the time you’re finished.” I engaged Emerick in a staring contest, daring him to contradict my statement.

My husband shrugged. “I can’t say she’s wrong, Charlie.”

“Oh, she’s definitely correct in her assessment of the situation. I’ll make certain your brothers know they are part of our team. I trust you can handle notifying Ben.”

“Ben is not going to be pleased,” Emerick predicted. “In his world, his entire team consists of people he needs to babysit.”

I could understand why Ben might not be pleased under those circumstances. “I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

“Ben is going to prove you quite wrong, I assure you.” My husband rubbed his hands together with a rather demonic grin. “I will enjoy being the reason Ben proves you wrong.”

Color me unsurprised. Once Emerick got an idea in his head, I could trust the ancient vampire to follow through with more enthusiasm than any one man should display, ever. “Please do not drag Ben to the end of his rope and tug.”

“Don’t ruin my fun.”

“Should your fun at all impede our ability to destroy Jeremy Breckenan, I will stomp on it with a ruthlessness you have not yet witnessed in your long life and may never witness again.”

“I have learned, in my years as a father, that when a youngling makes statements like that, they are meant and the wise heed the warning quite plainly issued. You should be grateful she is informing you of her intent. Often, she does not.” My father raised a brow at me. “All I ask is that you do not bite your brothers during any attempts to steal their food. I expect some sibling squabbling. I have been a father for longer than most would care to admit. To ask you not to squabble would be to request miracles.”

Damn. My father was on a roll. “How does food work on a cruise ship, anyway?”

“You’re hungry again?” Emerick asked, and he frowned.

In hindsight, I recognized my new habit of eating everything to cross my path might concern him. I eyed my stomach and poked it.