Page 72 of Damian’s Conquest

“I can make sure that he won’t go to the office,” Naomi said.

“How?”

“I’ll give him what he wants: the story.” She looked at him, then at Samson and Amaury.

“Okay,” Samson said with a nod. Then he gestured to Damian. “Put the teams together. Check with Quinn who’s available.”

“And Mrs. Zhang?” Naomi asked.

“We’ll make sure she stays put in her flat and doesn’t contact anybody,” Samson said. “Damian, have Eddie or Thomas disconnect her landline and her cell phone, and then—”

“She has no cell phone,” Naomi interrupted.

“Even better,” Damian said. “I’ll have Eddie cut the landline, and I’ll station one of the hybrids outside her flat.”

“Let’s get this show on the road,” Samson said.

31

It was still dark, when Damian got into the passenger seat of Naomi’s car, which was parked at the top of Twin Peaks. The view from here into the city was stunning. And since it was November, there was no fog, only a clear sky with millions of stars.

“Make the call.”

Naomi pressed the button on her cell phone and put the call on speaker. It rang twice, before the call was connected.

Wei Guo answered the phone. “Naomi? It’s early.”

“I know, I know, but this is urgent. I found something. And it’s gonna blow this story wide open.”

“Excellent. Meet me in the office. I’m heading in now.”

“No, not the office,” Naomi said quickly. “We can’t be overheard. This is huge. I mean, real huge. Meet me at the top of Twin Peaks. Nobody will see us there.”

Wei Guo hesitated. “Uhm, okay then. I’ll be up there in less than fifteen minutes.”

“Thank you.” Naomi disconnected the call.

“Well done,” Damian praised. Then he lifted his own cell phone to his ear. “Eddie, disconnect the phones.”

“On it,” Eddie replied. “Oh, and I checked the two cars registered to Wei Guo. None of them match the partial license plate of the thief’s getaway car.”

“That means he has an accomplice.”

“Most likely, because Mrs. Zhang doesn’t have a car. Nor does Tracy.”

“Are Grayson and Cooper still following up on the leads from the partial license plate?”

“Yes, and Ryder and Vanessa are doing the same. Nothing so far.”

“Thanks, Eddie.”

Damian shoved his cell phone back into his pocket and leaned across to Naomi. “The moment you hear his car drive up, get out of your car. I’ll have you in my sight at all times.”

“Okay.”

He kissed her, then exited the car and walked to the bushes his colleagues were hiding behind. They’d parked the blackout van on the far side of the little hill, hiding it from view. Damian joined Sebastian and Ethan. Since the sun would rise soon, none of the full-blooded vampires were on the mission to capture Wei Guo. They were waiting at Scanguards HQ.

“He should be here in less than fifteen minutes,” Damian announced. “He lives in the Outer Sunset.”