Warrior (Relentless #4)(188)

“It looks like we aren’t the only ones with a vigilante at work,” Brock said. “We also picked up a story about a village in Mexico that claims an ‘angel’ appeared out of nowhere to destroy the demons terrorizing their village. One of our teams down there checked it out and found two dead vampires.”

I’d heard the story out of Mexico weeks ago, and I hadn’t made much of it at the time. But now I wondered if it wasn’t the same people who had done some of these other kills. The Mexican vampires had been burnt through the chest as well.

I didn’t believe it was one person as Raoul did. More likely it was a group of people trying to make it look like a single vigilante. They had to be highly trained, and whatever weapon they used sounded military-grade. Did we have a group of soldiers going rogue, or had the human government decided to join the war against our common enemy?

“Nikolas.”

I looked at Sara as she lifted her laptop and turned it so I could see the screen. On it was a black and white photo of a woman who looked shockingly familiar.

I leaned closer to study the picture. There was no mistaking the face, even with the dark sunglasses and the scarf hiding most of her blonde hair.

Chris got up from his chair to look over my shoulder, and I heard his small intake of breath as he recognized the woman. “It’s Madeline. How the hell did they find her?”

“I told you they’re the best,” Sara said with a little smile of satisfaction.

“Where was this taken?”

My mind reeled from seeing the face I hadn’t laid eyes on in fifty years. When Sara had told me she wanted to help David and Kelvan search for Madeline, I don’t think I really believed they’d find her again. I should have known not to underestimate Sara or her friends.

“One second.” She turned the laptop back to her and typed something.

“Yesterday in Vancouver,” she said, reading from the screen. Her excited gaze met mine. “David sent an address where they think she’s staying.”

I stood and called to Brock. “Have your guys ready to go within the hour.”

He jumped up from his chair. “On it.”

“Raoul, can you alert the pilot we’ll be flying to Vancouver, Canada as soon as he gets clearance?”

One of Brock’s team hurried past, and I stopped him. “Calvin, pull up that address and see what we’re dealing with.”

“Sure thing.”

I felt Sara behind me, and I turned to smile at her. “Great work, Sara.”

She shrugged. “Thanks, but David did most of the work.”

David might have been the muscle behind the work, but I had no doubt who the heart of the operation was. “Why don’t you grab your stuff, and I’ll walk you and Jordan home before I leave?” I doubted she’d want to stay here at the command center with most of us out on the job.

Her smiled faded. “What do you mean? I’m coming with you.”

“It’s too dangerous.” We had no idea what we were walking into. I didn’t think Madeline would try to harm her own people, but she was on the run from a Master. I wasn’t taking a chance of Sara being caught in the crossfire if we ran into trouble.

“I can take care of myself, Nikolas,” she argued. “Besides, it’s only Madeline.”

I shook my head, knowing I was about to upset her, but it couldn’t be helped. She’d come a long way in training, and she could fight, but not well enough for the kind of trouble we could run into out there. With the strain our incomplete bond was putting on me, I wouldn’t be able to endure anything happening to her. One cut and I’d probably lose it.

“You’re not ready. We’ll handle this.”

She crossed her arms and her voice rose. “She’s my mother, so if anyone should be there, it’s me. I didn’t work this hard to find her just so you could leave me behind.”

I steeled myself against the anger and hurt on her face. “You can talk to her when we bring her back here.”

“So that’s it. We’re back to you making all the decisions and me having no say at all?” she said in a raw voice that tore at me. “I thought we were in this together.”

“We are.”

“You mean as long as I’m doing something you don’t think is dangerous,” she said. “Why have I been working my butt off in training if you’re not going to take me seriously?”

“I do take you seriously.” I rubbed the back of my neck in frustration. I didn’t want to leave her like this, but there was no time to work it out with her now. “Listen, this is not the time or place for this discussion. We’ll talk about it when I get back.”

“Fine.” She turned away from me and picked up her laptop and backpack. Her shoulders were stiff, and her voice wavered when she said, “Chris, will you walk me back?”

I waved Chris off, following her to the door. “I said I’d take you home.”

“You have a mission to organize,” she said without turning around. “One of the others can make sure I get home.”

“Chris can get things ready here.” I picked up her coat and she let me help her into it, but she refused to look at me. I didn’t know what to say to her, so I didn’t say anything.

She didn’t speak during the short walk to Eldeorin’s, and when we got to the main door, she reached for the handle without looking at me.