“But your secret won’t be a secret after that.”
She’d been doing her best to keep her UV immunity under wraps, but that no longer seemed important now. She thought for a moment. “There has to be a way a vampire can temporarily daywalk, right?”
“If a vampire is well covered enough, they can get away with a short daywalk. But you’re talking about something that would explain being out for several hours. That doesn’t exist.”
“There has to be something.”
He didn’t look convinced. “I’ll see what I can figure out.”
“Thank you. Now, Temo. About that team. Put together the best you’ve got or that money can buy. No expense spared. If we need to hire mercenaries, do it, just make sure they know what they’re going up against. No humans. If you want to get Penina to help again, that would be great. Oh, and, Temo?”
His dark brows rose. “Yes, boss?”
“Your fae connections. Reach out to them. See if you can find out anything more about this situation that might be useful. Anything about the layout of the stronghold, the kind of security, anything. No detail is worthless at this point.”
“Will do.” He gave both her and Pierce a nod before taking off toward the stairs that led to the staff penthouse one floor below.
She turned to Pierce, shaking her head and sighing at the awfulness of Rico’s capture. “I can’t believe this.”
“Me neither.” Lines of concern bracketed his eyes. “What else can I do? Just tell me what you need, and I’m on it.”
“Tell me this is going to be okay. Tell me we’re going to get Rico back. Alive.”
He smiled with effort, but it was comforting all the same. “We will.”
She took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a second to get a handle on her emotions. “I really do want to kill them.”
“You’re not alone in that,” he said. “You may get the chance.”
“This feels…like more than I can handle. This is a man’s life at stake here. Getting him back means basically standing up a military operation.” She put her hand to her forehead. “I don’t have that kind of knowledge. I was a housewife, not a mob boss.”
“For one thing, you’ve already done a great job getting started. For another, Temo does have that kind of knowledge, thanks to his Special Ops days. On top of that, you have all of us to help you. You’re not in this alone.”
“I know. You’re right. But I feel like I’m forgetting something. We need to get as organized as possible. And get some more help. Nothing can fall between the cracks.”
“We will get it all done, I promise.” His smile took on a gentler curve. “But first, you might want to change out of that dress and that necklace that’s worth half a mil.”
Her hand went to her throat, landing on the borrowed diamond and ruby sparkler she’d worn to the party they’d just left. “I totally forgot about it.”
Not just any party either. The most incredible party she’d ever been to, thrown by Francine, one of the most amazing vampires Donna had met since being turned a couple of weeks ago. And all in Donna’s honor. Despite her unfortunate run-in with the vampire governor of New York, Hawke Fitzhugh, the night had been one to remember. “To think just an hour ago, we were happy and laughing and having the time of our lives. Now this.”
“Life is funny that way.”
She glanced down at her gorgeous red dress, then back at him in his tux. “We should both change. Then set up camp in the dining room. And you should maybe get some ice for that hand.” He’d punched Fitzhugh. With good reason. But she didn’t want Pierce to suffer for that any more than he already had. “It’s going to be a long day.”
“It’s feeling better already.” He flexed his hand, the knuckles red and swollen. “You sure you don’t want to set up in the conference room?”
She shook her head. “I like being close to the kitchen. We’re going to need sustenance and coffee. By sustenance, I mean pie.”
“Good thing we have some left. There’s cake too.”
“Excellent.”
“Meet you in the kitchen, then.”
She nodded as she went in the direction of her bedroom. “In ten.”
“You got it.”
She shut the bedroom door behind her and leaned against it, the enormity of Rico’s plight hitting her like a crashing wave.
She could not let him die. He was a friend and an ally, but more than that, he was a stand-up guy who’d dedicated his life to the battle between good and evil. To sticking up for the underdog. To saving those who couldn’t save themselves. Like her.
But the fae were a very different kind of evil.
The kind that wanted to turn every vampire they could catch into dinner.
What did that mean for Rico, a werewolf? She wasn’t sure what the fae-werewolf relationship was. Would they drain him too? The fae loved vampire blood. She didn’t know how they felt about werewolf blood.
She shuddered and burst into action, stripping off the evening gown, high heels, and ridiculously expensive borrowed jewels. There was so much to do that if she allowed herself to dwell on it all, she’d be overwhelmed.
This was one of those times when she just had to let the big picture blur a little so she could focus on the now. Get each small thing done before moving on to the next one. All while somehow keeping the big picture in mind.
There had been moments like this when she’d been married to Joe. Like the time he’d come home suddenly in the middle of the day, thrown money at her, and told her to get out of town with the kids until he let her know it was okay to come home. Thank God the kids had been small enough to think they were just going on a vacation with Mommy.
But this was a lot more serious than anything she’d dealt with before.
She pulled her blessed crucifix from her bra and secured it around her neck. She kissed the cross and said a quick prayer that she’d be able to handle this. More than ever, she wished she could talk to Cammie, her sister who was an actual sister. Sister Mary Lazarus Immaculata, to be exact. But Cammie was in Nicaragua with the rest of her fellow nuns, working at an orphanage.
Donna shook her head at the very idea of such sacrifice. Cammie was such a good person. And not just because she was a nun. She’d want nothing to do with this, though that didn’t stop Donna from wanting to talk to her. Even if only to ask her to pray.
Donna dressed in thick leggings, a T-shirt, and a big cardigan. She added a pair of woolly slippers. Comfortable clothes for an uncomfortable day. And not just because of the task at hand. Dawn had just about arrived, and with it, more snow flurries.
She didn’t feel cold, and the penthouse was certainly at a pleasant temperature, but something about the gray, snowy day—and the terrible situation with Rico—made her want to bundle up. She pulled the cardigan around her and went to the kitchen to make some coffee.
Pierce showed up a few minutes later as her cup finished brewing. He’d probably hung up his tux instead of just throwing it on the bed like she had with her gown.
She added cream and sugar, then leaned against the counter to drink some while he made a cup for himself. “We really need Temo and Charlie at the table with us.”