Jennifer Rardin - [Jaz Parks 1] - Once Bitten, Twice Shy

And that was the good news!

'Look, Pete, I know you told me to cut out the car hits. The repairs are too expensive. You told me that. So I stopped. I haven't caused an 'accidental' crash in three months, you know that! But this last one just couldn't be avoided.'

'I understand you took out my counterpart in MI5.'

'Well, yeah, but only because his driver was in on the plot. He'll be fine. You heard that too, right? His back will heal in, like, six weeks.'

'I heard there was a bomb.'

'It didn't go off.'

'But it could have.'

I shrugged. 'Better there than at the coronation.' Wait, that sounds a little casual for somebody who should be begging at this point. 'But I am sorry about the car. I took out extra insurance.'

'This has nothing to do with the car. In fact, I'm glad you put that bastard in traction. Self righteous twit. No, you're here because I have a new assignment for you.'

Thank you, God. I still have work! I nearly relaxed. Which, considering my current state, would've sent me right to the floor. But Pete had started cracking his knuckles. In my time with him I'd seen pencil chewing, furniture kicking, file throwing, and a short bout with scented candles. But the knuckle cracking was new. I sat back carefully and waited.

'You've heard of Vayl?' Pete asked.

'Who hasn't?' Even if, as was likely, Vayl's legend had far outpaced his achievements, he still rated maaaaajor respect. The guy was an icon, and not just because he'd become one of the 15 percent, or so, of vampires to gain acceptance among humans. He was also the best assassin our department had ever fronted.

'I'm partnering you with him.' Pete's eyes darted away from my face, so I guess I wasn't hiding the What- The-Hell! very well. Long silence during which I tried to make my head stop spinning and Pete cleared his throat a few times.

'Pete, I… when you hired me, you promised I could work alone.' My previous job had involved an entire crew, of which, I had been the leader. It had ended badly.

'Jasmine, Vayl has requested a partner. You specifically. You're smart, aggressive and resilient. His words, although I agree.'

My lips had gone numb. 'Uh-huh. And?'

He sighed. 'And increasingly dangerous—to yourself.' He rushed on before I could interrupt, which was a good thing, because I think my first response might've ruptured his eardrums. 'You've been taking bigger and bigger risks. Like the job in Cuba.'

I'd hit Castro's most trusted advisor, a general named Miguel Santas. In the middle of a crowded market. In broad daylight. Within arm's reach of his lieutenants. But I'd gotten away clean. Didn't that count for anything?

'And the one in Colorado.'

Aaah, sweet. A pedophile named George Freede had started a church called International Brothers of the Light. Their main focus seemed to be kidnapping children from the U.S. and selling them to the highest foreign bidder. I'd tracked him to a resort and pushed him off a mountain. Okay, we'd both fallen off, but I'd landed on my skis in nice, fluffy powder. He'd dropped on a rock.

'I know how furious you must be, Jaz—'

'I don't think so.'

He sighed again. 'Okay, maybe not. But it's my responsibility to make sure my agents survive.'

'So you got me a babysitter.'

Pete laughed, deep in his belly where it sounded the most real. 'Hell no. I hooked you up with a guy who's been alive nearly 300 years. I was just hoping some of his interest in life would rub off on you.'

Tears pricked my eyelids. 'I'm not suicidal.'

Powerful word, suicide, no matter how you use it. It sobered Pete instantly. 'No. If you were, you'd have died eight months ago. But you're not sensible either. You need somebody around who's not afraid to get in your face and tell you when you're acting like an idiot.'

My fury had waned. Dammit, I should've yelled when I still had the gumption. But I couldn't deny the sense in what Pete said. And it was kind of nice to be looked after, cared for. I had only been alone a little over half a year. But it had felt like thousands.

I sighed. 'You said he requested me? Why?'

'He's got his own reasons, which he says he'll reveal to you in his own time.' Pete and I shared a cynical raising of the eyebrows.

'Quite a mysterious character, isn't he?' I noted.

'When he wants to be,' Pete agreed.

We talked for awhile longer. Which was when I discovered, while Pete wanted me to stop taking crazy chances, his bosses appreciated the fact that I was willing.

'Our government looks at Vayl as a national treasure, Jaz,' Pete said. 'On paper you're his assistant. In reality, you're his bodyguard. You've met the members of our oversight committee.'

And how. Senators Fellen, Tredd and Bozcowski had pretty much cured me of ever wanting to vote again.

Pete went on. 'They've asked me to make sure you understand your primary mission will always be to make