Neither of them moved. “I’m not budging on this.”
“Neither am I. I want Mario to go with you.” Levi met my gaze. “Please, Abigail.”
I hated it when he used his manners because it meant he was serious about the request. “No. Mario needs to stay here for you in case Samuel shows up. Simon, Merick, and I will be fine.”
“Simon should stay for the pack.” Levi pressed his lips together. “Detective Mason?”
This was such an odd negotiation for me. “I can ask Detective Mason to come along. Mario stays, Mason comes.”
Levi nodded. “I will accept that, only because you’re right about Mario needing to be here if Samuel shows up. I trust that you will keep in contact when you get there.”
“Yes. I’ll have my phone as well, so Oliver can track it if he needs to.” I shrugged. “This is no different than when I went to Mesa or any other out of town case.”
“You had Nick with you when you went to Mesa.” Mario pointed out.
I snorted. “Speaking of Nick, the bastard is back from the dead and is being reassigned to be my partner.”
“No,” they both shouted.
I frowned. “Good, we’re at least in agreement on that.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Levi crossed his arms.
“Because I just found out today. There’s been a lot going on.” I forced a smile. “Not my fault you don’t have a spy in PIB anymore.”
Mario snorted. “Actually, it is. You killed Grayson.”
“Because he betrayed Levi and me.” I shook my head. “I need to get ready and call Mason.”
Levi nodded and disappeared. Mario stayed behind. I shook my head. “You too. Go. You don’t get to lecture me tonight.”
“I want you to know that I wasn’t lying. You were the topic of discussion at the last council meeting. You, the witch princess of vampires.” He took a step towards me. “You’re causing Levi so much grief and turmoil right now. He longs for his daughter, yet he refuses to do everything in his power to keep you safe. I hope when Samuel finally gets his hands on you that you understand you put yourself in that danger.”
I swallowed. “You act like you’re going to betray us to him.”
“No, Abigail. I’m trying to make you see how much danger you are actually in.” Mario growled in frustration. He rushed me, backing me on to the couch. He cupped my cheek in his hands. “Why can’t you see this, you stupid woman.”
My breath caught in my throat. “Mario…”
The front door opened, and he disappeared. Simon and Gabby walked back in with food bags.
Simon glanced at me. “You okay?”
I stood and went to help with the fast-food bags. “Yeah, I think so.” Though I couldn’t get the look in Mario’s eyes out of my mind. There was so much pain and something else I couldn’t name in them. Something that made me uncomfortable. “You need to stay here when I go to the location. Gabby, you too. I’m going to call Mason and take Merick for back up.”
“Levi agreed to that?” Simon raised a brow.
We sat at the small dining room table. “Yeah, it was a pretty intense conversation, but I got him to agree.”
“And Mario?”
“Has to stay here so that he’s by Levi’s side.”
Gabby shook her head. “The King of Vampires just waltzes into your house?”
“Yeah, well, I’m his adopted daughter, so…” I shrugged.
“I guess that would do it. Well, if anyone can rescue Liz, it’s you. I’ll just have to wait around until you have news.”
I sighed. “I would take you, but that would put you in danger, and I don’t think Liz would forgive me for that.”
She shivered. “No, I don’t want to go anywhere near Adrianna if I don’t have to.”
Pushing her wouldn’t get me too many answers about the witch, so I’d have to research what I could. I growled when I realized that Levi and Mario didn’t leave me the Hummer.
“Let’s eat, and then I’ll call Mason.”
We finished eating, and I reached for my phone. The moment I did, it rang, blaring Oliver’s ring tone. I answered it. “What’s up?”
“I hear the cat is out of the bag.” Oliver snickered. “I wish I could have been there.”
“It was a lot less eventful than it should have been. Levi was actually very composed. Mario, on the other hand…” I let it trail off. “Did you track that number?”
“Yes, I did, and I suggest you don’t go there.”
“It’s another previous crime location, isn’t it?”
“Yes, and your favorite. Bodies in the ground, ghosts, dead partner.”
“Ah, not so dead anymore,” I corrected. “Alive and kicking, and back from an undercover case.”
Oliver snorted. “I highly doubt that, but I guess whatever lie gets him back into PIB. I’ll make sure to stop using his key card. I’ll check out the location. Levi said you were going after Liz tonight?”
“I’m going to a location that might be related to the case with her. I’m not sure what I’m getting into, but since we’re on the phone, can I ask you a question?”
“Of course, my dearest niece.” His tone became sickeningly sweet, and I wondered what was going on. He didn’t typically use dearest in front of niece, and using niece was a way of distancing himself from a conversation or situation he didn’t want a whole lot of personal attachment to.
I paused for a moment, trying to figure out a way to assess the situation without giving anything away to someone who might be listening. “I was hoping I could borrow a book.”
“A book? Of course, please swing by the house, and I’ll be more than happy to let you into the library.” His voice was still a
