Nodding, I picked up my bag from the floor and flashed back to my office. Dave was standing at his desk, the others crowded around him. They all jumped when I appeared, their guilty looks quickly cleared. What had they been up to?
“Did it work?” Kate asked as she rushed over.
“It did. I remember everything.” My eyes sought Dave’s gaze.
I almost looked away when he raised his eyebrows. The slight incline of his head told me that he understood what I meant by everything. My death. The pain of the bullet slicing into my skin was something I’d actually enjoyed forgetting.
“Thank goodness for that,” Jake said, coming around the desk as he took a chocolate bar out of the pocket of his combats. “We need the brains of the operation. This slippery bastard is starting to annoy the fuck out of me.”
“Likewise,” I muttered. “It’s time to bring the arsehole down. Now.”
Chapter 6
“Keep on guard,” I said, my hand resting on my dagger handle where it sat in my holster.
Dave glanced at me sideways, his lips pulled into a thin line. “We’re at a concert of one of the best rock bands ever. As if I could be distracted.”
The crowd were milling around, waiting for the band to come on. The arena held ten thousand people. Yep, ten thousand fucking people.
“I wanted to interrogate Joseph Cambridge,” I muttered as Kate joined us.
“Well this is slightly more important,” Kate said, handing me a bottle of water.
The Essex Obsessor had sent a message to my personal email to say that he planned an attack at the concert. As if he would tell us his plans... and yet, here we were, ready and waiting for his onslaught.
“Just to check...” I turned to Dave. “...you’ve got as much security as possible who are checking bags and searching bodies?”
Cocking his head to the side, Dave stared at me. His dark wavy hair was loose around his head, the mass of it softening his hard jaw. When he twinkled his pretty eyes at me, my heart skipped a beat or two.
“The security is stupidly tight, there’s no way he’ll get in. You’ve put the barrier spells up so only people with tickets can get in to the venue.”
My legs were slightly shaky as the floor started to get crowded. I didn’t love tons of people, it made me nervous. Don’t get me wrong, concerts were fun, but we were here to work. Sensory overload would not help me focus.
Turning to glance up to the seating area, I caught sight of Jake. “I think I’m going to join Jake.”
“Yes!” Kate exclaimed as Dave groaned.
“What?” I stared between the two of them as they giggled between themselves.
Taking a tenner out of his wallet, Dave handed it to Kate. “We made a bet. Kate said you wouldn’t be able to stay in the standing area before the music came on. I thought you might last until after the first song. I lost.”
Spinning on my heel, I rolled my eyes at the same time as waving my hand in dismissal. Whatever. Dave had been stupid to think that I could cope with mostly humans pressed up against me, or bumping into me. As if physical contact was doable when I was connected to the ley line. My senses were crazy in the concert type of environment. Why couldn’t I just be at home, curled up with a book? My fictional boyfriends were getting neglected.
“Hello, Gemma.”
My gaze had been searching around me as I made my way to the steps to join Jake. Archie Roberts stood in front of me, a smirky smile on his face. He wore jeans and band shirt, his dark hair roughened up.
“Archie,” I greeted, extremely glad that I could remember him.
Seeing him so underdressed sent a slight shock through my system. This was a vampire who loved reading. And, apparently rock music. Could he get any better?
“I hear my tip-off worked?”
“Erm, yeah, it... er....” My stuttering was extremely embarrassing. What was wrong with me? I was a kick-ass agent who, although dead, was still one of the only witches in the world connected to the ley line. And here I was, struggling to talk to a pretty man.
“Archie!” Dave came to stand next to me, his arm coming around my shoulders. “Thanks so much for telling us about that hotel. It was extremely handy info.”
Offering his hand, he smiled broadly when Archie shook it. Although the vampire glanced between the pair of us, his expression didn’t alter. Even when I shrugged Dave off.
“These are my colleagues Dave and Kate.” Indicating the seer, I waited for them to make pleasantries.
“Ah, so you’re the handsome vampire who dumbfounded our boss. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
My cheeks heated so badly, I had to fan my face with my hand. Especially when Archie glanced at me, his smile stretching across his lips.
“I did have a wonderful time on our date. I’ve not been able to ask for a second yet, but I hope Gemma will let me take her out again.”
Opening my mouth, I gulped air, unable to speak. Dave frowned at me before looking at the vampire. “Maybe after we bring down Joseph and the PFF.”
Gently taking my bicep, Dave said our goodbyes and guided me towards the steps. I let him lead me away, my mouth still hanging open. Had Dave just declined a date on my behalf? Without even consulting me?
“What was that?” I asked him as we started up the steps.
Without letting me go, he propelled me upwards. “Nothing. It’s not in your interest to date someone so closely connected to our terrorist suspect right now.”
“Wait...”
The loud introduction of the band’s most famous song suddenly blasted into the arena as the lights went down. My boots tripped as I tried to control my senses. If the Essex Obsessor was going to strike, we needed to be on high alert, not bickering.
“Let
