“You’re not following protocol. You have to ring this in and ask permission to search.”
Gently moving Dave out of the way, I faced my mother.
Jake backed off too, both of them a few steps behind me.
My throat tried to close as I looked into the eyes of the woman who was supposed to protect me. When she had helped me visit the ancestors, she had shown some regret. Why was she trying to stand in my way now?
“Are you telling me,” I started, unable to help the sarcastic tone that laced my words, “that you have a new set of rules for my team because I’m not there? Since when did we stop following leads to ask permission?”
Pressing her lips into a thin line, my mother blinked slowly. “You’re no longer their team leader. It’s not safe for any of you. I forbid you to go into that place.”
“You what?” I snapped. “I’m on sabbatical, I can do whatever I like.”
I had to tell myself that I would’ve behaved in the same way even if my boss wasn’t my mother, but the uncomfortable expressions on the men’s faces when I glanced at them told me otherwise.
Clearing my throat, I turned back to my mum. “I was wrong to bring them with me. Please, take them back to MI5.”
Inclining her head, she waved them over to her.
Jake went willingly, but Dave held back. Pulling him away, I looked up into his eyes. My heart skipped when he ran a finger down my cheek. The soft look in his eyes made me lick my lips.
Yes, I was in danger, but the longer we hung around outside a pub, the harder it would be to get inside. Any witch could have cast a spell on Brianna or she could’ve been moved. Either way, arguing with my mother wasn’t helping.
“You have to go,” I said, cupping his hand against my cheek. “I’ll be fine.”
His hesitation made my mother click her fingers. She was one of the top dogs of Paranormal MI5, no one defied her. Except her daughter, which was kind of allowed.
Glancing at my mother, Dave stared for a second before he looked back at me. “You need backup.”
“I’m going to call Archie.”
Narrowing his eyes, Dave frowned. “Archie? The vampire book nerd?”
Did I detect a little hint of jealousy in his voice? A smile came to my face as I nodded. The vampire might not even want to help me, but it was worth asking. If I couldn’t have the people I trusted by my side, I needed the next best thing. Someone that Brianna trusted.
Dave stared at me, his lips pressed together but moving slightly as if he was contemplating what to do. His hands clenched into fists as he turned towards my mother.
Taking out my phone, I sent Archie a text asking if he could help me to rescue Brianna.
Dave walked over to our boss, his back straight and his hair loose around his shoulders. Glancing towards the pub, I hoped the others would leave soon. If anyone was keeping watch, our cover would be blown already.
My phone vibrated, the reply from Archie instantaneous. He would come immediately, I just had to let him know where I was. He wasn't exactly the most trustworthy vampire in the world, but he had helped by telling me about the CCTV. I could always detect when someone was lying, but he had been genuinely concerned about Brianna.
“This is ridiculous,” my mother snorted. “You can't do that.”
Raising my gaze when I'd replied to the vampire with the address, I frowned.
Dave was handing over his gun and badge. Rushing over, I clasped his arm in mine, relieved that my mother had refused to take them. I couldn't let him leave MI5. They needed him.
“What are you doing?” I hissed.
Turning to me, he pulled me to the side, away from Jake and my mother, who looked awkwardly at one another. Dave's grip was light on my wrist, the touch soft as he brushed his fingertips across my skin.
“Don't push me away now,” he started, putting a finger over my lips when I went to protest. “Gemma Abbott, your friend might be in there. I'm not going to leave you to find her on your own... or with any vampire.”
Chewing the inside of my cheek, I gazed at him. No one had ever looked at me with such fierce determination. He wanted to be by my side, regardless of whether or not he lost his job.
“I will replace my daughter if I have to,” my mother warned. “This isn't just about one person, this is about the whole ley line.”
Looking over his shoulder, Dave shook his head slowly. “Mrs Abbott, I know you think you're protecting your daughter, but by taking her off the case, she's even more in danger than she was with us. I'm staying with her.”
Marching over, my mother held out her hand and accepted the gun and badge when Dave placed it in her palm. Her eyes were wide, her jaw clenched. Her movements were jerky as she turned to me.
“Do you really think I want you to be in danger?” she almost spat in my face. “You're my daughter. If I had my way, I would lock you up until that bastard witch was found and killed. Oh, and the leaders of the PFF.”
Holding still, I waited for her to go on. Her cheeks were red, her eyes almost bulging as she squeezed the gun and badge between her hands. “You mean everything to me, Gemma, everything. There are people higher up that have overridden me. I'm not going to tell them that you brought your team here, against my commands, but I cannot have you all defy me without consequences.”
Dave took my hand as my mother faced him, her sigh loud as she spoke. “I accept your resignation.”
Without looking at me,
