was trying to keep their relationship a secret. He didn’t want to consider that she might be having second thoughts.
She laid her portfolio on the couch beside her, then shifted her gaze straight to her father.
“Gregori teleported straight to this office from New York,” the president told her. “Very impressive. And he tells me you practiced teleporting with him last night and did extremely well.”
She nodded. “Yes.”
She was purposely trying not to look at him, Gregori thought. “I was just telling the president and Mr. Caprese about MacKay Security and Investigation.”
“And I verified with the British prime minister that they have a good working relationship with Angus MacKay and his employees,” Caprese said.
“Excellent.” The president turned to Gregori. “So you were about to tell us about a plan you developed with Mr. MacKay?”
“Yes.” Gregori opened his folder. “Angus and I selected the members for the team last night. We’re calling it the A-Team. A for Abigail.”
Her father smiled. “I like it.”
Gregori glanced at Abigail. She was focused on his folder, her cheeks slightly flushed.
He picked up the paper on top. “This is a brief bio and photo for the team captain, J.L. Wang. He speaks fluent Mandarin and can blend in among the locals. He’s been a vampire for two years. Before that, he was a FBI special agent stationed in Kansas City. For the past year, he’s been head of security for the West Coast Coven, headquartered in San Francisco.”
“Sounds good.” The president scanned J.L.’s profile, then passed it on to Caprese, who glanced at it, then set it on the coffee table.
Abigail slid the paper closer to her so she could see it.
Gregori picked up the next profile. “The second vampire on the team is Russell Ryan Hankelburg. He was a major in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. He’s an expert in weaponry and survival techniques.”
The president looked over his profile. “He was declared MIA in 1971. What happened to him?”
“He was discovered by some MacKay employees a year ago in a cave in northern Thailand,” Gregori said. “We believe he was in a coma for thirty-nine years. Angus managed to revive him by transforming him. The minute he heard about this mission, he volunteered. He’s eager to serve his country once again.”
“Admirable.” The president handed the profile to Caprese.
“So not only did he wake up Undead, but he lost thirty-nine years of his life?” Abigail asked. “That must have been traumatic.”
Gregori shrugged. “He’s a Marine. From what I hear, he adjusted quickly to all his new vampire capabilities.”
Caprese scanned his profile, then set it on the table. “These two men appear to be excellent choices. I’ll have to vet them, of course.”
“Of course. As vampires, we won’t be able to do much during the day.” Gregori refrained from saying they were actually dead. It was a vulnerability they didn’t want the government to know about. “We don’t want to leave Abigail unprotected while we sleep, so we’re bringing a few day guards.”
He lifted the next profile. “This is Howard Barr. He was a defensive lineman for the Chicago Bears.”
President Tucker took the paper and frowned. “I can see why you might need some humans, but why not take Josh and Charles?” He motioned to Charles, who stood by the door.
“Or some operatives from the Agency,” Caprese offered. “They have experience in this sort of mission.”
“Yes, but they’re not going to have abilities like our day guards.”
Caprese snorted. “I say we go with a few of my men. It’ll show that you Vamps are willing to work with us.”
Gregori winced. “I’m afraid we have to insist on our own guys.”
“Why?” Caprese sat back. “What’s so special about them? Do they crap golden eggs?”
“Something like that,” Gregori muttered. He and Angus had debated this for an hour. The shifters expected the Vamps to keep their secret. But if Abigail traveled with them, she’d have to know. And if she knew, then her father should know. If he found out after the trip was over, he’d be understandably angry that they had withheld the information.
Gregori leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. “The information I’m about to tell you is top secret even in the vampire world. I’d like your word that it never leaves this room.”
The president and CIA director exchanged looks, then nodded.
“There is another group of . . . people, supernatural like vampires, but different. They wish to remain secret for obvious reasons. I need your word that you will never attempt to hunt them down or harm them. They have trusted us to keep their secret, and it would be dishonorable for us to betray them in any way.”
“You have my word,” President Tucker said, then gave Caprese a pointed look. “If you can’t keep a secret, leave the room now.”
Caprese arched a brow. “I was quiet about vampires for six years. I can keep my mouth shut.”
“All right, then.” Gregori glanced at Abigail, whose face had turned pale. “Howard is a shifter.” When he was met with blank looks, he explained further. “A shape shifter. He changes form at will.”
She gasped. “You mean like a werewolf?”
“The majority of shifters are werewolves,” Gregori admitted.
Caprese scoffed. “I don’t believe it.”
Abigail shook her head. “I don’t see how it’s physically possible.”
Gregori gave her a pointed look. “There are a lot of things that can be possible.”
“Wait.” The president lifted a hand. “If he turns into a beast, will my daughter be safe?”
“Yes.” Gregori nodded. “He has complete control. And even in human form, he has super strength and speed and heightened senses. He can protect Abigail better than any human.”
“He’s a werewolf?” she asked him.
“Actually, he’s a were-bear. A Kodiak bear. Nobody’s going to mess with Howard.”
She stared at him with a stunned expression.
“The second day guard is Rajiv.” Gregori picked up the last profile.
“Do you know Maxim?” Abigail interrupted.
Gregori blinked. “Who?”
“Maxim. He’s a werewolf.”
The president stiffened. “Abby! You know a werewolf?”
“No! He’s the hero in Mom’s book . . . but I guess he’s not real.” Her face flushed. “Sorry. I hardly know what’s real anymore.”
Gregori refrained from smiling.
The president’s face softened as he regarded his daughter. “I understand how you feel, sweetie. We’ve had a lot thrown at us these last few nights.” He took a deep breath and exhaled. “Werewolves and were-bears—who would ever believe this?”
“You can add were-tigers to the list.” Gregori passed him the last profile.
Abigail gasped. “
Gregori chuckled. “Wolves, tigers, and bears, oh my!”
When the others continued to stare at him with stunned expressions, he cleared his throat and assumed a serious expression. “Rajiv has been working for MacKay S and I for a year. His tribe is from Thailand, but they originated in the Yunnan province. Came down the Mekong River, and then settled in northern Thailand. Apparently the were-tigers like to have a set territory for each tribe, and they ran out of room in Yunnan. The good news is Rajiv has relatives there, and he knows one of their local dialects.”
“And he shifts into a tiger?” President Tucker passed the profile to Caprese.
“Yes. He can shift at will.” Gregori closed his now-empty folder. “I’ll be going, too. And Abigail. So you have the six members the A-Team.”
“Why only two day guards?” Caprese asked.
