“We’ll be teleporting around,” Gregori explained. “Three vampires means we can safely transport only three —Abigail plus the two shifters.”
Caprese gathered the profiles together in a stack. “I’ll let you know if I approve of these . . . men.”
Gregori gave him a wry look. “Try to do it within a few hours. The
Abigail sat up with an alarmed look. “They’re leaving without me?”
“You and I will follow as soon as everything is ready,” Gregori said. “The other four will establish bases around the province. Since the terrain is fairly mountainous, they’ll be looking for caves or abandoned buildings away from populated areas. They’ll set up beacons in these bases that only Vamps and shifters can hear. We use the beacons to know exactly where to teleport. And each base will be stocked with supplies: food, water, synthetic blood, sleeping bags, and so forth. I’m afraid we’ll be roughing it.”
She nodded. “I was expecting that.”
Gregori shifted to face the president. “The plan is this—careful and thorough preparation, everything set up, and then when it’s time to take Abigail in, we do a quick strike. Get her in and out as fast as possible. Two or three nights at the most. No one will ever know she was there.”
The president smiled. “I like it.”
“Laurence,” Caprese said, “I hope you realize the ramifications if your daughter is discovered. The Chinese could hold her prisoner, claiming she’s a spy.”
“I’m counting on the Vamps being able to teleport her out at the first sign of trouble,” the president replied.
“What if the Chinese realize she’s stolen some of their plants for research?” Caprese asked. “She could be in serious trouble, and your career would be over.”
“If I can save my wife, I don’t give a damn what people think of me,” President Tucker said. “I’m on my second term, so my career’s over anyway.”
“If I discover something useful with one of the plants,” Abigail said, “I’ll find a way to synthesize it so we won’t have to go back. We should only have to go once.”
“Exactly,” her father agreed. “What’s important right now is managing Abby’s trip without putting her in any danger.” He turned to Gregori. “I’m counting on you guys for that. Don’t let me down.”
Gregori nodded. Personally, he didn’t know how he could live with himself if something happened to Abigail. And if something bad did happen and the president blamed the Vamps, then they could all be in serious trouble.
He adjusted his tie. “If Abigail can give us some information on the plants, we’ll do our best to locate them ahead of time. Then we’ll take her in, grab them, and leave.”
She removed a short stack of papers from her portfolio. “I have the information here.”
“Great.” Gregori smiled at her, then turned back to her father. “Our first priority is your daughter’s safety. That’s why we’re trying to minimize the time she’ll be in China. But it would be seriously remiss of me if I didn’t suggest letting our men take care of the entire mission. With enough information, we should be able to find the plants she wants.”
She gasped. “You would go without me?”
Gregori winced inwardly at the shocked and injured look on her face. “I’m sorry, but it’s something we should consider.”
She pressed a hand to her mouth, then to her chest. “I can’t believe this. You know how important this is to me.”
Her father gave her a sympathetic look. “He has a valid point, Abby. The best way to protect you is to keep you safe here.”
Her eyes glistened with tears. “There’s more to life than always being
“It’s all right,” the president said gently. “I’m sure they can locate the plants without you.”
“No!” She shook her head, and tears tumbled down her cheeks. “Don’t tell me I can’t do this! I’m always being told what I can’t do. You can’t wear that. It doesn’t look classy enough. You can’t have those friends. They’re not prestigious enough. Don’t frown like that. You can’t look unhappy in public. Don’t say anything in front of the media. They might print it. I had to go into hiding to get a life!”
Gregori sat back, stunned. He squeezed his hands into fists to keep from reaching out to her. He glanced at her father. President Tucker looked equally stunned.
“Abby,” her father whispered. “I—I didn’t know . . .”
“Oh God.” She wiped her cheeks. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to . . .” She stuffed her papers back into the portfolio, her hands shaking. “I’m going on the trip. I won’t share my information until you agree.” She rushed toward the door and stopped in front of Charles. “I want to leave.”
The Secret Service man glanced at the president, who nodded, then he opened the door and Abigail ran out.
President Tucker slumped in his chair, rubbing his forehead. “I didn’t realize my career was so hard on her. She never complained. Not once.”
Gregori shifted on the couch. The CIA director was just sitting there with a blank face. Charles was expressionless as usual. “Sir, I’ve only known your daughter a few days, but I can tell she loves her family very much. She would do anything for you.”
The president nodded with tears in his eyes. “She’s so brave. So smart.” He leaned forward suddenly and grasped Gregori’s shoulder. “Give me your word you won’t let anything happen to her.”
He gazed into the president’s eyes. They were hazel like Abigail’s. “You have my word. I’ll defend her with my life.”
The president watched him closely, then nodded. “Good.” He sat back and took a deep breath. “You were right to suggest she stay here. It occurred to me, too. But you can see how strongly she feels.”
Gregori nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“She’s very passionate about this mission. She hopes it will save her mother. I have the same hope, or I would never put her at such risk.”
Gregori rose to his feet. “Then it’s settled. We’ll take her.” And God help them if anything happened to her.
Chapter Nineteen
Abigail slammed the safe door shut and twirled the combination lock. She’d tossed all her plant information inside. It was her personal safe at the lab, and only she knew the combination. Of course, the info was also on her computer, but no one could access it without a password. If Dad sent Gregori and his buddies to China without her, they wouldn’t know what to look for.
She groaned. This act of rebellion could condemn the mission to failure. And condemn her mother.
Tears burned her eyes. The trip had been her idea, dammit. How could they decide she shouldn’t be allowed to go?
She’d been afraid this would happen. Her whole life had revolved around two lists—what was allowed, and what wasn’t allowed, and the second list had always been ten times longer than the first.
She paced across the lab, still angry. Still hurt. Still mortified. She’d completely lost it. Years of frustration and resentment had erupted all at once.
She’d been too upset to remain at the White House. Her poor father had looked so shocked. And hurt. He’d worked so hard over the years, and she was proud of him. It wasn’t his fault she’d never adjusted to public life. Madison and Lincoln thrived on it. Even Mom had loved it before she became ill.
She couldn’t face her mother, either. She sure didn’t want to hear another lecture about keeping away from vampires. One more item to add to the not-allowed list. Good Lord, her parents would have a fit if they knew she’d
