I sat on the floor, my knees weak. For a second, I couldn't even breathe. Then I began to plan.
"He'll need to be airlifted out of there. A helicopter would be best. We can arm it with silver bullets. We'll do a midair transport onto a plane. Did you say you've been leaving messages for me about this?" I gave Vlad a truly menacing glare.
"I've been leaving messages for you to call, but we only found out tonight about Gregor's ambush."
Vlad shrugged, unapologetic. "You said you didn't want to speak to them. This part is news to me. I would have told you had I known."
I didn't bitch at him. After all, it was my own fault for hiding, not Vlad's.
"There's a problem with your plan, Cat," Spade said tightly. "Else we would have already done something similar. No one of any line is allowed in the city, and that means above it, too. It would be sentencing them to death by Marie's decree, and she's too powerful to dismiss. I'd risk it myself, but if one vampire or ghoul crosses the line into the Quarter, Gregor and his people will follow. It has to be humans of no vampire affiliation, do you understand?"
Yeah, I did. Now I knew why Spade was in such a twist to get ahold of me.
"Give me your number. I'll call you right back."
Chapter Twenty-One
TESTING THREE, TWO, ONE...YOU READ ME, Geri?"
Lieutenant Geri Hicks, my replacement with Don's team, coughed and muttered, "Affirmative."
She had a receiving line surgically planted under her skin, pumping my voice directly by her eardrum. If I shouted, she'd be in pain. Her microphone was less invasively located in her necklace.
"What's your location, Geri?"
"Crossing St. Ann Street and heading toward Bourbon. The bird still show he's there?"
I checked the satellite imagery of the French Quarter on my borrowed laptop. The plane's turbulence didn't help, but I could still spot Bones. And the woman next to him.
"Affirmative. There's a small time delay, as you know, but he should be there. You doing all right?"
Geri was nervous. I couldn't blame her. She had to bring Bones in without getting him or herself killed. Yeah, I'd have been wigged, too.
"I'm good," Geri said.
"Roger that. Now go get him."
I was the only person Spade knew who had human connections without direct undead affiliations and who could amass airpower and support complete with cutting-edge weapons and technology. Sure, it could be argued that my old team had connections to Bones, but none of them were under his command anymore since I'd quit. I owed my uncle big for this.
Since she was human, Geri couldn't see Fabian. He was there, though, trying to drop hints about our plan while not getting noticed by any of Marie's people. That wasn't an easy task. When this was over, I'd owe Fabian big, too. How does one repay a ghost? That was an issue I'd ponder later.
"Approaching target, going silent," Geri whispered.
On-screen, I saw her nearing Bones. He was at Pat O'Brien's, in the outside area, drinking what I guessed was his usual whiskey. His arm was slung around a pretty brunette, who was almost glued to him. Even now, her hand ran along his hip.
I clenched my fists. Bitch, you and I are going to have a long, bloody chat after this.
Cannelle couldn't hear my mental warning, but Vlad could. He lounged in the chair opposite me, the jet's turbulence not bothering him. We were on our way to the rendezvous point if all went well.
"You really don't like her."
I didn't answer out loud. That might confuse Geri, since I was wearing a headset.
No. I really, really don't.
"I know this is forward," Geri purred through my earpiece as the satellite showed her reaching Bones and his companion, Cannelle, "but after seeing the two of you gorgeous creatures, I can't decide who I want to f**k first."
"Attagirl," I whispered. God, cheerleading someone to hit on the man I loved! Why couldn't I have a normal life?
Bones set his drink down. If he was surprised to see Geri, he didn't show it. I sucked in a breath. What would he do? He had to know I'd sent Geri. Would he blow her cover? Or play along and get out of there?
"Easy decision, luv." Her necklace picked up every nuance of his accent. "Ladies first. Isn't that right, Cinnamon?"
Cannelle's knowing laugh pierced me straight in the heart. The plane's armrest lost a chunk.
"She looks very fierce, cheri. I was hoping for softer company, non?"
Geri didn't let Cannelle's disparagement stumble her. She flicked her fingers in Bones's drink, then made a good show of licking the alcohol off them.
"I'll be as gentle as a lamb, honey."
Geri really had come a long way since the person I'd trained months ago.
Cannelle caught Geri's wrist, put her palm up to her lips, and did some licking of her own.
"We shall see."
Then Cannelle put her arms around Bones and kissed him. Through Geri's microphone, I could almost hear Cannelle grinding against him, her muted moan of enjoyment, and his masculine rumble as he pressed her closer.
A full two minutes later, he lifted his head. By then, I almost wanted him dead.
Vlad watched me without pity. "Someone else could be doing this."
He was right. I'd insisted on being the relay. I didn't trust anyone else for something so important, no matter that it was brutal for me.
"Get him moving," I said to Geri, very low.
Geri stepped between them. "I don't need foreplay," she said, her throaty voice almost a purr. "Do we have to get to know each other? I just want to f**k like you can't imagine."
Bones disentangled himself from Cannelle to take Geri's hand. "Hate to keep a lovely girl waiting. Come on, Cinnamon. This is who I want tonight."
"Don't I get to choose?"
I heard the pout in Cannelle's voice. It was all I could do not to scream.
"Not this time, luv."
"Cheri - "
"Everyone else has been your choice," he interrupted, leading them through the crowds. "Keep whinging, and I'll make you wait until I'm done before you have her."
"Bastard," I spat, unable to help it. Everyone else? Wasn't that just great!
Bones stopped at a curb. I tensed. Had he heard me through Geri's earpiece?
But then they were moving again. I let out my breath. So far, so good. Bastard.
"Keep heading toward the church," I said to Geri, almost inaudible.
Then I removed my headset and spoke into my cell phone.
"Okay, Don, deploy. They're on their way. Tell Cooper not to drop the ladder until he's fifty yards away."
"Got it, Cat."