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Marcus shook his hand "Marcus Grayden" He motioned to the others "Roland Warbrook His wife Sarah And Amiriska"

"It’s an honor to meet you all," he said and waved toward the elevators "If you’ll couards posted on either side of the two elevator doors watched their approach with eyes full of fascination

Marcus nodded to them

Smiles broke out all around

"Honor to meet you, sir," one offered Several seconded the notion

Roland, Marcus noticed, did not receive the sa Most network employees tended to fear him because of the way he had terrorized anyone sent to serve as his Second

Sarah and Aht flirty ss Many an Adam’s apple bobbed then as the men sith trepidation

For once, Marcus supported his friend’s show of temper

The elevator they entered was large, like those oneto the buttons inside, there were five subterranean floors

John pressed S5 "The holding cell is on the sahtened Her pal, Marcus pried his hand away and wrapped his arm around her "We can wait in Chris’s office if you’d like," he aze went from one to the other "Perhaps, A? You’re both fairly new to the operation" He smiled "I’d be happy to show you around, let you see some of e do here at the network"

Her eyes on Aht smile "Thank you That would be wonderful I’ve sort of had hed "I can understand that Aht

I’m sorry, she said in Marcus’s head

Don’t be We really aren’t doing anything other than delivering the goods Seth will look into the va sounded The doors slid open

Marcus and Roland exited

John nodded to the dozenbeside the security desk positioned between the elevator and the hallway All carried assault rifles "Todd, show Marcus and Roland to the holding cell we prepared earlier"

One of the arbed in black with short blond hair, stepped forward "Yes, sir"

Marcus glanced back Ah A ouldn’t do," she teased

Roland snorted "Is there anything you wouldn’t do?"

She laughed

Marcus thought Ami’s shoulders relaxed just a bit as the corners of her lips tilted up

The doors slid closed

"This way, sirs," Todd said

Marcus felt Roland’s gaze as they followed the guard down a long, white hallway lit with fluorescents

"So?" the older i to tell me?"

Marcus didn’t have to ask what "When A you If she’s ever comfortable with it"

Roland nodded He wasn’t nearly as unbending asothers Because of his history, Marcus doubted that would ever change

It wasn’t too difficult to deteruards were stationed on either side of it More stood at attention across fro rooainst the farthest Four heavyfrom the ends of titanium chains as thick as Marcus’s wrist, were bolted to the wall above it

A small desk and chair shared the ith the door, out of reach of those chains

Roland crossed to the cot and durowled in disgust, swiping at the shoulder the vampire had occupied

Todd hurried forward and clamped manacles around the vampire’s wrists and ankles "Mr Reordon should be here soon He’ssure all the bases are covered at the lair"

Marcus suspected Chris would need to utilize Seth’scapabilities on this one Or not Chris could sell anyone anything If he told the authorities who arrived at the scene that he was a DEA agent and the lair was a drug den that had exploded while they were cooking ed to handle all of the paperwork and IDs and whatever the hell else he needed to convince the someone approach, Marcus looked to the doorway

The doctor fro short when she saw them

Marcus would have expected a doctor to wear slacks or a skirt with serviceable pumps beneath a white lab coat Instead, Dr Lipton wore low-riding jeans, a V-necked shirt that hugged her slender build, and black Converse Chuck Taylor high-top sneakers

"Hi," she said, stepping forward and offering her hand with a tentative smile as Todd slipped from the room "I didn’t have a chance to introduce myself before I’m Melanie Lipton"