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"Maybe he just needed to take care of a few things Have you called Vinca to see if she’s seen him?" Even as I spoke, I re was up

"She hasn’t seen hi about this My spies told ht that key members of the Dominae are in town"

My eyes closed as I muttered a curse not fit for respectable company "I’ll be there in five"

27

Clovis rose when I entered his office I threw ot down to business

"Tellyou know," I said

Frank stepped forward He didn’t look at etting beaten by a girl "I called Adao over the supplies he’d requested for the raid He said he’d be here around one to look for him?"

Clovis nodded "We’ve had people scour the area and check out Adam’s hotel room"

"And?" I deed a look, which made my stomach drop Clovis reached behind his desk and held up Adam’s backpack "We found this near the temple His car was parked a couple of blocks away"

He handed me the pack My hand shook so bad I al here when someone picked him up"

What he didn’t say was the discarded backpack was a sign that Ada out of his sight I opened it and looked inside Along with his wallet and cell phone were so with several vials filled with various liquids and powders I opened a bag and sniffed The scent of roseht h with a story about how he’d had to bathe in rosemary after he’d accidentally hexed hi my attention back to the present "As I randuess she has him"

I opened my mouth and snapped it shut I couldn’t tell Clovis I already knew the Do with them

"He also told me that activity around the vineyard has picked up He believed they’ve been preparing for new arrivals in the lab"

"But ould they take Ada dumb Inside I was about to self-co to remain calm

"It’s possible they’re suspicious," Clovis said "However, I think it’s more likely they wanted Adaathered Adao in tomorrow"

Frank’s eyes widened "But we’re not ready"

I looked at Clovis for a reaction He nodded, giving his support of the new plan To Frank, I said, "We’ve got surprise on our side Not to ot pretty serious motivation to kick some ass"

Frank didn’t look happy, but nodded "I’ll brief the others"

I turned to Clovis "We’ll need a secure vehicle and soht"

Vinca sat on the couch when I got back the apartment Her arms wrapped around her as she stood "Sabina, thank Lilith Did you get otten to listen to her es in my hurry to find out what Clovis knew "No, but Clovis filled ed Adae and sparkled with tears "What are we going to do?"

"We’re o in tomorrow" I filled her in on the rest of the plan "Do you think you can get soic, we’ll need all the help we can get" I had hoped to keep Vinca away fro, but I kne that was impossible Even if I didn’t need her help, the fierce look on her face told ht on my hands if I wanted to keep her away now Obviously, she cared about saving Adam as much as I did

She nodded and chewed her lip "I’ll make sure they’re ready" She left the room to ain Nervous energy built up in ht, but I’d have to wait until torabbed my cell phone and hit the button to listen to voicemail

"Sabina, you need to coent The autoe was sent at a few minutes past twelve The system beeped and then I heard Vinca’s frantic voice