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Blast him He could hear it

"Any other powers?" her dad asked

His smile widened "I’ht in her chest He was deflecting She knew it He had more powers Powers he didn’t want the, she was ninety-nine percent certain that he had caused Madison’s dog to fall asleep If he could do that to an animal, he could probably do it to humans What other tricks could he play on the huoose buerous than her father realized She needed to warn him, but she didn’t want to make accusations she couldn’t prove

"Dad?" She sidled up close to him "Can I have a ith you in private?"

He turned to her, his eyes sparkling with excite I am, aren’t you?" He squeezed her shoulder "That research trip you wanted to take? I think it’s possible now"

She gasped Good Lord, that hadn’t occurred to her She’d proposed that trip teeks ago

"I hated having to turn you down," her dad whispered "But this changes everything And the fact that it happened now, just e need it, it makes me believe this was meant to be"

Her heart squeezed in her chest She couldn’t bla that fate had somehow stepped in to help him keep his beloved wife alive But could fate take the for them curiously, and no doubt he could hear every word "Dad, we need to talk about this Alone"

"It’ll be fine Trust me" He patted her shoulder, then turned to his advisors "My decision is made We will proceed with the alliance These Valanced back at Abigail and winked

She gulped Dadinto this alliance out of desperation to save Mom Such an alliance shouldn’t be based on ee of hope Mr Holstein’s ability to teleport overnht find the plants that had theher erous psychic powers? How could she possibly trust him? On the other hand, how could she pass up an opportunity to help her mother?

"Alan" Her dad turned to the director of Ho that video disappear and proving to the public that va more than fantasy Get started ined look "Yes, Mr President" He strode from the room

"Thank you," Mr Holstein told her father "We’ll be happy to assist you with any probleail and lifted his eyebroith a questioning look

She turned away, her cheeks groarm Would Dad actually do it? Would he ask a va personal I’d like to discuss with Mr Holstein," her father said "General, George, Frank, thank you for cousted look, then marched from the office, followed by the secretary of defense and the national security advisor

"Mr President?" Josh asked "I’ll escort your daughters back to the residence floor now"

"You can take Madison, but I’d like Abigail to stay"

She sed hard Yes, Dad was going to do it

"But that’s not fair!" Madison latched on to Abigail’s arets to stay, then so do I"

Dad lowered his voice "Sweetie, we have business to discuss with Mr Holstein"

"I can do that! I’m a vampire expert!"

Dad’s mouth twitched "I doubt you could know more than the vampire himself"

"Oh" She tucked her chin down "I suppose that’s true"

"If the young ladies wish to remain, I would be honored to have their coail’s pulse jumped Did he know the power of that s The ed hi look that he see

"Oh, thank you, Mr Holstein!" Madison grinned and extended a hand "I’ been an admirer of yourspecies"

He shook her hand "Please, call led "I love your name! It’s so vampirish Don’t you think so, Abby?"

"I suppose" She avoided eye contact with him, but still saw his hand reach out to her

"Abby?" he asked softly

She sed hard Why did his voice have to be so deep and sexy? "Gori" She clasped his hand, intending to give it one quick shake and release, but he held tight until she lifted her gaze toher a shock Where had that come frorip, jerking back hard enough that she lost her balance and fell onto her rump on the couch

"Yes, let’s all have a seat" Her dad sat in his chair at the head of the coffee table, apparently unaware that anything odd had happened

The CIA director and Mr Whelan sat on the other couch Josh and the three Secret Service agents reined that little jolt? No, her right palail clenched her hands together Maybe it was just her She ventured a glance at Gregori

He was regarding her with a puzzled look

"Gregori" Her dad cleared his throat "Do you ori?"

"No, that would be fine" He sat in the chair at the end of the coffee table

Madison set her dog bag on the coffee table next to the ice bucket, then sat next to Abigail "I’ht away I was expecting you to fly in as a bat"

He nodded with a hint of a sail snorted As if Gregori Holstein could ever be inconspicuous

He glanced at her, and his eyes darkened to an intense green

Her heart went back into warp drive Daail’s dad leaned forward, his forearori "Now that we’re helping you with your proble in return"

Gregori shifted in his chair as he unbuttoned his suit coat "What do you have in mind?"

Mr Caprese cleared his throat "Your ability to teleport makes you an excellent candidate for covert operations"