The sooner he established the ground rules, the better.

“I’m sure you’re curious to hear more about my offer,” Quinn started.

Blake instantly moved forward on his chair, his eagerness and curiosity evident.

“Well, then don’t let me keep you on tenterhooks. What I’m telling you now doesn’t leave this room. Here’s the deal: we’re a security outfit of the highest caliber. We don’t always work within the confines of the law. Hence, we choose very carefully, who we take into our fold. Only the best will make the cut.”

He watched Blake’s face light up in fascination. “Wow. So, what do I need to do?”

“There are a number of tests. Only a few pass them.”

“Just like in Men in Black, right?” Blake asked, looking like a kid about to unwrap his Christmas presents.

Quinn almost regretted having used the MIB reference the night before. “This is reality, not a movie. People die if we don’t do our jobs right. That’s why we only take the best. Nothing less will do.”

He paused for a second, giving Blake a moment to digest his words, and glanced at Rose.

She mouthed a few words to him. The best of the best of the best.

Quinn refrained from rolling his eyes. Great, now even Rose was quoting lines from the movie.

“I have to warn you, should you be selected, the training is grueling. Both mentally and physically. Your life will change irrevocably. It’s no place for weaklings.”

Blake instantly let out an outraged breath. “I’m not a weakling!” Immediately, the muscles in his arms bulged as if to profess his physical prowess.

“I don’t think Quinn is saying that,” Rose interjected.

“Rose is right,” Quinn said quickly before she could say anything else and interfere with his line of buttering the kid up. “To be selected is a privilege. To survive the training intact is an achievement you can be proud of.”

Blake nodded enthusiastically. “I can do it.”

Quinn turned when he felt another vampire approach. Oliver appeared next to him, grinning and flashing his shiny new badge at him. He honed in on the ID: Section V, Class A it said. He hadn’t expected anything else. Oliver had been in the inner circle of vampires and been Samson’s personal assistant for four years. It was only natural that he would instantly be elevated to the highest echelon within Scanguards.

They exchanged a brief smile. He felt like a proud father in that moment.

“This is Oliver.”

“Hey,” Blake greeted him.

“Oliver and Rose will bring you to where the tests are conducted. You’ll meet other applicants that were selected by my colleagues.” He leaned forward in emphasis. “Between you and me, it’s always a competition between the seasoned staff here about who can spot the next recruit. So, don’t make me lose this bet.”

Blake jumped up. “You can count on me!”

Quinn grinned. The kid was gung-ho. Once they had tired him out with some pointless fake tests competing against some Scanguards staff who’d been selected to play the other applicants, he would be ecstatic to be chosen and agree to the conditions Quinn would present him with later.

Quinn looked at Rose. “We’ll meet here in a couple of hours.”

Rose shot him a surprised look. “You’re not coming with us?”

“I have an appointment in IT.”

Then he turned and left the room before Rose could protest. What he had to discuss with Thomas wasn’t meant for her ears.

14

Thomas looked up from his console and stared at the dark-haired vampire in front of him. Cain had joined Scanguards only a few weeks earlier after providing them with vital information about an insane Nazi-vampire who wanted to create a master race. During the final battle, Thomas had sustained major injuries, but thanks to the care of his mentee Eddie, he’d recovered quickly.

“But we have nothing to go by,” he replied to Cain’s earlier question.

“I know that. But everybody says you’re a genius and can dig up anything.”

Thomas rolled his eyes. “If it comes to hacking into a computer system, sure, but to find out who you are? How do you want me to do that? You don’t even know who you are.”

Cain bent over the desk. “I need your help. I need to know who I am. It’s been driving me mad not having any memory from when I was human. What if I have family? What if there is somebody who needs me? Somebody who’s looking for me? Don’t you understand how that feels?”

His eyes begged for understanding.