Director West pinches up her face as if Henry’s argument tastes sour, and looks at Parker. “You compelled her and brought her to Henry. Why?”
Parker, unlike Henry, doesn’t look defiant. He looks…resigned. “I didn’t know she was gifted. She was human, she knew about our world, she knew that I was a vampire, and she was associated with my main suspect.”
“Are you a cop, too, then?” I ask. “How come you didn’t bring me here instead of taking me to Henry?”
Parker shakes his head. “I don’t work for the Agency.”
“Though we’ve tried to recruit him many times,” Director West says with a sigh.
Parker shrugs helplessly to the director—who is actually smiling for once—like they’re buddies sharing a tired joke. “I’m Henry’s chief enforcer,” Parker explains to me. “Head of security for the clan.”
Okay. I can see that.
“I’ve been trying to find Nadine all week. Xavier, your neighbor, was my main suspect. I was undercover last night. I thought Xavier was going to try to take another underworlder, but instead he picked up you.”
I shiver. Xavier is a creep above creeps. What the hell is he doing that he’s involved with underworlders disappearing? I quickly shake off the thought. Xavier is a psycho pervert, but he’s also a moron. He can’t possibly know that the underworld exists. If he did, he would definitely do something stupid and get himself killed.
As I digest this news and mentally argue the possibilities, Parker turns his attention back to Director West. “It was my job to be suspicious of Xavier and all of his associates. While Nora clearly wasn’t friendly with Xavier, she was out with him. I didn’t know he’d forced her to come, and she obviously knew of the underworld. I hadn’t been sure Xavier knew what he was dealing with, but Nora was different. She knew about it. It would have been irresponsible of me not to look into it further.”
As much as it grinds, I can see his point. I hate that his argument makes sense. “But why bring me to Henry?”
He shrugs. “Clan rules.”
When he says that, it rings familiar. I remember hearing that in his thoughts last night. He’d been conflicted about bringing me to his master but felt he had no choice. It was the rules.
“Henry has special gifts with his compulsion. If we find a human who knows about us or we accidentally expose ourselves to them, we are to bring them to him and let him decide how to proceed. I didn’t know you had any gifts. And though I didn’t believe it, there was a chance you were involved in Nadine’s kidnapping. I’m sorry, Nora.”
Damn him for sounding sincere. He’s telling the truth, and it makes sense. From his perspective, I can sort of believe he did the right thing. Director West must feel the same as me, because she smiles affectionately at him again and then raises an eyebrow at Henry. “When you looked into her memories, did you find evidence that she was involved in Nadine’s disappearance?”
Henry shakes his head. “No. She was merely an innocent victim of her neighbor.”
“And do you consider her a threat to the underworld? Do you feel she will expose us to humans?”
Henry’s headshake becomes emphatic, and his voice turns prideful. “No. She would never try to harm us that way. Nora is much smarter than that.”
Director West levels Henry with a heated glare. “And after discovering that this woman was no ordinary human, that she has gifts of her own, and was not a danger to the underworld, you still felt it necessary to keep her hostage? You forced her to use her gifts to your own benefit, you compelled her to do your bidding, and you attempted to turn her without her permission?”
It warms my heart that the woman is pissed on my behalf. It’s the first sign of her opinion where I’m concerned. I’m glad it seems to be in my favor. Henry, on the other hand, is pissed. I don’t think the master vampire is used to having his authority questioned. “I did what I felt was necessary,” he growls. “Nora’s is a unique situation. I had her best interests at heart.”
Madison turns her angry glare on Parker. “And you? Do you feel your sire was acting in Nora’s best interest? Did you have no problems with what was going on?”
Parker is startled to be addressed so directly like this. His eyes bounce back and forth between Madison and Henry, then finally turn my direction. It’s clear he doesn’t want to answer, but the director is waiting. Finally, his shoulders slump, and he says, “I was conflicted. For the first time in my life, I did not agree with Henry’s choices.”
The poor bastard sounds devastated by that.
Henry roars. “You doubted me?”
Parker pulls himself together and answers with confidence. “I acted loyally, Sire. I never went against a single command. I tried to have faith in your judgment.”
Henry’s face flushes red with anger. “But you doubted me. You believed I was in the wrong.”
It’s not a question, but he’s waiting for an answer. “No.”
Wulf clears his throat. “Some of us in this room can smell lies, Parker.”
Henry snarls at this, either angry that Parker lied to him or that he sincerely doubted his master. Parker holds up his hands. “Forgive me, Sire, I did not mean to lie. It is more complicated than a yes or no. It wasn’t you I doubted. I believed you weren’t acting like yourself. I was worried about you.”
Henry sputters. “I beg your pardon?”
“Nora got to you, Sire. She got under your skin. She bewitched you.”
“I didn’t!” I gasp at the outrageous accusation. “I can’t do that. And why would I? I didn’t want his attention!”
“I don’t mean literally, Nora. There’s just something captivating about you. Henry fell victim to your charm.” He looks back at Henry, who’s still seething. “Perhaps it was seeing her memories the way you did. She’s had an exceptionally difficult life. You wanted so much to take away her pain and suffering, to help the broken woman who needed your protection. I believe you were trying to be noble. You were doing what you felt was right. But instead of helping Nora, you were hurting her. That’s why I suggested you let her go back at the club.”
It’s true; Parker had sided with me when I’d tried to bargain for my release. Everything he’s said tonight has made all of his actions seem justified, noble even. He’s making it impossible to hate him. It’s really annoying.
Henry’s eyes grow wide, as if he’s only just considering the possibility that he was making me suffer. Parker’s confession shocks him. He’s stunned that Parker believed he was hurting me. Pompous jackass.
Parker turns his plea to Madison. “Henry’s intent was neither malicious nor selfish.”
When I snort, Parker cringes a little, and Henry glares at me. I glare right back. Henry was being a selfish bastard, and he knows it.
“Henry’s right,” Parker says, clearing his throat to break the hostility between Henry and me. “Nora’s case is unique. It was difficult to know what the right answer was. I believe Henry did his best. I wanted to help them both, but I couldn’t betray my sire, and I wanted Nora’s safety and well-being, too. I wasn’t sure what to do.”
He meets my gaze then, and his deep azure eyes pierce mine. When he silently begs for understanding and forgiveness, my heart softens against my will. I actually kind of feel bad for him, as sick as that is. Not that I’m suffering from Stockholm Syndrome or anything. But Parker seems caught between his own morals and his loyalty to his sire.
It’s crazy, because Parker doesn’t seem like the type of man scared to speak up for himself or defy someone if he feels it necessary. The way he defers to Henry doesn’t make sense. The sire bond must be stronger than I thought. And I was so close to being stuck with one myself. I shudder. I’m so glad Nick Gorgeous brought me to the Agency.
Our stare is broken when Director West once again takes over the conversation. “Very well,” she says. “Parker, if you truly believe Henry’s intents were honorable…”
“I do.”
I scoff, but everyone ignores me.