Page 82 of Protector Unmatched

“Nice to meet you,” Daphne said with some hesitation, while she clearly tried to avoid looking at his scar.

“It’s a pleasure, Daphne,” Gabriel said.

“And Patrick is Grayson’s younger brother,” Pearce explained to Daphne, then asked Gabriel, “So why is he sending Patrick? I mean, no offense, he’s a trained bodyguard, but—”

“I get what you’re trying to say,” Gabriel said, “but he’s got some expertise that some of us old folks know nothing about.” He smiled at Daphne. “He’s a nut about cosplay. He knows everything about it. We figured he can be in charge of the costumes and getting us into the event.”

“I can help him,” Daphne offered. “I know a lot about cosplay too.”

Gabriel nodded. “I’ll introduce you to him. I think he’s working the phone right now to get tickets.”

“How many people are we trying to get inside?” she asked.

“Well, let’s see… six Stealth Guardians, three hybrids, given that Patrick will insist on going, and four vampires—”

“Who are the vampires apart from you?” Pearce interrupted.

“Zane, Thomas, and Yvette.”

“Excellent choices,” Pearce said, and meant it.

“So, fourteen tickets, then,” Daphne said.

“Uh, I think that’s thirteen, actually,” Gabriel said politely.

“Actually, fourteen,” Daphne said. “I need a ticket too.”

“No, you won’t,” Pearce replied.

“But I’m coming with—”

“There’s always the chance, no matter how slim, that the demons know about Harcott and that he’ll be at the cosplay event. They’ve never been far behind. Hell, they found the location of the dagger before we did. We have to assume that they know who’s got it now. That’s the whole reason we brought Scanguards in. They’re equipped to help us fight the demons should we encounter them. You’re not. You’re staying here, in this house, protected by one of Scanguards’ men. And that’s that.”

Apparently, Daphne didn’t like his answer in the least. She braced her hands at her hips. “Then who’s gonna get you tickets to get inside? Because I can tell you right now that you’re not gonna get any legit tickets this late in the game.”

From behind them, a male said, “I’m afraid she’s right.”

Pearce spun around to see a young hybrid approach. He looked very much like his father and his older brother. “Patrick.”

“Hey, guys,” Patrick said. “Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I tried all my contacts to get tickets. Even the usual hawkers have none left. Dad authorized me to offer whatever price would buy us access, but even with unlimited funds, I can’t get us in. I was gonna talk to Thomas and see if he can hack into their system and generate some tickets for us that’ll pass their scanner. Security is ultra-tight this year. Particularly after that kerfuffle last year.”

“What kerfuffle?” Pearce asked.

Patrick gave a one-shouldered shrug. “Well, I guess if you’re not following the industry, you wouldn’t know. Anyway, last year a bunch of guys tried to kidnap the cast of Game of Thrones, and the way they got in was with fake tickets. I heard they’ve implemented a two-step security system this year. I’ll talk to Thomas about it. He should know how to get around it. Or you could talk to him, Pearce, IT genius to IT genius.”

“Sounds good,” Pearce said. “Together we’ll figure it out.”

“By the time you get into their system—if you get in—it’ll be too late,” Daphne said in a calm voice.

“You underestimate my and Thomas’s skills.”

“I don’t,” Daphne said. “But I know the guy who wrote the program. Ex-hacker. Very talented. Better than you, Thomas, and me combined. There are more traps in that program than in a store selling mousetraps. It would take us days to hack into it. Days we don’t have. I’m the only one who can get us the tickets. The guy owes me a favor.”

It wasn’t that Pearce didn’t believe her words, but he didn’t like the option he was presented with. “What if we encounter demons?”

“I’ll still be safer being with you and your vampire friends than going to the event on my own.”

The implication was clear. She would sneak into the event on her own if he didn’t let her tag along. He exchanged a look with Gabriel. “We’ll go in teams, one vampire or hybrid to one Stealth Guardian. I want Zane on my team.” He was the strongest, the fiercest vampire Pearce had ever met. If anybody could scare Daphne into following orders, it was him. He looked at Daphne. “If you leave Zane’s or my side for even a second, I will punish you. Don’t make me regret this.”