“You’re welcome,” Amaury said from behind him.

Eddie turned and nodded gratefully to his brother-in-law. “Let’s get the rest of them.”

Peering out into the corridor, he saw more Scanguards personnel rush in from the door to the stairs, guns at the ready.

Eddie rushed in the other direction, heading for the server room. Amaury remained on his heels. At the next open door, he stopped and peered in, seeing Zane battling with one of the assailants as Samson had fallen to his knees, pressing his hands to his temples, his face distorted in agony.

“Fuck!” Eddie cursed and aimed at the vampire who was fighting with Zane, but Zane was in the way. Eddie didn’t have a clear shot. He hesitated for a moment, but then made a decision.

“Zane, drop!”

Instantly, Zane dove to the floor, giving him a clear line of sight. Eddie pulled the trigger and the silver bullet hit the target. His hours at the shooting range had paid off.

He didn’t wait to see the vampire disintegrate into dust, but instead rushed to the end of the corridor, where the server room was located. Before he even reached the open door, he already knew what was going on inside it. The sparks flying around in the room illuminated the corridor in short bursts.

When he peered into the room, a sense of déjà vu overcame him. He’d seen the exact same scene a few months earlier. Thomas was engaged in a mental fight with his maker, Kasper, or Keegan as he’d called himself then. And the man looked exactly like Keegan. How it was possible, Eddie didn’t know and didn’t care. All he cared about was ending this fight and saving Thomas.

Without hesitation, he aimed. But just like Zane, Thomas whirled around his opponent, not giving him a clear shot.

“Thomas!” he shouted. “Get down!”

But Thomas didn’t react, too engaged in the mental fight. It was questionable whether he heard him at all.

“Fuck!” Eddie cursed and leveled his gun in Kasper’s direction.

His hand shook, and sweat dripped from his forehead. Then a calming hand touched his shoulder.

“Wait for it,” Zane said, his voice soothing. “Aim at where he’s going to be, not where he is now. Then squeeze the trigger. Just like I taught you. What Portia said is true. I did compliment you on being an excellent marksman.”

Zane’s confidence in him lent him strength, and he forced his heartbeat to slow down, taking steadying breaths.

“Just squeeze,” Zane repeated.

Calming his mind, Eddie gave control over to his body and fired the gun. His heart stopped.

The sparks that had rendered the air electrical ceased. The mind control fight was over.

Eddie stared at Thomas and Kasper, searching for the place where his bullet had entered.

Kasper’s head suddenly turned to him, and shock coursed through Eddie’s body. Had he missed?

Then a trickle of blood ran from Kasper’s ear down his neck. As if watching TV in slow motion, Eddie watched Kasper’s body disintegrate into ash from the inside out.

Eddie felt his body shake uncontrollably and reached for the doorframe to support himself.

Then his eyes locked with Thomas’s and strength returned to his limbs. He pushed himself away from the door and dropped his gun onto the nearest desk.

With a determined gait, he walked to Thomas, stopping right in front of him. “I don’t care who sees us; I have to do this.”

Putting his hand to Thomas’s nape, he pulled him close and sank his lips onto him, searing Thomas’s mouth with a passionate kiss. Eddie drove his tongue between his lover’s parted lips, savoring the masculine taste and the powerful strokes with which Thomas responded to his kiss.

Strong arms drew him closer, holding him tightly. Eddie groaned as he felt Thomas’s hard body rub against his. He slipped one hand over Thomas’s ass and squeezed, pressing him closer and making him aware of his need.

When Thomas finally pushed against him, severing the kiss and bringing some distance between them, he let it happen only reluctantly. “We’ve gotta stop,” Thomas whispered against his lips. “We’re not alone.”

Only now did Eddie hear the clearing of throats from behind him. “I’m not ashamed of you.

Of us.”

Thomas smiled at him, his eyes twinkling with affection, acknowledging his admission without a word. Then he stroked his knuckles over Eddie’s cheek.

Eddie turned around to face his colleagues, who all stood just inside the server room, looking in different directions, some of them staring at their shoes, slightly embarrassed. Nina stood among them, smiling brightly at him, the fear she’d experienced in the elevator wiped from her face. He returned her smile.