Brigid nodded. “I have a few people in mind already.”

“Excellent.” Murphy raised his eyes to Anne and tried to talk through the sudden nerves when he realized she was standing right in front of the painting she’d done that night in Galway. “Anne, I’ve also considered our… unique situation. I am comfortable stating the nature of our relationship publicly to ensure further security if you would like.”

He’d claim her as his mate in public if she wanted. He’d be thrilled, in fact. The strength of that desire surprised him.

“One might speculate,” Anne said, “that it would make me a higher-profile target should any threat exist. So no, thank you.”

“Please inform me if your wishes change.”

“I will.”

She was so achingly polite, Murphy thought his fangs might burst through his skin. He wanted to grab her, take her against the glass wall behind him and—

“I won’t waste any more of your time tonight,” she said. “I understand there is a briefing about the summit in two nights’ time with Tom and Declan?”

“There is.”

She nodded at him. “I’ll see you then. Brigid, I’ll see you a bit later, yeah? I’m going to Josie’s after this. Call there when you’re done?”

“Will do.”

And without another word, Anne spun and left him.

Again.

You know what you want, Murphy.

Yes, he did.

He let go of the granite paperweight he’d been holding in one hand, tossing the handful of gravel in the wastebasket beneath his desk. Brigid pretended not to notice as he shuffled files on his desk.

“Brigid?”

“Yes, boss?”

“You know that little network of spies and gossips you have running around Dublin?”

The corner of her mouth lifted. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Of course not. I have a message I’d like them to spread, if you please.”

“Which is…”

“Patrick Murphy is unavailable. Permanently.”

TOM tapped a pencil over the open notebook on the desk of the conference room. “Three issues tonight. Declan, have you and Brigid started on the security protocols for when Murphy will be in London?”

“She’s suggested three employees to take her place. One vampire. Two human.”

Murphy asked, “Which vampire?”

“Eamon Whitney.”

Murphy frowned. “One of Deirdre’s clan?”

“Yes.”

Earth vampire, then. “I thought he was one of your tech boys.”

Declan had been put in charge of the technology division ten years before. Seeing the problems caused by the inability to interact with the modern world, Murphy had chosen to focus on developing technology that vampires could use effectively. He refused to have modern advancements completely unavailable to him. It reminded him too much of his life as a human when luxuries had been off-limits.

“He is. But Eamon’s also been shadowing Brigid for the past year or so. I’ve seen some potential there. His observation skills are above average.”

“He’s new.”

“He is,” Tom said, flipping through files, “but it looks like the humans she’s paired him with for this are experienced men. Castleman and Snyder.”

The fact that Snyder was female didn’t stop Tom from calling her one of his “men.” Murphy approved of the choices, having known both guards for years.

“I’ll approve it, but Declan, I want you to be on top of things while we’re gone. No disappearing into the labs for a bit, eh?”

Declan nodded. “It might slow down testing on Nocht.”

Damn.

“Do what you can,” Murphy said. “Security is the priority.”

His software companies had spent years developing voice-recognition programs for use in everything from phones to cars to home-security systems. Nocht was their newest program. His hardware divisions focused on building devices and cases for technology out of nonreactive materials that vampires would be able to use.

It was a slow process. Prototypes were destroyed more often than not, and many vampires were resistant to change. But if Murphy had his way, there would be a vampire-friendly mobile device in the next ten years.

And he would make billions.

Declan had always had the sharpest mind, and Murphy had chosen him to lead the division, along with supervising surveillance and intelligence for his overall organization. When Brigid had come on board, it had freed Declan from some of his security duties, but Murphy would always turn to Tom and Declan first.

And Jack…

The pain had not lessened in the years since the revelation of his youngest child’s betrayal. It never would. And Murphy doubted if he’d ever sire another.

“Item two,” Tom continued. “Security briefing for London. Just how much are we sharing with Mary Hamilton?”

Murphy leaned back and tapped his fingers on his desk. “I don’t know yet.”

“Because you’re not sure how much she’s sharing with us?” Tom asked. “Or because we’re talking about Anne?”

He pursed his lips. “I don’t know that, either.”

“Let’s keep in mind,” Declan said, “that there’s very little information we could share with Mary at this point that would put our shipping operations at risk. Our contracts are secure and diverse.”