“It’s not definite,” I said softly. “It could have been one of the other guys, but Tate . . . even if we tested both of you, there’s no way to be sure. Since you became a vampire, every cell in your body changed. Katie’s would’ve, too, once they added ghoul DNA to her genetic makeup.”

Tate still looked shell-shocked at the possibility that the little girl he’d been trying to find might be his biological daughter. Finally, he ran a hand through his hair and looked up at me.

“If tests are useless, she’ll never know who her father is.”

Bones slipped his hand into mine, his grip strong and sure.

“She will always know who her father is.”

That had Tate on his feet in a flash. Ian hauled him back when he lunged at Bones.

“You will not—” Tate began before his mouth froze along with the rest of him.

“That’s better,” Bones said in satisfaction.

I didn’t appreciate his method of stemming Tate’s argument, but in fairness, we were short on time.

I bridged the distance between them and touched Tate’s clenched fist, which had been frozen in place mid-swing.

“You have a one-in-twenty-something chance of being her biological father, so if you want to be part of Katie’s life, of course you can. Bones won’t stand in your way, but he’ll be there for her, too. As will I.”

Then I angled myself so Tate couldn’t avoid my gaze.

“But first, we have to get her out of here alive. That takes priority over everything else, doesn’t it?”

Tate blinked, which I took for a yes. Bones released him. The two men stared at each other while Tate shook his limbs as if to reassure himself that they were back under his control. Then his hands clenched, and a look of pure determination crossed his features.

Not again, I thought, expecting him to swing at Bones once more. Relief filled me when all Tate did was stick out his hand.

“I don’t like you, and I probably never will, but from this day forward, I’m willing to call a truce for Katie’s sake.”

Bones shook his hand with a brief, sardonic smile.

“Truce accepted, and while I feel the same way, just like Justina, seems now I’ll never be rid of you, either.”

Tate let out a bark of laughter. “I forgot this truce includes her mother. That’s some ugly karma the two of us are working off.”

Fabian flew onto the roof, stopping Bones from whatever his reply would have been.

“They’ve found her!” the ghost announced.

“That was bloody quick,” Ian muttered.