Authors: Lauren Dane
Chapter Seventeen
After another ridiculous teleconference with Hunter Corp, she wanted to call the investigator, but she didn’t have to because as she pulled the phone out, he called her.
“I don’t have everything just yet, but I wanted to relay what I did have. This Wesslyian cat, he’s had feelers out in the magical black market, looking for some people to perform off the books jobs. I don’t have the link yet. I’m still looking.”
“Any idea what types of off the books jobs?”
“I’ve heard hired muscle, but I don’t know if it was magical, physical or what. And some custom spells. No one much wants to talk about that which says to me it was harmful in nature. But that’s just guesswork on my part.”
She thanked him and headed back out to the office downstairs where David was. Happily he was not only where she hoped he’d be, but had brought her a sandwich and some lemonade. “I can’t believe they wanted you to hold off on the raid of that palazzo,” David said.
“I can’t believe he thought I was seeking permission in the first place.”
Roth had brought several of his key supporters to the teleconference, including Hilary Sams, who’d tried one of those
aw shucks
,
I’m just joshing
things a few times when she’d been ripping Rowan down and Rowan wasn’t having it.
He’d known she wasn’t at the Hunter Corp. arranged villa, which she’d found very strange indeed. It was quite rare for any of the partners to check up like that. Especially if they weren’t an active part of the investigation.
David gave her a wry look. “They continue to miscalculate and underestimate you.”
“It used to piss me off. It still does, actually. But they all have to learn the hard way. I don’t know how many others besides Hilary and Roth are involved, but I’ll find out.” She told him what the investigator had reported in their earlier phone call.
David paled, but kept himself together.
“I know he’s behind this attempt to harm you. When I get enough evidence, the same as I’d use to back up any other execution, that will be handled.”
“You could just work with them to have him jailed or whatever.”
Rowan shook her head. “He’s playing big league games now. He’s got to face the consequences. He’s trying to start a war, trying to engage people to hurt a Hunter Corp. employee. More than one. But you’re what I care about. I gave him chances. He’s ignoring those chances.”
David kept looking at her.
“I get that you think I’m being harsh.”
He shook his head. “No,
Deese
, I don’t. I’m just honored by the way you treat me. And protect me. I worry for you, how they’ll react. But then I realize you don’t care. You don’t do you?”
“I’m beginning to understand I can continue to do what I believe in without working for Hunter Corp. if they can’t make better choices.”
She changed the subject because she didn’t want to get into it any further just then. “I cruised by the Hunter Corp. villa earlier. It’s being watched. Luckily there are so many magic bearing creatures here in Venice it’s not that easy to locate me. But I’m going to head back over there and take them out later on. I want to question them to see what they know. But first, it’s Pirate Polly the Vampire Queen we need to handle.”
Rowan really did love the fact that she’d poked out Enyo’s eye. She couldn’t wait to taunt her over it. Right before she used her blade to kill the ancient Vampire.
“Call Donna and ask if she’s still willing to help.”
He grinned. “I’m glad
.
”
“I don’t want to do this. They have no real idea of what they’re getting into. But I need them and they’re the type to try to do it on their own if I said no and that would be worse. Don’t use her name. Pirate Polly I mean.”
“Of course. I’ll pass that on when I speak to Donna, but I’m going to assume they already know.”
“It does come under the magic stuff umbrella. They have this thing about the name of a thing having power. Which is actually true and not just hokum. I love the word hokum.”
“You have about two hours before the Vampires rise. May I suggest this is a good time for some rest?”
She’d taken what Carl had said to heart. No matter how badly she wanted to storm in and kill everyone inside that palazzo, it all needed to be planned carefully. Enyo wasn’t an ordinary Vampire and there was sorcery involved in some way that was so bad it made the other badass witches she knew pretty much run the other way. To rush because Rowan was impatient would end in disaster. She had humans to protect and Enyo was the most formidable enemy she’d ever faced.
She wouldn’t be raiding that palazzo that night. But she would need to be sharp when she was creating the plan.
“You’re right. I’m going to sleep. I need to talk to Recht. If he comes down before I do, can you let him know?”
David nodded and she headed up to the room she belatedly remembered Clive was in. She briefly considered the couch in the sitting room but he’d be upset and as much as he’d understand she needed to be alone, part of him would feel rejected and she’d stopped trying to pretend it didn’t matter.
She stripped to her panties and a T-shirt before she headed in. All was quiet of course. Clive would still be in the same position he went to sleep in. Nearly totally still. His skin would be cool.
Sliding in bed on her side, she managed to snuggle into the duvet and close her eyes. The house was safe. She was safe. Everyone under that roof was safe and she could finally sleep.
* * *
Clive awoke and smiled as he realized she was in bed with him. Rolled up in the duvet like a crepe, her hair sticking out the top.
That she was still asleep told Clive she only got to bed a few hours before. He wanted her to sleep more than he wanted to show her just how much he missed her while he was resting.
He eased out quietly. He showered, dressed and headed downstairs. He wanted to check in with Recht and Warren regarding The First’s mental health. Rowan would also most likely be checking, but this was Nation business. They needed to be rooting out the leak within their ranks as well. He had his own people on it, as did Warren. But the Five were far better at this sort of thing. Vampires were terrified of a visit from The First’s lieutenants and usually confessed quickly rather than endure whatever plans they had to get a confession from an uncooperative Vampire.
There was a note that donors had been arranged and would be arriving shortly. Clive went in search of Recht and found him speaking rapid fire German over his phone. Orders to handle something from what Clive put together.
He hung up and nodded to Clive. “Where is Rowan? I was told she wanted to speak with me.”
“Resting. I didn’t want to wake her just yet. Have you spoken with anyone at the Keep?”
“He’s taken to sleeping most of the time. The few hours he’s awake he’s cranky and needs diversion, but he hasn’t left the grounds since the last time.” The relief in Recht’s tone was clear and that allowed Clive to relax a little.
Clive was at a disadvantage because he hadn’t been around during any previous bad spots. He could have asked Rowan. She’d have given him the information, knowing why he’d need the details. But he didn’t like to make her relive those dark times in her childhood if he could avoid it.
“The last time this happened, did all the Scions know?” Clive had taken up his predecessor’s tenure as Scion of North America just eighteen months prior.
“Things were different then. We relied on her to keep him calm.” Recht’s gaze had been far away but his focus sharpened on Clive. “We should never have done that to a child. A human. The times before she was born we hid it when we could. The Scions can be volatile. She changed everything. She still does.”
Clive realized what a gift Recht had just given him. Not just information, but an entirely new part of her that clicked into place. What would it have been like to have all that on your shoulders? Yes, he held the lives of the Vampires—and to a certain extent the humans—who lived in his territory. But she’d never experienced a time when she didn’t have the weight of her father’s devotion, sanity and direction to bear.
“Even when she was gone, his behavior was generally controlled. He does not want to disappoint her. He will recover if for no other reason.”
Clive dipped his head below Recht’s in thanks. He’d been trusted with information few others knew. That showed a great deal of assurance that Clive would not only continue to be loyal to The First, but to Rowan.
Like he was Rowan’s husband, Clive realized.
“I did not speak to you before I asked her to wear the ring. I should have. You are her family, after all.”
Recht smiled briefly. “She made her choice before you gave her that ring. I suggest you go to her father and tell him you love his daughter and wish to bond with her.”
The moment was over as Recht slid his impassive mask back on and was once more one of the Five.
Clive shifted the discussion back to The First.
“The sleeping is good. It means on some level he knows whatever this is he’s going through is dangerous so he’s trying to wait it out,” Recht said.
“And the leak? There’s a great deal of high level information being obtained by our enemies. All while they’re using the Nation’s resources.”
“We’re working on it. We have a great deal of data to go through. But thanks to the North American Vampires, we have some sort of program to comb it for clues.”
“Glad to put them to work.”
Being the youngest Scion had its merits. He understood the importance of modern skills in his arsenal. Technology was his weapon to make up the imbalance of his lack of years presented.
He knew how to be savage. Knew how to hunt and kill. Knew how a little violence was necessary with Vampires so they understood his rules were not to be violated. He was quite good at it.
He’d forgotten the joy of a different kind of violence until Rowan had come along and he’d been pulled him into a world where he rolled up his shirtsleeves and beat the hell out of someone on a regular basis.
Being a Scion was also a political position. A part in a larger, more complex network of power held across the entire Vampire Nation. As a potential Scion, he’d been trained by the Vampire Nation for three hundred years before he’d been appointed. Had learned strategy from the brightest minds. He’d lived and worked in London for several centuries, knowing the key to his success was understanding humans set the direction of the society they were inevitably part of.
That was how he’d continue to build the strength of his land. His inner circle was already more dynamic than the other Scions. He would continue to reign in North America and as each term ended and he moved to a new capital location, he would gather the best of the best.
The others would ignore him for another fifty years or so—it used to be that they’d have ignored him for a hundred and change. But his connection to Rowan had raised their attention.
He’d keep to his plan and get as much in place as he could before they started to consider him a real threat. And by then, he’d have all he needed to hold it against all comers.
Warren came in with Alice. Recht quickly brought Warren up to speed and when they came back to the kitchen, David was there directing Marcelo, who carried what appeared to be a great deal of food.
“Rowan is awake. She just got out of the shower,” David said quietly to Clive.
“Did she speak to Hunter Corp. yet?”
“I’ll let her bring you up to speed on that.”
With an internal sigh, Clive headed up the stairs in her direction.
She entered the main salon as he reached the other door. A quick look around said they were alone so she let him hug her, kissing her slow.
Her eyes had gone dreamy for long moments and it was a gift. He kissed her quickly one last time. “Good evening. People will be coming up shortly. There’s a lot of food. David is setting up some sort of staging area. You need to eat. You’re pale.”
She sniffed, annoyed. And yet she leaned into him for several long moments more. He kissed the top of her head, breathing her in. So vital.
She moved away, putting that part of herself aside until they were alone once more.
“I had an interesting day. I will absolutely eat. You’ll get to meet Donna, that’s Marcelo’s wife.”
Before she could say anything else, people came up the stairs and Clive caught her in a totally unguarded moment as she caught sight of David and smiled briefly before she scowled once more.
But David had noticed. One of the things Clive liked about their relationship was the vulnerability she showed around her valet. It was important that she have these relationships in her life. That she be surrounded by people and beings of power who cared about her and were invested in keeping her safe.
Rowan, more than any woman he’d ever known, needed a space to be soft. To be around people who didn’t want something from her. Who didn’t hate her or judge her or try to kill her. He wanted that for her very much. A safe, inner life where she could be unguarded.
She moved to take a few bowls and carted them over to the large table.
“Marcelo, thank you for moving this larger table in here. I appreciate that,” Rowan said as her friend came in.
“We have big dinners every night. You’re here so we’ll be here.” He shrugged. “Donna wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Another woman came up. “It’s your table anyway. It was just down in the shop.”
Rowan held up a hand to pause the conversation until she finished eating the bread she’d dipped in olive oil.
After a few more moments, she sighed happily. “Oh my goddess, that is so good. Sorry. Clive Stewart, this is Donna Goldoni.”
“Don’t apologize for how good my bread is.”
Clive bent over Donna’s hand briefly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Goldoni.”
Warren and Recht came up with wine and water and they all settled at the large table.
“Everyone, fill plates and start eating, I need to speak to Recht for just a moment and then we’ll start talking about what I learned today,” Rowan called out.
Recht nodded and the two of them headed downstairs.