Dash chuckled. Flynn had called his best friend and asked him to come as moral support. And to prevent him from committing murder. Flynn had no idea how tonight was going to go, but he did know it was a terrible idea to face Devlin alone. In his rearview mirror, the sun was setting over the ocean in the distance, and it cast the gray stone of the house in a yellow light that made the entire structure look like it was emanating a strange illness.
He pulled in front of the garage, and he and Dash hopped out. Dash shivered and buttoned his coat as a brisk wind swept around them.
Flynn looked at his pal. “Thanks for coming, mate.”
“Look, you dried me out when Joan broke my heart; it’s the least I could do.”
Flynn grinned. “Eh, nothing you wouldn’t have done for me.”
Dash shrugged, but Flynn noticed a slight upward crook at the edges of his mouth.
The house was quiet and seemed nearly deserted, so Flynn blew on his knuckles. “Here goes nothing,” he huffed and rapped on the door. It swung open with an eerie creak almost instantly, and he exchanged a look with Dash. “You think Devlin’s a vampire?”
Dash shuddered and made the sign of the cross as a butler emerged from the shadows.
“Mr. Devlin is expecting you.” The man was stone-faced, and he immediately turned on his heel, disappearing back into the dark hallway.
Dash gestured to say,After you, and Flynn stepped over the threshold. His eyes slowly adjusted to the dim light, and he took in the long, narrow hallway lined with old masters’ paintings. The butler had opened a door at the end of the hall, and Flynn cracked his knuckles, ready for a fight.
“Come in, Banks,” Devlin called out. The man’s slimy drawl made Flynn’s skin crawl. His stomach turned, thinking of how terrified Judy must have been with this creature descending upon her.
He took a breath, tugged down the edges of his sport coat, and stepped in the room. Dash followed on his heels.
“Ah,” drawled Devlin. “You brought your fellow miscreant.”
“Yes, well, recent incidents suggest no one should be caught out alone with you.”
Devlin smirked. “I see Judy Blount has gotten to you.”
“She didn’t tell me a damn thing,” retorted Flynn. “I saw the headlines you’ve been planting, and I realized immediately what had happened. That girl never would have attacked you unprovoked.”
“Take a seat, Banks. Mr. Howard.”
Flynn looked at his friend and Dash nodded toward thechair, signaling for him to sit first. Flynn preferred to stand, but he pulled out the stiff leather chair opposite Devlin’s desk and sat on the very edge. Dash plunked down into the chair next to him.
“I assume Miss Blount asked you to visit me,” Devlin said.
“She has no idea I’m here. I came because I won’t stand idly by while you try to ruin Judy and Livvy.”
Devlin turned so the low light in the room caught the side of his face, and Flynn choked back a gag at what he saw. Four thin lines ran from Devlin’s temple down his cheek to the edge of his mouth. The wounds were still bright red around the edges, and Flynn thought one of them was oozing pus.
“Miss Blount’s handiwork,” Devlin spat out.
“Too bad she didn’t get both sides,” Flynn retorted.
Dash quietly put his hand out and grabbed Flynn’s knee, reminding him to keep hold of himself.
“I’m not going to let you run that story.”
Devlin grinned, showing off all his teeth like a lion licking its chops. “And just how do you plan to stop me?”
This was the part where Flynn had to bluff. “Name your price.”
“Hah. You English aristocrats think your money is worth more because it comes with a title. Look around you, Mr. Banks. I don’t need your cash.”
“Come now, Devlin, be reasonable,” interrupted Dash. “At least hear out Flynn’s offer.”
“What is there to hear? He doesn’t have anything I want. Unless he can get me the girl.”
