“Boy, why don’t you take Mr. Kazan’s empty glass and get him a new one.”
The child, who looked about four or five, reached out for Viktor’s glass. He held it for a moment and stared inside. Patrick mussed the boy’s hair, and the little guy scampered over to the alcohol table.
I smiled privately when I caught sight of Christian halfway up the stairs, his back to the wall and one foot propped on a higher step, which made it possible to see up his kilt from the right angle. I chewed on my lip as I stared at his masculine legs, but Patrick’s little boy seized my attention when he streaked by me with a glass in hand, champagne splashing everywhere.
Viktor took the glass. “Spasibo, little one.”
Patrick bent down and patted the boy on the cheek. The child cupped his hand and whispered in his ear. Patrick nodded, and the child wandered over to a nearby table and eyeballed a tray of cookies. With so many people moving about the house, I didn’t blame him for keeping the boy close. All it takes is one pervert and an inattentive guardian to ruin a child’s life. He was well behaved, though, returning with a cookie in hand and crawling beneath a table to gawk at the costumes parading in front of him.
My eyes followed Claude as he crossed the room. He seemed unaware a flock of women was following close behind, giggling and whispering what I guessed were sordid fantasies involving the kilted Chitah.
It looked like we had all the entrances and exits covered, and when I whirled around to return to the room, I bumped into someone.
“Pardon me, m’lady.” A man in a cape bowed.
When he stood upright, I flicked a glance between his Phantom of the Opera mask and the red rose in his breast pocket. “Careful where you’re walking, Phantom.”
“Or off with my head?” he quipped, touching the heart pendant around my neck.
I resisted the urge to smile and show interest. I had a job to do.
“So the queen is without her king? What a shame.”
I adjusted his rose. “You assume the queen needs a king.”
He inclined his head, one corner of his mouth smiling. I couldn’t see the other behind the white mask. The man had short blond hair, which seemed all wrong for his costume choice. He appeared close to my age, and I wondered what his Breed was.
“Are you telling me you showed up in that provocative dress with no intention of attracting the opposite sex?”
“Precisely,” I said.
“Then the game is afoot.” He lifted my hand and kissed my knuckles. “See you when I see you.”
As quickly as a waiter flashed a tray in front of me, the stranger vanished. I spun in a circle, and that was when I noticed a tall man moving into the room. He wasn’t the only skyscraper in the crowd, but maybe it was his swagger that made me pay close attention. The silver jester’s mask that covered his whole face had a mocking smile. Metallic blue surrounded his eyes, and his hat—which covered most of his head—had several pieces bent forward with bells on the ends, making it impossible to see his hair color. Other than that, his attire was unremarkable. A black suit, dress shoes, and no rings or other jewelry.
I waited impatiently for him to pass as he searched the room.
A woman shrieked when a man spilled his drink on her shoes, and a few people turned to look. Except for the jester. He was distracted, in search of someone.
I sent a quick text to the team that we had a possible suspect on the move.
Viktor pulled some of his mask away and wiped his forehead. He looked nervous about using a member of the higher authority’s social function as a means to bust a serial killer, and he didn’t want us doing anything impetuous that could put lives at risk. We needed to surreptitiously identify Romeo and follow Viktor’s orders on how to proceed.
Sweat touched my brow. The leather instrument of torture wrapped around my waist was starting to constrict my breathing—even my cleavage had a rosy hue. I couldn’t see the suspect anymore; he’d gone into the room where Blue was.
Since Niko couldn’t read text messages, I moved briskly up the stairs until I reached the second floor landing. “A gentleman just walked into the ballroom,” I said. “You should see his mask.”
Niko leaned over the banister. “It’s a good turnout this evening.”
“The musicians are where all the action’s at.”
Now he knew to keep watch. I could only imagine what a mess of energy this party must have looked like for him.
I glanced up and saw Christian descending the stairs, so I followed behind since he had overheard my conversation with Niko.
I lifted another champagne flute, smiling and nodding as I weaved through the crowd. My outfit received a few admiring glances, but it paled in comparison to some of the bejeweled dresses that looked as though they’d been dipped in gold and diamond dust.
I stopped and rubbed my temple, dizzy from the noise and movement.
