“I’m dying to play a game of pool!” Gem exclaimed, and that woman didn’t like playing games. Especially with the guys, who always took things too seriously and never let her win. “Switch is on my team!” She grabbed his hand and pulled him up. “Claude, run over to Wyatt’s World and get drinks and snacks. I’ll find Crush, and we’ll meet you in the game room. Kira doesn’t have to speak English to learn billiards. I think it’ll be fun to include her since Viktor gave her the day off and she’s always working so hard.” Gem’s dulcet tones always made it difficult to say no.
Claude chuckled and turned back. “Anything else, female? Perhaps some ice to chill your juice?”
Switch hiked up the steps and gestured for Hunter to follow. “You don’t want to pair up—men against women?”
Gem made it to the top of the stairs first and turned, hands on her hips. “Alas, my billiard skills are not spectacular, so this will make it a fair game. Just don’t let Claude beat us.”
* * *
Shortly before our guests arrived,I fed from Christian just to be on the safe side. It wasn’t enough blood to outmuscle Lenore, but it would give me a better chance of survival if things went south.
When Christian announced that they were at the gate, I took a shot of tequila to calm my nerves. Viktor didn’t want to make her suspicious by having too many racing heartbeats on the first floor, which was why he’d sent everyone else upstairs. My job was to serve cheese, fruit, and appetizers. That gave me a plausible reason for staying close by.
“It’s good of you to invite us,” Lenore said from the hall as they filed into the dining room. “I heard about what happened here. I thought this place would be in shambles.”
That woman was so full of shit. I entered the room and set a cheese platter on the table before returning to the kitchen.
“Apologies. My servant has the day off. Raven will serve us,” Viktor explained.
While plopping giant grape clusters into a crystal dish, I heard Lenore say, “Oh dear. I hope she wasn’t demoted.”
“Nonsense,” Viktor replied. “Long before Kira, my people rotated duties. Ronald, it is good to finally meet you. Our last introduction was rushed.”
“Quite a house you’ve got here,” Ronald boomed. “I didn’t know places like this existed anymore.”
The cantaloupe wasn’t in season, so it was hard to chop. I took my time, listening to the conversation while sounding busy.
“My apologies,” Viktor said. “I forget your last name.”
“Ronald Frazier.”
“Ah, yes. There was much going on that evening. Do forgive me, Mr. Frazier.”
“You can call me Ronald.”
“I was lucky I could talk him into coming,” Lenore said. “Ronald travels because of his job.”
“She’s quite a persuasive woman,” Ronald added, a smile in his voice.
“I appreciate your time,” Viktor said in earnest. “It means a great deal to have you in my home.”
I couldn’t help but notice Viktor was careful with his words, avoiding a lie so he wouldn’t raise any suspicion. I strutted into the room. Viktor had seated Lenore at the head of the table where Hunter usually sat, so her back was to the entrance. Viktor and Ronald faced each other with Viktor seated in my direction. Lenore’s beau seemed distracted by the architecture. His gaze wandered to the chandelier above the table, the open archways that divided the two rooms, and the stained glass windows that filtered in colored light.
I set the fruit on the table next to the cheese.
“Spasibo,” Viktor said, barely acknowledging my presence. “That is an elegant automobile you have, Ronald.”
“Well, thank you, Vik. You don’t mind if I call you Vik, do you? I don’t mean to sound braggadocian, but I’ve got better ones at home. She gets me where I need to go.”
Lenore had a smug look as if she loved seeing me serve. So I gave her an icy stare before heading back into the kitchen. After all, that was the exact reaction I would have given if we weren’t planning to ambush them. While they carried on with introductions, I sliced the baguette Kira had made earlier. Viktor wanted me to make bruschetta, of all things. I told him I wasn’t going to prepare anything that involved the oven or else I’d be more worried about burning food than standing guard.
“What is it you do?” Ronald asked. “Lenore told me you might not want to discuss the details, so I understand. Whatever line of work you’re in, this is quite an estate.”
“I run an organization that works to maintain law and order,” he said matter-of-factly.
Well, that was one way to put it.
Ronald coughed and then cleared his throat. “Pardon me. Got a seed stuck in my throat. Anyhow, if you ever want to talk finances, that’s my area of expertise. We should set up a meeting sometime. I, uh… I know all about Breed. I guess there’s no clearer way to put it except that I’m a trusted human. I do a lot of business with wealthy men such as yourself. Seeing as you’re a close friend of Lenore’s, I’d be willing to take you on as a private client. You’ll get a better rate than what your banker offers, and I’m available twenty-four hours a day.”
