She found a couch in the darkest corner of the room and stopped in front of it. “I need you to wait here for me.”
“Huh? Why?” Nick’s voice was low and gritty.
She raised her chin and gave him her most disarming smile. “I need to use the ladies’ room.”
His eyes narrowed and a muscle in his jaw tensed. He didn’t believe her. Damn, he truly was a human lie detector. Nevertheless, he didn’t push it and lowered himself to the sofa.
“When the server comes, will you order me a fireball mule?”
He sighed. “Sure.”
Sensuously, she ran her nails over his shoulder, hoping the unspoken promise was enough to keep him in his seat. They shared undeniable chemistry, and she didn’t mind using that to keep him safe.
She sashayed toward Verinetti’s office.
Michael Verinetti always reminded Rowan of a young Al Pacino inThe Godfather. His face was different: bigger nose, longer hair, and hazel eyes instead of brown, but he had the same Mediterranean complexion and could lie as if he believed every false word that crossed his lips. Although he was known for being loyal to his allies, he could also be ruthless. No one wanted to be on Verinetti’s bad side.
He was a true shifter, able to change into any animal he wished, but Michael was a film buff and since the 1980s he’d carried a minor obsession with the movieLabyrinth. Since then, his animal of choice was a snowy owl, a preference that was reinforced when Harry Potter’s Hedwig became popular. Michael was all about popularity: looks, impressions, trends. When they’d dated decades ago, he’d become annoyed with her involvement in children’s charities, not understanding her “obsession with the city’s refuse.” In the end, that was why things hadn’t worked out. Rowan befriended and cared for humans and supernatural beings from all walks of life and backgrounds. Wealth meant nothing to her, nor did the latest fashions, although she tried to dress with the times. What meant the most to her was the heart of a person. Kindness, warmth, friendship. Michael could never understand the joy of painting a picture with a child. Not unless he was planning to sell that picture for big money.
She knocked softly on his office door and found it unlocked. It swung open at the force of her knuckles.
“Looking for me?”
She pivoted to find Michael behind her, close behind her, his musky scent tingling gamey and sharp in her nostrils. “Hello, Michael,” she said. “How have you been?”
He blinked slowly. “Vince said you were here. I thought he was smoking something. I’d heard you were dead.”
“One of my identities.”
“Does your current identity need a job or to borrow money?” He flashed her a wolfish grin.
“Uh, no.”
“So this is a social visit? Lucky me.” The corner of his mouth lifted and he stepped in closer, looking at her through hooded eyes.
“I need to ask you something,” she said. “In private.”
“My luck is getting better. Come on in.”
She walked into his office, feeling like a fly crawling willingly into the spider’s web. Shifters were strong and fast. Not as strong and fast as dragons, but she was a female of her species and small for a dragon, and she hadn’t been trained as a warrior like her brothers. Although she’d never had a doubt she could overpower a human, when it came to other supernaturals, her survival over the centuries had often come down to her wit and diplomacy. It was an uneasy feeling being shut in a room with Verinetti. Between the unwanted sexual energy coming off him and her knowledge that he had once skinned a shifter alive for stealing from him, it took more than a little nerve for her to allow him to close the door.
“What is this important thing that brings you to my club after all these years?” he asked, his voice low and smooth.
Rowan reached into her purse and produced the paper with the symbol. She unfolded it carefully and held it out to him. “Do you know anything about the company with this logo?”
The smile faded from his face. “Where did you get this?”
“My lawyer. This company bought the land under my building. I need to buy it back, but I can’t find who to contact to make the offer.”
Michael cracked his neck. “Buy a new building, Rowan. That company is unreachable, and even if you could find a contact, they wouldn’t take your money.”
“Why not? What do you know about them?”
He clucked his tongue. “You’ll have to trust me on this one.”
She dropped her chin and placed both hands on his upper arms. “Michael, please. I do trust you, but there are children involved. Sunrise House. You know how important those kids are to me. If there’s any way, any string you could pull—”
“There isn’t.”
