Maltraz nodded. He reached into the breast pocket and produced a slip of paper, unfolded it, and ran his claw along the line items. “Three wolves,” he said, more to himself than to me. “Good. The Asian one—she’s the singer?”
“She is. Fresh off the plane last week. Never even seen a Western city.”
He smiled. “That’s how I like them. Pristine. Uncontaminated by American pop culture.”
He flicked the paper onto the desk. “And the rest?”
“All virgins. All debt-encumbered, none with parents in-country. We’ll have them drugged, bound, and on the boat by dawn.”
Maltraz steepled his fingers, watching me over the points of his claws. “Efficient, as always. I admire your devotion to the craft.”
I tried to keep my hands from trembling. The air was getting thicker by the second. Every breath felt like I was huffing a glue stick.
“We aim to please,” I managed.
Maltraz laughed—a dry, barking sound that set the windows quivering again. “You always have, Waylon. But tonight is special. Tonight, I want a demonstration of your loyalty.”
My spine went cold. “Anything.”
He leaned forward; the chair creaking under his mass. “I want the Lawson wolf. The dancer. I want her in the VIP suite, ready for me before midnight. No substitutions. No excuses.”
Shit.
“Of course,” I said. “She’s been prepped. I’ll have Rage bring her up as soon as you’re ready.”
He smiled again, and this time the teeth looked even sharper. “You are a man of your word.”
He leaned back, plucked a gold cigarette case from his jacket, and tapped one out. The tip was already smoldering. Hedidn’t light it. It just burned, exuding the same sulfur-and-honey stench that was pouring out of his skin.
I could feel the sweat rolling down my back, pooling at the waistband of my slacks.
Maltraz flicked his eyes to me. “You’re sweating, Mr. Steiner.”
I tried to laugh. “Comes with the territory. Some of these clients are more dangerous than the product.”
He considered that, then shrugged. “True enough.”
He tapped ash onto the Persian rug, watching the embers fizzle out. “I have a particular fondness for the Lawson girl. Her bloodline is rare, almost extinct. Did you know that?”
I nodded, keeping my face blank. Of course I knew. I’d had her file run through three different labs, just to make sure she was as clean as she looked. But I hadn’t known what it meant until Maltraz showed up last month, offering twice the market rate for a confirmed Lawson.
“She’s a special case,” I said. “Very valuable.”
“Indeed.” Maltraz uncrossed his legs, stood, and circled behind my chair. “It would be a shame if anything happened to her before the transfer. Accidents are so… inconvenient.”
He was close enough now that I could feel the heat radiating off him. The hair on my arms stood up.
“She’s secure,” I said. “No one even knows she’s in the building. Not even the staff.”
Maltraz’s hand settled on my shoulder. The pressure was light, almost friendly. But the claws dug in, just a hair.
“Excellent. Because I would be very, very unhappy if she vanished.”
I swallowed. “Understood.”
He let go, stepped around to face me, and smiled once more. “I’ll be in the lounge. When you’re ready, have her brought to me.”
He left without another word; the smell lingered like a bad memory.
