The woman cleared her throat. “There’s a…gentlemen at reception. He’s asking for you. I’m sure it’s just a hoax, and I didn’t want to interrupt?—”
That’s when I saw the man standing at the reception desk. He was looking around, wearing his ragged clothes. People were giving him a very wide berth.
“Who’s that?” Lark asked.
“Errol. He helped me find you in the sewers.” I nodded at the employee. “I’ll deal with this, Jenny.”
Relief bloomed on her face. “Yes, sir.”
I took Lark’s hand and strode over. Nate followed.
“Errol.”
“Bastian Thorne,” Errol said in his rusty voice. “So, you do own the Avernus.”
“I do.”
His gaze shifted to Lark. “You found your girl.”
“I did. Thanks to you.”
He smiled, showing a missing tooth. “Reckon you would’ve found her yourself. Um…” he shuffled his feet. “Just thought I’dsee if I could get some food. I got a good deal for your watch when I pawned it, but I shared the cash with my friends. It’s all gone now.”
I smiled, and slapped his shoulder, ignoring the ripe scent wafting off him. “I can do better than that. Jenny?”
The woman at the reception desk turned. “Yes, sir?”
“Put Errol up in a comped suite.”
Her mouth dropped open, but she recovered quickly. “Of course.”
“Send up some clothes from one of the boutiques, and schedule the casino barber to pay him a visit.”
Errol’s mouth dropped open.
“Errol, watch whatever you like on the television and order whatever you want from room service. The food’s good here.”
“I… I…” His face crumpled.
I squeezed his shoulder. “I know what it’s like to have nothing. To be homeless and hungry. You aren’t going to be hungry tonight. You can stay as long as you like.”
Tears welled in the man’s eyes. “Well. Well, then.”
“I’ll see you later.”
I turned. Nash was smiling. Lark was staring at me.
Then she went up on her toes and kissed me. “That was nice.”
“I’m not nice.”
“Yes, you are.” Her lips moved, pressing against my ear. “I love you.”
I squeezed her hips. With a growl, a yanked her up and kissed her. “Say it again.”
“I love you, Bastian.”
“I love you too, Lark.” I tucked her hair behind her ear. “I have some things to talk to Nash about. And I have a special date planned for us this afternoon.”
