Heath made a dismissive sound.“That’s because you’re you.I’m just saying, he’s one of those people who gets everyone to be their friend and loyal supporter.”Heath looked up.“I swear, Jason and that dog are like two guardian beasts, only different.”
“Darling, they cannot be different from each other and also like the same thing.That is nonsensical.Did you do too much accounting, hmm?The club will do you good too, then.Should I go and get you some pocket money to spend on things?”
Heath’s jaw dropped.“I have money.You know I have money.Taking care of the money is my fucking job!”
“Oh dear, don’t get mad now.You need this.Touching grass—what is the expression—IRL?So much better than that grass.”
He pointed at the slice of grass he’d gotten Heath.Miraculously, Heath had managed to keep the cut of soil and greenery alive, likely through sheer determination and intense care.Bryan, quite possibly, had helped with making sure the grass had what it needed at all times, but Heath was the one who’d decided to maintain it in the first place.
Heath tapped a finger on the table.“Shouldn’t we be working on the case?Not that I don’t hate everything about this investigation and wish it were over.Fuck, if only this were over.”
Maxim reached out and clasped his son’s hand.“Let it be gone from your mind for tonight, hmm?Watch those two for me.Make sure they don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
Heath frowned.“Sure as fuck won’t do that, because what you do should get you in trouble.But then you smile at people and say something funny or smart, and everyone thinks you’re charming.”
Maxim attempted to look innocent.“But, darling, I never do anything that’s worth any trouble, do I?Other than diligently completing my duties and making sure you don’t feel lonely.Don’t drink too much either, hmm?”
“I don’t—you—all the time!”Heath was sort of stewing, with his lips pressed tight and his eyes going all big.“You say so much stuff all the time!”he eventually added.“But—you know what?Never mind.Yeah, I’ll goparty.And then I won’t tell you about it because you arenosy.And Jason won’t tell you about it either.And we’ll set Raven’s head straight too.I don’t like the way he’s been talking about your junk floor.It’s like he likes it up there.I can just smell your bad influence, old bat, and I’m not having that.”
Maxim beamed.“Aw, has he been saying nice things?He’s ever so helpful.”
“You’re manipulating him into siding with you!”Heath blew out a breath, then stood.“Fine.I’m going.Do whatever old people do.”
Maxim decided not to remind his son that most old people were nosy, overly opinionated, and notoriously meddlesome.He didn't want to upset Heath too much, after all.
Maxim left Heath to get ready to go to the Red Clover.He took a list of the properties Heath had found upstairs with him, hidden in a plain folder.Normally, he’d go himself to confirm all the items on the list were indeed Highgate’s.They should be searched as well, to uncover whatever Highgate did in each of these places, who he spoke with.
But it was out of the question.If Highgate’s influence ran as deep as they thought, doing so would tip off others working with him, and there was little doubt in Maxim’s mind that there were others.Whether they were like the day shifter in his basement or Pearson in her cell—controlled to the point of being useless as witnesses—he didn’t know, but he didn’t think it was just one vampire behind everything they’d seen so far.
He was still thinking about it when the elevator arrived at the penthouse.Raven was there, and he shot to his feet from his position on the couch, where it looked like he’d been waiting.
“Uh…” He picked absently at the sleeve of his hoodie.“So, uh, Jay came by today?”
“Did he?I can only imagine that Clement has missed him.Did you know, I overheard the two of them the other day?Clement had a list about things that can go wrong in dormitories and reasons why no home should be passed from one person to the next each year.”
Maxim had indeed overheard that conversation, though it had been somewhat one-sided, with Clement behind the bar and complaining while Jason had just been taking a short coffee break and reading the news on his phone.With every moment Jason had looked at his screen, the bar Lar had grown more frustrated.
“Okay?I don’t know why he went to see Clement, but, well, he asked me to go out with him.”Raven flushed; merely a pinking of the cheeks now that he was a vampire.“Notgo out.Go to a club, I mean.Tonight.Is that okay?It’ll be for an hour, tops.”
Maxim made himself look shocked.“An hour?!You will go to a club for no more than an hour?Raven, it is a Friday today.”
“Is it?”
“Very much so.”
Raven nodded.“Makes sense that he asked.No school tomorrow.”
Raven looked at his feet, and Maxim couldn’t unravel what that meant, exactly.Raven had not brought up his education or any desire to return to it.Maxim saw the retreat, the desire to keep to what was safe and easy.Maxim could not fault him for it.All he could do was wait and be there for him when retreating was no longer enough.
“You should try to have a good time, then.”
Raven looked up, insecurity written in his every feature.“You don’t mind?”
“Of course not.”
Raven let out a breath.“Okay.I wasn’t sure.”
Maxim leaned forward.“It’s hardly my place to keep you from spending time with a friend.But will you promise me something?”
