“Of course.Everyone knows you like them.”
Bryan smiled, and his shoulders relaxed.
“I put bottles of water in the car.The human isn’t smart enough to think of it himself.I’ll be surprised if he remembers to drink any, but at least I provided the option.”Clement was examining his nails and trying to look aloof.Maxim couldn’t fault him for the attempt.
Bryan bared his teeth and clicked the pen a few times.“You’re not supposed to mess with the cars.You’re supposed to be the bar Lar.I’mtaking care of the cars.”
Clement looked up from his cuticles.“But you didn't put any water in the car, did you?”
Maxim heaved a sigh and leaned on Bryan’s desk.“There now, children, let’s all calm down and wait for the fruit delivery, yes?They should be here within the hour.Don’t go arguing before then, hmm?I’ll wait with you.Since Ume is missing Raven already.”Ume, little traitor that he was, had stretched out on his side, his eyes falling closed.
Bryan frowned up at Maxim.“Why did you let them go in the first place?I can keep Raven safe here.Heath too, not that he needs it.Everyone’s safer inside.”
Clement clicked his tongue.“But you have no issue letting Jason go home to his mold-infested dorm room each night, have you?Have you ever heard of double standards, little Lar?”
“Call me little one more time and—”
“Baby Lar, then.”
Bryan hissed again, and if it hadn’t been for Maxim’s hand on his arm, he might have vaulted his desk to claw at Clement’s eyes.Clement didn’t look as if he cared.
“You two,” Maxim said, “need to calm down.I’ll tell you what, we’ll play a game together.Monopoly.We still have the old board.I’ll be the banker and make sure no one cheats, and it can be a nice way to pass the time between the three of us.And Ume.Say, Bryan, would you be a dear and fetch the game?”
It took Bryan a minute to calm down and nod.“I’ll buy all the hotels.”He sneered, then headed upstairs to the penthouse where the small collection of board games Heath could be coaxed into lived.
“Monopoly?”Clement asked.
Maxim joined him in the waiting area and sat.“It’s about buying property and building houses, then hotels.Quite a popular game.I think you’ll enjoy it.”
Clement shrugged.“Games are for the young.When one is serious, one shouldn’t play games.But I suppose I could teach your little Lar a thing or three.”
Maxim wasn’t sure how wise his ruse would turn out to be, but it was worth a try, if only to pass the time.He checked his phone again to make sure he’d hear it if Raven called, but since the Red Clover’s owner had confirmed they’d arrived safely, there had been no news whatsoever.
“You’re cheating!”Bryan said, near seething.
Somewhere in the house, Maxim heard doors slam.Bryan usually made sure that didn’t happen, so this was his Lar powers at work, likely subconsciously expressing his mood.Not something a regular person would easily pick up on, but his hearing was acute, even for a vampire.
They’d pulled the cushions off the couches in the waiting area and set up the game on the low table, and now they were sitting on the floor around it.Maxim was guarding the bank, and he’d made very certain there was no cheating happening.Clement leaned back against the couch.
“I don’t need to cheat.”He picked a strawberry out of the small fruit basket, which had ended up being about the same size as Bryan’s—not something Maxim had intended.Clement examined the strawberry from all angles.“I don’t need to cheat to beat you.”He dropped the fruit into his mouth and chewed while Bryan bared his teeth.
Maxim put a hand on Byran’s shoulder.“Come now, it’s just Park Lane.And Mayfair.”
Clement picked out another strawberry.“And Whitechapel.This game isn’t so bad.Maybe I’ll take it up to the bar with me.”
“You cannot play Monopoly with people who drink at the bar,” Bryan said, pulling his own tangerines closer.“No responsible person would do that.”
Clement shrugged.“I don’t see why not.Come on, move your iron and pay me for room and board.”
Bryan turned to Maxim.“I don’t like this.I don’t think you should’ve let them go to that club.What if they’re playing drinking games?”
“Humans are dumb enough to play all manner of games once they’re drunk,” Clement said while putting his second strawberry back into the basket.
Maxim looked back and forth between the two of them.“Are you in agreement on this?Hmm, that is new.”
Clement cocked a brow.“Humans being dumb is a fact; it’s not a question of agreeing with someone.”
Bryan hesitated, then nodded once.“Yes.Heath is half-human.”
