We stayed like that for a breath or two, but it was too much to hope the world could stay quiet forever. Not when I’d just finished marveling at the lack of opportunities for boredom in this busy place.
A knock at the door brought an end to the moment of peace, then Colette barged in, unbidden.
“We have guests,” she announced.
I stepped back, releasing Zephyr as I turned to face her. “It’s the middle of the day,” I replied. “Tell them to come back when we’re open.”
The words left my mouth, and I heard them echo, just like Maslow’s bouncers had said when I turned up so many days ago, arms full of flowers and nerves, asking if I could see Zephyr for a minute.
I arched a brow. “Did they bring gifts or something?”
Colette’s posture shifted, more rigid than usual, and she scanned the office as though trouble might be hiding under the furniture.
“I fear it’s only bad tidings from this lot.”
That got my full attention. “Who is it?”
Colette frowned. “Angels.”
“The Rossettis?” Zephyr looked from her to me.
Of course. I’d warned him about them, and he’d met a few of their brood. We both consulted Colette, who confirmed with a grim nod.
Zephyr glanced at me. “Do you want me to stay?”
I shook my head. “I can handle it. Why don’t you go ask Darby what the hell he bought for twelve hundred dollars fromUniformly Naughty?”
He blinked. “I might already know, actually. It’s a… schoolgirl thing?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose, eyes closed. “Ask him.”
Zephyr gave me one last look—half worry, half amusement—then he and Colette slipped out. The door closed behind them.
Five minutes later, our guests walked in.
They declined to sit, which wasn’t a great sign, and it left the three of us loitering near the desk like strangers at a funeral, exchanging frowns and fleeting glances.
Or maybe that was just Stefano and me.
Big sister Antonella wasn’t having any trouble making eye contact. She’d locked onto me the second she stepped inside, and her stare hadn’t let up since.
“Lucas,” she began, cramming so much disdain into the two syllables of my name. “It’s so very good to see you.”
With their wings out, the angels did nothing if not take up space. They were already imposing with their matching silver hair and porcelain skin, but the feathered appendages on their backs easily doubled their size. Not to mention it made the siblings a veritable wall of light and judgment across from me.
I wasn’t sure why I’d invited them in. It would have been worse to turn them away, asking for trouble I didn’twant but had gotten regardless. The whole situation made me uneasy while I considered my reply to Antonella’s greeting.
“I liked it better when you were keeping to your own,” Antonella said, apparently needing no encouragement to get down to business. “Staying in your lane, as it were. And not stepping on my toes.” She crossed her arms over the jacket of her ivory pantsuit, making the gold embroidered cuffs seem to glimmer. “What’s your interest in the Fairmont property?”
“My only interest was getting Maslow out the door,” I said coolly. “So I opened him a window across town.”
Her pale eyes narrowed. “You blocked my bid.”
That made me pause. “That was you?”
She hummed in confirmation. “And you’re going to wish it wasn’t, unless you intend to make it up to me.”
“Come again?” I glanced from her to Stefano, who proved content to hold his silence. Grumbling, I addressed Antonella again. “What exactly do I have to make up?”
