It was meant to drive him insane. “Damn reckless.” He shrugged out of his coat and draped it over her shoulders. “And it’s cold.”
Reaper snorted.
Maxen shot him a warning look. “People don’t do business here except with us.”
She nodded, taking a slow sip of ale, and damn if he couldn’t help but follow way she tipped her glass, the way her throat worked as she swallowed, the way her tongue darted out to chase the last drop.
He must have lost his reason entirely.
“So your brother told me,” she murmured as she lowered the mug.
“We asked her, too,” Reaper said. “But so far, we haven’t been able to get a serious answer from her.”
“I went to your shop,” Maxen said. “You were gone.”
She cocked her head, and the smallest smile curved her lips. “Would you believe me if I said I was summoned here?”
Summoned? No. “Were you?”
“I received a request to meet here. I thought it might be,” she paused for a breath before saying, “Mr. Rollings. I believe you may be acquainted with him.”
Rollings? Impossible. But still, “You came here thinking Rollingswould be waiting?” He could throttle her for her recklessness.
Reaper chuckled. “How rare to see you in such a state of agitation,frère.”
Maxen kept his attention locked on Calliope, continuing to ignore that arse he called a brother. “Who delivered the note?”
“A boy. I didn’t recognize him.”
That could be one in hundreds. “What did he look like?”
“Twelve, maybe younger. Brown hair. Cap too big for his head. A face full of freckles.”
That narrowed it down to exactly still one in hundreds. Maxen’s jaw ticked. He turned to Reaper. “Any of yours assigned to keep an eye on her?”
Reaper shook his head. “Didn’t think she’d need eyes with you casting a long shadows and darkening doorways playing landlord, practically haunting the place.”
Calliope choked on her ale.
“She does now,” Maxen bit out, a flush spreading to the tips of his ears, cursing his brother to perdition.
Calliope’s brows lifted, placing her glass on the bar. “What’s going on? I’m right here, you know.”
“Exactly,” Maxen growled. “Here.Dressed like that. In the one place no outsider has any business being, let alone unarmed.”
“I’m not unarmed.” She crossed her arms. “I brought my wits.”
“She brought her wits,” Reaper echoed, laughing into his drink. “I’m starting to like her more than you,frère.”
“This isn’t amusing,” Maxen snarled. At least the others had the foresight to keep their mouths shut.
Reaper flicked a coin over his knuckles. “Didn’t say it was.”
Maxen looked to Dagger. Honestly, he just needed to catch a breath from the sight of Calliope wrapped in his coat. “Any news on Serpent yet? Where is Drake?”
His brother’s face hardened. “No word. Serpent seems to be missing.We were just about to discuss our next course of action when she arrived. Drake should circle back any moment.”
“Someone went missing?” Calliope exclaimed, aghast.
