Then she went back to her work.
Roger could reach into her desires and make her want to tell him what was bothering her, but that wasn’t like him. Besides, she had a layer of desire that was a flame, and Roger recognized the reflection of it in himself. She wanted to protect someone—likely Nathaniel, as she’d said.
Since she clearly didn’t want to talk to him, Roger picked up the busboy tray and went back to gathering dishes. Patrons settled their tabs and began to depart. Their numbers dwindled. Roger gathered one last tray’s worth of dishes and remained in the kitchen rather than risk discovery. He lingered near the serving window, using the wall as cover from view of the main room. Bits of conversation drifted.
“No one’severgoing to be able to do it,” an extremely drunk voice proclaimed. Their words were slurred so drastically that Roger barely understood them. “He’s too fucking powerful. I bet he puts a bounty on Roger’s head, or—or—or I bet Roger’s already fucking dead. Don’t tell me to shut up. I don’t care what everyone else’s been saying. Everyone was all ‘fuck Seamus’ tonight, but tomorrow, they’ll be kissing his ass again. I betRogerwill be.”
If I thought I could get Zack and Takashi back that way, I would.Roger closed his eyes to prevent them from leaking. Fuck me. I’m no hero. Takashi. Zack. They would have comforted him.They would have held him close, told him he was doing his best, and helped him figure out what to do.
Terror had dragged him down too many centuries. He’d been terrified that Seamus would lash out. Terrified that he’d say the wrong word and wind up with a stake in his heart. Terrified that no matter where he went, Seamus would find him and drag him back. So he had stayed. He had obeyed.
All fornothing.
Not nothing. Not if he could save others like he had managed to save Vincent. Zack and Takashi needed him. He couldn’t afford to wallow.
But how could he free them? Seamus would have taken them back to his mansion.
Dawn was too close, and Roger didn’t have the time or strength to infiltrate the fortress of a house. Maybe, if he could come up with a plan, he might be able to find a way in and out. Seamus had a coven to run. He wouldn’t be able to stay holed up in his mansion all night, every night. Roger simply needed to wait for an opportunity.
No, not wait. Zack had taken the lead in the fight in the hotel suite, and Roger needed to be more like him.
An idea began to form, but Roger couldn’t do it on his own.
People were moving about the kitchen, though Roger wasn’t in anyone’s way. He ignored them until Nathaniel said, “Janiyah, stop trying to light him on fire with your glares.”
“I would never do that to your bar,” the girl declared. She muttered, “But we could toss him out onto the street.”
“I don’t know what I’ve done to incur your wrath,” Roger said hollowly, “but I doubt it was intentional.”
“It’s like four hours past the end of my shift. Can I be done?” Janiyah asked sharply.
“Go on,” Nathaniel replied.
After she tromped up the stairs, Roger finally cracked one eye open. Nathaniel was alone with the piles of dishes, so Roger began to help him. A long time had passed since Roger had settled into performing mundane chores. The actions didn’t soothe him. Instead, he was left spinning on his own anger and the animosity Janiyah had shown him. Everyone else in the Last Deal had been ecstatic, though they didn’t know what Roger’s actions had cost him. Her reaction had been hostile, but in retrospect, he preferred it. He deserved everyone’s anger.
“Why did you bring me down here?” Roger asked after he and Nathaniel had been cleaning for a solid hour.
“Was hoping it’d cheer you up,” Nathaniel replied. He tossed a dry towel to Roger and then slid a tray of glasses toward him.
For the most part, the glasses were dry, but they had droplets of water here and there. With a sigh as he dried, Roger admitted, “That’s not possible. Not until I have Zack and Takashi back.”
Nathaniel stilled. “What?”
Roger explained what had happened at the ball and the hotel to Nathaniel, but he left out the part about Seamus and Anton’s bet and the fact that he had intended to kill Seamus at New Year’s and take the role of coven master.
Nathaniel wiped at his own jaw and scowled. “I see. Explains the doom and gloom. Figured something must have happened to the boy since he wasn’t with you. Guess I was hoping he and Takashi were somewhere else. A divided camp so you couldn’t be attacked again.”
“Nothing so intelligent,” Roger murmured.
After a long moment, Nathaniel grunted, shook his head, then said, “I brought you down here because I wanted you to see the impact you’ve been having. I know I’m on the low rung of coven notables, and I prefer it that way. But people’ve been whispering about you for a while. I don’t know what they’re saying at the upper levels, but these people adore you.”
Did the upper levels of leadership give a damn? Roger had shown them his power as well, but there wasn’t one among them that he trusted. He knew them, but like him, they had found ways to hide their hurts. How many enjoyed being the cruel, sadistic vampire Seamus molded them into, and how many longed for a new life?
Dmitri was right. The coven should fall to ash. “I appreciate your concern, but we know what Seamus will do. He’s exiled me, which means anyone who brings my head to him will earn favor. They may have lauded my ‘accomplishments’ tonight, but they would climb over each other in a heartbeat if they believed they could gain his goodwill.”
“Ezra said you were looking to put him down,” Nathaniel said.
I need to remind Ezra not to run his mouth. Roger set down another dry glass. “I tried tonight. I failed. He and Anton are too strong.”
