Grumbling to himself without any real words or meaning, Zack spun the shower faucet back on and continued washing up.
“The rooms are a mirror to Zack’s and are just across the hall,” Seamus said conversationally. “You’ll have to forgive them for being a bit bare in comparison, but as time goes on, we can change that. Naturally, you can come and go as you please,though I would advise you to remain within the mansion unless we take a group trip.”
“A generous upgrade to my situation. I’ll have to consider it,” Takashi replied.
“You needn’t make the decision tonight. You’ll find the clothes in here tailored for Zack, but you two are of a similar size. You’ll make something work, assuming you plan to dress at all.”
From there, Takashi guided the conversation into fashion, of all the weird-ass things to discuss. Zack concentrated on what he was doing, which meant he didn’t catch every word from the other room, but they seemed to be discussing who among the local tailors had the best sense of style.
At least Zack didn’t have to pick out some fancy suit for the evening.Worst part of vampirism has got to be an eternity of keeping up with the latest looks.
Eh, maybe you’ll learn to like it, the Seamus voice replied.
Great, I’ve replaced one asshole voice for another. Zack scrubbed a little too hard and winced.Just what I need in my life.
Rather than take a limo, Seamus led Zack to the mansion’s garage. The limo was there, parked out toward the front for convenient use, along with fifteen high-end sports cars. Zack tried not to be impressed by them. Cleary, Seamus was just trying to show off his wealth with all of the amazing vehicles.
That wealth had likely come from theft—he had been a pirate—and some robber baron shit that had managed to build over the centuries rather than crumble away.
Seamus opened a cabinet and plucked a key from it before strolling between the cars as if he were walking in some everydaygarden of reasonably maintained plants. Zack trailed after him with his arms across his chest and did not stop to gawk more than twice. Only he was so caught up in looking around that he did nearly run into Seamus when he stopped beside a beautiful black Lamborghini roadster. “What do you think of this one?”
“It’s, uh, nice,” Zack said.
“‘Nice.’ Hm. You’ll have to let me know what you would prefer, then.” Seamus continued walking to a different black car just beside the Lamborghini. Out of all the cars in the garage, it was the most discreet, almost average-looking. He unlocked it and then slid into the driver’s seat.
Zack hurried into the passenger seat. “You’re planning on giving me one of these?”
“No!” Seamus said with a laugh as he turned on the engine. “These are all very muchmine. But I will buy you one of your own.”
“You’d buy me a hundred-thousand-dollar sports car?” Zack asked.
“I’d never be that cheap. It’ll have to cost at least a quarter of a million.” Seamus put the car into gear and began to drive out of the garage and into the night. The engine was nearly silent, only the slightest purr serving as an undercurrent to their conversation.
Instinctively, Zack rushed to buckle his seat belt. Seamus didn’t and snorted a chuckle softly, but he didn’t say anything about the seat belt.
Five minutes of being somewhat nice doesn’t erase a millennium of being a dick. Zack relaxed into his seat, and the damn ride was almost too comfortable to stay actively pissed at Seamus. “Why would you buy me an expensive car?”
“I have openly declared you are my son to the most important vampires in our coven,” Seamus said. “If you go out on the town looking like a pauper, it reflects poorly on me.”
Zack let several long minutes slide by. “You’re going to let me out on my own?”
“Eventually,” Seamus replied.
“You’d trust me not to bolt?”
“I know exactly where you are at all times, Zackery.”
So if I run, I have to figure out how to sever our bond. Zack folded his arms over his chest and stared out the window. Rather than taking the interstate toward the city or toward the Chateau, they were heading southeast, which would eventually take them into Indiana. “Where are we going?”
“To take care of a problem.”
A boulder dropped into Zack’s stomach. Each minute of dragging silence only compounded that weight. He blurted out, “I won’t kill Roger.”
“This isn’t about Roger,” Seamus said with an annoyed sigh. “Do you believe this is the first time he’s upset me?”
“He wants you dead,” Zack replied.
“If I killed absolutely everyone who wanted me dead, the world would be a much emptier place.” Seamus kept his focus on the road out in front of them.
