Page 35

The video was posted two days ago, probably from when he’d returned to Razorsedge. He’d told me he didn’t usually go more than a day between uploads.

“We’ve arrived,” the driver said, pulling the car to the curb.

I handed Reynard’s phone back. Our fingers brushed, and while I smiled, he did not. I was beginning to suspect he regretted joining me on this morning’s adventures. Hopefully, the worst was behind us.

I stepped out into the rain and lifted my gaze up, and up, and up the enormous glass façade of a towering high-rise. One of three enormous buildings thrusting skywards out of downtown San Francisco, like giant swords.

A blast of wind whipped down the street, flapping my jacket and mussing my hair. Reynard emerged from the car too, and his hair rippled like a black flag as we climbed the steps together. Inside, the lobby echoed like a cathedral. Comfy chairs encircled glass coffee tables. Little groups of people gathered around some of the tables, casually chatting. I tagged along with Reynard to the front desk, where he confirmed our arrival, and I was marked down as Reynard’s assistant, since we didn’t want Gideon knowing Adam Vex was here.

A few moments later, a nice young woman escorted us into the elevator, and up to floor twelve, which appeared to be made up of several large, luxurious meeting rooms. After she’d offered us drinks, and made sure we were comfortable, she left, and we waited on the man whose name adorned the building. Gideon Cain. He and I had never officially met. But his actions in trying to buy the hotel out from under me, and his offers thereafter, had made an impression.

Reynard glided to the wall of glass, clasped his hands behind his back, and gazed into the clouds. There wasn’t much to see today, just a murky, grey soup. On a clear day, Gideon could probably see the hotel from this very building.

I ambled about the room, then chose a seat and tried to relax. Reynard looked good against those moody clouds. Like some ancient king, peering down at the ants below him. Perhaps he had been a king in his homeland. Although, a lord was far below even dukes and earls. Still, to arrive here, then become cut off from his life, his family—stranded among humans, potentially forever—that had to be difficult.

My heart did a little hiccup. I coughed. That was quite enough empathy for the vampire.

“Lord Reynard. What an unexpected pleasure.” The substantial man who entered was pushing fifty, but honed by age, not withered from it, with a spray of salt and pepper hair lending him a distinguished air that complemented his gunmetal grey suit. He gave me a careless smile, strode right past, and extended his hand to Reynard.

A smile warmed Reynard’s face, and they shook. “The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Cain.”

It was like looking at a gorilla and a shark smiling at each other, each knowing the other was an apex predator. It felt good, having a shark on my side for once. Even though the gorilla was twice the shark’s size. There was more to power than physical presence, and they both exuded it.

“Color me intrigued,” the property developer said, offering Reynard a seat. They did the typical dance of unbuttoning their jackets and lounging in the posh leather chairs. “When my assistant mentioned your name, I of course cleared my schedule.”

“I am grateful.”

“Do you want a drink? I can have my⁠—”

“That’s not necessary. It’s only a short visit.”

“Yes, indeed, what can I help you with? Are you looking to invest perhaps? We’d certainly welcome such a distinguished individual as yourself.”

“Invest in Cain Developments?” Reynard gave a soft chuckle. “Goodness, no.” If Reynard saw how Cain bristled, he didn’t show it. “Between you and me, Cain Developments is far too small a venture to warrant my attention.”

“Small?” Cain spluttered. “I see. Yet you invest in that gremlin-infested hotel?”

Reynard’s smile locked on his face. “Interesting you should mention that.”

“It’s the talk of the business community, which you would know, if you were a part of it. I tried to buy that land, did you know?”

“I am aware.”

My heart thudded. So far, Gideon had ignored me, seated off to one side. But at any moment, Reynard would tell Gideon who I was, and I wanted to see his face, to know if he was hiding a guilty conscience. I stood, and inched into the corner of his peripheral vision, with the expanse of grey windows at my back.

“Unfortunately, the article is incorrect. I don’t, in fact, own any stake in the SOS Hotel,” Reynard corrected.

“Is that so?” Gideon leaned back in his chair. “It’s unlike Noreen Greene to publish unsubstantiated gossip.”

“Why did you want the hotel, Mr. Cain?” Reynard urged.

“The land it sits on is worth a fortune. It would have been a steal, if that irritating shit and his demon sidekick hadn’t gotten in my way.”

Reynard’s dark eyes flicked to me, and that was my cue. I stepped forward, extended my hand, and smiled. “Mr. Cain, I’m Adam Vex, the ‘irritating shit’.”

A flicker of shock widened the man’s eyes first. He extended his hand anyway. Thick fingers gripped mine, and a savage blast of static shot up my arm. Warnings exploded in my mind. Run! Get away! I gasped, and yanked my hand back. “What the⁠—”

“Hello, Adam.” Gideon said, smirking in a wholly satisfied way.