by C. T. Adams
Ah. So Wolven is based in France. I’d wondered. “How’d you get him to work the meeting if he’s on vacation? And when does he get here?”
Lucas grinned and raised his thick brows. His eyes twinkled with dark humor. “He was already stateside visiting his father. His grandfather is Chief Justice of the council. They haven’t seen each other in over a year. He’s allowed to visit family, after all. If he happens to wander around the hallways during the meeting when his grandfather is tied up, who’s to stop him?”
Rationalization at its finest. It didn’t fool me, and it wouldn’t fool the council. But that wasn’t my problem. The security system was.
“He should arrive by early evening, depending on how the flights between here and Denver are running.”
Great—I could get the cameras and install the components, and then have help hooking them all together! I glanced at my watch and swore under my breath. I was already twenty minutes late for a call to a certain little blackmailer.
Lucas took my swearing to mean that time was slipping by, which it was. “Why don’t you go ahead and get the cameras. The address and phone of the supplier are on the invoice downstairs. I can at least help Yurgi finish installing the cameras on the walls, and leave the final hook-ups for you.” He glanced across the center opening to focus on the cameras already installed on the opposite side. “They look like they’re about ten feet apart, right?”
“Eleven feet, two. You can go ten feet if you want, though. It might be better to have a tighter sweep close to the front door.” I finished dusting off my jeans and checking my pockets for the keys to the, ugh, Honda.
By the time I’d gotten to the electronics store, I’d made two extra stops, and a major discovery. Sometimes, it’s when your mind is occupied that weird things pop into your head. I’d remembered Scotty saying that he had photos of me and Bobby at the hotel. I wanted to find out where he’d been that he could take photos. Carmine hadn’t mentioned finding any special camera equipment, and I was supposed to be foiling assassination attempts of council members. A rifle has a lot longer range than a camera.
Carmine had gone through the two envelopes of prints carefully. He’d found three of me and Bobby—taken from inside the hotel, just before my session with Asri. We had a big security breach! I mulled the possibilities and problems that bombshell raised.
“The kid was looking down at you guys,” Carmine had said. “There’s a bit of a metal railing at the bottom of one pic, and—yeah—a little more railing at the top of this other print. I’d say he was on the second floor. No higher than that, and directly opposite the front door. From the green that pokes up in the corners, I’d say he was behind a potted plant.”
I admit to being preoccupied when I got to the hotel, but the twenty other people who lived there should have noticed a teenager skulking around. It’s not like the place is an actual hotel, with strangers wandering around.
I thanked Carmine, and ensured again that Sally was still healthy, if not happy. We talked a bit about the investigation. Fortunately, even though I hadn’t gotten much done today he’d been pleased by Asri’s efforts. He felt that finding Sammy, and eliminating him as a suspect, was real progress. It had settled him down, bought me a little more time.
He and Asri hadn’t become best buddies. “That broad’s got a major chip on her shoulder, Tony. She didn’t have much nice to say about Barbara, which set Linda off. I had to have the guys pull Lin out of the room before she pounced and ripped out all that black hair.”
The image his description provoked made me smile—delicate little Linda turned into a snarling animal, while the real animal calmly raised a brow and ignored her. Yeah, I could see it pretty clearly in my head. I wondered briefly how Bobby had reacted. He and Linda have always been pretty tight, and Linda’s pretty good at noticing who’s sleeping with who.
After ending that call, I’d set up a meeting with the kid. He was annoyed that I hadn’t called when I’d promised. I didn’t want to spoil my surprise, so I’d actually played sorry. I wanted to see his face when I blew his scheme out of the water.
I was waiting across the parking lot, hidden behind the Honda, when I saw Scotty arrive on a skateboard. Pretty impressive with a half foot of snow covering most of the sidewalk. He waited outside, checking his watch often. I focused in on him with my wolf eyes and felt a calmness flow through me as I raised the weapon to my shoulder and steadied it on the hood of the car. I put the sight on his neck—a pumpkin on a fencepost. His hair was still cut the same way, long in the front so it almost covered his eyes, and shaved in the back. Seconds ticked by as I waited until there were no shoppers. I’d already made an excessively large donation to the bell ringer with the kettle to get him to take a second lunch.
I got lucky when a fire truck roared by. The sirens and horns would muffle the explosion. A quick exhale of breath was followed by a squeeze of the trigger, and I watched him stagger back and drop on his butt into the snow.
I slid the weapon under a shelf of snow that I’d previously prepared beneath the car, and was standing next to him with Sazi speed before he could extricate himself. He was staring at the smear of pink paint on his hand. The gelatinous goop was running down his face from the splat directly between his eyes.
I tossed a handful of crumpled paper towels on his chest and knelt down next to him. I was feeling that black depression again, so I turned it into cold anger. I lowered my voice to a dangerous hiss. “Next time you break into my house, kid, you won’t be wiping off paint.”
He was outraged, rather than frightened. “That was low, man! I’m going to have a welt there all day!” He tried to get his balance enough to stand up, but his hands kept burying deeper into the wet pile of snow. I wasn’t intending to help him. Instead, I used the cell phone to make a call.
He finally managed to turn himself over and push backwards to get out of the bank. Even turned slightly away from him I saw the knife come out of his pocket and slice at me.
I knocked it out of his hand so easily it appeared casual. I didn’t even move the phone. The thin stiletto blade stuck in the wooden facade. I held the phone to my ear with my shoulder as it rang, and grabbed the knife quick enough to make his jaw drop. I snapped the blade in two, just as casually, raising my brows with a bored look.
Now he was starting to look afraid. “I’ve got pho—”
I shook my head, the phone once again in my left hand. “You’ve got nothing, kid,” I snarled, letting a thick Italian accent play across the words.
I heard Carmine pick up and speak. I replied into the speaker, “I’ll let you do the honors.”
I handed the kid the phone. He took it warily, his face and blond bangs still smeared with pink. “Yeah?” His voice was angry, but cautious.
I listened to his heart pound and his mustard scent blend with the thick hot and sour soup. His sweat beaded to the surface of his skin, and I had to shake my head to remove the thoughts of ripping out his tender young throat.
“I want to talk to her.” His voice was trembling a little. Ah, he was starting to get attached to that one.
I could hear the tearful girl sob her apologies into the phone. He made careful noises, but I could tell he was angry with her for getting caught. The anger couldn’t erase the fear though. My jaw was clenching. I’d forgotten to eat, and the moon was still close enough to full that it was a problem. Not eating was becoming a bad habit. I certainly know better.
I stepped away from him, turning my face into the wind to lessen the tantalizing scents. As I leaned against one of the building pillars I listened to both sides of the brief conversation. Scotty’s face moved from cautious to afraid, to angry, to resigned—all in the matter of less than a minute.
He sighed and I started forward again until I was standing next to him. “Yeah, sure—I mean, yes sir, Mr. Leone. I’ll head back today.” He shook his head and turned off the phone, and then handed it back to me.
“Man, you guys are good.” He gla
nced at me with something approaching wonder. “You could have offed me just now and Sally would be dead, too. Nobody would miss two kids like us. Why didn’t you?”
I put a hand on his shoulder and then squeezed his neck in a firm grip. I did it by instinct, but then panicked for a second. I waited to get sucked away into another place and time, but nothing happened. I was grateful and relieved. Maybe that shield was good for something, after all.
“You’ve got raw talent, kid, but no finesse. The threat was good until you completely gave away your hand. This business takes smarts as well as balls. Carmine’s willing to teach you the smarts if you play by his rules.” I smiled at him, a flash of bared teeth and watched him shiver. “Besides, I have plans for you.”
I pulled him until he was walking beside me, my hand still tight enough on his neck that he winced. He used the towels to mop the partially frozen paint from his face, dropping the paper into the waste can outside the door to the store. The hair would be stained until he washed it, but the color wasn’t much different than I’ve seen on other kids.
I ignored the sound of canned Christmas carols playing of the loud speakers inside the store, but the music reminded me. I’d need to pick up something special for Sue—soon. It would be our first Christmas together. The warmth of the thought was cut off by the cold black shield that kept me from reaching her mind-to-mind.
“Tell me about your visit to the hotel.” I ordered, my voice more husky and harsh than usual.
Scotty’s eyes went a little wide over the top of the box he was carrying. When he answered his voice was nervous. “Uh, yeah. I almost got caught by that Chinese chick,” he said ruefully. “It was almost like she could smell me or something. But then you guys showed up and she took off down the back stairs.”
“How did you get in to begin with?” I piled another large box, containing twin cameras, into his outstretched arms.
He juggled until he could peek around the cameras, boxes of coaxial wire and Romex electrical cable.
“Piece of cake. I waited until dark and climbed up the fire escape to the second floor. I used a glass cutter on the window—just a little hole so I could nudge the latch open. It’s an old hotel—just a single swing lock, and the window slid right up. Man! That place, like, never has customers! I was in and out of that room for, like, three days. I had to wait until everyone was downstairs, but then boom, you showed up and the rest is history.”
I pulled him by his shirt sleeve into a corner near the swinging doors to the stock room. I listened closely. Nobody was around. “Ancient history, kid. As far as you’re concerned, from now on—I’m dead, just like the papers say. I’ll make sure you get trained up right, but not by me!”
I moved my face close to his. “You fucked up royally, kiddo. You’d be missing some key body parts right now if I didn’t have a use for you.” The thick, heady scent of his fear rode the air. “Lucky for you, I’ve got one last job for you before you leave town. But then you go, and you don’t come back unless you’re called. Capisce?”
He nodded, a bit frantically. I had to catch the pile as it threatened to topple onto the floor. “Yeah—yeah, I get it, Mr. G. I’m out of my league. But I’ll get better, you’ll see. I’ll be as good as you some day. I’ll be a pro.”
Part of me was pleased, because I knew he might finally start to get his shit together. But part of me was worried, because he might be right. “Only if you learn respect, kid. Respect for the Family, respect for a cop’s brain, respect for a client’s probable stupidity, and respect for the mark’s survival instinct. You show respect—you get respected. Then you’ll be as good. After that, if you survive, you’ll be a pro.”
Chapter 16
SERGEI THE DOORMAN blocked open the entrance to the hotel while I unloaded the back seat of the Honda. I could smell fear and anger as I walked by him. I shot him a dangerous look so he would keep his mouth shut. He was wearing a full-length red overcoat with shiny gold buttons and appliqués and looked absolutely miserable. His newly injured right arm was in a sling, and the left one was obviously still painful. I hoped it was as painful as Denis’s arm.
I glanced around, expecting to see the same level of activity as before. “Where is everyone? This place is a tomb.”
I’d forgotten how deep his voice is. It’s a rich, rolling bass with a slight Russian accent that matches the untamed black beard perfectly. “Our Alphas prepare to greet guests. Alpha Santiago, Lady Asri, and the snake meet with Wolven agents who have just arrived. Your mate waits upstairs, and others eat evening supper.”
Yeah, supper sounded good, but so did seeing Sue. I could feel some of the blackness and despair lessen just at the thought of touching her. To hell with what Lucas thought. “What’s for dinner tonight?”
His jaw set and I could hear his teeth grind, but he answered civilly. “I am instructed to remain at door. Our Alpha Female will only allow me to eat when the others have finished. I do not know.”
Oooh, that’s a hard blow—being as he was formerly first in command under Nikoli. I didn’t comment on the punishment. It wasn’t my place.
I took my supplies and headed to the second floor. It looked like Lucas and Yurgi had been busy. All of the cameras were in place, and the boxes were unpacked in the control room. The monitors were connected to each other and the server and the clutter removed. I said a silent thank you.
As I was rounding the corner to our suite, Yurgi stepped out of the ballroom, licking his fingers. I could smell what seemed to be wild meat with a variety of spices.
“Good dinner?” I asked across the atrium.
“Is venison, Tony!” He kissed the tips of his fingers and rolled his eyes. “Is heaven. The Duchess, she hunt and bring home deer. I not know she hunt, Tony! She never do this before.” He held out his hands to either side of his head, about two feet out. “Is big buck with antlers out to here! Alena, she cook with spices, but is still red and warm. I hope Alena, she always cook! She has gift. You must try some before all gone.”
I smiled when he mentioned Lelya, and wondered how Nikoli was taking the changes in his mother. None of my business, I reminded myself.
Dinner did sound good…But no—I wanted to see Sue. I’d been able to smell her summer forest since I walked in the door. “Maybe in a bit. Thanks!” He waved and kept walking toward the stairs. I heard her voice before I opened the door to the suite. My brow furrowed a bit. “Yes, I know, Dr. Corbin. I’m trying to be understanding.” I heard John-Boy’s voice in the background, but couldn’t make out the words. “Dr. Perdue said this could happen. But I didn’t expect Tony…I mean, it’s Tony. It’s not like him. I just wasn’t prepared. With the news about my family, and Tony acting like Mom…”
I dropped my hand from the knob and stepped back from the door. Acting like her mom? What the hell did that mean? What news about her family? Wow, the things that happen when I leave for an hour or two!
Sue’s mom is a raving, manipulative, drug-addicted bitch—not to put too fine a point on it. What traits did Sue think I had in common with that old bat?
I trusted John-Boy—Dr. John Walton Corbin, M.D., Ph.D., life-long friend and former Mafia family member, and Sue’s psychiatrist, to look out for my interests, whatever the current crisis.
How was I acting like her mom?
I turned on my heel, walking away from the room. I needed to think. As I headed to the ballroom I mulled over the events of the past two days. I might as well eat if Sue was going to do a psychiatric therapy session on the phone. Interrupting the call would be counterproductive. Besides, I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear what she had to say. Not right now.
The succulent scent of roast meat wafted from the door as I walked toward the room. Most of the pack members had come and gone, probably to rest up before the big push of guests. Boris was cutting a thick slice of deer from a rapidly diminishing roast as I walked in. There was a smudge of dark sauce clinging to his white chin hairs.
“Ah! Come, come, Tony!
See what our gracious Alpha Female has hunted for us!”
I glanced around the table and felt my stomach rumble impatiently. The scent of deer and blood and a dozen spices filled the air. Roast venison, ground venison lasagne, venison tenderloin medallions in a thick brown sauce. My jaw clenched from the scents. There were also bowls of rice and noodles, fruit salad and thick red beet borsch. One long glass casserole dish was completely empty except for scraps. It was shredded venison in some sort of cream sauce.
“The food is very good, Tony,” said Celia in the corner. I’d never met her formally, but she certainly knew me after the incident in the lobby. Hell, everybody knew me now. “Please join us. Boris, tell him the joke you just told me.”
I quickly filled a china dinner plate from each prepared dish, including the shredded scraps. I skipped the borsch—it’s an acquired taste that I’ve never acquired—and sat down next to the ancient wolf. He stabbed the whole slice of roast with his fork and ripped off a piece with his teeth. No knife for this old boy.
“Why did the wolf cross the road?” He asked with twinkling eyes and a full mouth.
“I don’t know,” I replied before stuffing a wonderfully pungent medallion into my mouth.
“He was chasing the chicken!” He guffawed noisily at his own punch line, and slapped his thigh. “My grandson told me this joke! It’s good, yes?”
I chuckled. “Yeah, that’s pretty good.”
“You missed Celia’s dish.” He looked again at my plate. “No, it looks like you got the last of it, after all.” He slapped my shoulder hard enough that I almost spit out the second piece of tenderloin I’d put in my mouth. “My Celia, she made venison enchiladas with chile cream.” I raised my brows and took a bite of the scraps of shredded meat when I’d swallowed the other. I knew immediately why it had disappeared so fast. Cumin and jalapeños blended with a bunch of other seasonings to create a taste so savory that it just about threw my tongue to the ground.
