by Olsen, Lisa
Chapter Twenty-Four
Rob hustled me up to our suite the back way, wanting to avoid running into anyone until I had a chance to debrief with Felix and figure out our next steps. I was eager to hear more of their side of what had gone down, since my impression of the night was fairly skewed.
Gunnar, Felix, and Bridget all stood when I entered the suite, big smiles all around.
“See, I told you she’d be fine. She’s one tough broad,” Bridget declared gruffly, but there were tears standing in her eyes.
“That’s right, I’m tougher than I look.” I smiled back, pulling her into a hug and despite her bravado, Bridget clung to me fiercely for a few moments.
“Never doubted you for a second, boss,” Felix grinned, clapping me on the shoulder when she released me.
“I was worried,” Gunnar admitted. “You are recovered, yes?”
I laid a hand on his arm, giving it a squeeze. “I’m really fine, Gunnar. But thanks for caring. Mostly I just want to find out what happened that night.”
Felix went to the sideboard, and I recognized the mixings for his famous martinis. “What do you remember about what happened?” he asked.
I passed on what I could recall, realizing most of it didn’t make a whole lot of sense. I saw Rob stiffen when I talked about the pain from the arrow coming out, and I tried not to look at him. There wasn’t a whole lot of detail I could give them, really, and I left out the personal arguments that sent me out of Bishop’s safe house and into the London streets unprotected.
“See, I told you Bishop wouldn’t have anything to do with those jokers,” Bridget elbowed Felix, who scowled as a jot of alcohol sloshed over the rim of the shaker he was pouring into.
“Is that what people are saying? I thought you were going to tell them Bishop saved me, not kidnapped me?” Now I did look at Rob, but he shrugged, unconcerned.
“I’ve been a bit busy for the past twenty-four hours or so,” he said, nonchalant as anything.
Couldn’t argue with him there. “We’ll have to clear things up then. Wait, does that mean he hasn’t come back to the house yet?”
“Nope,” Felix replied. “At least not the last I heard.”
I’d have to try and call him later, make sure he was okay. Then again, Bishop was a grown man, more than capable of taking care of himself. Maybe I had to let him alone for a while. “Bishop said it was vampires that took me, dressed as players. The troupe was entirely made of humans, wasn’t it? I’m sure of it.”
Felix poured out his concoction with a flourish. “Right, it’s a human company that was hired, and they were all human for the first few acts, but there were definitely vampires among them when the shit hit the fan – if you’ll pardon my French.”
“Not just the two that took you,” Rob added. “The one who knocked me out was definitely a vampire.”
My head swiveled to meet his gaze. “You got knocked out?”
“It’s fine.”
“I wish you’d told me that earlier.”
“I wish I hadn’t failed you in the first place.”
“You didn’t…”
“The important thing here is, there was definitely a plot afoot,” Felix interrupted, bringing the tray of drinks to the small coffee table. “It’s not a matter of someone sticking the wrong arrow into the quiver, this was obviously an orchestrated attack against you.”
That was a sobering thought. “Then no one else was attacked, just me?”
“I don’t think even a vamp would’ve tried to take out more than one target in a mob like that, not without a death wish. There was too much security in that room. If it hadn’t been for the humans compelled to get in the way, their chances of a clean getaway with you would have been closer to nil. It was a pretty good plan, actually,” Felix considered aloud as he sipped his drink.
“I’m glad you approve,” I replied sourly, leaving the vile concoction untouched. “Has anyone talked to the players? What do they have to say about it?”
“The members of the troupe have all been questioned, one member was discovered murdered, the one whose costume was stolen and used to pose as Death. Most of them had been compelled and weren’t very useful at all.”
“Has anyone tried to break the compulsion?” Rob asked, holding onto his glass, but not actually drinking anything yet.
“So far there’s been very limited success.”
“I could give it a shot,” I volunteered. “I’ve been able to do it before.” Of course that was with Bridget and not a pack of total strangers, but I was willing to give it a go to get to the bottom of things.
Felix shook his head. “I think you should let the Order take the lead on this one. You had a pretty close call there, boss.”
That had me sitting up straight. “Wait… the Order is overseeing the investigation?”
“Assassination attempt right under their noses? Yep, they’re pretty much trying to redeem themselves at this point.”
“That means Angel’s the one who’s in charge of things?”
“Ah, I guess so, why?” Felix stared at me.
“Don’t you remember her part in what happened to Tommy? Besides the fact that she hates me. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was the one to shoot me herself.” I was lucky it wasn’t with a burning arrow or I’d have been a crispy critter.
Felix’s expression darkened. “Shit, I can’t believe I didn’t think of that. We’ll have to take matters into our own hands then.”
“I’ll be investigating it as well,” Rob declared and Gunnar nodded beside him.
“I will too.”
“Hey, put me in too, coach. I’ll play spy for you,” Bridget volunteered, but Felix immediately nixed the idea.
“Absolutely not. You’re staying put in this room unless I’m with you, babydoll.”
“But Felix…”
“No buts about it. You get hit with an arrow you’re not coming back from that.” He gently stroked her cheek with the back of his knuckles before tossing back the rest of his drink and setting the glass down with a thunk. “So… that means it’s up to us to get some answers. Best guesses, everybody, who do we think is behind this?”
“Aside from Angel, Corley gets my vote,” I spoke up first. “He’s the one with the most to gain if I’m out of the picture.”
“What about Aubrey?” Rob suggested. “He’s the one that dragged you up there in the first place.”
“Aubrey?” I hadn’t considered it, but Rob was right. If he hadn’t suggested it, I never would have gone up on stage. Or would the Cupid have invited me next if Aubrey hadn’t beat him to it? “Why would he want to kill me?”
Felix caught onto the idea, nodding slowly. “He’s been scheming for a place in the Vetis court for a while now. Maybe Corley promised him a plum position in exchange for helping him out?”
“I don’t know, you guys. I don’t think he’d do something like that.” I knew both Bishop and Rob had warned me about the guy, but I couldn’t reconcile the cold, heartless actions they were talking about with the man who’d spoken with such regret of his mistakes with Carys.
“Well, you’d know him better than most,” Felix shrugged, and I remembered that they thought he really was my brother. “Politically speaking, Anja’s right. Corley’s got the most to gain, especially since you tanked his plans to annex Canada. For now we’ve got a place to start. Rob, you and Gunnar should question all of the troupe again. They’re being housed in the East wing until the investigation is complete.”
“I’ll see what I can do to talk to some of the feeders,” Bridget offered. “You wouldn’t believe how many vamps talk like we’re not even there.”
“You’re not a feeder, hon.” Felix patted her knee gently.
“Yeah, but they don’t know that. All most people see around here are a pair of tits and my veins. I’ll see what I can pick up.”
“I will talk to security,” Gunnar offered. “I have many friends.”
“I’ll talk to the staff,
see if anyone saw anything,” Rob added. “But that can wait ‘til daylight hours. I’m not leaving your side while you’re out and about.” He caught my gaze and held it.
Felix rubbed his hands together. “And I’ll see what the scuttlebutt is around the other delegates.”
“What should I do?” I asked, feeling left out.
“Oh… you should take it easy.”
“What about the meeting going on tonight? Shouldn’t I be going to that at least?”
“We can put that off for another night. You should rest up,” Felix suggested, but I wouldn’t let it go. I probably would’ve been happy as a clam to rest up if I was still holed up at Rob’s place, but now that I was back, I had no intention of sitting on my hands.
“I’m not hiding from this,” I insisted. “I think we need to send the message that the West won’t be bullied. Now I’m going to go change into something more appropriate. Felix, let the others know I’ll be ready to meet by the top of the hour.”
“You got it, boss.” Felix backed off, throwing his hands up in defeat.
“I’ll come with.” Bridget offered, following me into the bedroom. It was awkward for me. She wanted the skinny on my time at Bishop’s place, but I wasn’t much in the mood to talk about him. And I for sure wasn’t about to let on what happened between me and Rob. Mostly, I put her off, pretending like I couldn’t decide between two dresses.
“You should wear this one instead,” she said, pulling out a bright red dress with a wide black belt and Joan Crawford shoulders. “Large and in charge.”
She did have a point there. I definitely wouldn’t look like a shrinking violet in it. “Okey doke, I’ll go with that one,” I agreed, taking off the vintage dress and hanging it carefully in the back of the wardrobe.
“Hey listen,” she tried again as I ran a brush through my hair. “If you want me to talk to Bishop, bitchslap some sense into him…”
I cut her off before she got too worked up over it. “No, that’s okay. It’s totally fine. Like I said, I’m moving on. No more sappy, sad cartoon eyes for me,” I replied with total confidence this time. “I have more important things to worry about for the moment.”
“Okay, but if you change your mind…” She made a smacking sound with one fist hitting the palm of her hand.
“I know just who to call,” I laughed.
“I got your back, girl.”
*
I definitely felt like a head of state as we left the suite. Felix had called in two of his guards to escort us, and I had Gunnar and Rob flanking me, Felix bringing up the rear, with Bridget under strict instructions to stay put in the room. We got all the way downstairs without running into a single person, until Aubrey emerged up ahead, his face registering shock, relief and maybe a trace of fear as he saw me.
“Anja, you’re truly recovered!” he called out, rushing toward me. The two guards closed ranks in front of me, blocking his path. “Anja, please…” Aubrey tried to push through them. “I’m so sorry… I had no idea I’d put you in danger at all.”
Rob stepped up and put a hand on his chest. “Now is not the time.”
“No, let him through. I want to hear what he has to say.” He certainly sounded earnest enough, but I wanted to know what had him so apologetic if he truly had nothing to do with it.
Rob removed his hand, clearly unhappy about my decision to let Aubrey through, but he stepped aside, as did the other guards. Aubrey rushed past them, catching up my hand in his, he pressed it to his lips.
“Please say you believe me.”
“I don’t know what to believe, Aubrey. You pull me up on stage, and the next thing I know I’m shot and on the way to being kidnapped or worse. You expect me to believe you really had nothing to do with it?”
“I swear it on my mother’s grave,” he declared, laying my hand over his heart. “I’d never be a part of anything to hurt you. Please, believe me, I implore you.” His eyes were red rimmed, and shiny with unshed tears. If Aubrey was playing a part, he was one heck of an actor.
“I believe you,” I said finally, but he didn’t look convinced.
“I mean every single word. If I thought I had any part in your demise, I don’t think I could live with myself.”
“Hey, I’m not dead.” I gave his hand a squeeze before pulling mine free. “I didn’t even pick up a scar. The dress has seen better days, but I probably won’t have a reason to wear something like that for another fifty years, so no harm done.”
Aubrey’s brows drew together. “How can you be so cavalier about it all? Didn’t it hurt? Weren’t you terrified?”
“I was,” I admitted. “But I have people who care about me to make sure I stay well protected. I knew I’d be safe in the end.” I’d known no such thing, but I figured it sounded stronger than admitting I’d really thought I’d never live to see the sequel to Sharktopus.
“Ulrik,” he said softly.
“Yes, he really came through for me.” I didn’t dare look at Rob.
“He always did love to play the hero, didn’t he?”
“I’m just glad he was there at the right place and the right time. Hey listen, you didn’t see or hear anything that night, did you? You were right there up on stage with a birds-eye view.”
“I’m sorry to say I did not. I thought it all a joke at first, until I saw the blood. I tried to get to you, honestly I did, but some damned fool stepped in front of me and tripped me up.”
“It’s okay, Aubrey. It’s not your fault.”
“You truly are well then?” His eyes dipped to the thin swell of cleavage visible under my dress. “No lingering after effects?”
“No, I’m fine,” I said, shifting uncomfortably. Great, now I’d have people staring at my chest all night. Cool beans.
“I’d be more than happy to offer my blood if you need it. Family bonds and all that,” he grinned.
“She’s doing fine on her own, yeah?” Rob stepped up, looking like he wanted nothing more than to put his fist through Aubrey’s teeth. “Time to shove off.”
“I’d like to hear that from the lady’s lovely lips, if I may,” Aubrey replied, his eyes never leaving my face.
“We really should get going now, there’s a meeting waiting for me to start,” I said diplomatically. “Are you coming?”
“I wasn’t invited,” Aubrey admitted. “It’s for delegates only.”
“Oh.” Tough break for him. I wanted to ask him what his position was around there, but we really did need to get moving. “Well, we can catch up more later.”
“My offer is genuine, you know,” Aubrey leaned close. “My blood is powerful, at least as strong as Ulrik’s,” he whispered.
“I will, um… keep that in mind, thanks,” I smiled awkwardly, glad to have the excuse to leave. We headed right for the main meeting hall, the only one with a table large enough to accommodate all of the Houses at once.
Security Chief Brody stood in front of the door, his eyes sweeping over me before dropping to study his boots at first. But as my entourage drew nearer, his hand came up to block us. “Delegates only,” he said, addressing Rob.
“Don’t care. We go with her, or she don’t go in.”
“My instructions are to…”
“Stand aside,” I commanded Brody, channeling my innermost diva. “Like the gentleman said, they come with me.”
“Yes, Your Grace,” Brody dropped his eyes again, and I admit, I felt a twinge of glee to see him bend so easily.
Tucker bounded up to my side in wolf form again, giving Brody a wide berth. He gave my hand a single broad lick and I stroked the top of his head, not like a dog, but in silent acknowledgment of his support and protection.
“You can’t take the Were in there,” Felix leaned forward to whisper. “They won’t allow it.”
“Let’s see them stop me,” I muttered back. Motioning to the other two guards at the door, I sailed into the room, my head held high. I am a strong, confident, vampire, the little voice inside my
head reminded me. I’m way ahead of you, sister, I answered back.
Chapter Twenty-Five
All eyes were on me as we entered the room, and I greeted the delegates with a serene smile, gliding with preternatural grace to my assigned spot as though I didn’t have a care in the world.
“I can understand your need to feel secure after such a traumatic event, but this is a closed meeting,” Corley spoke, his dark eyes following me like a hawk.
“That’s nice, Simon,” I replied mildly, spreading my skirt carefully across my chair, taking some time to get the fabric to drape nicely. “And if your House security wasn’t so completely inept, I might care about your arbitrary rules. But as things stand, I’ll be keeping my own team with me at all times, and I’d encourage any of you to do the same.”
“Let the girl keep her people with her,” Faust fired back. “We are none of us safe until those responsible for this cowardly attack are caught and punished.” There was a general murmur of assent in the room and Corley looked mad enough to spit nails.
“Very well. Just this once I will allow it. However, you cannot be thinking of bringing that animal in here,” he replied with a pointed look to Tucker, who sat back on his haunches beside me.
“You’re more than welcome to try and talk him into leaving yourself,” I smiled sweetly. “But something tells me he doesn’t want to go.” Tucker punctuated my words with a deep growl, his lips curling to reveal wickedly sharp teeth at the Warden of Vetis. “I think it’s more important to get right down to it though, don’t you?” I gave him an out, and Corley took it.
“Yes, the attack. We’ve all been speaking of nothing else. Let me be the first to offer my best wishes on a speedy recovery,” he added with a hollow smile.
“Thanks, but I’m good. It’ll take more than an arrow to the heart to bring down the West,” I declared, my chin coming up. “I’m more interested in hearing what your plans are to keep the rest of us safe for the duration of the Gathering.”
