Page 59 of Dimitri

“What if Marcello isn’t going to arrive alone? What if he’s setting up a trap?” Damien asked. To that, Benjamin snorted.

“This isn’t some cheesy crime sitcom. Even if he has a dozen other vampires with him, he still wouldn’t be a match for me.” Benjamin shook his head. “I’m not from Master Edison’s line, but I am from an original line, and I am a bit more powerful than a lot of warlocks. I’m not worried about this meeting. It’s possible that he didn’t let the council know because he hasn’t had time. We won’t know until we actually arrive and see what it is that he wants.”

Those were all valid points. He had only said he wished to speak to Benjamin. Or perhaps to one of us; I had not been the one contacted.

“What time does he wish to meet?” I asked.

Benjamin glanced at the watch on his wrist before answering. “In about ten minutes. Since the café is still a good fifteen-minute walk, we should probably hurry and try to keep from distracting ourselves anymore.”

With that, we started back down the sidewalk. It truly was a beautiful place. When you were near the resort and the other touristy areas. When you got away from there, things went downhill in a hurry. It was obvious that the island and most of the buildings were old. Much older than anywhere we saw in Montana on a regular basis. That really wasn’t the point of our trip though—simply my observations from being here.

It was a good thing I had long legs because Benjamin and Dimitri were both walking at a clipped pace in order to not benearly as late as it looked as if we were going to be. I, on the other hand, didn’t have to put nearly as many steps into my stride in order to keep up. When we arrived at the café, the other two seemed to realize it, and both gave me a look.

“What? You could have just done your poof thing, and we would have been here before he is.” I leaned in closer. “I smell more than one vampire, so be on the lookout.”

Benjamin nodded. “I agree. I’m picking up at least two others. They might not be with Marcello, but it’s a probability.”

“Well, I didn’t come alone either, did I?”

We entered the café, and immediately, the scents of coffee and baked goods hit my nose. They were stronger inside than they were when we were standing outside, but that was normal. What wasn’t, though, was the overpowering scent of blood. Benjamin couldn’t pick up on it. Damien and I could, and we both picked up on it at the same time.

Nothing looked out of the ordinary, and when I took a closer look, the café seemed as if everyone that was there was as they should be and weren’t distressed even a little.

Benjamin brushed my arm before indicating that Marcello was sitting against the back wall. I wasn’t even remotely surprised that the vampire enforcer was sitting with his back to the wall. It was simply how things were done. We approached, and when Damien caught my eye, we both zeroed in on the table two over that had three vampires sitting at it. Marcello, though, was alone at his. Benjamin pulled out a chair and sat, placing his arms on the table in front of him. Damien sat to Benjamin’s left, his back to the vampires, and I sat to his right, staring directly at them.

“Marcello,” Benjamin said.

“Benjamin.” He glanced at me and then at Damien. “I see you decided to bring backup.”

Benjamin shrugged. “You aren’t exactly alone, now, are you?”

“There are only a few instances where I am ever truly alone.” Marcello smirked, and it didn’t take much to understand what he was implying.

“You called for me to meet you. Do not disrespect the council simply because you aren’t in the presence of Master Ambrosius. You can be sure that he will know of each and every meeting we have.”

Marcello’s smile fell a bit. “Very well. We have discovered something that might be of interest. We do not know if it is factual as of yet, but we assumed that the council could work out those details at a more rapid pace than us.”

“And what is it that we need to discover?” Damien asked. Marcello looked his way before back at Benjamin, then over at me.

“Does this one talk?” he asked, pointing at me.

“Ya delayu, kogda eto neobkhodimo,” I said in Dedushka’s language. I wasn’t sure if it was because I felt like messing with Marcello or if it was because I felt as if he was becoming a bit too sure of his position simply because the council was working with his family at the moment. Either way, I got a measure of satisfaction from the fact that what was left of his smirk vanished when I spoke. It often did, simply because that language wasn’t one expected to come from me.

“What did he say?”

Benjamin shrugged. “He talked though, so there’s your answer. Now, are you going to share with us what it is that you asked me to come here to meet you about? Or perhaps I should call my father.” Benjamin pulled out his phone. “He works directly with Master Edison, after all. And we all know how much he has been vouching for you and Vinnie.”

I wish I had a camera. Marcello’s face changed instantly. “Do not ever let him hear you call him that. It will be your death.”

It was Benjamin who snorted this time. I noticed movement behind Damien, and his subtle nod to me when we made eye contact told me he knew the vampires behind him were getting antsy.

“You are wasting our time, Marcello. We’re trying to help you, remember?” Benjamin said. “We don’t have to be here. In fact, Master Ambrosius would very much like for this arrangement between us to end so that he can turn the other way if and when something just might happen to a few in your family.”

“Last warning, warlock. Do not threaten my family.”

Benjamin smirked, and when Marcello’s eyes widened for several seconds and his body became tense and stiff, I wondered what Benjamin did to him. I was certain he would share once we left, but until then, I would have to remain in the dark.

“I’ll tell,” Marcello said. When his body suddenly relaxed, I glanced at Benjamin, who smirked before he winked.

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