Page 58 of Dimitri

“I thought you would be as well.” Damien glanced between us. “What gives?”

Benjamin chuckled. “We’re meeting Marcello. He called and said he has something that might be of use.”

“And I’m not going, why?”

I looked to Benjamin, more than ready to stay behind and let Damien go with. It made sense, actually, since Damien’s team was about to take over and replace us.

“You can go. I’m sure Marcello won’t have an issue with you showing up at the café. Just let your team know that you’re going with us. Raiden and Briggs are about to bring your team up to date on everything that we’ve discovered since yesterday.”

“How much have you actually unearthed since then?” Damien asked with a smirk on his face.

I couldn’t help it. I chuckled. He wasn’t wrong though. We hadn’t actually discovered a whole lot since then. In fact, it was my understanding that not a whole lot had really happened since we arrived. Not just our team but the team before us as well.

“True. We will have to figure something out because this assignment seems to be moving at a snail’s pace.”

“That was how things happened before though, no?” Damien asked. “In New Orleans?”

Benjamin nodded slowly. I had not been part of the council then. I had come in after most of that had happened but had heard all about it.

“Shall we?” Benjamin asked, indicating the now closed elevator door. “The last thing I want to do is upset Marcello by being late when he and his family have agreed to work with the council.”

“It’s not as if they are going to complain too harshly,” Damien said as he pushed the button for the elevator again. “They know that on some level, they are now on the council’s radar, and they have to watch their steps more closely.”

“True. I want to maintain a professional relationship with them and feel that if we were to continually be late, it would reflect poorly on the council.”

Damien sighed. “Why do you always have to be the voice of reason? Why?”

I chuckled, which earned me a glare from the hellhound.

“Behave,” Benjamin said.

“I didn’t say a thing,” I replied.

“I wasn’t talking to you.” Benjamin made a point to look directly at Damien, who held up his hands.

“I’ll behave.” He glanced my way before he smirked. I rolled my eyes.

“How is Ledger?” I asked. I had almost said “your mate” but caught myself at the last moment. Our rooms were secure, but we never knew for certain in the public areas.

“Good. He’s upset at his brother’s decision to move away but understands that Levi needs space. There are too many things and people in Montana that trigger his memories, and it wasn’t really helping with his ability to heal.”

I felt bad for Ledger with regards to that. I knew he and his brother had been incredibly close, and knowing he was moving away would most likely be difficult on Damien’s mate.

“I am sorry to hear that.” The elevator chimed, indicating that we were on the ground floor. “Hopefully, it will not be a permanent move, and he will return to Montana soon.” I knew every family was different. Some siblings were incredibly close, while others were more distant. From what I had heard, Ledger and his brother had been very close before his brother went missing.

We stepped off of the elevator and, in moments, were walking out the front door. It wasn’t an overly large hotel, only a few floors, but it was a higher-end resort and spa. Not that any of us were taking advantage of its luxury.

“What’s the plan?” Dimitri asked once we were out on the street, walking toward what I assumed was the café that Marcello wanted to meet at.

“Nothing at the moment, beyond meeting with Marcello. We have to see what this new information he has is,” Benjamin said.

Damien stopped him with a hand on his arm. “Why couldn’t he tell us over the phone? Or mention it to the council through the normal channels they’ve been going through?”

We all glanced at one another. Damien had a point. A very valid one. What if we were walking into a trap?

“Is he expecting you to come alone?” I asked.

Benjamin shrugged. “It wouldn’t matter. He is no match for me. A warlock is more powerful than a vampire simply because of our magic.”

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