Page 57 of The Incubus and the Bodyguard

He settled into the chair she’d indicated, conscious of Delphine taking position slightly behind him. Cortes leaned against the brick wall to the left, Popo watchful on his shoulder.

The DEA guy introduced himself. “Agent Dan Navarro.” His shrewd gaze locked on Delphine. “I see Gideon sent his best.”

Vlad stiffened. “You know each other?” He glanced warily from Navarro to Delphine.

“Only by reputation.” The agent’s mouth curved slightly. “Though I suspect that’s about to change.”

“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you,” Delphine said with a crisp nod.

The subtle scent of jasmine filled the air as Wei Chen poured tea into delicate porcelain cups. “I believe we all have questions that need answering.” She passed him one and gave the other to Navarro.

Vlad picked up the cup and hesitated as he brought it to his lips.

Wei Chen sighed. “It’s not poisoned.”

“She’s right,” Delphine murmured. “Besides, she won’t make it out of here alive if it is.”

Wei Chen’s eyes shrank to slits.

“I like her,” the Triad leader grunted at Vlad.

Navarro scanned the room warily. “Is your tiger around?”

“He’s sitting next to your chair.”

Tarang manifested his presence. Wei Chen inhaled sharply.

Vlad had to give it to the DEA agent. Navarro didn’t even flinch as he met the tiger’s limpid blue stare.

“He’s big.” Navarro’s gaze found Popo. “I’ve heard stories about the parrot too.”

Popo puffed his chest out proudly. Cortes rolled his eyes.

“So, who’s going to tell us about Santana Isaacs?” Vlad said coolly, his gaze flicking between Wei Chen and Navarro.

The agent’s expression turned inscrutable. “What do you know about him?”

“Only that Wei Chen’s Kingston contacts work for him.” Vlad’s fingers whitened on his cup. “And that he’s connected to the man who cursed me.”

Wei Chen drew a sharp breath.

Navarro frowned. “That’s what made you collapse in that video? A curse?”

“Yes.”

Wei Chen recovered her composure. “That’s not exactly true. About my Kingston contacts.”

CHAPTERTWENTY

“I was approachedby what I thought was a legitimate business consortium in Kingston six months ago. They wanted to establish trade routes through New York.” Wei Chen crossed her legs. “I intended to talk to Yuliy and Giovanni about it if my background investigations proved to be satisfactory.”

Delphine watched the Triad leader carefully, looking for any tells that she was lying. She might have trusted Navarro, but she wouldn’t bank on Wei Chen being completely truthful in her interactions with them.

So far, the woman appeared to be telling the truth.

“By trade routes, you mean drug routes,” Vlad said flatly.

“Yes.” Wei Chen’s expression hardened. “Whether we like it or not, the Caribbean crime syndicates want in on the East Coast action, Vlad. Better that we supervise their operations than let them run riot around ours.”

---