Page 41 of Wolfgang

Eric stiffened under his touch for a moment, perhaps with the realization of just how long Wolfe had been watching him. But it eased quickly, and he shook his head. “They were just medical reps in town. We had drinks and laughs. They left again. Not friends, just acquaintances.”

It was proof enough that Wolfe was rotten, in just how much that pleased him. Ah well, he already knew his faults well enough.

But how to amuse Eric in the meantime? Wolfe would like to think the two of them together, completely isolated from the world, would be enough. But Eric was used to a fast-paced, high-stress profession. And though Wolfe would be teaching him to hunt soon enough, he didn’t intend to start until the other blood bag had been used up. Waste not, want not, after all. And that would give them more time for the bond to stabilize before Eric attempted a fresh feed. Wolfe wouldn’t want any unexpected complications, or to have his poor doctor arrested for murder.

Eric gave a dejected sigh. “See why I need to work?”

Wolfe tsked at him. “Just because you’ve been stunted until now doesn’t mean you need to remain stunted.”

And Wolfe wanted more of this sweet, soft contentment. What made normal people content? Other people, it seemed. Connections. So perhaps Wolfe would have to resign himself to using a few of his own.

“You remember Danny?” he asked.

Eric shot him an amused glance. “The nurse I work with, who explained vampires to me, who also saved my bacon when I was freaking out at the hospital? Yeah, the name rings a bell.”

Wolfe ignored the sass. “Perfect. Well, it just so happens he hosts a regular dinner for our kind…”

The purpose of the family dinners may not have been vampire bonding, but that was beside the point. Eric needed friends. Wolfe would prefer for them to be people he already had full knowledge of. So Eric would be attending the next family dinner.

And Wolfe knew just who to ask for an invitation.

Wolfe eyed the portrait on the sitting room wall, all lush tones with a simple frame. Refined but not ostentatious, like much of the furnishing in Veronique’s home. Still, to the discerning eye, it was clear the expense she had gone to in decorating the place; money had gone into it. An awful lot of money. In fact, among just the three of this heinous den’s leaders lay an exorbitant sum, enough to keep an entire community of vampires in comfort for many, many years.

Which was exactly why the leaders had to go.

It should be easy enough to orchestrate, better yet with some sort of catalyst to help him along. Silas in particular had the look of one not long for the land of the sane—so much aggression there, even for one of their kind. And granted, he seemed to naturally be quite a prick regardless, but there was just a touch of…something there. He was a vampire on the road to a feral state, even if only on the first steps.

Maybe Wolfe would get lucky and Silas would tear into the other two without any prompting. Because Wolfe had done his research, over these past few years. Slowly, slyly, making sure not to create any waves. And with those three gone, it would all belong to—

“Wolfgang? You’re here early. Are you looking for Vee?”

Ah. Wolfe turned from his perusal to see the object of his musings in front of him. Johann. The epitome of sweetness itself, even if his naturally sunny demeanor was somewhat dimmed by Vee’s emotionally careless handling. He was carrying a tray with an assortment of fine crystal and two bottles of port, most likely for the guests after their feeding. Veronique did so love the old-fashioned methods of entertaining, never mind that the world around them was immersed in modernity. Take Johann’s proper little suit, fit for a young country lord half a century ago, his dark hair slicked back severely to match.

Wolfe aimed a calculated smile at the little vampire. “It’s really Veronique who’s looking for me. Or, better put, on my behalf.”

Johann cocked his head, wordlessly questioning, as he placed his tray on the mahogany of the bar area to the side of the room.

“She’s finding a book I’d like to borrow,” Wolfe explained.

“Which book?” Johann asked, apparently unable to help trying to be of service, even as he was in the middle of another task.

Wolfe wandered closer, attempting to make out the year of the port. “A collection of poems. One she claims she found transcendent. Tugs on the heartstrings, apparently.”

“Oh, I see.” Johann nodded as he removed the glassware from the tray, arranging it artfully. “But not yours.”

Wolfe paused. “Pardon?”

“Not yours,” Johann said again easily. “Your heartstrings aren’t easily tugged.”

Wolfe’s smile fell from his lips. “Why do you say that?”

“Oh, you know. It’s like you have this…mask on? Around other people. Pretending to feel what they feel.” Johann turned to gauge Wolfe’s reaction—perhaps realizing what he’d just said wouldn’t be considered polite by any stretch of the imagination—and, at Wolfe’s cocked brow, hastened to reassure him. “It’s a really good mask though! Almost perfect.”

“But you’re not fooled?” Wolfe prompted, taking control of himself and managing a small smile, aiming to put the little vampire at ease. He had many reasons to keep Johann placated, but mostly he didn’t want to scare him off before he found out how Johann had come to this conclusion. The majority of people simply assumed Wolfe was…reserved.

“Well,” Johann mused, turning back to his task now that he’d reassured himself Wolfe wasn’t upset with him. “I pretend a lot too. I think I just recognize it.”

Oh, little Johann. So much more observant than Veronique believed, or than any other den member gave him credit for. His maker would have such a perfect little spy in him, if she were only intelligent enough to use him properly rather than delegate him to the role of some sort of pet manservant.

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