Page 35 of Seduction in Blood
I gaveLorenzo a slight smile before squeezing Devon's arm as the two men strolled off, but when the vamp glanced back at me, I changed it into a sultry smile. In reality, it might have come across as gas. Lorenzo was a handsome man, with bits of gray at the temples, and his suits were as tailored as Devon's. But the man was a leech.He could use another female at his house.What an ass.
Now that my feet had a chance to rest and I was fully sated with food and water, I decided to roam. My first stop was a restroom, and I found myself waiting in line between two vamps who hadn't seen each other for what sounded like years. I suppose in the vamp world, a decade or two was similar to a few months in my feeble human world. I leaned against the wall, eyes closed, soaking in as much information as I could, surprised when Devon's name came up. Good to know I wasn't the only one who couldn't get naughty thoughts out of my head whenever he smiled.
After taking care of business, I wandered the halls and rooms, slinking into dark corners or sticking to the edges. Most of the vamps either didn't notice me or didn't care. It's amazing how well you can blend in with poor posture. When I passed a hall where the library must have been, there were no less than eight vampires stationed a few feet apart, including Sergi. Everyone Devon was meeting with seemed to have their bodyguards. What I'd give to be a fly on that wall.
The second floor had an expansive open landing with couches and overstuffed chairs made for lounging. Four hallways led to gaming rooms, entertainment rooms, and a few bedrooms if the partially dressed vamps sneaking in and out of them were any indication. The private rooms were on the third floor, and I'd seen a set of elevators in the back of the house I assumed Gruber must use to get to his master suite. The second floor wasn't nearly as crowded as the first floor, but I still managed to appear inconspicuous. Devon's name cropped up in scattered conversations, and I realized the stares I'd received all night weren't because I was anything special. There were dozens of beautiful women for the guests to ogle. I was unique because I was on the arm of Devon Trelane, who apparently didn't get out much.
Then I remembered Lorenzo making a comment around censure. Devon was on the vampire naughty list. What did one have to do to piss off other vampires? From the tidbits of conversation I'd overheard, the guests were excited to see him, not fearful.
The gaming room had conjured all forms of kinky ideas in my head, and I was freakishly disappointed to discover it was a room with a billiards table, a dartboard, and several tables with multiple chess and backgammon games in process. I grabbed a glass of champagne and found a quiet place next to a large fern to watch a woman kick ass at billiards.
I didn't know how long I'd been watching when two men stopped on the other side of the fern. I kept my head down but managed to get a glimpse of blue-spiked hair through the large green fronds. It was Gruber, but the other man had his back turned toward me. His tall frame and broad shoulders blocked most of Gruber.
A groan and soft clapping turned my attention to the billiards table, where the woman had won her match. They were racking the balls for a new player when I heard Devon's name again. Had anyone noticed me as other than just eye candy? Reminding myself that was a good thing, I focused my attention on the two men while appearing to watch the games.
"I didn't know he'd be here. He hasn't been to one of these gatherings for years. And never with a woman, let alone a human." Gruber's high-pitched voice was easily recognizable.
"Perhaps the rumors of him going mad are true. Either way, it doesn't impact us, not with the Council keeping tabs on him." The big man had a deeply accented voice from somewhere in eastern Europe. While I couldn't precisely place it, it felt familiar. Maybe something I'd heard when I still lived with Christopher. He always had international business partners over for business dinners.
"I don't know if Lorenzo would agree, but now that Trelane is meeting with the Council, this is the best timing. We wouldn't want him to see you. Do you have the file?"
"I gave it to your bodyguard."
"Ah, that's why Henri disappeared." Gruber didn't sound concerned, likely a typical exchange for these two. "He must have tucked it in a safe place." The man sounded relieved.
"Hopefully, not in the library."
Gruber giggled, and the sound made my skin crawl. "That would have been interesting with Devon in the room, having no idea what lay in the safe. No. It's in my bedroom. Safe and sound for now."
When no one spoke for several seconds, I lifted my head to see if they'd left, but they were still there. What did they have on Devon?
"Do you have any other assignments for me?"
"Not at this time, but I'll have something next week. Let me take you out through the garage. My new Bugatti just arrived."
"I found a Brough Superiors on my last visit to Tripoli. You'll need to stop by."
Gruber clapped his hands. "I've heard those are very rare. Is the motorbike in good condition?"
The big man shrugged. "It needs a good cleaning, but I think it will look good in my foyer."
Gruber laughed. "You do enjoy showing off your prizes."
The men moved out of the room, and I breathed a sigh of relief. I doubted either would have been pleased to know I'd heard their conversation. Words I wished I hadn't heard. My curiosity screamed to find that file, while another part of me wanted to recover it for Devon. Was someone planning an attack against him? And a tinge of guilt stabbed me when I questioned if maybe Devon wasn't the good guy in whatever those two had been planning.
The dream crashed into me. The feel of Devon's arms as he pulled me close. The strength of his hold. The power in his kiss when I melted against him.
Stop it.
Yes, I was going in search of that folder. But only because you can't just wave a secret file in the face of a thief and not expect it to be stolen. I had job integrity. I smiled and slipped out of the room.
The staircase to the third floor was roped off, and with the number of people milling about, I'd never get upstairs unnoticed. The elevator was out of the question, but there had to be a back staircase for the house staff. And I found it right next to the elevator, completely unguarded. If I had the time, I would have searched for the uniform Gruber made his house staff wear, but I didn't know how long he'd be showing off his new car.
After five minutes of waiting in a storage closet, the hall cleared long enough to remove my heels and race up the stairs. I had no idea where Gruber's bedroom was, but after walking through dozens of mansions in the middle of the night, most master suites were located at the end of the hallway. As luck would have it, the same was true with this mansion. The room was at the opposite end from the elevator, which also made sense. Who wanted to hear the rattle of an elevator first thing in the morning? Assuming he allowed the staff to use it.
When I reached the master suite, I stared at the doorknob. It had a lock. Of course, it did, and I didn't have my tools. But Anna had stuck bobby pins in my hair that could work in a pinch.
It wasn't necessary. The door opened when I tested the doorknob, and I remembered that one of Gruber's men had been up here. He'd been sloppy.
