Page 36 of Seduction in Blood
Once inside the suite, I kept the lights off and allowed my eyes to adjust. As soon as I discerned shadows from the dim light leaking through the window blinds, I scanned the room, determining my plan of attack. A massive bed on the left, a seating area in front of a fireplace on the right, a pedestal with a sculpture in the corner, and the dressing room and bathroom on the far end. Dressing tables and armoires filled the rest of the space.
Starting on my left, I checked every cabinet and picture, searching for a hidden safe. I finished with the main room, irritated at not finding anything, and moved to the dressing room. I sulked as I gave the bathroom a quick look. No one kept a safe in the bathroom.
My shoes were killing me again, and I dropped onto the bed and leaned back, considering the room. I was confident I hadn't missed anything, but Gruber said the file was in his bedroom. When I thought about the conversation, he'd said there was a safe in the library, but he didn't specifically mention a second safe in his room. Gruber just said the file was safe and sound.
I stood and retraced my steps, looking at the room from a different perspective. I was heading back toward the fireplace when I walked past a pedestal with a sculpted head. I hadn't realized it was a head when I'd first glanced at it. But now, it seemed strange to have someone's head mounted in a bedroom. No accounting for taste—especially with the rich.
I backed up and studied the sculpted head. As far as I could tell, it was solid bronze. I lowered my gaze to the pedestal, which was easily ten square inches. Plenty of room to stash secrets, and Gruber could keep his eyes on it from his bed. I knelt and started tapping and pushing, hoping a spring door would open.
Time ticked away, encouraging me to move on and forget my curiosity.Just a little longer.
I had circled around to the last side when my thumb hit the door. It didn't pop open. Instead, the edge moved under my fingers. That thrill that raced through me on every job made my fingers tingle as I scraped at the door. My instincts paid off. I squinted as I stuck my hand in, hoping that Gruber hadn't left any traps. I wished I had my lockpicks and penlight, but Sorrento had taken them when he captured me. Devon would need to replace them if he wanted me to steal for him.
The first item I grabbed was a stack of bills. No mistaking that feeling—I'd lifted enough of them. The next two items were silk bags, which based on their weight and irregular edges, were stuffed with jewelry. Sorry that I didn't have a larger handbag to take a few items, I refocused on my goal.
A sound made me freeze, and I tilted my head. A door shut somewhere down the hall, and I held my breath, listening for the tread of shoes on carpet heading my way. After several minutes of silence, I huffed out a sigh and continued my search. There were more stacks of bills, and then stuck in the back was a folder. It barely fit, and the edges scraped as I wrestled it out from behind the stacks of cash and bundles of jewelry.
I stepped to the window, using as much of the meager light as I could to see what was inside. Two pages of handwritten notes, but not a letter. The edges of the pages appeared to have been torn out of something. A journal?
The light wasn't bright enough to make out any words, and I cursed my luck.
The doorknob creaked before something bumped against the door.
Shit.
I looked toward the bed, and without further thought, I darted for the dressing room. I slid into the room and dashed behind a plastic wardrobe bag as light filtered in from the bedroom. I worked to control my breathing. Music floated in from the lower floors. Whoever it was had left the bedroom door open. A light went on, and feet scuffled into the bathroom. A few minutes later, the light went out. After what seemed like an hour, but in reality was only a couple of minutes, the bedroom light went out and the door closed.
I leaned my head against the wall as a deep rush of air escaped. Whoever it had been hadn't stayed. They must not have noticed I hadn't closed the door on the pedestal. If they did, I doubt they would have left without contacting someone.
Devon was probably searching for me. I'd lost all track of time. But before leaving, I had to know if the pages were worth taking. I took a chance and flipped on the lights. Surely, no one would see lights from a dressing room in a closed bedroom. Regardless, I probably should have confirmed someone had left and not just gone to bed.
Worry crept over me, knowing I'd spent too much time in my search. My spidey senses made my gut clench, but I took the time to review the pages. I couldn't make sense of the almost child-like writing. The one word I did recognize made up my mind—Trelane. The name alone didn't mean anything, but it was close enough, especially after Gruber's delight over the folder.
Thankful there were only two pages, I folded the paper until it fit in my clutch. I shut off the light and crept into the bedroom, my gaze immediately flicking to the bed. I snorted. Someone had come in and turned down the bed. They probably put fresh towels in the bathroom. How quaint.
I stuffed the empty file folder back in the pedestal and shut the hidden door. After peeking into the hallway and seeing that the coast was clear, I raced down the hall for the servant's stairs. When I reached the second-floor staircase, the sound of Gruber's giggles floated my way. From the railing, I could see him weaving up the stairs, a young man and woman with him, one hanging off each side. I ducked into the first room with an open door and found myself in the gaming room.
A few men glanced my way, some taking a second look, but I ignored them as I strolled to the billiards table. I found a seat next to two men, who lounged in overstuffed leather chairs while drinking something clear. Vodka was my guess, but it could have been gin.
The man closest to me leaned over, his white-blond hair falling over half his face. "Would you like a drink?" His accent sounded Scandinavian.
"Vodka?" I asked. I really hated gin.
"What else?" He grabbed an empty glass from the stack on the table next to him and poured me two fingers. That seemed odd. They had their own bar?
"Now, you bet?" the other man said.
I'd only meant to get out of Gruber's way so he wouldn't see me and remember who I was after he discovered the pages were gone. What had I been thinking? I shrugged—once a thief. The man asking the question seemed to take my shrug as non-committal.
"Which one wins the game?" He pointed a chin to the billiards table.
My gaze turned toward the game in progress. I knew pool but not the rules for billiards, so I studied the players instead. A beefy man, who could have walked straight out of a biker bar, lined up a shot. The tall, wheaten-blonde woman was all class. Her makeup perfectly applied, it looked like she hadn't eaten in days, and her ruby-red lips gave the impression she was excellent at blow-jobs.
I glanced back at my new friend and smiled. "The woman."
I'd just finished my second drink, laughing at outrageous Nordic tales—turned out they were from Oslo—when someone grabbed my arm. I pulled away, but the grip tightened. I glanced up to Devon's fierce gaze, that icy-blue glow striking fear for a split second. Before I could react, the glow warmed to a darker hue, and for an instant, I caught his concern. He must have been searching for me.
One of my new friends rose, but his friend staid his arm and shook his head.
