Page 35 of Visions in Blood
Devon had that look—that crease along his forehead and his gaze unfocused—that told me he was considering it.“He might have remembered it, searched for it on his own, and when he couldn’t find it, assumed you’d stolen it.”
That possibility hadn’t crossed my mind.“Wouldn’t he have just asked my mother?”
Devon shrugged, his gaze returning to normal.He pushed the cup aside and pulled his tablet to him.“Maybe he’s keeping her out of his dealings with Lorenzo.A naïve attempt to keep his family safe.”
Sergi grunted, and a chill crept up my back.I didn’t need anyone to explain that comment.Christopher, through what might have been nothing more than a simple business partnership, had marked his entire family.I might not get along with my mother.Hells bells, she all but abandoned me to her new lifestyle, but I didn’t want to see her or April hurt.April.I wasn’t even sure where we stood anymore after seeing her at the apartment.Had she been forced to go so she could talk some sense into me, or had she joined the family business?
“It’s not a good idea for her to go to that house.It’s well fortified.”Sergi might be holding firm on his security concerns, but I’d piqued his interest.
“I have no intention of going back in that house.Not unless I have no other choice.”I’d scooted up on my seat, my idea taking shape.
“What’s your plan?”Devon was on board, but that protective shield was going up.
“My mother is a very exacting woman.Everything is scheduled and organized to the last detail, and she’s a creature of habit.”I shrugged and scooted back, a slight grin on my lips.“I suppose in some ways we all are.But she takes it to new heights.She has an appointment at the spa every Thursday at two o’clock.There’s a tiny coffeehouse down a side alley half a block from the spa.All I need is fifteen minutes with her.”
“Will she have a driver and bodyguards?”Sergi was back on his tablet.
“A driver for certain.I don’t know about bodyguards.”
“Does she have any other scheduled meetings during the week?”
I’d been surprised I remembered her spa day, but that had been the only day April was always at home and had become our day to meet at the pool house.“I think she gets her hair done on Wednesdays, about the same time I think.”I nodded as my mother’s busy schedule came back to me.“Yeah, that’s the day she meets with her garden club for lunch.She goes to the hairdresser after that.”
“She’s a gardener?”Devon asked.His warm gaze ran over me with a sense of encouragement and what seemed like approval.
I snorted, and my cheeks warmed when he smiled.“Hardly.She has people for that.Her garden club is about planning events to be held in the garden.Everything is about parties, networking, and gathering rumors about other people in their circle of influence.”
“I need the names and locations of where she’ll be on both days.”Sergi had quickly changed his tune.“The timing couldn’t be better with today being Tuesday.I’ll have a team follow her to the luncheon and then the salon afterwards.That should give me enough to prepare something for the following day.”
“The distraction can’t be traced to us.”Devon had finally picked up the crystal and was tossing it back and forth.“Use different teams each day.I want Bella and Jacques on Thursday.”
Sergi nodded, drained the last of his espresso, and deposited the empty cup on the bar before he left.
“What can I do?”My nerves were already prickling at the thought of a face-to-face with my mother.
“Provide Sergi what information you can, then return to your normal routine.Enjoy your time with Ginger.I’ll have Lucas take you both out for breakfast before returning Ginger to her new apartment, then have you back in time for your session with Anna.”
“What about my training with Simone?”
“The break will give her time to catch up on business at Oasis.I’ll arrange for a special session before dinner.We’ll decide Thursday morning whether the mission is a go.”
My leg bounced.A special session of training didn’t seem ominous at all.Devon was a patient man, and this could be payback for my earlier disobedience.
“Is there anything else?”
“What?Oh, no.”I stood, now being officially dismissed.I met his gaze and gave him an earnest, “Thank you.”
I was almost to the door when he said, “Perhaps I should thank you.”
I turned, waiting for him to explain, but his head was already down, the fountain pen scratching out another letter.
It wasn’t until I reached the door to my room that I smiled.I’d helped.It might not go anywhere, but between the elusive book, if it was a book, and a meeting with my mother, we might garner critical information to assist Devon in completing his mission.And maybe discover something about my missing father and my dreams.I was becoming part of the team.
I walkedinto my room without knocking and was surprised to see Lucas and Ginger huddled knee to knee in front of a low-burning fire.
Ginger jumped back and brushed off the robe she was still in, a light blush on her cheeks.I couldn’t remember a single time I’d ever seen her embarrassed.When she flicked her gaze to the fire, I reconsidered my word choice.It was more like she’d been caught pilfering my snickerdoodles.A small act that someone shouldn’t feel guilty about unless they understood my undying adoration and gratitude for the best cookie in the world.A treat that saved me in so many ways.
Lucas turned and gave me his slow grin.His California beachboy looks gave him a half innocent, half all-knowing persona.I doubted I’d ever see guilt on that gorgeous face.
