Page 67 of Visions in Blood
“Cressa.”
His voice sent shivers over my bare skin, and the touch of the water brought back memories of his hands roaming my body, stirring my blood.I stretched my arms wider and arched my back on the chance he’d touch me again.
“Are you going to float there all afternoon?”
I floundered.My arms and legs flapped in the water as I choked out a gulp of chlorinated water.It wasn’t the beginning of a dream; Devon stood at the edge of the pool with a wide smile greeting me.
He chuckled.“I didn’t mean to startle you.”
I dunked myself then pushed my hair back before turning to swim back to the stairs.After quickly drying off, I slipped on a terry robe and wrapped my hair with the towel.By then, the heat in my cheeks had cooled.
“I thought I’d see you as soon as you returned, but I understand you must have been exhausted.”
He was sitting on a bench near the windows, the sun illuminating him in a shiny glow.There wasn’t another chair close, and rather than dragging one across the floor, I dropped onto the opposite side of the bench, grateful for the warmth of the seat.
“I slept the entire drive home and could barely stay awake to find my room.”I stared at my toes and cringed at the chipped polish.“You’d think all Simone and I did was run from party to party.”It was pretty clear I should have taken the time to find a salon.
“From what I hear, you managed to see quite a bit of L.A.”
There was tension running through him, regardless of his smiles and light banter.All the telltale signs were there—the pinching at the corners of his eyes, the tapping of his fingers on the arm of the bench, and the stiffness of his posture.Something was bothering him, but I didn’t think it was from anything I’d done.
“I’m sorry we didn’t find the book.”
He studied me, and I pulled my robe tighter, ignoring the butterflies that erupted in my belly and swarmed through me, igniting every nerve in my body.Devon was dressed casual with his shirt unbuttoned enough for me to see the silver chain around his neck, but not far enough to see what I was positive had to be a medallion dangling from the end.
He played with the cuff of his sleeve.“But now we have confirmation that it does exist and that others are searching for it.”
I scratched my head, forgetting the towel was there.“Because of the other vamps that were prowling around?Maybe.But it is a museum.They could have been looking for something else.”
“Tell me.Did you believe the vampires to be a coincidence?Or did you think it odd they were there at the same time and place where you were searching for something?And then they show up the very next evening in a restricted area where none of you should have been.”
I shifted on the bench, now scratching at my knee.It was a decent question, and one I’d been asking myself.Simone and I had assumed the same thing at the time.But five hundred miles and a different setting, it all seemed a bit surreal.“You’re right.It was too much of a coincidence.”
“And then add the fact that Lorenzo was attending an event so far from home.”
“The same could be said of Simone and me.”
“True.But your goal was to actually steal the book.”
“Borrow.”I had every intention of ensuring the book was returned once Devon was finished with it.I’d never stolen a library book in my life.Pilfered with the intent to return—yes.Stole—no.Odd, but that’s how I looked at it.When I glanced at Devon, my cheeks flushed at his slow cat-gobbled-the-meek-mouse smile.
“I get your point,” I continued.“Simone and I thought it odd as well.I’m not sure he recognized Simone, but I’m sure he’ll piece things together once he discovers his missing vamps, assuming they were his.I made sure he didn’t see me.”
“If they weren’t Lorenzo’s, we might have a third player in the game.”
“Who else could it be?”
He shook his head.After a silent moment, he turned in his seat, the movement bringing him closer.“I’ve spoken with Lucas about the condition of Philipe’s office and the folder you brought back.That was very smart thinking.”
And there I went, preening at the simple praise.Good grief.What a good puppy.Would I be acting the same way if he were a dull and ordinary man?Not answering that one.“I wasn’t sure I should bother.It just seemed to be out of place, and the name on the file.It was one of the names of the Houses created at the same time as yours.So, what was in the folder?”
“Several things, but the interesting piece was the itinerary with copies of tickets, local maps, events, and other information that a person either going on vacation or on the run would put together.”
“On the run?”I hadn’t even considered it, but the more I thought about his office, it made sense.The place was orderly with no dust or clutter, except for his desk.And I recalled my original thought that people were piling projects or reports on the desk for his eventual return.“I have to admit, that does make sense with what I saw in his office, even though I don’t know the man.Everything else was so spotless.”
Then my head shot up, momentarily frozen by how close he seemed now.I had to back pedal to remember what I was going to say.“So, if we have his itinerary, we know where he went, right?”
“Doubtful.From what Lucas tells me, Philipe is too wise to leave evidence behind.Our best guess is that the folder was left behind to leave a false trail.”
