Page 27 of Lucas
“I’ve always wondered why our Family history began as neighbors to House Renaud. But it’s simple, really. Many vampire Houses believe that brawn or the size of their army will determine their status and longevity. But they’re wrong. Knowledge is the key to survival regardless of who is in power.” He shook his head and gave Lucas a rueful smile. “My children say I talk too much. But I argue that I’m the one everyone seeks out at parties.”
Lucas returned the grin. “I’m told parties are good for the soul.”
“Really? Who said that?”
He thought about it, then chuckled. “I think it was my grandmama.”
Lafitte threw his head back and laughed. “Ah, my young vampire, that’s another reason you’re fitting in so well here.”
When they reached the horses, Lafitte took him by the shoulders. “I heard about your sister’s betrothal. By your reaction to the letter you received, I assume you also know and are unhappy with the news. There’s nothing I can do to help you. You will need to come to terms with this on your own.”
He stepped back and gave Lucas a thoughtful look. “Let me leave you with this one bit of information. I know Mason Bertrand quite well. We have the same thoughts about the future and are strong allies. I don’t know whether love can grow between him and your sister, but know that he is a good and righteous man who will treat your sister well. He bears no fools, and while this marriage has strengthened his bond to your Father’s House, he won’t grant access to her if it causes her any pain. She will be protected.”
Lucas swallowed. He hadn’t known how much he needed to hear that. She would be safe. He blinked back tears and nodded. “Thank you for that, Father. I will be forever grateful for those words.”
They rode back to the manor in silence. When they handed off the reins to the stable boys and jogged up the steps to the manor, Lafitte patted him on the back before walking through the door.
Lucas stopped and turned around to view the old plantation. This was a foreign land to him, but for the first time in his life, he had a home.
Chapter Eleven
Sergi staredout Devon’s office window. He never understood why Devon looked out the window so often when making a decision. His own office had no windows. He preferred an environment with no distractions, especially when he was stuck on a particularly difficult issue.
It was also a small office where visitors were limited to two at a time. Devon had offered him something that matched his standing as cadre, but it would only encourage more visitors. The more visitors, the more they tended to linger. He enjoyed his privacy too much for that.
But with Devon out of the country, Simone at Oasis, and Lyra working with Colantha to ease Hamilton’s transition from his long imprisonment, Sergi was in charge at the coastal manor.
For the first time, he understood the comfort of allowing his mind to wander as he took in the blooming flowers and the birds that hovered at the feeders. The ocean view didn’t bring him the peace it brought to so many others, but it provided the necessary distraction.
Lucas had stopped reporting three days ago. His last cryptic message advised he was in Maryland and had received valuable information. That was enough for Sergi to narrow down threedifferent Houses Lucas might have met with. From the list of Philipe’s contacts Lucas had shared before leaving, Sergi had a fair idea of which House. But he hadn’t decided whether contacting them would be prudent. Not yet.
Where would Lucas have gone from there? They had been in New York prior to Maryland, so he had to assume either west or south. New Orleans would be a possibility if the information Lucas obtained pointed to House Renaud. If Fiona was their target, they might head to Hazel Green, the location Sergi had given them.
The other possibility worried him the most. What if Lucas had been injured? Or worse? Surely, if Ginger hadn’t suffered the same fate as Lucas, assuming they hadn’t simply gone silent for another reason, she would have reached out to someone. If she had contacted Cressa, he would have heard from Devon by now. She might have contacted Harlow, but he couldn’t see what Harlow could provide that the Family couldn’t. Unless she required help from someone with no connections to vampires.
That idea didn’t sit well. If he hadn’t come to know Ginger as he had, he would assume she’d call the manor immediately if she were in trouble. Of all the humans in the Family, she was the most unpredictable. He snorted. That was saying something considering Cressa and her penchant for making her own decisions.
There were too many possibilities to start considering the worst. Perhaps a look at the map would give him a better idea of what Lucas would have done next. He didn’t get any further than waking the computer when the office door burst open.
Simone stormed in, slamming the door shut behind her. “Where’s Lucas?”
He motioned for her to take a seat. “I don’t know. His last message from three days ago put him in Maryland.”
“That matches the information I just received from our security team at House Lewis.”
“Lewis.” Sergi’s brow lifted. “Virginia?”
Simone nodded. “The team has socialized with the Houses in the surrounding states.”
Sergi nodded. “To keep abreast of any tension between them. And, of course, with their proximity to D.C., the lobbying alone can become problematic.”
“The team leader received a call from an acquaintance from another House asking why someone from House Trelane would visit House Beall.”
“That confirms one question. House Beall is on Philipe’s contact list. How did our team respond?”
“Basically, that it wasn’t any of their business. Then he reported the incident.” Simone adjusted her royal-blue caftan and scratched at her matching blue braids piled on her head. He never understood why the tough-as-nails Somalian vampire always dressed like a runway model when not in her guard attire but assumed it was all her time spent in New York and Milan. “I know Devon spoke to you privately about Lucas’s assignment. With the House on lockdown, it seemed wise to bring it to your attention.”
“To be honest, I was just considering what steps I should take to find them. They’ve been followed by vampires since New York. Though they might have been following Lucas since Boston and simply didn’t make their presence known.”
