Page 43 of Lucas
“Scotch or cognac?” he asked as he checked the bottles. “Looks like we have some top-shelf vodka as well.”
“I’ll take a vodka on ice.” Romero sat down and accepted the glass Jacques handed him.
Jacques opened the fridge and pulled out two beers, handing one to Bella.
Romero took a sip then stared into his glass. “I take it Sergi’s recent visit with the human woman, who was introduced as Devon’s Blood Ward, somehow relates to this book?”
“Why would you assume that?”
“Well, let’s see. I haven’t seen Devon or Lucas for over a year. Lucas calls, of course, but we never talk House business. Then within a span of a couple of weeks, Sergi comes to my court, and then Devon follows. Neither of them had business with either me or Lafitte. I know Sergi visited the library, I assume asking about Philipe.”
“Let’s just stop the dancing, shall we?” Bella stood, beer in hand, as she took Romero’s previous position to pace in front of the windows. “I’ve been watching Devon and the cadre tiptoe around this book and the missing Philipe for a few weeks now, with everyone guessing what might be written in it. A book that is either hidden somewhere in the bowels of the Renaud library system or has been purposely removed. The search for answers has attracted a string of vampires with deadly intentions. But as I mentioned before, I prefer direct action over all this intrigue.”
She stopped and turned to Romero. “Do you know what Devon considers my specialty?” When Romero shook his head, she continued her pacing. “I’m really good at distractions. Like a magician, I get everyone to look one way while the real trick is happening elsewhere. And when I think about everyone chasing after this book that claims to be out for restoration in several libraries—it smells like a distraction to me.
“We have a curator who gave false information about the book being someplace we knew it wasn’t. If she had only gotten her dates right, maybe I could believe that Devon and Lucas have gotten worked up over nothing. But the fact that the Renauds not only have incorrect data in their inventory, which supposedly hasn’t occurred once in the library’s history, but thatthey’ve also managed to misplace a book tells me someone is lying.
“Now, how do we know they lied? Or worse, that someone altered the inventory? Because we know, firsthand, that in 1925, Guildford Trelane asked Philipe if the annex had theDe første dagein the inventory. Philipe confirmed he found the book and they arranged a meeting. Trelane, along with his wife, daughter, and her boyfriend, traveled to San Francisco specifically to review the book. We know, based on Lyra’s own words, that Philipe and Guildford met. On their way home, the Trelanes are involved in a horrific accident that killed the House leader, his wife, and supposedly the boyfriend, leaving Lyra traumatized.”
She glanced at Romero and was satisfied she had his complete attention. “Are you with me so far?”
He nodded.
“At some point after that, and who knows when since a hundred years passed before someone asked about the book again, Philipe disappears. Did he get worried when he heard about Guildford’s tragic death, or was it because some other vampire came looking?”
She returned to her chair to perch on its edge. She rested her elbows on her knees, still holding on to her beer, and looked him in the eye. “Devon isn’t going to let this go. And he doesn’t care what it does to the Council or whether it creates a civil war. Venizi has been trying to silence Devon—hell, his entire House, for decades. Maybe longer. We need to find Philipe before someone else does.”
Romero studied her then finished his vodka. “I believe this is where the players are asked to lay all their cards on the table. Yes, Philipe has a secret and is hiding to protect it. But he’s apparently not the only one with a secret. If Devon is ready to go public with something, I want to know what evidence he has. And then, if it’s warranted, I’ll help you find Philipe.”
Bella considered the request. It was back to trust. But there was one other thing she wanted to know first. Something she was sure would provide a link back to Venizi. Even if it wasn’t enough proof to take to the Council—she had to know. “Tell me one thing. When did Philipe go underground?”
Romero ran a hand through this hair. “That’s hard to pinpoint; let me think.” His brows scrunched in thought, then his features hardened. “I don’t remember the year; it’s been a few decades. But one thing does stick out. It was about the same time Venizi began questioning Devon’s seat on the Council.”
Click.
That was the turning point. The catalyst. Venizi must have gotten wind of the book and dreamwalkers. Maybe Hamilton had cracked and given Venizi a breadcrumb he was able to follow. She was making wild-ass guesses, but she knew Venizi too well.
“You believe the two events are related.” Romero scooted up on his seat until there was little space between them.
“I think it goes back farther. Either Venizi was aware of the book before Guildford’s trip to San Francisco, or he’d been following Guildford and found an opportune time to take care of two problems.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I know. That’s because you’re missing an important ingredient.” She turned to Jacques. “What do you think?”
“He’s a trusted ally, and he’ll be told soon enough once Devon returns. We need to find Lucas and Philipe now.”
Bella was taking a huge chance, but Jacques was right. And she’d been thinking along the same lines earlier that evening.
“What I’m going to ask needs to remain between you, Devon, and his cadre. At least for now. Are you willing to accept those terms?”
“I give you my word.” No hesitation.
“What do you know of dreamwalkers?”
Chapter Seventeen
I glanced over at Lucas.We’d been on the road for an hour and for most of that time he sat silently in the passenger seat, staring out the front window. His head was somewhere, and I didn’t bother him. My mind was elsewhere, too.
