Page 65 of Lucas
“Sorry,” Ginger said around a bite. “My stomach growled so loudly, Mason felt sorry for me.”
They spent several hours reminiscing about childhoods, Rosalynn’s charity work, and some business before it was time to depart. He didn’t want to go and wished he had more time, but they were communicating, and a heaviness that felt like a boulder rolled off his chest. He never realized how much their distance bothered him.
When the four of them stood outside the front door of the manor, Rosalynn strung an arm through his. “Now, remember, I expect to hear from you the minute you arrive home so I know you both arrived safely.” She kissed his cheek before turning to take Ginger’s arm to say their goodbyes.
Mason walked with Lucas to the waiting car. “While you and Ginger took a last stroll around the garden, Rosa filled me in on your discussion regarding Trelane and the lockdown. News of the raid at Venizi’s island traveled fast. As you can imagine, rumors are already growing about the rising conflict between the two Houses. Many don’t expect anything to come of it, assuming the Council will eventually demand a cease-fire. But I think they’re wrong.”
“Why would you come to that conclusion?”
“Trelane has spent years building his business empire outside vampire society. Since he’s constrained from doing business with the Houses due to his censure, most would argue what choice did he have. But no one believed he’d get cozy with the shifters. Although he wasn’t the first to do business with them, he’s been the most vocal in discussing similar opportunities with his closest allies. With the success he’s been having, why trouble himself with Venizi or the censure? But he knows the Council is divided between the old ways and those who seek to change with the times.
“He wouldn’t be pressuring Venizi unless he had a solid hand to play. I’ve met Trelane at various functions, and House Bertrand, under my father’s leadership, has always held an allegiance to House Trelane. I’d like you to take a message to Devon that House Bertrand stands with House Trelane. If there’s anything I can do to assist in whatever’s coming, all he has to do is call.”
Lucas held out his hand and gripped Mason’s as he spoke. “Your words carry great value, and you can be assured I’ll let Devon know he can count on House Bertrand. He’ll reach out soon.” He gave Mason’s hand a final shake. “Take care of my sister.”
“You have my word, brother.”
Lucas grinned. “I like the sound of that.”
“And take care of that human of yours. Your sister and I have already grown quite fond of her.”
Lucas looked past Mason’s shoulder to see Ginger chatting with Rosalynn a few feet away. “Easy enough to do. She’s my salvation.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
I waltzedinto the manor and hugged an unsuspecting Mateo, who was manning the door. “It’s so good to be home. Did you miss us?”
Mateo had a quick wit, and with a pleasant smile, said, “Were you gone? We hardly noticed.”
I gave him a good-natured punch in the arm. He didn’t flinch or move. Vamps. I was still smiling as I ran up the steps, barely reaching the second floor before I was stopped cold by a chilling voice, almost tripping over my feet.
“You’re expected in Devon’s office. Now.”
I turned and smiled down at the frosty vamp staring up at me. She was in her Wonder Woman stance, hands on hips, and if she had the superhero’s Lasso of Truth, I would have been hogtied and dragged to Devon’s office. Thank the stars magic wasn’t a thing.
“No one told me.”
“I’m telling you.”
“Aah. Can I at least pee?”
It was fun to poke at Simone when I thought I could get away with it. When she scowled, one side of her lip lifting as her fangs dropped, I had to admit I might have gone a bit too far. Butnature was calling. And since she didn’t want to chance it, she nodded—stiffly.
“Five minutes.” She didn’t move, and I took that as a sign to skedaddle while I could.
I raced to my room, slammed the door, stripped off my sweater and pants then dropped onto the toilet. I wasn’t lying about that. We hadn’t stopped once since leaving San Francisco. We’d been greeted by a security lead car, two extra vamps in the limo with us, and a second security team close behind. With two cadre in the limo and a copy of theDe første dage, there wasn’t any chance of stopping before we reached the manor. I shouldn’t have drunk so much coffee on the plane.
I was in such a good mood, even Simone couldn’t dampen my spirits. Lucas hadn’t stopped smiling since leaving Chicago. He was pleased to return from a successful mission with a copy of the book, but his visit with his sister trumped all of that.
All I could hope for now was that five minutes with Sergi and Simone wouldn’t dampen his joy. Bella and Jacques had looked at him strangely when we met them at O’Hare and then proceeded to tease him all the way home, including the almost three-hour drive from San Francisco. The traffic had been horrid.
One thing about visiting one’s family—whether a great trip or the worst ever—it sticks with you. And there was no doubt Lucas’s visit with Rosalynn would erase all the bad memories.
I slipped on black leggings, a long-sleeved, oversized bright turquoise shirt, and my ballet flats and raced down the hall then stairs, skidding to a stop in front of Devon’s office door. I took a couple deep breaths and finger-combed my hair before opening the door and stepping inside.
Simone sat at Devon’s desk with the cadre around her. Jacques sat in a corner by the unlit fireplace, Lyra on a chair nearhim, and Decker on a barstool. I dropped onto the sofa near Lyra and turned to face Simone.
She glanced around the room and seemed satisfied everyone was present. “Before we go over the results of Lucas’s mission, I would like to extend a thank you to Ginger from Devon and the cadre for saving Lucas’s life. He told me his wounds were severe enough that he most likely wouldn’t have survived without your quick thinking. If not from his wounds, then certainly from the next wave of vampires.”
