Page 56 of Betrayed in Blood
“Then let’s give you time with the translation. I’ve arranged a room for you. We’ll meet again for dinner. Lucas has created a schedule for the rest of you, and he’ll notify you once the translation is available. That’s all I have for now, but I’d like the cadre to meet back here after lunch.”
Everyone stood and mingled. Lucas handed what must be the full translation to Remus, who tucked it under his arm. The only one who didn’t stay to chat and made an exit as soon as the last words left Devon’s mouth was Simone.
Something Colantha said had bothered her. She never liked the dreamwalker hocus-pocus as she once referred to it. But she’d paled during Colantha’s overview of the symbols. The one thing I knew to be true of Simone was that she wouldn’t speak a word of what spooked her until she needed help. And help was something I’d never once heard her ask for.
ChapterSixteen
Devon calleda morning meeting with his cadre, minus Simone, who’d returned to Oasis the previous morning, to review general House business that had been ignored since his return from Spain.
His planned meeting from the day before had been interrupted when Colantha requested Lucas’s assistance to review theDe første dagea second time. Dinner had been boisterous, with Remus and Sergi competing with who had the best battle story. Cressa had joined in by sharing some of her heists gone bad that had everyone laughing. Rather than adjourning for brandy, the group decided to make it an early evening, but Devon knew Remus would be reviewing the updates Colantha had made to the translations.
Ginger was given time off from her duties with Colantha to spend the rest of the evening with Cressa and Lyra while Devon prepared for the morning’s meeting. He wanted to spend the evening with Cressa but was relieved for the reprieve. They hadn’t had time to discuss his poor timing in releasing her from her debt, and it was best they stayed focused on their guests.
Devon stared at his dwindling list of agenda items, pleased that most of them had already been cared for by the cadre.
“Lucas, is there any update on the latest business projections with our interests back east?”
Lucas was just bringing up the information when the phone rang.
Sergi answered it. He glanced at Devon as he thanked the caller and told them to wait further instructions.
“That was Levi at the city safe house. They’re experiencing higher than normal traffic, and they believe most of the vehicles belong to vampires.”
Devon turned to look out the window in a vain attempt to curb his anger. Venizi continued to test him and their defenses. How long before he tired of losing vampires? Or was he busy making more halflings? What they lacked in skill, they made up for in volume.
He swiveled back, his anger still stewing. “Give me a plan to deal with this.”
“You don’t want to wait for an attack?” Sergi asked.
“If the Council was concerned about our growing battles with Venizi, they should know by now that he drew first blood by attacking Oasis.”
“But everyone has a right to the road.” Sergi countered.
“So, we make it look like something else,” Bella interjected. “The neighborhood is mostly humans, so we’ll need to stay low-key.”
“What do you suggest?” Devon asked.
“Provide enough distractions and irritations to make them angry enough to either make them do something stupid or grow tired of the game and leave. If these vampires are anything like what Venizi has thrown at us before, they’re either young vampires or halflings.
“Like shooting fish in a barrel,” Sergi replied. “Without the shooting, of course.”
Devon grinned. “Of course not.” He turned to Bella. “How many do you need?”
“I’ll need to contact the safe house and get their estimate of the opposing force. Six cars at a minimum, maybe more.”
“Contact Levi and set it up. Lucas, advise Colantha and Remus we’ll be leaving. Sergi, see how many you can pull from security. Decker, can you stay here and lead the security team?”
He didn’t look happy about it, but he nodded.
“I’ll grab Cressa and Ginger.” Devon stood. “I think they’re in the training room. Let’s meet in the foyer in fifteen minutes.”
Devon arrived in the foyer five minutes early with Cressa and Ginger in tow, who’d made fast work of changing clothes.
Remus stood in the foyer with Decker and Mateo, who’d healed from the Oasis attack but appeared to need another blood donation.
“I take it Lucas briefed you.” Devon had also taken time to change, and he patted his armored vest to ensure his dagger was in place.
“I’d like to come with,” Remus said.
