Page 18 of Licence To Howl
She reached into her pocket and dug out a small matchbox. ‘I thought it would be more unobtrusive if I put it into a less showy container.’
Devereau grunted. Good idea. He moved to take it from her but she pulled it out of his reach.
‘I will repeat what I said last night,’ Scarlett warned. ‘I am only lending you the ring. I have to get it back.’
He managed a smile. ‘That’s why I’ve invited you to tag along. Everything will be fine.’ He paused. ‘You know you can trust me.’
‘Do I?’ she asked softly. She didn’t wait for an answer, however. She simply pressed the box into his outstretched palm. Devereau slipped it into his breast pocket.
‘Yes,’ he said. He met her eyes. ‘You do.’
‘How are we going to approach Solentino?’
‘We will go to his apartment, knock on his door and wait for him to answer.’
Scarlett stared at him. ‘That’s it? That’s your plan?’
‘I figured you’d rather we didn’t wait around. Sometimes the direct approach is best. From what I saw at the auction, numerous supes are interested in this ring. I don’t want to complicate the situation by letting them know I have it. Solentino and his gang are the sole target. We don’t need others getting involved.’
‘How do you know where he lives?’
‘I have my methods,’ he said.
She tightened the belt on her knee length coat. ‘You mean MI5 told you.’
It was Devereau’s turn to stare.
Scarlett laughed slightly. ‘Give me some credit, Devereau. You don’t really think I’d believe you’re here in Rome to infiltrate some kind of terrorist group off your own steam?’ She tapped the side of her nose. ‘Don’t worry. I’ve not told anyone you’re now a super spy.’ She grinned at him and he felt his heart miss a beat. ‘Did they give you a gun?’
‘No.’ Devereau grimaced. ‘I don’t even get a pen that shoots poisonous darts or a sports car with an ejector seat.’
Scarlett’s smile grew. ‘That’s probably not a bad thing.’
‘How do you really know I’m working for MI5, Scarlett? If you can find out, then others can as well and that might be a problem.’
‘I told you not to worry about it. I have no reason to think anyone else knows what you’re up to.’
He watched her. ‘Have you been following me? Back in London?’
‘You saw me at Regent’s Park. You know I have been.’
‘Besides that?’ he pressed.
Scarlett waited for several beats before answering. ‘You’re an unknown quantity, Devereau,’ she said finally. ‘You’re strong, powerful, charismatic –’
He raised an eyebrow. ‘Go on.’
‘You used to run a criminal gang. You have refused to join any of the werewolf clans.’
‘As I recall,’ Devereau pointed out, ‘it was you who persuaded me not to do that.’
‘Ha! You don’t do anything you don’t want to do.’ She met his eyes. ‘Let’s say that you have a lot of powerful supes worried about what you’re up to. The balance of peace between us and the humans is delicate and nobody wants the new kid on the block to upset things.’
Devereau’s eyebrow twitched. ‘So you were ordered to follow me to make sure I’m being good?’
Scarlett didn’t answer.
‘You weren’t ordered,’ he said, realisation dawning. ‘You took it upon yourself to trail after me.’ He couldn’t stop the grin from spreading across his face. ‘Don’t we know each well enough already,’ Devereau asked, ‘that you could be sure I wouldn’t do anything to harm the supe community?’
