Page 43 of Licence To Howl
‘We should take our leave,’ he said, inclining his head to indicate that both he and Scarlett had to go. ‘I would like to stay but we really do have other serious business to attend to.’
‘I understand.’ Moretti’s eyes grew serious. ‘This … situation you are in. The lives that are being threatened. If you require assistance, I am here to help. You did not show respect to clan Lupo when you arrived but you have more than made up for it now.’ He handed Devereau a business card. ‘I will be a friend to you, Signore Webb. I suspect you don’t have many of those.’
‘You’re right,’ Devereau told him, slipping the card into his wallet, and displaying genuine honesty. ‘I don’t. Thank you.’
Moretti looked over at Scarlett. ‘She only takes her eyes off you when she knows you are looking at her,’ he murmured. He lowered his voice. ‘Stick with her. She will be worth the effort.’
Devereau nodded. ‘Of that,’ he replied, ‘I have no doubt.’
Chapter Seventeen
After hastily getting dressedin his normal clothes again, Devereau exited the Colosseum with Scarlett, making it out before the crowds who were no doubt still squaring up their bets. Scarlett marched ahead, her hips swaying. Devereau limped.
‘Come on,’ she called over her shoulder. ‘We have to hurry. I’ve got a car waiting.’ She glanced back and noted his shuffling gait. ‘Men,’ she said. ‘You’re all the same. A few scrapes and you’d think you’d been through a real war. Next you’ll be getting a sniffle and telling me you’ve got pneumonia.’
‘I’ve just endured six fights!’ Devereau protested.
‘And,’ Scarlett said, ‘if you’d been at all smart, you’d have avoided this entirely and endured none. You’re absolutely fine.’
So much for her softly spoken darling endearment then. ‘I wasn’t complaining,’ he pointed out.
‘Just as well.’ She sniffed. Then she hesitated. ‘Are you alright?’
‘As you said yourself. I’m absolutely fine.’
‘Good. Let’s get a move on then and deal with Christopher Solentino.’ She smiled at him humourlessly. ‘While you were running around play fighting, I came up with a plan.’
‘Play fighting? It was hardly …’ He sighed and shook his head. Never mind. ‘What’s the plan?’
Scarlett smirked at him. Belatedly, he realised she’d been goading him in much the same way as he’d done to her earlier that evening in a bid to take his mind off his aches and pains. ‘Well,’ she said, ‘it doesn’t involve you chopping off my head.’ She gave him an arch smile. ‘The end goal here is to find out what that slimy wanker and his gang of wannabe terrorists are up to, right?’
‘Right.’ Devereau put his hands in his pockets and gave her a wary look.
‘Okay then.’ She bobbed her head with enthusiasm. ‘Solentino sent his own man to follow you here. Based on how the evening’s entertainment was supposed to go, you’re not due to finish up for another half an hour. Mr Motorcycle left long before the decision was taken to only have six fights rather than seven.’ She motioned towards the Colosseum. ‘We’re still supposed to be there.’
‘Solentino must think I’m still busy fighting.’
‘Indeed.’ Scarlett began walking quickly again. Devereau caught up with her, doing his best to ignore the stabbing pains from his injuries and remain stoic. ‘The last thing he’s expecting is for us to show up at his door again right now. We have a tiny window of opportunity to find out what he’s up to while he believes we’re elsewhere.’
‘You think we should sneak into his place while he’s unaware and see what we can find out?’ Devereau frowned. ‘If he catches us, the game is up.’
‘You sneaked into my place,’ she pointed out.
‘And I got caught. I wasn’t injured then either.’
‘That’s why,’ Scarlett said with a grin, ‘you wait outside while I do all the sneaking. In the best case scenario, I find the information you’re looking for. In the worst case scenario, if Solentino catches me, I say that I’m working alone because I no longer trust you and think you’re plotting behind my back. I’m looking for proof that you and Solentino are in cahoots. You can claim ignorance and play the part of the poor betrayed werewolf.’
He shook his head. ‘That’s far too dangerous, Scarlett. I’ve got years of experience at this sort of thing and I’m not convinced I could pull it off. But you …’
She smiled serenely. ‘I have a secret weapon.’
Devereau looked at her. ‘What?’
She winked and jabbed her thumb over at the car waiting by the kerb, its engine ticking over. ‘He’s waiting in the car.’
* * *
Devereau hadn’t beensure what to expect when he’d clambered into the back of the car. When he saw who was sitting there however, with his nose all but pressed up against his smart phone, he understood.
