Dragon Heartstring (5 page)

“You.” His answer was clear and steady.

That shut me up. I turned back to the menu, unable to keep his heavy gaze another moment.

“Have you guys made a decision?” Our perky but nervous waitress was back.

“I’ll just take the bistro special,” I piped up.

“I’ll have the same.”

She took the menus and disappeared again.

“And do you often surprise girls at their workplace for lunch?”

“No. Never actually.”

That’s when I realized something about Demetrius. He was always alone. Every time I saw him in person, he was alone. Even in the society columns and the pics posted by stalking paparazzi, he was always alone—on a jog in the park, out to a business dinner, strolling into Cade Enterprises. A solitary man, like no other.

“Oh. I see.”

And I did see. Demetrius was a very private man. And slightly oblivious to his effect on the rest of the world. At least the female population residing in it.

“So, now you have me here, please keep me in suspense no longer. What is this lunch all about? You said you wanted to talk to me about something.”

He drank his water, and I couldn’t help but watch his throat as he took three gulps before setting it down.

“I wanted to ask you about the hearing if you don’t mind.”

“I don’t mind. Ask whatever you want.”

He slid off his jacket, draped it on the back of the chair, and then leaned forward over the table. “Has your father and your aunt thought this through carefully? This proposal to parliament?”

“We all have. The Morgon Guild has approved the proposal.” While the Morgon Guild operated out of Drakos where each clan’s guild leader met monthly, the happenings in Gladium were still of importance to the Morgons worldwide. And they fully supported the Icewing’s pursuit of this prohibition. “Why do you ask?”

“It’s just that I’m not sure you’ve considered how dangerous this could be.”

“I know it’s going to stir up controversy and hate-mongering. I’m not afraid of that.”

He scoffed. “There may be more than hate-mongering, Shakara.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m sure you’re aware that the Grayson family will be the hardest hit if this ban is approved. They have distributors who will feel the loss, but ultimately it will be them who suffer.”

“Yes. I know that.” His defense of the Grayson family lit a fuse inside of me. “I don’t care about the Grayson’s financial loss. They’ve created a machine that is an abomination to Morgonkind.”

He flinched. “Shakara.” He said my name low and deep, stirring me toward wayward thoughts. I wondered what it would be like to hear my name on his lips—in a dark room, alone.

He leaned forward over the table to speak intimately. “I don’t give a fuck about the Grayson family fortune. And I’d like nothing more than to see those weapons removed from the market and destroyed.”

“Then why—”

“Because what you don’t understand is that the Graysons aren’t just ruthless in their business dealings. They’re dangerous. And powerful. What you threaten to take away with the banning of the Volt gun is enough to put your own life at risk. Are you willing to do that?”

I believed what he said was true and that he warned me out of compassion. “Yes. I’m willing.”

“Even your own father is willing to risk your life, all your lives, whoever stands up for this cause?”

“Demetrius. I have mended men with broken bones, lacerations, open gashes, severe burns. All kinds of wounds and injuries. I can help them all. But if a Morgon man or woman is shot by a Volt gun, he dies. There is no coming back. This weapon was created for one purpose—to kill Morgons. I’m a healer. I must do what is right. No matter the danger it may put me in.”

He stared at me for a moment, seeming to understand the sincerity of my words. “I see.”

We sat in silence, both absorbed in our own thoughts when the waitress walked up with our plates.

“Here you are. Two house specials.”

The sandwiches were stacked with deli meats and cheese on a fresh roll with chips.

“Thank you,” I said.

“Can I get you anything else?” she asked, smiling at Demetrius.

“I think we’re good,” he said, barely glancing up.

She nodded and left us alone. We set to eating in tension-filled silence. Until finally, I said, “Don’t worry, Demetrius. I know my father is taking precautions. More of the clan is coming up from the Feygreir Mountains for the hearing as a show of force. It will be fine.”

He studied me with his sandwich halfway to his mouth. I could see the wheels spinning in that handsome head of his.

“Yes,” he assured me with a small smile. “It will be fine.”

“
M
r. Grayson is here
to see you,” said Nadine through the desk comm.

“Fine. Send him in.”

I stood and straightened my tie before striding to the door just as Nadine opened it. The man who walked through was not the friend I knew at the university. He walked with a limp and a cane and wore his hair much longer, partly hiding the burn scars along the right side of his neck, jaw, and cheek. The look in his eyes was different as well. Where there had once been confidence, perhaps vanity, there was now only menace. Still, I reached out a hand to shake his. He did the same, his hand withered from the burns, more evidence of the last day we’d seen one another.

“Aron,” I said, taking his hand in a firm grip.

“Demetrius,” he said, not bothering to hide his animosity.

“Shall we sit?” I gestured toward my small conference table near the glass wall overlooking Gladium’s towering business district. “Nadine, can you get us some water please.”

“Of course,” she said, rushing away and closing the door.

Aron took his time and made a show of limping slowly to the table, propping his cane next to him, and easing into his chair. I settled next to him and waited. He stared at me for a minute, measuring my suit and my face. We were both men of keen observation and calculation. Holding myself in a casual but business-like posture, I refused to give him the satisfaction by asking what prompted this visit.

He finally smirked and said, “I suppose you’re wondering why I’ve come.”

“Naturally.”

“It should be no surprise if you’ve heard of the upcoming hearing at parliament.”

“You’re referring to the proposal to ban the Volt gun,” I said, laying it out on the table. No need to play games.

His steely gaze narrowed. “Yes. You know of it then.”

“I am a board member of the Chamber of Commerce. Any parliament matters that affect the Gladium commerce are brought to our attention.”

Of course, it was brought to my attention before the Chamber got news to the board. But I wouldn’t tell this bastard.

“I see. And what is the Cade stance on the matter?”

“The Cades will support the ruling of parliament, of course.”

“Of course.” He grinned, distorting his face into something altogether sinister. “Still so careful with your words, aren’t you, Demetrius?”

The niceties were over.

“Always.”

Nadine stepped in carrying a tray with a pitcher of cold water and two glasses. The glass rattled as she slid it between us. She glanced at both of us, then quickly exited the room and closed the door.

“Perhaps I should be more direct,” he said with a sneer. “What is the stance of your sister? Jessen?”

“What do you think it is, Aron?”

“I don’t give a shit what she thinks. It’s what she plans to say publicly that I’m interested in.”

Yes, Jessen would be at the hearing, but I wasn’t sure whether she planned to speak. Perhaps she did.

I sat up straighter. “If my sister plans to speak to parliament about her experience four years ago, then I will support her. She is my family.”

He grunted with disgust. “I imagine you will. But if I were you, I’d tell your sister to stay at home.”

Leaning forward, not quite sure how I managed to keep my temper in check, I asked, “Is that a threat, Grayson?”

“Of course not. I would never threaten the almighty Cade family.” He grabbed his cane. “But she might want to be careful when she takes that half-breed kid out to the park next time. Anything could happen to him.”

In a blink, I had my fists in his jacket, and I jerked him to his feet.

“If you go anywhere near my nephew, I’ll kill you myself.”

He grinned, tightening the scars around his right eye. “As I said before. I’m not threatening anyone in the Cade family. However, Jessen might toss a warning to her friend proposing this ban. That Icewing bitch might get what’s coming to her.”

Unable to hold back the violence, I shoved him back with force, knocking him into the glass wall of windows.

“Don’t you fucking
touch
her.”

He caught himself and slowly shoved up with his cane to stand straight. He combed a hand through his hair and laughed. Not an ounce of joy in the sound. “Seems I might’ve struck a chord, Demetrius. Guess once one family member goes to bed with that trash, the rest are sure to follow.”

How I didn’t crack his skull against the glass, I have no idea. Fury rode me hard, heat crawling up my neck. “Get the fuck out.”

He gave a slight bow. “With pleasure.” He limped for the door. After he’d opened it, he turned and said, “Once upon a time, you understood what loyalty to your own race meant. Seems you’ve forgotten. I’ll remember that.”

I stood in the doorway and watched him walk in an uneven gait toward the elevator. A formidable man, bald and beady-eyed and wearing a long trench coat, followed after Aron.

As soon as the elevator closed in the foyer, I turned to Nadine. “Did Grayson give you any idea who the man in the trench was?”

“No, sir. Not at all. The man gave me the creeps. Never took a seat, even after I offered. Just stared at me for a minute, then stared at your door for the remainder of the time.”

Aron had brought a hired bodyguard. Either he’d grown extremely paranoid over the years or he feared for his life for other reasons.

“Interesting,” I mumbled.

“Sir?”

I cleared my throat. “Nadine, can you get me Lucius Nightwing on the line?”

“Uh, Lucius…Nightwing?”

I paused in the doorway and shot her a smile. I’d never called my brother-in-law before. “Yes. He’s in my files, trust me.”

I closed my office door and sat back in my chair, waiting, going over the brief but all-too-informative meeting with Aron Grayson. Over the years, I’d met many pompous fools in the business world who loved to spout dire words to get what they wanted. But Aron Grayson wasn’t that kind of man. When I called him friend, I didn’t even know who he truly was. Since then, he’d become a twisted, corrupt player in the business world. Though I didn’t have direct dealings with him anymore, I’d heard from my friend Max at the Gladium Precinct—the province’s police force made up of mostly humans with the exception of some Morgons on their special teams. He’d told me that Grayson dabbled in illegal trade with Primus, a human-only province to the west, and possibly even more sinister operations.

The desk comm buzzed. “I’m connecting you now, sir.”

“Thank you.”

After the third ring, a pleasant-voiced woman answered. “Nightwing Security, Tower Two. How may I direct your call?”

“Yes. This is Demetrius Cade calling for Lucius Nightwing.”

“Hold please.”

After a brief moment, the video image of Lucius popped on-screen. “Cade. This is unexpected.”

“Yes. There’s something I need to talk to you about. Something I’d rather Jessen didn’t know.”

“What’s that?” He leaned forward in his desk chair.

“Actually, I was hoping to talk to you in person on this.”

The last thing I needed was for Lucius Nightwing to decide to finally kill Aron Grayson with the ammunition I was about to give him. That would only get Lucius put in prison. Not an option. This was definitely an issue to discuss man to man.

Lucius raised an eyebrow. “You’ve got me awfully curious, Cade.” He checked his wrist comm. “The Children’s Hospital Fundraiser is tonight at Spire Maiden. How about we meet there? We can find a moment to talk privately. It’ll be loud enough.”

“Hold on, let me check my calendar to be sure.”

“Cade, you’re on the guest list for the event. I saw Jessen’s list last night.”

“I am?”

Lucius gave a tilted smile. “I’ll see you around nine.” Then he clicked off the comm.

I buzzed Nadine again.

“Yes, sir?”

“Do I have anything scheduled for tonight?”

“Yes, sir. You have the Children’s Hospital Fundraiser at the night club, Spire Maiden. nine o’clock.”

“Well, I’ll be damned.”

“Sir?”

“I don’t remember scheduling that event.”

“Um, no, sir. Your sister, Jessen, called and arranged it about a month ago…with me.”

“Did she now? A fundraiser at a club? Kind of unusual.”

“Yes. The club is closed to the public and open only for the fundraising event.”

Jessen had done her damndest to get me out of my shell and onto the night scene. I didn’t mind. In recent years, I’d devoted my life to my work. I spent so many hours behind my desk or at a conference table that I’d forgotten what it was like to mingle and have friends.

Speaking of friends, I picked up my personal, hand-held comm device and punched in Max’s number. On the third ring, he popped onscreen.

“Hey, man. What’s up?”

He was definitely at the station, but the background voices were louder than usual.

“Hey. Did I catch you at a bad time? Is that singing?”

“Yeah.” He laughed and glanced off to his right. “One of the lieutenants is retiring. What ya got?”

“Are you aware of the upcoming hearing on banning Volt guns?”

“Am I aware of it?” he scoffed. “We’ve been planning for the barricades and protesters for weeks. The whole precinct is ready for the damn thing to be over.”

“Good.” That put my mind at ease. Some.

Max’s easy nature disappeared. The pensive detective looked back at me. “Why? What’s going on?”

“Nothing. Well, hopefully nothing. Can we meet up for a drink soon?”

“Sure. Just give me a call when you’re free.” Someone called his name beyond the comm. “All right. I’m coming,” he said with a wave, then turned back to me. “We’ll talk soon, Cade.”

I nodded and clicked off. I hoped there was no need to involve Max in this. But the look on Aron Grayson’s face a few minutes ago told me otherwise.