Shadows May Fall (38 page)

“You people are insane!” Lou reiterated her point.

“I pulled five hundred in chips.” Caroline reassured her. “That will more than hold me all weekend!”

Lou felt a little relieved. “That’s reasonable, I guess.”

“Like I said!” Abby repeated herself. “Just because it’s there doesn’t mean you have to use it!”

Lou ended up withdrawing three hundred dollars in chips from the account and the girls found three seats at a five dollar blackjack table. While Abby and Caroline ordered more champagne, Lou opted for coffee though she was sure her nerves didn’t need it. The girls spent the next two hours at that one table and to Lou’s chagrin she managed to double her money in winnings. A little after three Lou headed back to her suite to freshen up and prepare for the Principate meeting, leaving her pals at the blackjack table on one serious hot streak.

When Lou got to the door of her suite, she heard Max’s door open behind her. She figured it was the only opportunity she would have to yell at him for all the money so she turned to let him have it.

“Detective, might I have a word?” Max asked before she could begin her rant and by the look on his face, he wasn’t in any sort of a mood for it.

“Sure. Come inside?” She asked, her key already in her hand.

“If you wouldn’t mind?” He was apologetic. “They are setting up in my room and I would prefer we speak in private.

Lou put her key in the slot and waved him inside once she got the door opened. “Something wrong?” She asked him as she watched him head to the window, squaring his shoulders as if preparing to deliver bad news or scold her. She wasn’t sure which was coming.

“There is something that you need to be made aware of...” He began. “...something that has to do with the attack on Niko and which I felt necessary that I was the one to tell you. Please, sit.”

“I’d rather stand since I am not liking where this is going already.” Lou crossed her arms and stared at him. “Spit it out and get it over with.”

“Very well. We have credible information that tells us Albert von Massenbach was behind the attack on Niko in Rotterdam.” He told her straight. “It was a very carefully orchestrated attack that we believe was meant as a deliberate message to us that Albert is very much alive, well and in play.”

“He was bound to pop up sometime.” Lou grumbled and decided she wanted to sit after all. “He’s all over the Sturn situation so it’s not like he’s really been out of sight, out of mind.”

“True.” Max agreed and resisted the urge to sit next to her. “He planned the attack to be a failure and knew we would get the traction we did on the assailants. He planted details to make sure we knew it was him and used civilian thugs to do the job.”

“So what do you know?” Lou asked in a clinical tone. “Is he still in the Netherlands or did he rabbit as soon as he sent his goons?”

Max found himself smiling and quickly stopped. It shouldn’t have surprised him that Lou hadn’t fallen apart like a scared, fragile thing. He knew how tough she really was. It still amazed him how utterly bold and fierce she was in the face of adversity and it only made him admire her more and more. “My counterpart in the region has all his resources tracking him down. It’s providing an excellent distraction to the masses from our covert investigation into the Black Blood.”

“Good.” Lou smirked. “At least the bastard can be a little useful!” Max grinned. “That’s a very positive way of looking at things. You’re alright then?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Lou cocked her head at him.

“Never mind.” He continued grinning as he headed for the door. “I forgot who I was talking to for a moment.”

Now it was Lou that grinned. “Should I change for the meeting?” She asked him before he could make his escape.

“If you like, but I think most of us will be changing for dinner.” He turned and looked her straight in the eyes. “I think you’re perfect as you are, always.” He gave her one last smile then left.

Lou stood and watched the door close behind him and replayed the past ten seconds of that conversation over again in her head. Yes, he had said that. Yes, he had said that as pointedly as she had said that she had missed him. “Well played.” She grinned and literally skipped up the stairs to her bedroom. She caught herself giggling aloud as she re-ran his voice in her head again, and again. Never had she been more grateful to Caroline for packing for her as she flipped through her clothes again, noticing that someone had come into her room and ironed everything at some point. It would have been off-putting if it hadn’t been so damned handy. Although Lou had an idea, she grabbed her cell phone and sent off a text asking Caroline, which outfit she was supposed to wear for dinner. While she waited for a reply, a text came through from Dillon asking Lou to wait until he got to her room before going to the meeting. He wanted to walk in with her apparently, so she replied that she would. It was nice to know she wasn’t the only one feeling nervous about the evening to come.

Lou grabbed an apple so her stomach would stop growling, washed her face, brushed her hair then reapplied her makeup all while waiting for her friend to answer her damned text. Finally after nearly a half hour, Caroline replied with only one word, green. Lou headed back to the closet and filed through the clothing until she saw the olive green blouse and matching pants and yet again wondered where the hell it came from. She could honestly say she had never seen the silk jersey set in her entire life and she sure as shit would have never had the taste to pick it out herself. It was a huge advantage having a fashionista for a best friend and after what Max had said just moments ago, Lou was suddenly acutely aware of her appearance and wanted to make a serious impression. Changing for the meeting would seem too desperate, or at least she thought. So she would follow his lead and change for dinner, making sure she hit Caroline up to do her hair and makeup. Dinner would be a perfect opportunity to make an impression. At least she sure as hell hoped so. First she had to get through the damned meeting and make a good impression there. Lou couldn’t help wishing there was still some champagne left.

By the time
Dillon made it to Lou’s room she was so worked up and nervous that she hugged him when she saw he was wearing the same clothes he had been wearing on the flight.

“Thank God!” She said as she wrapped her arms around his massive trunk.

“What’s wrong?!” Dillon hugged her back then let the door close behind him when she let him go.

“Get in here!” She demanded. “I need to ask you something, and you have to swear to answer me in absolute truth! Okay?”

Dillon was starting to worry. “Of course!”

“Is it me, or the Sanguinostri first as far as secrets go?” She asked him point blank.

He understood what she was asking but wanted to be clear. “Explain?”

She grumbled then clarified. “If I tell you something in confidence and ask you to swear not to say anything, can you do that or is your loyalty to our Dominor first? So if he asks you to tell him something would you betray my trust to answer him?”

Yes, it was exactly what he thought she had meant. “I can honestly say that I have refused to answer a question in the past in order to keep your trust.”

“Really?” Lou’s eyebrows shot through her forehead. “With who? About what?”

“Now that is precisely where I will get into trouble dancing on the line of loyalties.” Dillon sat down at the bar. “Just as you do not want me to betray your trust, you must respect that I must do the same for the others.”

Lou resumed grumbling. “Yeah. That’s fair.” She took a seat at the bar next to him. “Okay then. You need to swear you will not share this with anyone. Well, it’s okay to share with Caroline but no one else.” Lou thought a moment before continuing. “I guess it’s okay to share with anyone but Max! Do not share with him, do you swear?”

Dillon hated being in this position, but he had expected it sooner or later. “I swear.”

“Okay then!” Lou really needed an outside opinion. She had spent the last forty-five minutes second guessing the back and fourth she had with Max. She just finished having a panic attack, having come to the conclusion she was just imagining his covert flirtations. The next ten minutes were devoted to confessing her feelings for Max to Dillon, then recounting previous events, including her comment about really missing him, as clearly and accurately as she could. She concluded her fit by asking her partner if she was insane or if she was reading things correctly.

“Oh thank God!” Dillon doubled over.

“What?” Lou was confused.

“Do you know how hard it has been to mind my business on that whole ball of wax?” Dillon asked her in all seriousness. “I have been dying to know what the hell is up with you two since the first night I had dinner with you all at your house!”

“Why would you have thought anything back then?” Lou was still confused.

“Lou, it is so obvious to me, not just everyone that totally knows you guys! Me! A total newbie in the mix! The way he looks at you when you’re not looking. The way he follows up to make sure I’m being a good partner!”

“He’s done that?” Lou couldn’t believe her ears.

“Please, for the love of God I beg you please do not ever let on I said that.” He was actually begging.

“I would never!” Lou laughed. “So you don’t think I am imagining things?”

“Absolutely not!” He assured her. “And it’s about freaking time! So, what are you going to do?”

“I have no clue.” She slumped. “And I have no time to think about it right now. We gotta get over there.” Lou got up, grabbed her bag and headed for the door.

Dillon checked his watch and saw that it was three minutes to four. “Shit, yeah we do.” He got up and followed after her, but she stopped short and hugged him again. He couldn’t help but smile.

“Thanks, partner.” She said as she squeezed.

“You bet.” He squeezed back. “Now cut the sappy shit and let’s go!” Lou let go and turned back for the door. “You look great by the way.” He winked when she looked back at him.

“Thanks.” She chuckled. Grateful for the reassurance yet again.

Lou found it
ridiculous that there were doorbells to their suites so she knocked instead. When Niko opened the door, he smiled warmly and whispered good luck to her before he motioned her and Dillon inside. They walked into a roar of laughter and Lou’s heart caught in her throat when she saw that all the other men had been there long enough to be nearly finished with their glasses of what she presumed to be scotch.

“Detectives!” Max stood up and greeted them both warmly. “Gentlemen, may I present my new Western Region Principate, Detective Lou Donovan and her formidable partner, Detective Dillon Cole.”

All four men rose immediately and approached her. Peter Radis-son being the first to extend his hand.

“Detective.” The weatherworn but polished man introduced himself. “Peter Radisson. Northern Principate, at your service.” He shook Dillon’s hand next then stepped back.

“James Cutright, Central Principate.” The man took her hand in both of his and it struck Lou how much he reminded her of a young Clint Eastwood, even his voice. “It’s an honor to finally make your acquaintance.” He followed with a handshake to Dillon. “Detective Cole.”

“Sir.” Dillon shook the man’s hand and nodded with respect.

“Jackson Harris, Principate of the South.” The thick southern gentlemen’s drawl was soothing, as was his handsome exterior and Lou felt a little awkward when he kissed her hand as opposed to shaking it. “Sir.” He acknowledged Dillon as he shook his hand then stepped back and took a seat.

“So happy to meet you, Detective Donovan.” The last man shook Lou’s hand and smiled. His thick black hair and posh appearance was striking. “Michael Humphry, Eastern Principate.”

Lou seriously wondered if an ugly Sanguinostri man even existed as she stood there like an idiot. All four of the men looked like movie stars from a time when men made women swoon and masculinity was a commodity, not a character flaw.

“Come, sit!” Max placed his hand at the small of her back to guide her to a seat and she nearly passed out. “What would you like to drink?”

“Got any ethanol?” She muttered under her breath and wiped the sweat from her palms onto her pants as discretely as possible.

Max had heard her perfectly clear and tried not to laugh. Instead, he stroked his thumb along her spine in an attempt to be reassuring. “We’ll see.” He kept the expression of his face utterly stoic for fear of betraying his feelings for her to his other Principates.

Lou’s knees were so week from Max’s unexpected touch that she nearly fell into the chair. Fortunately, Dillon had seen it and took the liberty of casually kicking Lou when he sat down next to her. He smiled and winked at her when she scowled at him and he could tell by how quickly the scowl disappeared that she understood the kick.

“Thanks.” She said, quietly.

“Anytime, partner.” He straightened his sweater and tried to look like he was supposed to be there, although he had no clue. Frank snuck up behind him and slapped him on the shoulder.

“Drink?” He asked him.

“Many.” Dillon replied and the men laughed.

“I’ve included Detective Cole in this meeting not only because he is inextricably linked with his partner here...” Max came around from behind and handed Lou her glass. “... but because he has proven to be an invaluable asset to my Aegis. If I could officially name him an Aegis, I would! But then Frank would quit.” Max grinned and the other men laughed.

“You honor me beyond words, my Dominor.” Dillon thanked him. It was a huge compliment and he was floored.

“No, it is you who have honored me and I only speak the truth.”

Max gave Dillon a warm smile then took his seat.

“I know you have only come into the mix recently, but I have heard nothing but impressive things.” Cutright spoke to Dillon then to Lou. “And your reputation is well deserved, Detective Donovan. We are lucky to have you in our ranks.”

“That’s very kind of you to say, but I’m afraid I’m way out of my depth here.” Lou took a tiny sip of her drink to see what it was first. Upon realizing it was nearly pure vodka with a splash of lime, she took a solid gulp without making an ass of herself.