Page 43 of The Devil You Know
Evan tried hard not to fidget. Adrian ordered a gin martini, but Evan stuck to club soda with lime juice. After they got their drinks, Adrian drifted toward the hors d’oeuvres table, which was piled high with cold shrimp, roast beef mini-sliders, stuffed mushrooms, and a charcuterie spread.
He watched Osborn work the room.Why did he take Seth? What has he done to him?Evan tamped down his anger and struggled to keep his expression neutral.
Adrian positioned them where they would be visible, then let Osborn come to them.
“Adrian! So glad you could make it.” Osborn approached them like an old friend, and Adrian shook his hand warmly.
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” Adrian replied, with a smile that Evan knew meant the opposite.
“And who is your friend?” Osborn’s tone remained light, but Evan heard the shift when the witch disciple recognized him.
“Evan Malone,” Adrian answered without missing a beat. “He’s in town visiting.”
“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Evan said, keeping his voice level, with just a hint of a cold smile. He met Osborn’s gaze and knew the other man took his meaning.
“How do you know Adrian?” Osborn asked.
“Oh, we go way back,” Adrian answered before Evan could open his mouth. “Evan is the kind of friend you look out for,” he added, sending a signal of his own.
Osborn hid his feelings well, but Evan saw the pull of displeasure at the corner of the man’s mouth and how his lips thinned and eyes narrowed in anger.
Adrian’s just declared me to be a protected species. If Osborn wants Adrian’s money for his charity, he’s going to need to tread carefully. If he’s smart, he realizes that protection includes Seth as well.
“How lovely,” Osborn said stiffly. He turned his attention back to Adrian. “I hope you’ve had a chance to look over the displays and read the materials that were sent out. The building renovation will help expand needed services, and if we meet funding goals, there’ll also be two new staff positions added.”
Osborn’s voice had grown warm again now that he was in pitch mode. No doubt he hoped for a generous contribution from Adrian or his father’s company.Does he realize that—even aside from the people he’s killed as a disciple—Adrian knows about the drugs for the supernatural set?
Evan set down his empty glass, then took a stuffed mushroom and a flute of champagne from a passing server and studied Osborn closely. He looked haggard. His glasses didn’t hide the dark shadows beneath his eyes, and his skin lacked a healthy glow. A gold ring with a large red stone was his only adornment. Evan wondered if it was true about Osborn being addicted to his own drugs and whether even magic was failing to counterbalance his old injury.
If he’s stealing energy from Seth and the others who went missing, and he doesn’t look any better than that, he must be in bad shape. Does that make him vulnerable?
Osborn and Adrian made small talk while Evan hung back and studied the room. He believed Adrian’s warning that many of the attendees weren’t fully human, but they did a good job of hiding in plain sight. Now that he looked for it, several of the guests had an unusual pallor, while others carried themselves with a predator’s grace. Evan thought he spotted Joe and Jenna among the servers.
When he realized some of those people were looking back at him, Evan averted his gaze.
“The president of the foundation will be giving a short update at eight,” Osborn was saying. “He promised to make it snappy. Of course, there are pledge cards by the door for those who can’t stay. I do hope you’ll enjoy the food.”
With that, Osborn veered off to glad-hand more guests. Adrian fixed a plate from the buffet, but Evan’s stomach was too tight to enjoy the food.
“I need to use the restroom,” Evan excused himself, suddenly feeling like he wanted to throw up.
“Don’t be gone long, or I’ll have to come looking for you,” Adrian said it half-jokingly, but Evan didn’t put it past him.
The men’s room was down the hallway outside the gallery. Since the museum was closed, the other areas were cordoned off, and with the lights turned down, it gave the huge building a spooky feel. Evan’s footsteps echoed, and the people in the paintings he passed seemed to be watching him.
Evan kept his hand on the hex bag in his pocket, relieved to see no one else in the corridor. When he headed back to the main room, Osborn blocked his way. The smile on the witch disciple’s face didn’t reach his eyes.
“Adrian says you’re new in town. You may find that Cleveland doesn’t suit you,” Osborn said in a pleasant voice. “It’s an acquired taste. The city’s quite dangerous if you aren’t careful.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Evan replied. “I hadn’t actually planned to stay. My partner and I have unfinished business here.”
“He may be finished with it before you are. Just something to consider.” Osborn glided away into the thick of the partygoers before Evan could respond. He stood with his fists clenched, trying to rein in his temper.
“There’s nothing to be gained by the two of you staying here longer,” Joe said from behind him, approaching so quietly Evan hadn’t heard the large man heading his way. “Tell Adrian to take you home. Jenna and I will finish up.”
Evan bristled at being ordered around, although his intuition sided with Joe. “All right. I hope it was worth the time away from my research.”
When he returned to the gallery, Adrian was looking for him and visibly relaxed when Evan came into view.
