Page 12 of Night's Reckoning
“I will.” She made a face. “Why am I so surrounded by men lately? You know, I actually struck up a conversation with Novia the other night at the pub, even though I find her completely frightening and far too fangy for a casual friendship. I’m telling you, Ben, there is not enough estrogen in my life.”
“Come to Rome. Fabia would love to meet you.”
“She seems so great!” Chloe smiled again. “I want to meet her too. Maybe she can come back to New York with you for a visit.” Chloe raised her eyebrows and rested her chin on her palm. “Maybe maybe? When you come home? Which will be soon? Right?”
Ben scratched his stubble. “Not just yet. I still have some… stuff to do here. Some stuff to work out.”
The smile fell a little. “Have you talked to her?”
“No. Have you?”
Chloe shook her head. “She emailed me though. She wanted pictures of the roof garden.”
That was news. “For?”
“She didn’t say. Probably just to make sure I haven’t killed anything.”
“Huh.” What was he supposed to think of that? Did that mean she intended to come back? That she still felt like New York was home?
Did he care anymore?
“Gavin had a meeting with Cormac the other day, and according to Gavin— Hey!”
A flash of red plaid covered the screen for a moment as Gavin Wallace sat on the couch behind Chloe. “Why are you sitting on the floor, dove?” His thick Scottish brogue was thicker when he was at home with Chloe.
“It’s comfortable.” She leaned against his legs.
Ben said, “Gavin, the last thing I need seared in my memory are your balls, so you better keep your legs together.”
Gavin reached over and tilted the screen up. “There you are, Vecchio. Looks like someone used your face for a football. You must be making friends.”
“Everyone here loves me. I’m getting job opportunities thrown at me left and right.”
Chloe laughed, but Gavin’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. He knew Ben was telling the truth, despite the flippant tone.
Ben was the ward of two powerful vampires, had worked for years with an ancient and well-respected assassin, and had taken on numerous immortal clients successfully. He had money, power, good connections, and intelligence. Added to that, he could work in daylight and wasn’t interested in becoming a vampire or moving up in immortal politics. For those of Gavin’s kind, Ben presented a very attractive package as an employee.
“How’s the Eternal City? The last time I was there, I was breaking your uncle out of prison,” Gavin said.
“Rome is doing well. Emil Conti keeps things quiet. Business is good, and humans are all they’ve ever been. I’m meeting with an old friend who works with him tonight.”
Gavin said, “Be cautious.”
“Always.”
Chloe said, “I’m going to get dinner before I forget completely. Gavin, do you want anything?”
He caught her hand and kissed her knuckles. “Nothing for me, dove, but a glass of Macallan if you don’t mind?”
“No problem.”
Ben waited until he couldn’t hear her. “She still trying to avoid all the political stuff?”
“As much as she can.” Gavin tilted the screen so he could see it better. “She’s wading in the water at her own pace. I’m not going to rush her.”
“If there’s no need to, then don’t.”
Ben had been forced to jump headfirst in the deep end, but then, his uncle had always had very powerful enemies. Gavin owned bars and pubs around the world that were known as neutral ground in what could be a tumultuous immortal world. No one wanted to piss off the owner of neutral ground.
