Page 54 of Dawn Caravan
“Ben Vecchio.”
“Thank you, Mr. Vecchio. I’ll let him know you’re here.”
There was no use trying to be anonymous in Europe. He’d already spotted several vampires he knew from Rome and more than one he’d seen in New York and London.
Come to think of it, most of the vampires he spotted hadn’t seen Ben since he’d turned. He’d been more than a bit of a hermit in Asia. He was attracting a few looks, and he hadn’t even thought about it.
Oh well.
Gavin walked out from the interior of the club and onto the open-air patio where Ben was waiting. “I see we’re not being circumspect anymore.”
Ben shrugged and kept his hands in his pockets. “Let them stare.”
Gavin glanced at the open stares many vampires in the club were sporting before he led Ben to a smaller alcove with a table and two deep benches. “The stares used to drive you crazy.”
“People are going to look their fill whether I want them to or not,” he said under his breath. “Better to let them get a good eyeful, smother the rumors, and be done with it.”
Gavin was clearly amused. He leaned back and stretched an arm across the back of the bench. “You picked a fairly prominent location for your coming-out party, my friend.”
Ben assessed the club with a critical eye. “It’s fancy.”
“I like the weather.”
“Gotta love the Mediterranean nights. They’re never too hot.”
“Very true.” Gavin nodded. “So, any developments?”
Ben glanced around. “Is talking in the club—”
“We worked sound masking into the audio system.” Gavin kept his voice low and even. “I mean, don’t shout, but you haven’t been hearing everyone’s gossip, have you?”
“I can’t really concentrate on much over the casino noise.”
“Exactly.” Gavin tipped his glass toward a speaker embedded in the wall next to him.
Huh. Clever. Ben nodded. “Cool.” He was craving a drink. “As for developments, it’s looking like Hungary.”
“Are you sure?” Gavin waved over a server and ordered a very expensive bottle of champagne.
“Fairly sure.”
“Looking at it, I was leaning toward Turkey.”
“Hungary definitely seems higher on the list.”
“And you’re sure they’ve seen the original?”
“No, but they’ve seen photographs.”
Gavin’s eyebrows went up. “That is notable.”
“Tenzin thought so too.”
“How did things go with her?”
The server brought back crystal champagne glasses and a cut crystal glacette with ice and a bottle of Dom Pérignon. She opened the bottle and poured two glasses, setting them in front of Ben and Gavin.
“Santé.”
