Page 26 of The Dancer and the Dark
Audra raised an eyebrow. “Boss, you proposed and then basically told her to second-guess everything you were saying and to consider leaving you and having a life with a human.”
“It’s a future she could have if she wants it.” He shuffled the stack of papers Audra handed him.
Gavin and his security team were meeting with Audra in one of the Vecchio cottages near the pool. It didn’t have an office, but they were using the table to lay out their schedule for the upcoming week. He had planned on taking this meeting in the office of his largest club, but Chloe wasn’t speaking to him at the moment and he didn’t want to pull Audra from Chloe, so he’d called everyone to San Marino.
“She could have a normal life,” Gavin repeated. “And she needs to consider that carefully.”
Audra squinted. “Does she though?”
His chief of security for the Los Angeles properties poured from a bottle of heated blood-wine and passed him a glass. “It’s not easy to meet people.” Raj was a fairly young vampire Gavin had poached from a Singaporean rival. “I mean, I’ve only been a vampire for about ten years, but I don’t think dating has gotten any easier.”
Semis, his new day man, nodded understandingly. “It’s not simple out there, boss. I envy you and Chloe.”
Raj nodded. “I think we all do.”
Audra said, “I think if anything ever happened to Gary, I would just stay single for the rest of my life. I’m forty-two; I can’t online date. It would be a disaster.”
Semis sighed. “Online dating is rough, man. I can’t meetanyonein New York.”
Raj nodded. “It’s not easier in LA. All the nice women I know are married with married friends or lesbians with lesbian friends.”
Semis pointed at him. “Truth.”
Gavin glared at them all. “Can we focus please?”
All three of them looked down at the detailed schedule Audra had printed out.
“Dr. Reardon’s memorial service is on Wednesday at ten in the morning,” Audra said. “The viewing is the night before. Gavin, you will be going to that, correct?”
“Yes. It’s in the evening, so I can attend. Obviously I can’t attend the funeral. Semis, I’d like you and Audra to both be there for Chloe. I know Dema will also be attending.”
Semis nodded. “You got it, boss.”
Audra continued, “So far, activity around the Reardon house is minimal. Chloe says she wants to stay here, so that simplifies things a lot because we can piggyback off the Vecchios’ security.”
“Has there been additional activity?” Gavin asked.
“You’re in town, but you’re not in the usual haunts,” Raj said. “You and Chloehaveattracted some attention.”
“Raj and his people are tracking two groups that seem to be watching her,” Audra said. “One, we’re pretty sure, is made up of Ernesto’s people. You might want to talk to Beatrice.”
Gavin nodded. “She’s not my biggest fan, but she’ll call her grandfather and tell him to call off his dogs for Chloe. The other group?”
“We’re not sure yet, but they could be French,” Raj said. “One of my guys says he thinks they were speaking French, but at least one of them is African.”
“Lots of Africans speak French,” Gavin muttered. “Could be Vivian being a pest.”
“Does she know about Chloe?”
“Yes, but minimally. She might be trying to gather information. I’ll reach out.” Gavin’s sister was his own personal pain in the arse, and she didn’t need to be stalking Chloe to gather information for her schemes.
He looked at Semis. “Anything else?”
“You got two emails from Marie-Hélène,” Semis said. “An email from Lagos about a new liquor distributor. I think the manager just wants to double-check with you on the deal. Some other minor stuff, but that’s about it.”
“And I talked with Veronica this morning,” Audra said. “I think she emailed you a report too. Everything in New York is set for you to spend the rest of the week out here if you need to, and Pete is happy and hasn’t torn up her new couch yet.”
“Excellent.” The last thing he needed was Veronica to stop cat-sitting for him and Chloe because Pete couldn’t control his attraction to upholstery.
