Page 12 of Bishop's Flight
“When did they arrive?”
Agnes glanced at Bernard.
“Three weeks ago,” the man replied. “Staying at a vampire suite on-site. They gambled at the high roller’s table, took advantage of the in-house donors, though not often.”
“Which isn’t unusual,” Agnes said. “Part of the draw of Las Vegas is the variety of feeding establishments. There are at least a dozen in town; they range in size from very intimate to large clubs that humans frequent.”
“And Zasha?”
Agnes looked at Bernard again.
“Sokholov seemed to frequent the smaller clubs.”
“And you kept your eye on them.”
The man shrugged. “They were new; they have a reputation for causing trouble.”
Carwyn turned back to Agnes. “But they were welcome in your city?”
“We don’t judge vampires, Father.” Agnes smirked. “What happens in Vegas and all that. Our kind come here to revel in the night city, not be faced with their past or their responsibilities.”
“And that philosophy works for you?”
The lingering ash fell from the tip of her cigarette. “It has until now.”
“And if we can’t get Lucas back in four days?”
Agnes flicked her hand at Bernard, who walked out of Agnes’s office and shut the doors behind him.
Agnes’s rage was palpable. “You and I both know that Zasha Sokholov has no intention of letting our boy go.” She stubbed out her cigarette in the ashtray. “Rose won’t admit it, and Anna obviously can’t be told the truth, but handing over the city to Zasha would mean the end for me, my mate, andbothour children.”
“So you’re saying that Brigid and I can’t fail.”
“You will be given every resource you need.” Agnes’s dark eyes were wide and piercing. “You have full authority to question anyone in my city in whatever way you deem necessary. My people now answer to you. Do you understand?”
“You don’t know me.”
The corner of her mouth turned up. “I know you. I know your kind. And you’re not going to do this job because of what we’ll pay you or because you care about political stability like Katya or Ernesto. You’re going to do it because you’re a man who protects the innocent.”
She wasn’t wrong. “Why Lucas? Why not the girl?”
“Anna is rarely out of Rose’s sight. She’s guarded and pampered. Even the cat has better security than most presidents.”
“And the lad?”
A flicker of regret. “He used to have that level of security and he chafed under it. He wanted the things all young men crave. Freedom. Independence.”
“And you understood that.”
“We were losing him.” She closed her eyes. “He might have run away; he was smart enough for it.”
“So you loosened the reins a bit.”
“I told Rose we had to.” She took out another cigarette and lit it. “I’m the one who allowed him that freedom, and I had to fight my mate for it. His security was lessened. He was allowed to go to a private high school. He was allowed to visit friends.”
“No guards?”
“Of course guards, but it was reduced to his primary bodyguard, Miguel, and one other rotating human.”
