Page 82 of A Murderous Crow
Savannah snorted indelicately and covered her mouth.
The guys tittered with laughter at her expense and I shook my head.
“I had to ask,” I said, ruefully.
“Dinner’ll be up in ten,” Torment declared. “Y’all get the fuck out of my kitchen; we’re officially over capacity.”
“Yeah, yeah; you’re such a fuckin’ girl,” Specter said and he was the first to relinquish his seat at the counter to stand and head for the dining room.
The rest of us naturally fell in, and Torment asked Savannah, “What’ll you have to drink? We got wine, beer, that shitty hard seltzer – anything you could want, really.”
“Oh, uh… what’s for dinner?” she asked.
“Beef Bourguignon,” he said.
“Ah, then a red if you’ve got it.”
He narrowed his eyes and asked, “French or Italian?”
“We’re having French, so French, of course.”
“Okay, that was easy.” He looked thoughtful.
“Got a good Malbec?” she asked.
“Oooo, a girl after my own heart. You may pass and I’ll bring it right out; have to go to the cellar for that one.”
“Me too, if you please,” I said and Tor threw me some chin.
“Absolutely,” he said at our retreating backs.
We found the club in the dining room, as well as Madisyn, Lainey, and Lorelai. So too was Madisyn’s bestie, Valory.
The table was enough to seat twenty-five, and it seemed to be filling more and more.
There was Synister, and at his right hand was me, and at my right hand was now a place setting for Savannah. To Synister’s left was Madisyn’s place, but right now, she was in his lap.
We were all at our usual places according to club position, however, shifted down a spot to make room for Lainey, and Lorelai beside Fear and Hangman. Valory was seated at the far end of the table near the prospect in one of the extra seats at the grand table.
“This is beautiful,” Savannah murmured as we made our way down the table’s length and I pulled her chair out for her.
Indeed, the Manse as a wholewasa beautiful specimen in early turn of the century architecture. It was a Greek revival mansion built in the early 1900s and painted a cheery yellow on the outside, but inside? It was all classic hand carved wood paneling and crown molding. The original ceiling medallions above the hanging chandeliers.
“I’ve always wanted to see inside this place,” Madisyn said quietly. “I just never bothered to look up who owned it.”
“That would be me, and Synister, in partnership,” I murmured back.
“You?” she asked, surprised.
“Only half,” Synister said with a smile, “And it was bought with my money.”
Savannah looked to me and I nodded.
“It’s really very beautiful,” she said. “I would love to see more.”
“Certainly,” Synister obliged. “Give you a tour after dinner.”
“Actually,” I piped up, “It’s been a while since we’ve taken a group ride, and I’d like to head on over to the club after dinner with everyone if it’s cool with you… there’s something I’d like to get out of the way.”
