Page 8 of Marked By Moonlight
“Oh, that’s too bad,” I said when Gordon politely declined, citing work.
Bene exhaled, and Roux rubbed his chest, right over his heart.
Then Gordon asked about my houseguests, as I’d guessed he would.
“Are they back?” I echoed his question to my three guests.
Roux and Henrik nodded like a couple of those toy dogs with bobbing heads people kept in their cars, while Bene put his hands together in a pleading motion.
“Yes, they’re here now. Roux, Bene, Henrik…” I said, then paused.
“And Marius,” Roux hissed.
So, whatever Marius was up to, it wasn’t a job Gordon had assigned. Interesting. No, infuriating. I glared at the men.
Bene flapped imaginary wings, miming a dragon, while Henrik went for a threatening approach, letting his long vampire fangs extend.
I flashed him my middle finger.
“And Marius,” Roux repeated, pleading this time.
I considered for another split second, then spoke into the phone. “And Marius, of course.”
I jabbed a finger at Roux, mouthing,You owe me.
Henrik turned to the drinks cart, poured a scotch, and handed it to Roux.
“Would you like to speak to him?” I asked Gordon.
Roux nearly spat out his drink. I shot him a fake smile, though I trembled inside. What if Gordon called my bluff?
“Not necessary,” Gordon said.
I exhaled.
“I just wanted to check in,” my godfather added.
Funny, how that always coincided with the comings and goings of my houseguests. Or not funny at all, because I hated being used. And I hated the new truths these not-strictly truthful men had unveiled to my naive eyes. I’d thought my godfather had done me a huge favor by paying for his team of “bodyguards” to board at the château, but he was actually using it as a base from which to conduct nefarious business deals.
“I appreciate it,” I said, not as enthusiastically as I had in the past.
“I’m sorry I can’t make it, but please come visit any time,” Gordon said.
I made a mental note. Maybe I would, dammit. Maybe I would.
“Thanks so much. Talk to you soon?” I said, summoning what cheer I could.
“À bientôt,” he echoed.
I hung up, pinning the men with my best teacher look. The one that said,I know you’re guilty, and I’m giving you a chance to confess before I really explode.
Bene rubbed his hands nervously and glanced at Roux — a classic tell pointing to the ringleader of the bunch.
“What. Is. Going. On?” I gritted out, one syllable at a time.
Roux puffed out his cheeks, then fessed up. “Marius left at the end of our mission.”
“In Brussels?” I tried.
