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“So he claims.”

“Then what, for the love of God, makes you think he’ll help us put him down?”

“What makes you think I plan to destroy Adilla?”

“Well, it sure doesn’t sound like he wants to play ball with you.”

“He is not ‘playing ball’ because he does not know the rules of my game yet. Nor do I intend to condemn his descendants without very good reason.”

“All right then. Isao it is. I say we hit the road, you and I, while we have plenty of night left.” He got up and gestured at his nephew. “Jack will stay here and make sure Cassidy is safe.”

Jackson blinked. “Wait. What?”

Dominique tilted his head at Garrett. While the man’s enthusiasm was commendable, he couldn’t imagine spending time alone in his company.

Cassidy’s phone chose that moment to ring in the bedroom. She sprang up and rushed to get the call as though having expected it.

“As you can see, I’m in tip-top shape now,” Garrett continued. “That’s thanks to you, so let me repay you. I’ve got your back.”

“You are no match against the blood-drinkers I have encountered here so far. Evenwithmy blood,” he added on a pointed note.

In the bedroom, Cassidy was speaking on her phone. He couldn’t make out the words of the caller through all the surrounding mayhem, but the tiny voice itself sent a ripple of alarm up the back of his neck. “Stay here with Jackson,” he said.

Garrett opened his mouth to argue, but Dominique shot up a hand. “Assez.Enough.”

He got up and joined Cassidy, who had just disconnected the call. “Was that—?”

“Yes, it was. Your mother.”

“Why is she calling you?”

“Because you don’t answer your phone during the day. And because she wanted to know where you were.” She hesitated. He waited. “So she could get a ride to the right hotel.”

The tentative words slapped him in the face. “When?”

“This afternoon.” Cassidy shrugged an apology. “She wants to know if you’re available yet. She’s down the hall.”

21

The True Gentleman

Dominiqueneverhadachance.

He knocked on his mother’s hotel room door with every intention of sending her away. He didn’t have time for her on this trip, nor was she safe here. Heaven help them if a hostile blood-drinker discovered her identity.

The moment she opened the door and planted kisses on his cheeks, a cloud of her beloved orange-spiced, lavender scent closed in and he was five years old again. She explained she had come because he sounded “strange” this morning on the phone, when he had called her from the plane. She was worried.

“I am well. Truly,” he promised. “But my time is very limited here.” To a little less than nine hours, to be exact, which was all the darkness he would get this night.

“Ah, non.I have come so far. And you were busy the entire day. Surely you can make some time for your mother tonight.”

“I—”

“We will have a nice dinner at one of the finest restaurants in the city. You, me, and your lovely wife. I so want to get to know her better.”

“Maman, this is not a good time.”

“Words you will regret once I’m gone. Now go on. Get out of those rags and do something with that hair. We have reservations at Bishop’s, and I am almost ready to go. I’ll come to your room.” Again, she kissed his cheeks and gripped his arm. “I have always wanted to see this city. We will have a fantastic time.” With that, she closed the door in his face.