Page 164 of Blood Stone

David was no different in appearance, except that he wore what she would classify as tailored, custom-made trousers and a button-through shirt, both slim-fitting so the width of his shoulders were evident. The clothes were fairly ordinary, but he wasn’t. He drew the eye in a way that Kate couldn’t quantify. Not yet.

Terry glanced at Roman and Kate, then hurried through into the bedroom. David stood with his hands at his sides, waiting.

“Garrett’s not here, Nial,” Roman said to David. That meant that David was Nial, and Terry, in the other room, had to be Sebastian.

“We’re not here for him,” Nial said, not moving from his spot.

Sebastian hurried back into the main room and shook his head.

Nial let out a heavy breath.

Kate glanced from one to the other, feeling a low grade alarm trying to develop in her belly. It was planted there by something thatwasn’tin their faces. They were controlling their expressions and their actions with iron mastery. Both of them.

“Has something happened to …Winter?” she asked, just barely remembering in time the real name of the woman who was their wife.

Roman shot a glance at Nial.

“She didn’t arrive back from the after-show party last night,” Nial said. His voice was even. Expressionless.

Roman’s face hardened just like Nial’s as he looked at Kate. Fear bloomed in her chest.

Roman spoke. “Garrett has disappeared. He left my apartment ninety minutes ago and he didn’t make it back here.”

Sebastian swore softly. “what are you going to do about it?”

“Me?” Roman asked.

“They’re your people who have taken them.”

Nial put his hand on Sebastian’s shoulder as Roman turned on him, fury building in his face and posture. “We don’t know anything for certain, Bastian,” Nial said. “Tamp down your worry until we have a target to vent it upon.”

Sebastian drew in an audible breath, then nodded.

Nial looked at Roman. “Know this, though. If youarewith the Pro Libertatis, if they have taken Winter, if so much as a hair on her head has been damaged when we find her, I will hold you personally responsible for this and I will take great personal delight in settling the debt that will then lie between us. Are we perfectly clear?”

Kate wrapped her arms around her middle, suddenly cold. The menace radiating from the man was unmistakeable. And now she understood why he had drawn her attention when he had stepped into the trailer. He wasn’t trying to blend into a crowd as just another anonymous security guy or babysitter for a misbehaving star. He was being himself…and Nial as himself was a powerful man. Nial angry was almost more than the trailer could contain.

Roman stared back at Nial with a cool expression. “I’m not with them, Nathaniel. No one tells me what to do. Not you and especially not those assholes, so take a fucking pill and get off my back.”

Kate bit her lip to stop herself from smiling. It wasexactlywhat Roman would feel about being given marching orders of any sort.

Nial didn’t smile at all. His expression didn’t change in the slightest.

“Of course, you would have to deny it,” Sebastian said gently, moving to standing so that he was a third point in a rough triangle between Nial and Roman.

Kate stepped over so that she made up a fourth point, on the other side of Nial and Roman, dividing their attention. This was not good.

Roman glanced from Sebastian to Nial. “You want me to break down and confess? Cry? Beat my chest? I told you once. I’m not saying it again. Time’s wasting. You might not feel the urgency, but I would rather find Garrettbeforethey start slicing into him.”

Kate gasped. “Torture? Why? What could Micheil possibly know?”

Roman grimaced. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have led up to that so directly.”

“You figure?” Sebastian asked dryly.

“Aren’t they just using them as hostages?” Kate asked. “And whoarethe Pro Libertatis, anyway? I’ve heard you use the name a few times, but I haven’t had an opportunity to get an explanation from anyone.”

“What do Winter and Garrett have in common?” Nial asked Roman. “That’s what the Pro Libertatis wants.”