Chapter 36 Annani
ANNANI
"Excuse me," Annani told her guest as her phone vibrated in the hidden pocket of her gown. "This must be Kian."
"Of course," Charlene said, rising to her feet. "I will use the opportunity to visit the bathroom."
Her friend probably did not need to use the facilities and was only doing so to give her privacy, but Annani appreciated the gesture.
"Good afternoon, my son," she said. "Are you calling to let me know that you are coming to visit me later today? I have a guest right now, Charlene is here, and we are having tea, but I would love to see you in an hour or so."
"Perfect. I will come to pick you up. We are going to the keep."
"We are?"
"Navuh is requesting a meeting. He told Bridget he's ready to make his offer."
Annani smiled to herself, satisfied that her plan had worked. Neither she nor Kian had visited him since Monday. "I knew that letting him stew for a whole week would work."
"He's probably going to waste our time again with more vague hints and demands for freedom. He's playing games." Kian's irritation bled into his tone.
"It is possible. But perhaps not. After four days of silence from us, wondering what we were thinking, what we were planning, he must have gotten nervous. Drifting in limbo is not something a male accustomed to controlling every situation can tolerate for long."
"Personally, I don't think he's that easy to manipulate. He's a shrewd bastard."
"That he is, but he was reminded that he was not in control, and that we have other concerns, other priorities, and he is not the center of our universe.
Navuh has spent five thousand years being the most important person in every room he entered.
Being treated as an afterthought must be quite unsettling for him. "
"Well, we shall soon see if you are right." Kian let out a breath. "I'll come over in an hour to collect you."
"I will be waiting." She ended the call.
As promised, Kian arrived an hour later with the golf cart and the brothers. As usual, Anandur was at the wheel, and Brundar beside him, and Annani sat in the back with Kian.
"Is that a new dress?" he asked.
Annani laughed. "Since when do you notice what I am wearing?"
"Since your dress is a shade of purple I've never seen before. It's unique."
Annani adjusted the folds of her gown. "You are correct. The dress is new. The seamstress made one just like this but in blue for Areana, and I thought it would be fun to compare our dresses."
Kian arched a brow. "I didn't plan on visiting Areana."
Annani cast him an amused sidelong glance. "I am going to visit my sister, and while I am there, I might stop by to see her mate. If I have time, and I am in the mood."
"That's the strategy? Appear uninterested?"
"Precisely." Annani folded her hands in her lap. "Navuh called this meeting because he is ready to deal. But I cannot appear eager, or he will think he has leverage. I must seem as though I am doing him a favor by agreeing to see him at all."
"He'll see right through it," Kian said. "He's not stupid."
"No, he is not."
Annani used the travel time to the keep to refine her approach. A lot depended on how convincing her act would be, and she had no doubt that she could make it convincing enough.
The more uninterested she appeared, the more inclined he would be to make greater offers.
She pulled out her phone. "I forgot to tell Areana that we are coming over. We could have lunch together."
Kian nodded. "Good idea. I'll order takeout."
Annani's mouth watered as she thought about ordering from the Golden Dragon. "I wonder if Areana has sampled Chinese cuisine."
Kian smiled. "Is that a hint that you are in the mood for some?"
"Yes, please."
Annani thought about calling and then decided to text instead in case Areana was with Navuh.
Kian and I are on our way to the keep. Have you eaten lunch yet?
The three dots indicating that Areana was writing back danced for a long time before the return text finally arrived. Doctor Bridget was kind enough to order a sandwich for me from the lobby café, but I would gladly join you for lunch.
Annani smiled as she typed back. Excellent. Kian is ordering Chinese takeout, and we will bring it to the penthouse. You are going to love it. Golden Dragon is the best Chinese cuisine in town. We will be there in about half an hour."
Annani returned the phone to the pocket of her gown. "I made it very clear that we are planning to meet her in the penthouse." She glanced at the menu Kian was scrolling through. "Order a little extra for Areana to save for later."
He cast her a sidelong glance. "You should know by now that I always order twice as much as needed. She will have plenty of leftovers."
The rest of the drive passed with Annani looking out the window while her mind turned over possibilities. What could Navuh offer that he believed would be valuable enough to earn his freedom? What card had he been holding back all this time?
Her greatest worry was that the card he was keeping hidden was information about another massive terror attack like the ones the clan had foiled only a few months ago, and knowing Navuh, that was very likely his ace in the hole.
He knew she would give him anything he wanted to save hundreds or even thousands of lives, even if it was his freedom.
That was why she had not shared her fears with Kian. She did not want him struggling with his conscience in case Navuh's offer was something else. Although there was nothing else that was worth releasing him back to the world to continue doing harm.
She would not give him his freedom for information about the Brotherhood's operations or locations of hidden assets, secret accounts, or valuable artifacts. None of that was worth giving him what he wanted.
After Anandur pulled the SUV into the keep's underground parking structure, they headed to the penthouse, where Areana was waiting in the living room, looking better than she had the last time Annani had seen her.
There was color in her cheeks and brightness in her eyes that suggested something had changed.
Perhaps it was hope, or simply the relief of knowing that the negotiations were progressing.
Areana embraced her warmly. "I'm so glad you came. I was starting to worry that you forgot about me." There was a slight accusation in her tone.
"It was a very busy week," Annani said.
She was saved from having to elaborate by the arrival of the food, delivered by one of the guards from the lobby.
"Thank you." Anandur took the bags from him and carried them to the dining room.
The brothers helped spread out the food, an impressive array of steaming containers, bamboo baskets, and fragrant sauces. Anandur piled Annani's plate with dumplings and noodles and bite-sized portions of everything else.
"What are these?" Areana looked at the chopsticks like they were a pair of worms.
"I'll get you a fork." Anandur stood up.
"I can teach you to use them," Annani said. "You hold them like this." She demonstrated, "and you use them like this." She picked up a dumpling. "Give it a try."
Areana fumbled a little to start with, but then she got the hang of it and declined the fork that Anandur offered her.
They chatted about this and that, with Annani telling Areana about Tula and Esag moving in together and Tony finding a new love interest, but beneath the pleasant chatter, Annani was aware of the tension humming through the room. They all knew why she was there.
"How is Navuh doing?" Annani asked to get the conversation going in the right direction.
"He is doing much better," Areana said, setting down her chopsticks. "He can move his hands a little. He's still very weak and can't even hold a cup of water yet, but it's a big improvement nonetheless."
Was it possible that Navuh was faking his weakness?
Perhaps it was time to take additional precautions and put on him the special cuffs that could inject neurotoxin and immobilize even the strongest immortal. She glanced at Kian, and he gave her a nod, signaling that he understood.
"That is good news," Annani said. "I am glad his recovery is progressing so well."
Areana hesitated, then added, "He is eager to speak with you. He has been asking about you for days."
This was what Annani had been waiting for. She made a show of considering the request, dabbing at her lips with a napkin, and taking a sip of jasmine tea before responding.
"I suppose I could stop by to see him," she said, affecting reluctance. "Since I am already here."
"Thank you." Areana's relief was palpable. "I know he can be difficult, but I think he's ready to negotiate in good faith."
Annani doubted very much that Navuh had ever done anything in good faith in his entire existence, but she kept that thought to herself.
"We shall see," was all she said.
They finished the meal at a leisurely pace, Annani deliberately drawing out the process to make Navuh wait longer.
Finally, when the last dumpling had been consumed and the tea had gone cold, Annani pushed her plate away.
"I suppose it is time to visit Navuh and see how well he is doing."
Kian stood and offered her a hand up.
"Should I come with you?" Areana asked hesitantly.
Annani smiled. "I think it is best if we speak with him alone."
Areana nodded.
As the four of them entered the elevator, Anandur leaned against the wall and crossed his arms over his chest. "This should be interesting. I can't wait to see the two titans playing the game of who flinches first."
"I hope he does not offer information about a massive terror attack in exchange for his freedom." Now that Navuh was ready to make his offer, she could finally give voice to her fears. "If he knows me at all, he will realize that this is the only leverage powerful enough to make me release him."
"He could lie about it," Kian said, his flat tone indicating that the same thought had occurred to him.