Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Sergi stared out Devon’s office window. He never understood why Devon looked out the window so often when making a decision. His own office had no windows. He preferred an environment with no distractions, especially when he was stuck on a particularly difficult issue.
It was also a small office where visitors were limited to two at a time. Devon had offered him something that matched his standing as cadre, but it would only encourage more visitors. The more visitors, the more they tended to linger. He enjoyed his privacy too much for that.
But with Devon out of the country, Simone at Oasis, and Lyra working with Colantha to ease Hamilton’s transition from his long imprisonment, Sergi was in charge at the coastal manor.
For the first time, he understood the comfort of allowing his mind to wander as he took in the blooming flowers and the birds that hovered at the feeders. The ocean view didn’t bring him the peace it brought to so many others, but it provided the necessary distraction.
Lucas had stopped reporting three days ago. His last cryptic message advised he was in Maryland and had received valuable information. That was enough for Sergi to narrow down three different Houses Lucas might have met with. From the list of Philipe’s contacts Lucas had shared before leaving, Sergi had a fair idea of which House. But he hadn’t decided whether contacting them would be prudent. Not yet.
Where would Lucas have gone from there? They had been in New York prior to Maryland, so he had to assume either west or south. New Orleans would be a possibility if the information Lucas obtained pointed to House Renaud. If Fiona was their target, they might head to Hazel Green, the location Sergi had given them.
The other possibility worried him the most. What if Lucas had been injured? Or worse? Surely, if Ginger hadn’t suffered the same fate as Lucas, assuming they hadn’t simply gone silent for another reason, she would have reached out to someone. If she had contacted Cressa, he would have heard from Devon by now. She might have contacted Harlow, but he couldn’t see what Harlow could provide that the Family couldn’t. Unless she required help from someone with no connections to vampires.
That idea didn’t sit well. If he hadn’t come to know Ginger as he had, he would assume she’d call the manor immediately if she were in trouble. Of all the humans in the Family, she was the most unpredictable. He snorted. That was saying something considering Cressa and her penchant for making her own decisions.
There were too many possibilities to start considering the worst. Perhaps a look at the map would give him a better idea of what Lucas would have done next. He didn’t get any further than waking the computer when the office door burst open.
Simone stormed in, slamming the door shut behind her. “Where’s Lucas?”
He motioned for her to take a seat. “I don’t know. His last message from three days ago put him in Maryland.”
“That matches the information I just received from our security team at House Lewis.”
“Lewis.” Sergi’s brow lifted. “Virginia?”
Simone nodded. “The team has socialized with the Houses in the surrounding states.”
Sergi nodded. “To keep abreast of any tension between them. And, of course, with their proximity to D.C., the lobbying alone can become problematic.”
“The team leader received a call from an acquaintance from another House asking why someone from House Trelane would visit House Beall.”
“That confirms one question. House Beall is on Philipe’s contact list. How did our team respond?”
“Basically, that it wasn’t any of their business. Then he reported the incident.” Simone adjusted her royal-blue caftan and scratched at her matching blue braids piled on her head. He never understood why the tough-as-nails Somalian vampire always dressed like a runway model when not in her guard attire but assumed it was all her time spent in New York and Milan. “I know Devon spoke to you privately about Lucas’s assignment. With the House on lockdown, it seemed wise to bring it to your attention.”
“To be honest, I was just considering what steps I should take to find them. They’ve been followed by vampires since New York. Though they might have been following Lucas since Boston and simply didn’t make their presence known.”
“Or they were waiting for a more opportune time to attack.”
Sergi nodded and leaned back in the desk chair, finding it more comfortable than his. Perhaps it was time for an upgrade. “He was taking security precautions, which could explain why he’s gone silent.”
Simone considered it. “Can you show me his route so far?”
“I was in the process of bringing up the map when you arrived.” He used Devon’s computer and pushed the display screen sideways so they could both study the image.
Simone pulled her chair closer to the desk. “I assume you’re using the old code for messages.”
He nodded. “It requires making some educated guesses. From what I can tell, their first stops were at Renaud libraries in Boston and New York. The book was listed in the card catalogs, and the false book identified it as being out for restoration, just like at the other libraries. From there, he’d been meeting with Philipe’s contacts, though he didn’t share which ones. I can only guess which Houses by the direction Lucas is traveling.”
“And you said the first attack was in New York.”
Sergi nodded.
Simone grunted. “That would be standard practice. Monitor until you have a feel for your target and then wait for the right moment.”
“So far, they’ve come at Lucas in pairs and were easily dispatched, but we have no idea whether it was Venizi or the Renauds. Though a third player could be involved that we haven’t considered.”
“They’re being tracked.”
“I believe so. I’m just not sure how. My best guess is that they have multiple teams.”
Simone considered it, her fingernails tapping a quick staccato on the desk. “Half the teams run surveillance. Plant a tracker if they can. The B teams go in for the kill.”
“After New York, Lucas began proper security measures, but the back of my neck itches. I don’t like it.”
“Where would they go after Maryland? Who’s the next closest contact on his list?”
“There are two in Georgia if he’s heading south. One in Savannah and one outside Atlanta.”
“He could have reached those in a day. In three days, he could have been in New Orleans. Is it possible they headed west or back north?”
“There were contacts in Ohio and Missouri.”
“Too many possibilities. Are any of these contacts in Houses allied to House Trelane?”
Sergi brought up the list of contacts with their locations. “They all belong to small Houses or are registered rogues. House Beall in Maryland is the largest, and that’s not saying much. But I believe they have the strongest ties to us. You should also know I tracked down a female custodian who worked with Philipe in 1925 and might still be in contact with him. Her last known location was Hazel Green, Alabama.”
“Do we have Family in the Southeast? I haven’t checked the current mission statements.”
Sergi nodded. “We have a team of four that went to Saratoga to help a House with their security issues. They need another day or two to finish up, but I can have them reassigned now.”
“What are Bella and Jacques up to?”
“They’ve been dividing their time between the upgrades to the existing safe house and fortification of the new ones.”
Simone rubbed her forehead. “I should have known that. It’s not that I don’t agree with Devon’s lockdown orders and ensuring everyone works in pairs, but it depletes our resources in getting things done.”
“Where are you with the rogue shifter interviews? That should release some resources to put toward the safe houses.”
“I had my last one yesterday. I have a meeting with Decker this afternoon, which was my main reason for driving out. If all goes well, they should be in place by the end of the week. I have rooms being assigned.”
“You’re thinking we should send Bella and Jacques south?”
Simone sat back and considered the map. “With Renaud being the center of this, the path appears to lead to New Orleans. Ohio and Missouri seem rather arbitrary, but perhaps that’s the point. Can you track the rental car?”
He shrugged and checked his tablet. “I started an hour ago but it takes time with the number of aliases I created for him. The most recent rental was reported stolen in a small town south of Maryland about three days ago.”
“He must have abandoned the car and rented a new one. Then they went off-grid.” Simone studied the map, and Sergi waited for her suggestion, which didn’t take long. “Let’s get Bella and Jacques to New Orleans. At least they’ll be within easy reach.”
“Agreed. I’ll contact Bella now.”
Simone stood. “I want to check on Lyra. Anything I should know before I go up?”
“So far, all has been quiet. And I realize that doesn’t mean everything is good.”
Simone snickered. “Until this war with Venizi is over, nothing will be good. Just better or worse than the day before.”
Sergi couldn’t agree more. He texted Bella before returning to stare at the map. If Ginger had been injured, Lucas would have told him, and would probably have returned home or found a healer. But Sergi didn’t see Lucas going dark for that.
What if Lucas had been injured? What would Ginger do? He was still considering that fateful scenario when a knock came. Bella stuck her head in.
“You wanted to see me?”
“That was fast.”
“I just left the safe house and was on my way to the new one.”
“Come in. I want you to take a look at this.” He filled her in on his discussion with Simone and their deliberations on where Lucas and Ginger might be.
Bella sat back, arms crossed over her chest as she studied the map. She appeared almost casual in her assessment, but her leg bounced with boundless energy. “If he picked up valuable information from House Beall, then maybe he’s getting close to something. That would explain an increase in attacks. Whoever’s sending the teams of vampires might be getting nervous, and they’re most likely increasing the size of the teams. Lucas could be hiding, waiting them out.”
“Why wouldn’t he check in?”
She shrugged. “If they don’t know how they’re being tracked, maybe they’re not confident with the burners.”
“That’s a possibility. What if one of them is injured?”
Bella slid him a glance, knowing quite well the other reason no one reached out was because they were both dead. “You want me to go find them?”
“It’s a long shot at best. But if we get word, I’d rather they have a friend close by.”
She nodded. “Am I taking Jacques?”
“Yes. Keep a low profile. Simone and I agree they’re most likely heading south. I sent you the list of locations where they might be headed in addition to where their last rental car was ditched. Maybe you can pick up a trail.”
“Doesn’t Lucas have a friend in New Orleans?”
“Two, actually. Lafitte and Romero, but he’s closest with Romero.”
“Do you think he’ll mind if I reach out?”
“No. I’ll give him a heads-up and send you his favorite meeting spot. He’s not aware of the book as far as I know.”
“Understood. When do we leave?”
“There’s a red-eye that leaves in four hours. I’ll have the flight information and your list of aliases within the hour.”
“Got it.” She rose and was almost to the door when Sergi stopped her.
“If Lucas is injured—”
With a feral smile, Bella finished his statement. “Then the only thing standing between him and a team of vampires is a human female.”