Chapter 20 #3
I glanced around the main table and recognized several notables, including Santi’s father, Esteban, Selene Mercier, who was currently the head of her family’s tech company, and Vraj freaking Nanda, taking a sip of ice water as if he hadn’t single-handedly changed people’s lives with his words on healing and enlightenment.
It was the motliest of crews.
What the fuck kind of Paxis game was this? While I’d seen the names on paper, it was very different seeing the people in person.
Most of them were here with spouses, exactly as Locke had claimed, except for Alvarado, who’d unexpectedly brought his son.
Santi flashed me a grin as he gestured for me to join him at a smaller table off to the side. “Good morning, Jethro. How did you sleep?”
I felt Locke’s gaze sear the side of my face.
“Good morning, Mr. Alvarado,” I said in a politely restrained voice. “I slept well, thanks.”
“Come join me at the kids’ table,” he teased.
Before I could take a step in his direction, Locke cleared his throat. “You must be Esteban’s boy,” he said, eying Santi. “Santiago, right?”
Santi’s head tilted, but he grinned back and reached out his hand to shake Locke’s. “Santi. Yes. And you must be Locke. Your reputation precedes you, of course.”
“As does yours.” Locke clasped my elbow. “I’m afraid I need Mr. Davis here with me. We have a few items of business to discuss before the first game session begins.”
His smile was polite but cool. Santi’s, on the other hand, was amused. “Sure thing, jefe.”
Then he turned away and began flirting with one of the attractive young women in the room.
“Stay away from him,” Locke commanded in a very low whisper. He pulled back the chair next to his and nudged me to take it.
Part of me wanted to argue, to make a comment about how I might as well be industrious and take side jobs since Locke hadn’t wanted me the night before. But the tension was back in Locke’s jaw, along with that stupid little line I couldn’t stop wanting to smooth off his forehead.
I glanced around to make sure no one was paying attention to us as I quickly whispered back. “We met in the gym last night. Polite minimum only, swear.”
He nodded and turned to accept another greeting.
Saleem al-Qadiri was dressed in immaculate white—a thobe so finely woven it moved like water. A slim Patek Philippe watch disappeared beneath his cuff, and it reminded me of the kind of watch my great-aunt wore. Ten times more modest in appearance than the actual cost of the thing.
Apparently, he’d given up his own family name in order to marry into the ruling family of Qadara. He must have loved his wife very much.
Al-Qadiri, unlike Santi Alvarado, smiled with genuine warmth and happiness at Locke.
“My friend, may your grandfather be granted paradise, and may peace find your heart in time. If you need anything—my family’s door and our table are always open to you.”
I could tell by Locke’s manner that he had great respect for the man—who only seemed about ten years older—and as soon as they finished speaking, al-Qadiri’s wife approached and greeted Locke just as warmly. “How is Celeste? She sent my father the loveliest glass bird to sit in his window.”
Locke’s body language changed at the mention of his sister. He relaxed and smiled. “She’s good, Liyana. Thank you for asking. How’s your father? Please remember me to him when you call home.”
She returned his smile, her expression fondly affectionate. “I will. He misses the game, but traveling isn’t easy for him with his hips.”
When the food was served, I had a chance to watch the interplay between the people at my table. It was easy for me to tell who Locke was comfortable around and who he was guarded with.
Since I was being watched now by Santi in addition to Locke, I tried to spend most of my energy politely listening to others like a good assistant… while mentally tallying the who’s who of what the everlasting fuck, like the agent I was trained to be.
One thing I quickly realized was that there was no way I could keep this gathering a secret from ESP. It was too important. Too impossible to believe that this collection of power players had come together to play an extended version of chess.
But at the same time, I needed to figure out the best way to notify Rocky without also admitting that I’d basically accepted a temporary assignment as a highly paid sex worker.
Worrying about that was ridiculous, of course. I was embarrassed by my own decision, but I was also known for being curious and adventurous, even when those things got me into trouble.
Curious Cat is never content and all that.
“Ready for the first session?” Locke asked the room when we finished the meal.
Everyone nodded and began leaving the table.
He turned to me and lowered his voice. “Remember, there are no electronics allowed in the game room. If I need anything, I’ll send someone to get you, and if something comes up at the office, Minnie will call you to come find me.”
We walked back toward our suite so he could gather the special case that held his personal game board and pieces.
“What can I do to help you in the meantime?” I asked, trying to reduce his stress and remind myself of our original agreement.
Once we were behind the closed door, he turned me to face him. “Remember what I told you. I need you to be my eyes and ears—”
“Take a breath. I got it.”
Locke moved to the buffet-type cabinet on the far side of the sitting room, where his game case was. “Okay. Thank you.”
He opened his case, revealing an old wooden game board and a neat collection of intricately carved pieces. I moved closer to look at them since I hadn’t had a chance to look at the set yet. “Holy fuck,” I breathed. “Those are incredible.”
Each piece was unique and obviously handcrafted. The wood was smooth and worn after generations of handling, but the designs and faded paint were still enough to see how special they were.
I’d never seen anything like it.
He smiled and peered down at them with obvious pride.
“Aren’t they? This set dates back to the late 1600s.
My ancestor commissioned it from a French craftsman.
Al-Qadiri’s set is even older, and Harlan’s is solid gold and jewel-encrusted.
It travels with armed guards because it’s technically part of the Crown Jewels. ”
“Will I get to see them?” I asked, suddenly wondering how different the game experience was using boards like this instead of the simple practice sets we’d used two nights before.
He closed the case and nodded. “Of course. You’ll be in and out of the game room as needed. Just remember to leave your phone outside. The guard will remind you.”
After he left, I sat down and tried to get my thoughts in order.
Maybe I was overreacting. Maybe this was purely a gathering of oddball Paxis enthusiasts.
If every other player was as obsessed with the game as Locke was, to the point where they all carried game sets that were museum-level specimens like his, then it made sense that the only kind of people he could enjoy a game with would be other old, wealthy enthusiasts.
Especially since they were the only ones who could afford the kind of security traveling with these game sets required and who had two weeks of disposable time to spend on something so… quirky.
I changed into my swim trunks and pulled my assistant clothes on over them before heading to the pool to do reconnaissance.
If there was one thing I knew about a group of rich, bored spouses, it was that they were often an amazing source of intel.
Maybe one of them would help me figure out what the fuck Locke Maris was doing in a house full of some of the world’s most influential people.