49. A Very Dangerous Game
A VERY DANGEROUS GAME
Axel
Classical music played through the stunning mansion, mixing with murmurs of conversation and bursts of laughter.
Copper Cove’s elite were dressed in finery while sipping on expensive champagne and picking at overpriced hors d'oeuvres.
Everyone seemed to be having a good time—all except the newest member of the Serpents & Daggers.
Micah leaned against a wall, inching closer to a door leading to the rest of the house where guests weren’t allowed.
Don’t tell me this idiot is planning to snoop around.
Vaughn stood across the elaborately decorated ballroom, schmoozing two senators while Tate, one of Lorelei’s sorority sisters, hung on his arm. Thankfully, his attention remained focused on the little group, or he’d definitely notice Micah’s shifty behavior.
After another few moments, Micah slipped through the door and vanished into the hallway.
I groaned and set my glass of champagne next to the ornate arrangement of white flowers on a table before following him. Royal Jamison, a tech genius, was hosting this gala tonight in his enormous Victorian home to celebrate the new cybersecurity system his company developed.
He was also a very distinguished Ascended of the brotherhood, in the esteemed Inner Circle. And that was exactly why Micah wanted to explore his house.
The guy really couldn’t help himself.
Royal was close with the current Grand Domnus who replaced Killian’s stepfather, so Micah probably figured there might be evidence to poke through. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if the idiot had acquired the blueprints to locate Royal’s office.
Was it possible Royal had secrets locked away about Susanna?
Doubtful.
But he could have other incriminating info Micah could use to blackmail members into talking.
He would be playing a very dangerous game if he went that route.
As I pushed the door open and strolled inside the narrow hallway, a pang of guilt stabbed at my chest. Micah would stop putting himself in danger if I told him the truth.
I might not have uncovered Susanna’s body, but she was definitely dead.
After seeing the video she’d taken the night on the bluffs, I had no doubt about it.
And it was all because of me.
I swallowed hard, shaking off the dark thoughts and the guilt clinging to them as I marched through the halls. If I was caught wandering Royal’s house, no one would give a shit because I was a Vanderhart.
Micah was different. He was completely new to this world, and Vaughn was already suspicious. It wouldn’t take much digging to find out he had been friends with someone the Lords killed to keep their secrets buried.
As I turned the corner, Micah stood at Royal’s office door, attempting to pick the lock. My footsteps were quiet on the slick marble tiles as I approached and grabbed the back of his tuxedo jacket.
Micah cursed, tensing for a fight, but when I whirled him around, a breath of relief exited his lungs.
“Are you trying to give me a heart attack, Axel?” He squirmed out of my hold and pushed his glasses back up his nose, revealing the long, thin lockpicking tool in his grasp.
“A heart attack will be the least of your problems if you get caught breaking into Royal’s office.” I shoved his hand clutching the tool toward his pocket. “Put that shit away and let’s go before someone finds us.”
He tucked the device away, but shook his head. “I’m not going anywhere until I get in there. You can either help or leave.”
He had a death wish.
I grabbed the collar of his jacket and jerked him forward.
“Preston, listen to me and listen good. You’re already skating on thin ice with Vaughn.
You’re lucky he didn’t see you sneak back here, but if he gets wind of it, you won’t last much longer in this world.
And I don’t mean the Serpents & Daggers. I mean the fucking world in general.”
The color drained from his face. “Are you really telling me Vaughn will have me killed? He doesn’t even know why I’m investigating this.”
“The why doesn’t matter.”
Vaughn would have him killed, and I’d be the one forced to pull the trigger.
Micah gripped my hands, and I allowed him to shove me off. “If you were in my situation and Killian was missing, wouldn’t you do everything in your power to find out what happened?”
I smoothed the blond hair away from my face and sighed. “I would, but I also know how and when to push my luck. You don’t, and it’ll get you killed. I doubt your friend would want that.”
His head bowed as he palmed his nape. “I just can’t let this go. I need to know.”
“Your need for answers is clouding your judgment.” I was such an asshole for keeping the truth hidden.
As if Micah sensed the cloud of guilt swirling around me, his hazel eyes lifted to mine, narrowing. “If you knew something, you’d tell me, right?”
“Excuse me. You’re not allowed back here.”
Fuck.
I turned and plastered on a beaming smile as Royal Jamison strolled down the hall, the crystal light fixtures casting a glow over his cropped ebony hair. “My apologies, Royal. We just needed to have a private conversation.”
The hardness melted from the thirty-something’s chiseled face as he approached. “Oh, Axel, I didn’t recognize you.” He rested his hand on my shoulder. “I was just speaking to your father. He says you’re working for Vanderhart Securities once you graduate.”
“Yes, I’m looking forward to going into the family business.”
He released my shoulder and gave a dramatic groan. “I’d been hoping to snatch you up for my company. You’re so good with people. They just love you.”
I grinned. “I am lovable.”
Royal noticed Micah and extended his hand. “I’m Royal Jamison. You’re a new addition. Micah Preston, right?”
He swallowed and took his hand. “That’s correct. Pleased to meet you.”
Royal studied him with an unreadable expression as if he already knew Micah had a few black marks against him. He very well could. Vaughn might have told others about his suspicions surrounding the new member.
After several long, tense moments, he dropped Micah’s hand.
“You two better head back to the party.” His gray eyes flicked toward me. “Especially you. I saw your lovely girlfriend dancing with another man.”
My eyebrows slammed down. “What guy?”
Royal shrugged and twisted his diamond pinky ring. “He’s not one of us.”
Trepidation coiled through my chest, and I marched down the hall, Micah on my heels. “Don’t even think about snooping anymore tonight, Preston. You’re already on Royal’s radar, and if he sees you outside of this ballroom again, you’re done.”
“Yeah, I get it,” he mumbled behind me and darted toward the bar once we entered the lavish ballroom.
Hot fury penetrated my veins when I found Lorelei in the center of the dance floor, her body rigid as stone against Brock’s.
That son of a bitch.
The soft music and conversation faded as I stalked toward them, my hands curling into fists.
Would I knock his ass out and cause a scene?
Hell, yes.
“Let go of my girlfriend, Haversham.” My voice came out in a deep, threatening tone that would’ve made most people tremble.
A sinister smile curved his mouth. “Don’t be silly, Axel. We’re just dancing.”
Loathing and fear permeated Lorelei’s eyes as she tried to untangle herself from Brock’s relentless hold. “Everything’s fine, Ax. He just wanted to talk for a second.”
Talk my ass.
She looked like a goddess in the curve-hugging pale pink dress, and I hated that any other man, especially Brock, thought he had any right to touch her.
I grabbed his arm and yanked it off Lorelei. “I said let her go.”
His laughter made the hairs on my nape stand on end. “Do you really want to show the party just how violent and unstable you are by assaulting me?”
Instead of backing down, I stepped toward him, catching sight of Killian, Gage, and Slate across the room. Somehow, they’d noticed the tension and already looked prepared to jump in. I gave a quick shake of my head, warning them off.
“In case you haven’t noticed, Haversham, this is my town, and these are my people.” I gave my own ominous laugh. “If I knocked your ass out, they’d pick up your broken body and toss you on the lawn, no questions asked.”
Brock’s smile didn’t fade, but he did back away a step. “Your allies won’t be there every time, Vanderhart. You can’t always rush in like a hero to save your little pauper princess.” With a wink, he slithered back into the crowd like a snake.
“Are you okay?” I pulled Lorelei close, ignoring Brock’s pauper comment. He didn’t know a damn thing about me if he thought dropping some ambiguous remark about the Battenbergs’ money troubles would make me turn my back on Lorelei. “Did he hurt you?”
She peered around to see that most guests were too preoccupied to have noticed the drama, and a shaky breath blew from her lungs.
“I’m fine.” A shudder ran through her body. “He makes my skin crawl.”
I kissed her forehead and dragged my hands down her arms to erase the bastard’s touch. “Let’s get a drink.”
She stared up at me and bit her bottom lip to stop it from trembling. “About what Brock said—”
“Nothing that asshole says matters, Lore.” Unable to help myself, I buried my face in her hair and inhaled her addictive scent. “You matter. Nothing else.”
A faint sniffle echoed as her slender fingers gripped my jacket. “Thanks, Ax.”
“What are boyfriends for, blondie?” And this time, I meant it. There was no more fake anything. “Forget about him. Let’s just enjoy our night. How about that drink?”
She snuggled against me as I tucked her into my side, a perfect fit, and crossed the room toward the bar. As we leaned against the hand-carved mahogany counter, waiting on our drinks, Lorelei’s father meandered over.
“I saw you dancing with Brock,” he said, swirling his glass of scotch. “Any chance of a reconciliation?”
I cleared my throat and reached out to shake his hand. “Hello, Mr. Battenberg. It’s lovely seeing you again.”
He winced at my powerful grip. “You as well, Vanderhart.”
Lorelei glared daggers at her father. “I’m with Axel, remember, Dad? And there will never be anything between Brock and me.”
“Never say never, Lorelei. Besides, the end of the summer is fast approaching, and I still don’t see any kind of commitment or guarantee.” His gaze flicked toward her left hand, and then he tapped his watch. “Time is running out.”