A victory is a victory. The venue is irrelevant.
Not that I dont appreciate the rescue, Holt said. But Im forced to ask, in the interest of self-preservation exactly how well armed are you right now?
I laughed, and it wasnt even forced. Probably because even with the smile hovering on the edge of his expression, his joke wasnt really a jokehe was actually asking.
Guns leave unsightly bulges in an evening gown. Which I was only wearing under direct orders. Tonight, what you see is what you get. Jake had made it clear that I had not yet earned back the privilege of carrying weapons in his territory, after letting him get shot. But dont worry, theres enough security in here to rival the U.S. Mint. No one could possibly get an unauthorized gun through the door.
I wasnt worried about getting shot, Holt said, as we wound our way through the crowd. Perhaps ritualistically castrated and dismembered
Okay, Im sorry about the threat, I said, though that wasnt really true. But they say you cant underestimate the value of a good first impression.
He stopped walking to frown at me. Your idea of a good first impression is to threaten a mans groin and his life in one breath?
I shrugged. Why? Would taking a breath in between improve the delivery?
I suppose not. He drained the last inch of champagne from his glass, then set it on an empty tray as a waiter passed. Then he turned back to me, his expression caught somewhere between confusion and amusement. Youre not what I expected from Jake Towers envoy.
What did you expect? I was honestly curious.
Someone like her. Holt nodded at something over my shoulder, and I turned to find Nina, Jakes personal assistant, schmoozing with the lieutenant governor, one hand on his arm, her gaze locked with his as she laughed at whatever asinine story hed just told. Id heard every story he had. They were all asinine.
I started to ask Holt if hed rather have Nina show him aroundsurely Jake wouldnt make me play recruiter if the recruit didnt want me around after allbut he was already speaking again, this time watching a group clustered near the windows on the west wall. Or someone like your sister.
I glanced at him in surprise, then followed his line of sight again to where Kenley stood against the wall, Jonah hovering near her like a kid eager to show off his prom date, and I realized Jake had probably told his brother to stick close to her, to remind me of what was at stake with this job.
Everything. Thats what was at stake.
Kenley and our brother, Kris, were all I had left, and Kris had his hands full with our grandmother. Kenley was my responsibility, and I couldnt let her down. Even if that meant conning some clueless asshole into service at Towers whims.
Kenley would make a terrible tour guide, I said, more to myself than to him, still watching my sister play the wallflower. She wouldnt give Jonah any excuse to touch her. She doesnt get out much.
Out of what? Holt asked, and I forced my mind back to the conversation at hand.
Outside. Jake keeps her close at hand. Because of the nature of her work. And too late I realized how that probably sounded.
Your sister lives here? In Towers house? Do they ? Um ?
I scowled. No, my sister isnt screwing the boss. Nothing could be further from the truth. Shes his top Binderthe only one he really uses anymoreso he keeps her close to keep her safe. She has a small apartment near here. And she was always under guard.
Oh. Holt looked relieved, and briefly I wondered why he cared who Jake was screwing. Was he a prude or a perv?
I used to live here, though, I said, picking at the seams of his reaction. In this house.
You used to ? He glanced from me to Jake and back, and I could practically see the gears turning behind his eyes as he tried to puzzle out a polite way to ask a crude question.
I rarely bother with polite. Makes things much simpler.
Were you and he ? Holt let the question trail off to its obvious conclusion.
Do you ever finish a sentence? I asked, and his cheeks darkened slightly as his brows rose in challenge.
Do you ever think before you speak?
I blinked, surprised. Jake said impulse control was my biggest character flaw. Id always assumed he meant my tendency to hit first, then survey the situation as an after thought, but Holt was clearly caught off guard by the verbal version of that.
Thats your problem. I backed slowly toward the foyer, leaving him to follow. You think too much.
I dont consider caution and forethought a problem.
It takes you forever to order at a restaurant, doesnt it? And to pick out a tie? I stepped closer and flicked his obnoxious little bow tie, then turned and stepped into the foyer, desperately hoping Kenleys stupid stilettos didnt seize that moment to betray me on the slick marble. Why do women insist on crippling themselves with footwear obviously designed by sadists?
Holt caught up with me, his mouth open to reply, but I spoke over him. I tell you what. If you can dig up enough nerve to ask what you really want to know, Ill answer the question.
Nerve isnt the issue. He stared straight into my eyes, practically daring me to argue. What makes you think I care, one way or another?
The fact that you think too much. You overanalyze everything, like lifes one big puzzle you can solve, if you can just find the pattern, and now youre thinking that neurotic tendency will help you figure out where you stand with one of the most powerful men in the country. You asked for a blonde liaison, and he gave you a blonde, so youre thinkingcorrectlythat that means he really wants you.
Youre on track so far, he admitted, amusement peeking around the edges of his skepticism.
I know.
His eyes narrowed. Youre a Reader now?
I almost laughed. Hell no, Im still just a Traveler. Readers, like Julia Tower, read the truth in a persons words. I read people. Their posture. Their expressions. The things their brains didnt even know their bodies were saying. That was the one quality I had that might actually come in handy for a recruiter.
Holt looked relieved, and I wasnt surprised. Readers make people nervous. Everyone lies, and no one wants to be called on it.
So what else am I thinking? he asked, and his grin said this had become a game.
I was not a fan of games, but when I played, I liked to win. So I swallowed my trepidation over the direction the discussion was headed and pressed forward, wearing my game face.
You know Jake wants you. But now its a little more complicated than that, right? If Im Jakes sloppy seconds and you take a big bite, its gonna look like youre satisfied with his leftovers. And thats going to lower your value. But on the other hand, hes given you what you asked for, and turning your nose up at a gift from Jake Tower could look like a massive insult. And you wanna play hard-to-get, not difficult-to-stomach, right?
Holts green eyes were huge. And you think I overanalyze things?
But I was right. I could see that much in the irritated way he crossed both arms over his chest, wrinkling his expensive jacket. Hed expected to study Jake, and his offer, and his people, but he hadnt expected a common escort to study him back. Much less be good at it.
But I was right. I could see that much in the irritated way he crossed both arms over his chest, wrinkling his expensive jacket. Hed expected to study Jake, and his offer, and his people, but he hadnt expected a common escort to study him back. Much less be good at it.
I shrugged and smiled, then turned away from him and started across the foyer, calling softly over one shoulder, Fine. Then dont ask.
His shoes squeaked after me on the marble, and I knew I had him. Okay, I give up, he called, grabbing my arm from behind. I froze at his touch and had to remind myself that it meant nothing. I was flirting with himalbeit under orders to seduce him on behalf of the entire syndicateso I couldnt justify freaking out over evidence that I was getting the job done.
But neither could I stop myself from pulling my arm from his grip, though I tried to disguise the movement by ducking into an alcove, drawing us both out of view from most of the rest of the party. I admit it, he said, stepping close enough that I wanted to back up, but there was nowhere left to go. I want to know.
With the wall at my back and Holt blocking my path, I felt like the world was closing in on me. My pulse raced with encroaching panic. But Id brought us here, out of sight, and I was still in control of this little word game.
Then grow some balls and ask, I said, staring straight up into his eyes, silently daring him.
One eyebrow arched in response to my challenge. Were you sleeping with your boss?
I shook my head solemnly. I have never once fallen asleep in Jake Towers company. In fact, it was tempting to try to blink one eye at a time when he was around, so I could keep the other one on him at all times.
Holt rolled his eyes. You know what I mean.
I know what you asked. I couldnt tell if he was adorably old-fashioned, hopelessly shy, or simply reluctant to offend a syndicate representative with a question about a very powerful mans personal life. If thats not what you wanted to hear, then say what you mean.
Youre bossy.
I laughed. And youre nosy, so get it over with. No more euphemisms. Bite the bullet, or Im gonna have to tell Jake you dont have the balls for this job. That was a total bluff, of course. Jake would like him better with neither a mouth, nor the balls to use it.
That time when Holt frowned, I couldnt tell if he was pissed off or intrigued. Until he stepped closer, leaving no room between us at all, and I realized he was a little of both. Did you fuck your boss? he demanded, his voice lower and grittier than itd been a moment before.
Hell no. I slid along the wall, sidestepping him, and my heart didnt slow to normal speed until Id regained personal space, and both flight and fight seemed possible again. Just in case. Jake doesnt screw around on his wife. He wouldnt, even if he werent contractually prohibited from touching another woman. At least, that was the rumor. And FYI, hell have you shot for looking at her for more than a few seconds at a time, unless shes talking directly to you.
Thats crazy.
I shrugged. Thats love.
That hint of a grin was back. Isnt that what I said?
Ah, a cynic. I sank onto a gold-padded bench against one wall of the foyer. You may fit in here after all.
Holt sat next to me. So, why did you live here, if you werent with him?
And, the euphemisms were back. Jake used to keep a small staff on hand at all times. But he moved everyone out a few weeks ago. The day after Id accidentally punched a hole in his home defense system and gotten him shot. Now its just his family, the nanny, and whichever guards are currently on duty.
Smart. Holt nodded thoughtfully. And he really doesnt cheat on his wife? At all?
Nope. Not once, that I know of. Why?
I want to know who Ill be working for. If I sign on. He glanced to his right, toward the party still going on in the main part of the house. A man like that, with plenty of money, in a position of extreme power over dozens of beautiful women He glanced at me, as if to say I was one of those beautiful women. Or maybe he was pointing out that I was powerless. It has to be tempting to sample the goods. Itd be easy to get away with. In certain circles, its practically expected, right? he said, and I could only nod. But Towers loyal to his wife. That says something, doesnt it? Something about him, as a man? Holt watched me closely, studying my reaction, and an uneasy feeling churned deep in my stomach.
Most syndicate employees didnt have the luxury of caring what kind of man Tower was, or what kind of business he did. They signed on because they were desperate for something they couldnt get for themselves. Usually money, protection or services only a syndicate could provide. Why else would you sign over even part of your free will to someone who doesnt give a damn whether you live or die, so long as you do both in service to the syndicate?
But Holt was different. He actually gave a damn. Which could make him very hard to recruit.
Doesnt that also say something about the way Tower runs his organization? He waited for my answer, staring into my eyes like he wanted to see past them and into my thoughts, and suddenly I recognized the ploy, and my teeth ground together.
Ian Holt wasnt naive enough to believe that a man with Jakes power and breadth of influence had climbed to the top of the hill without stepping on a few heads. Or that fidelity to his wife translated into any kind of integrity in business. He knew what the Tower syndicate was likeat least, he thought he knewand this was a test to see which I would choose: loyalty to my boss or honesty to the potential recruit.
Assuming I had any choice in the matter. And he had no way of knowing whether or not I did.
Hed see through a liehe seemed to be expecting one anywaybut I couldnt exactly tell him the truth about Jake and the syndicate, even if he already knew most of it. Or even some of it. Which brought up an even bigger problem.
If Holt already knew what kind of man Tower was and what kind of business he ran, why did he accept Jakes invitation in the first place? I could only think of two possible reasons. First, Holt had no moral qualms about syndicate business or lifestyle. Or, second, he couldnt afford the luxury of indulging whatever moral qualms he did have. Which meant he was either corrupt or desperate.
But then a third, even worse possibility occurred to me and that uneasy feeling in my stomach swelled into a roiling discomfort. What if Holt was neither of those? What if he was just some curious, greedy asshole looking to get everything he could out of Jake before politely turning down our offer and walking away with his free will intact?
If that happened, I would have to harvest Holts blood instead. And if I handed over nothing but blood from a venture this expensive, when what Tower really wanted was Holts service, Jake would kill me. But first hed give Kenley to Jonah, down in the basement, so that the last thing I ever heard would be my sister screaming.
Bile rose in my throat, and I swallowed a sip of warm champagne to keep it down. And when I looked up, I realized that Holt was still waiting for my answer to a question Id almost forgotten.
Does Jakes fidelity to his wife say something about how he runs the organization? I said, rephrasing the original question, and Holt nodded. Yeah, I guess it does. Theres nothing Jake wouldnt do for his wife, and even less he wouldnt do for the syndicate.