“Devon!”
Ian Redgrave approached us, his rotund belly more pronounced than when I last saw him. His hair had gone white with age, his beard gruff. He wore a navy suit that probably cost more than a small house, buttoned so tightly I thought the seams might burst.
My father patted me on the back with more affection than he had shown me my whole life.
His grin was wide, his teeth white.
“It’s so good to see you safe!”
“Hello Father,” I nodded.
“So, should we go to dinner?” Mother said, “because something smells yummy!”
“New vehicle, incoming,” Iheard Kieran say through my earpiece.
“Are we expecting someone else?” I asked, gesturing outside to the headlights coming down the driveway.
“Ah, if I may. I invited a friend to join us tonight, if that is to your liking. She should be here at any moment – ah, there she is.”
I turned and felt my stomach drop.
There, entering the house draped in sparkling blue lamé was none other than Georgina Quinn.
She stepped forward, offering a long-taloned hand towards Dominic.
“Sorry I am late, it’s so hard these days, you know. What with Gideon being gone.”
Don’t panic.
“No trouble at all, Georgina you are always welcome here. May I present to you my son, Devon.”
Georgina looked at me, her head tilted. She offered me her hand.
I took it and kissed the top. “Mrs Quinn.”
“What the fuck is Georgina doing here?”Kieran hissed.
“Charm her.”Elliot said quietly.“She never saw your face before.”
I plastered on my most flirtatious smile. “I have to say, Mrs Quinn, you look lovely tonight.”
Georgina positively beamed. “Well, how lovely. A gentleman. How have I not met you before?”
Towards the side table something clattered to the ground. I looked up to see the opened door.
The rest of the party looked too.
When nothing else happened, I smiled.
“Do we still get those winds around here, mother?” I asked.
She smiled. “Oh yes. All the time. The problem with living on a mountain top.”
“That must be it,” Georgina said, still watching me. “You are handsome, young man. How old are you?”
“Twenty-seven, ma’am,” I said, tilting my head.
She looked me up and down, devouring me with her eyes.
