“I-I’m just concerned, you know, about you. I wasn’t sure if you knew him from before. Or—”
“Or if he was hitting on me?” Lillith smiles softly.
Poppy swallows. “There are con men who target women who ...” Her voice trails.
“Who target old, wealthy widows? Seniors who appear frail, vulnerable?”
She clears her throat. “Yes. Cruises in particular attract predators. Easy marks on board.”
Lillith’s smile fades. She nods, her fingers brushing the serpent at her throat.
Poppy says, “I wondered if Hendrick sent those Bangkok Slings. Or the gift in your suite. It’s not my business, of course—if you’ve got a friend, someone you don’t want made public because Angus’s death is still recent. I—” She freezes.
The Tan Man is crossing the cobbles. He’s coming straight toward to their grove. She can’t think. Her face and neck burn. She reaches for her water with trembling hands.
Lillith notices instantly. She turns, follows Poppy’s gaze. The Tan Man takes a seat at a table near the courtyard entrance. Panic claws Poppy’s chest.
Lillith studies him awhile, as though weighing something. She turns back.
“It’s okay,” she says quietly. “He’s with me.”
Poppy
Poppy chokes on her water and lowers her glass. “Excuse me?”
“That’s Avi Galev,” Lillith says with a nod toward the Tan Man. “He’s my close security detail.”
Emotion sears Poppy’s eyes with an explosive cocktail of relief, fear, confusion, shock. It overwhelms her. Her hands begin to shake violently. Her voice trembles.
“Your—your bodyguard?”
Lillith’s hand covers Poppy’s. The old woman’s skin is cool.
“I’m sorry if he alarmed you, Poppy. I didn’t think you’d noticed him. He’s been with us since Edinburgh. As you said yourself, a rich widow can be vulnerable—I didn’t want to risk traveling without him.”
Poppy lowers her head, ashamed. But a new thought snakes through her. She saw Lillith’s “bodyguard” with Arrabella. According to Carter, Avi Galev told Arrabella their “subject” committed murder. Yet he’s working for Lillith? And Poppy definitely saw Arrabella’s name on Lillith’s Death List.
Get rid of Arra.
The sense of overwhelm and confusion starts breaking her open. She feels like a trapped rat in a lab maze. Lured into some plot she doesn’t understand. No idea who to believe. No clue who is aligned with whom. Or who to trust.
A tear plops onto the tablecloth.
“Poppy, it’s okay.”
Tears flow.
“Oh, my dear.” Lillith struggles to her feet and leans toward Poppy. “Come here.” Lillith wraps her arms around her, and just holds her. No one has held Poppy for years. Sobs begin to heave her body, and she is unable to stop her snotty blubbering until her emotion is spent.
When she finally sits back, drained, Lillith releases her and eases into her chair again.
“Is that what was worrying you, Poppy? Avi following us? Is he why you seemed unwell?”
Poppy inhales shakily and wipes her nose with her napkin, unsure what to say, or what move to make next. Avi is watching them brazenly now. Blocking any path of exit.
Avi Galev—he’s A.G.?
Lillith would have paid for his passage—that would explain Maxine’s comment. But why would a bodyguard leave a gift? Nothing in this puzzle is making sense.
