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“So!” I announced, cutting off the dick-swinging match. “I am going as Victor’s PA to meet with Agatha de La Cour. Won’t that be fun?” I grinned as they both stared at me. “I assume we’ll be collecting evidence for the SSD while we’re there?”

“That is correct.”

“What if they recognize Adam from Kris’s fuck up?” Zee said.

“Unlikely, as Agatha was not present when you were locked in the freezer. Everything is in place⁠—”

“What am I doing?” Zee asked. “What’s my role? Sexy sidekick?” He fluttered his lashes. “Mean-as-fuck warrior? Hopeless flirt? I got range.”

“Your unique services are . . . not required,” Reynard said, innocently sipping his tea.

Zee folded his arms. “You saw what I was able to do with one karaoke video and you still doubt me?”

“This is a delicate and nuanced matter. There is no place for a . . .”

“Say it.”

“For a sex demon.”

“You fucking know I’m more than that but you can’t handle it. It’s easier to put me in a neat little Demons Are Bad box you can close the lid on, so you don’t have to question your own fucked-up beliefs.” Zee leaned on the bar, bringing himself much closer to Reynard. His smile grew. “But sure, you’re cutting me out because of a fucking nuance.” Zee strutted off to serve another customer, his point made.

They really did still have a long way to go.

Reynard didn’t meet my eye, and instead sipped his tea. “Adam, if you’re willing to participate, we’re meeting Agent Leomaris at the docks at eight p.m.”

I nodded, and hoped after tonight this whole ordeal would be over, so we could get back to the business of managing the hotel. And each other.

CHAPTER 13

Agent Leomaris’s assistant fixed the tiny recording devices that mimicked buttons into the seams of our clothes. Although, mine didn’t work so well during testing, and was discarded.

“Baron Reynard’s device should be sufficient,” Leomaris said, dismissing their helper, and facing us in the back of the blacked-out SSD operations van. It was all very technical. Zee would have loved it. He’d also have loved how Reynard had briefly had his shirt unbuttoned, revealing a slim but defined chest. He wasn’t nearly as ripped as Zee, but he wasn’t lacking either. Not that I was admiring his body. Because I wasn’t. Maybe a little. For science.

Reynard shrugged his shirt back into place and rebuttoned it.

“They will take your phones, but that’s to be expected,” Leomaris explained in their slow, melodic drawl.

“That’s okay. I don’t have a phone.”

Leomaris stalled, as though I’d said something alarming. “How eccentric.”

“I’ve never gotten along with them,” I explained, filling the awkward silence.

“I see. Well, you’ll likely be searched for weapons. Once inside, visit as much of the facility as you can. We need footage of the goods, the operation, any laboratory equipment. Ideally, if you are able to get Agatha de La Cour to admit to illegal trading on the footage, then we will have all we need.”

“And if it goes wrong, you’ll charge in and rescue us.” I beamed.

Leomaris sat back in the fold-out chair. “The operation is unofficial. This vehicle and those cameras are the limit of my available resources. Unfortunately, if it goes wrong, you are on your own.”

“Oh.” I glanced at Reynard.

Shrugging his jacket back over his shoulders, he said, “We have little choice.”

That was true. We were at Agent Leomaris’s mercy—a place I’d prefer not to be. But if I did this, Zee and I would have a get out of jail free card, and maybe even an SSD agent on our side. Which might be useful in the near future if things at the hotel got any more problematic.

“Alright, are you ready?” Leomaris asked.

“I believe so,” Reynard answered.