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He turned to Kaiya and Faraday. “Thank you both for your time today.”
“You are most welcome.” The mage flicked her long, thick silver braid over her shoulder. “You know you have but to call.”
“No thanks are needed. You have done much for my family,” the HP said.
While West appeared to watch the two as they left the room, he monitored ‘Karen.’ Her shock, then sudden suspicion made him want to laugh.
He formed his lips into a sardonic curve. “We do not operate here like Lord Lequare. Common courtesy and respect are expected.”
She shoved the sheets aside and sat. The dress from the night before still graced her curves. Once she’d located her shoes, she shoved her feet into the high-heeled pumps. The elegant rise to her full height had his admiration. As did her direct eye contact.
“I also know that favors are expected to be repaid.” She flicked a glance to the cart where bags sat on a cooling tray, then back to him with a tight smile. “I owe you a debt for the blood used to heal me as well as keeping me from the vampires. I would like to know how deep I need to reach into my wallet.”
He’d rarely met someone so forthright. Shewasnew to the Sanguis world where convoluted courtesies hid all manner of deception. Though perhaps demon culture didn’t depart much from the world she’d known. Best to be on guard.
“You were shot in the head with significant damage to your brain. Twenty units of HP blood were required for your healing, along with my mage’s assistance for you to mend in this time.”
Her eyes grew round, and her hand strayed to the left side of her head, to the temple where no scar from the bullet existed, close to the small scar on her cheek he’d noticed the prior evening. No doubt a slight ache remained. Maybe she calculated the healing’s cost, maybe the extent of the damage, maybe both.
“If you would like the remaining two units on the cart, your treatment will be complete.” He continued to watch her closely. “Otherwise you may heal on your own.”
Her gaze darted to the cart with no small bit of longing, then returned to him. “No, thank you. I’ll use my own stores. Please let me know the cost, and the debt will be repaid.”
She swallowed hard after he named the figure. Impressive she preferred to pay, but now he’d deploy the carrot. “We might be able to do this without wallets. If I ask for your assistance with something, will you help me?”
She thrust her fingers through her hair, ordering the wild disarray of waves into a sexy tousle. “Like the magic wielder and the HP?”
“Yes.” If she could stay alive in the high-stakes espionage world, then she could read people. He would have to be careful she didn’t learn too much before he could be sure of her trust.Dangle the lure a little closer.“I also don’t like when humans or human paranormals are abused. I would ask for your assistance in this arena.”
She paused, and he sensed her struggle with a decision. Finally, she said, “I will assist you to stop those who abuse humans.” She grabbed her purse from the side table and removed her phone. “Exchange numbers?”
When she rattled off her mobile, he entered the digits in his own device.
“Yours?”
Though he trusted her far enough to evaluate her for a position in his operation, she had yet to earn his contact information. “You will know when you are needed.”
Her brows rose though she made no comment and slipped her phone into her purse.
“Now, may I drive you home?” His words were a test. Would she trust him? They’d already embedded a tracking device in her shoe. He’d know regardless.
She didn’t bother to cover her surprise. Evidently, Lord Lequare wouldn’t have offered such a service to one of his minions.
“Thank you. I can make my way home. After all you’ve done...” She glanced back at the cart and the valuable HP blood.
“Where do you live?”
She hesitated slightly before saying, “Hunters Point.”
“It’s in the direction I’m heading,” he said with a sweep of his hand to indicate she should precede him to the door. He hadn’t intended to go there at all, since he’d located his new blood storage warehouse in Daly City. A couple of hours of his time would determine if she lied to him. If so, his request for assistance would never come, and she would be monitored in case she threatened his work. He could save too many to allow one newly made vampire to wreck decades of effort.
Her graceful pace to the door hitched with his ‘kind offer,’ then she continued with a sincere sounding, ‘Thank you.’
Before she could reach the doorknob, he said, “You can only leave this room blindfolded, of course.”
Underneath the narrow straps of her dress, her shoulders tensed, and she spun to face him. “Why?”
“I can’t let you compromise the work we do here until you’ve earned my trust.” He removed the black handkerchief he’d earlier placed in his pocket. “Surely you can understand that.”
