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“Of course.” I gently smile. I can’t help but feel the heavy lifting the term “sourced” does for Freddy, disguising the theft and likely violence behind it. Still, I have to school my face into an expression of rapt interest. “Must not be a lot of fun though, if everyone is just there to show off.”
“Are you offering to be my friend at my next event?” He laughs, shaking his head.
“I’m your friend already.” I giggle and think of Christmas morning as a child, my first bike, the first boy who asked me out, and shove all that wonder and excitement on my face. “And you know, you wouldn’t even have to break your rule of only inviting collectors. Titan, the friend I came with tonight, his family’s from Europe. He collects art… well, I think he does. He has some… I think Degas and one of those kinda creepy paintings from Bosch. Artifacts too… He’s always talking about acquiring new pieces.”
Titan, having heard every single word of our conversation, moves in.
“Hmmm…” There is a mix of interest and disappointment in Freddy’s eyes. Clearly, I’m not quite the free woman he thought I was, but perhaps I’ve just inadvertently delivered him someone with artifact connections he might want.
“Actually”—I subtly wave Titan over—“this is him.”
He strides up, barely looking in our direction until the moment he’s at my side, just like I told him to earlier in the day.
Stay aloof, act casual. The last thing you need is an invite to Freddy’s event.
“Freddy, this is Titan. Titan, Freddy.” I gesture between the men, and they give each other a handshake that seems a bit firmer and goes on a bit longer than necessary.
“Just Titan, no last name?” Freddy shoves his hands in his pockets and rocks back and forth on his heels, as if waiting for the joke.
“Just like you,” I say smoothly. “He doesn’t need one.”
Freddy’s grin turns into a laugh, breaking the tease of tension, before he slaps Titan on the back. I see irritation flare in Titan’s eyes, but instead, he laughs along. He’d learned from me well.
ChapterNine
TITAN
Watching Julianna work is like watching one of the witches from Drusila’s coven cast a spell. She has Freddy entranced, tracking her every gesture and leaning in to hear each word. Now she has maneuvered me into the perfect position with Freddy.
“What do you do, Titan?” Freddy’s mannerisms are casual, almost indifferent in comparison to the high-end space, but I watch the way his eyes narrow down on his guests. I’ve tracked the rotation of guards and spotted the security system he’s installed. Freddy may dress casually, but he takes his security seriously.
“I own a security business.”
“Home security?”
“Executive protection and security consultation,” I answer dryly. I try to remember Julianna’s lesson. As counter intuitive as it seems, showing little interest in Freddy and the party seems to be working.
“Any clients I might know?” I hear the edge of interest in Freddy’s voice.
Unsure what to say, I take a sip of champagne. With the overwhelming boom of the Pull consuming all sensation, the alcohol tastes like water.
“Ah, I see.” He taps his nose as my silence continues. “If you told me, you’d have to kill me.”
“No,” I answer firmly. “If I told you, I’d have my men kill you.”
Freddy lets out a burst of laughter, causing several guests to turn and look our way. They either smile or laugh along, determined to associate themselves with the art dealer’s fun. Julianna joins in, her light laugh floating above the rest. When I look at her, I see pride in her warm brown eyes.
“You’re a funny guy, Titan.” He claps my back with another hard thump, then pulls his hand back to rub his palm.
I’ve never been called funny in my seven hundred years of life, and by the way Julianna nearly chokes on her drink, I think she agrees it’s an unusual word to use in describing me.
After the laughter dies down, Freddy says, “I hear you’re a collector.”
“Yes.” I nod. It is difficult to maintain my calm as the Pull roars in my chest, getting ever louder as our conversation turns to artifacts. “For the right pieces.”
“Ah, a discerning man.” His gaze lingers on Julianna. His interest in her is clear, but she has been playing him well. She shows him interest but has not promised him anything more and has still made her association with me clear.
“I have a small but healthy art collection. I’m far more interested in ancient relics.”
