AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Jesse loaded his emails and blinked until the message came into focus. “Seven p.m.,” he said, fighting his voice to be steady. “We were gonna do that dead-run of the new firewall.”
“I can do that,” Tom said. “You’re his first meeting of the day…night.” He chuckled. “Must be important.”
Filip came in carrying a mug, bringing with him the smells of fresh snow and beef tea, and the conversation turned to the installation of the new lock on the moor gate.
Jesse stood, shifting from one foot to the other, outside the doors to Magnusson’s study at six fifty-eight that evening. He was trying so hard not to remember the scrape of those sharp nails, the power in the hands that had teased and taunted him, the sternness in the voice that had commanded him. But it filled his mind and swelled through his flesh like billowing steam, and he wondered again what he was going to say when they came face-to-face again.
He was chasing his thoughts around in the same circle yet again when the door opened. The baron stood there, his eyes dark and deep as the night sky, with a soft smile playing on his lips.
“Jesse. So glad you could join us.”
“Us?”
Magnusson gestured into the room. Jesse moved inside. The fire was glowing, making the room warm and fragrant. Its golden light was augmented by lamps, but the low illumination made the red-haired haemophile on the sofa look as though he had been painted into the scene. His emerald eyes fixed on Jesse, assessing. A glass of red liquid sat on a table at his elbow.
“Jesse. Darragh Kelly. You met the other night?”
Jesse nodded, willing himself not to look away from the unblinking gaze. “The lawyer, right?”
“That’s not what I was called in my day,” Kelly said, his rolling accent soft but words level as stone. “But I suppose that’s what you’d call me now. I hear we’ve you to thank for our insight into the case against Emory?”
Jesse’s face heated. He looked to Magnusson for guidance, but it was like trying to read a cliff face. “Uh…yeah, I guess?”
“Jesse performed exceptionally,” Magnusson said, pouring a brandy. “And you told me yourself, there have been no consequences, as promised.”
“So the human can break the law without getting caught,” Kelly went on. “That doesn’t mean this plan of yours is a good one, Emory.”
“I have as much faith in your abilities,” Magnusson said, holding out the brandy to Jesse, “as I do in Jesse’s.”
Jesse took the glass with numb hands but didn’t drink. He looked between the two men—haemophiles—with his mind reeling. The silence stretched on as they stared at each other.
“Uh, sorry to interrupt the meeting or whatever,” he said. “But why am I here?”
“You’re not making my job any easier, Emory,” Kelly said, standing with the fluid grace of a dancer and draining his glass of blood. “That’s all I’ll say.”
“At this point, I can’t see that they’ve left me any choice,” Magnusson intoned.
Kelly sighed and set his glass aside. “I’ll do what I can, old friend. Thank you at least for informing me in advance…this time.” He straightened his immaculate pinstripe suit and turned to Jesse. “As for you, young man. I trust the luck that has kept you alive this long extends at least until this thing is done. Emory, is your security engineer on site? We have a meeting scheduled.”
“Tom? Yes. You’ll find him in his room.”
“Thank you. Goodnight.” He strode for the door and left. Jesse blinked after him.
“Do I get to know what that was about?” Magnusson looked at him. Jesse swallowed. “Sir.”
“In time,” the haemophile said, pouring a drink for himself.
“So breaking into that office wasn’t enough to prove you can trust me?”
“I trust you, Jesse,” he said, raising a glass to his lips and sipping. “It’s everyone else I’m having trouble with right now. But you will know all you need to—and soon.” He put the glass down and stepped close. Jesse’s hand tightened around his glass. “I would like you to accompany me to a function this weekend.”
“A ‘function’?”
“Yes. A Christmas party…at the mayor’s house. I have some business to conduct there.”
“At a party?”
“She wants it discreet, so thought it was best to meet while the household is distracted.”
