Page 23 of A Devious Arrangement
His throat bobs as he swallows, and his fingers tremble as they close his wallet with a sharp click. He doesn’t look at me as he says, “They’re just tips from tonight. There are a lot of very kind people here.”
I chuckle, but he’s caught more of my curiosity than he can handle. “There isn’t a single person here that would give you anything, even if it would save your life. So why don’t you start from the beginning and explain what it’s really from?”
He’s ghost white as he glances behind him to the hallway and back to me as if gauging which of the two evils to go with.
What is he up to? I rewind the events of tonight in my mind. The Winstons forking up money. Them harassing the server… The server dropping drinks on her… Stasia…Stasia disappearing out of sight in the chaos of the accident. Don’t tell me… “Are you working with Miss Volkov?”
“I…don’t know everyone’s name yet. It’s my first day. Please don’t tell my boss.”
“Anastasia Volkov. Stunning, blue eyes, red hair…”
His eyes widen in recognition.
Gotcha.Warmth bubbles in my chest as fascination builds. What is she scheming now? “So you’re working with Miss Volkov.”
“No, Sir.”
“I’d be pissed that you’re lying to me, but I’ll admit that I’m a little impressed that you’re keeping your word to Stasia. It won’t end well for you though.”
“Stasia?” the server repeats. “Wait, you’re the guy who was speaking with her. Are you two close?”
My jaw ticks in the effort to keep my smile from my face. “You could say that.”
“I guess it’s fine, then. She asked me to provide a short distraction.”
“Why?”
“She didn’t say where she was going. Just to be here at this time to create a diversion. I thought she was sneaking out.”
I run my tongue along the sharp edge of my teeth. There’s an unsettling feeling twisting through me at the thought of her disappearing out of here to meet someone else. “Where did she go?”
“She just…” His words cut off, and he takes a step back but is smart enough not to flee. “She went through that hall. That’s all I know, I swear.”
He’s not finished explaining when I go around him and head toward where I saw Stasia disappear. I’ve given her way too long of a head start, letting myself be distracted. Although, now I’m eager to know what she’s doing even more. Whatever it is, it’s more than just boredom. You don’t bribe a waiter with that amount of money if you aren’t plotting something. I should tell my brothers, but I’m not going to do that. I intend to catch her on my own, to be the only one who figures her out. For the present time, I’ll watch over her. See what kind of trouble she gets up to.
The hallway is empty, with a clear view from one end to the other. There are no exits here, just rooms where they store the chairs and tables when they aren’t using them. My steps are quiet, muffled by the carpet, as I search the entire right wing of the hall. As expected, each room I open is nothing but decorations.
My phone dings.
Damon: Where are you?
Fuck. I forgot we had an Order meeting tonight.
There’s a hum of electricity under my skin as I turn in a one-eighty circle and look down the hall to where the Vault entrance is. There’s no way she’d be that crazy, would she? I bite the corner of my mouth. God, I hope she is.
My steps pick up as I eat through the distance, each pace driving my heart rate further. It’s impossible for her to enter the Vault, so what the hell is she trying to do?
I’m feet away from the entrance when there’s a tin-like click to my right, and the light gray storage door opens, revealing a silver wolf–masked face hidden under an Order of Saints black hood.
“Who are you?”
They clear their throat, head tilted down in respect. “Volkov.”
I rock back on my heels. Was he really here all this time? Stasia just wanted to meet her brother? The tension that’s been building in my spine since finding out she paid for a distraction dissipates. “Are you sick?”
More throat clearing. “Fine.”
I look down the other end of the hallway. “Where’s your sister?”
