lying on the floor, covered in blood. I tried to save him.” He stared at his hands. “I tried.”
She went over and took him by the arm. “Come over here and sit down,” she said. She looked at Jeff. “Sorry about the damned beastie thing.”
“No problem.” His slight smile lightened the tension on his face for a moment. “But you need to stand back from him, miss.”
“Oh, right.” No sense in contributing to cross-contamination or whatever the hell it was called. She helped Caladh to a chair and then sat down herself, keeping an empty chair between her and the councilor. “Is there anything I can do for you?”
He shook his head then stiffened before turning toward her. His scowl brought some color to his pale face. “Later, when we can talk in private,” he muttered so low she had trouble hearing him, “you can explain why you came here. For now”—he looked at the guard—“Jeff, make Miss O’Brien comfortable in the employee lounge, would you? She doesn’t need to be mixed up in all of this.”
“Yes, sir.” Jeff motioned down the hallway. “This way, miss.”
Keira stood and walked with him down the hall, casting one last glance over her shoulder to see Caladh sitting by himself, shoulders straight, eyes staring in front of him, while activity took place all around him. The calm in the eye of the storm.
Had Deoul’s murder been at Stefan’s instigation? It seemed too coincidental for it not to have been.
By Dagda’s balls, would any of them make it out of this mess alive?
Finn accepted the bottle of chilled beer Caine handed him.
“Tori just called to let Nix know that Deoul was murdered at council headquarters.” Caine walked toward an overstuffed armchair across from the sofa Finn was on.
“Murdered!” Finn leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “By whom?”
Caine shrugged. “With all the prets that are in and out of there, it’s impossible to know at the moment. But it certainly underscores the importance of what we’re doing, and the need to keep it a secret, wouldn’t you say?” He shook his head and sat down. “It can’t be a coincidence that the council president was taken out three days after my ‘murder.’”
Nix perched on the plump arm of his chair, and he reached behind her. From the way he moved, Finn assumed Caine was stroking his hand across her back. It was the penultimate picture of wedded bliss. Finn was actually happy for them.
“No, I imagine Liuz is behind this.”
“And no one besides the three of us and Lucifer know what we’re doing?” Caine stared at Finn, his gaze implacable. “Everyone must think you’ve joined the pret group as a viable, energetic member. One who will do what’s necessary to further the group’s cause.” He let out a low sigh. “I don’t even know who on the council I can trust. I think I can trust Caladh, but I’m not sure about anyone else, so at this point I haven’t shared anything with anyone.”
“I haven’t told anyone, either.”
“Not even your friend Keira?”
He stared at Caine and took a swig of beer. “What part of ‘I haven’t told anyone’ did you not understand?”
“I’m just making sure,” the vampire said. He leaned back against his chair, relaxed and at ease.
“Though my father did tell Betty.”
“What?” Caine sat up, no longer so relaxed.
Nix also straightened. “Wait, what?” Her gaze narrowed on Finn. “So you’re telling me that Lucifer really is your father, like all the rumors say?”
Finn merely raised a brow and took another sip of beer.
She looked at Caine. “Did you know?” she asked.
He glanced up at her. “Lucifer told me several months ago.”
At the dark look Nix shot her husband, Finn figured Caine should’ve kept that last little bit to himself.
Eyes flashing with demon fire, Nix jumped to her feet. “Let me make sure I have this straight. Several months ago my mother’s boyfriend told you that Finn was his son, and you didn’t tell me? You know I’ve been wondering about that.”
“It wasn’t my story to tell, honey.” Caine tugged her down onto his lap. Finn noticed that she didn’t put up much of a fight. “It was Finn’s.”
She turned her glare on Finn. “And why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I like to keep you guessing, little cousin. It keeps your mind sharp.”
She let out an aggrieved sigh. “I don’t know how many times I have to tell you. Don’t call me that.”