Vampires Are Foreve(98)

“Hello?” she said as she placed the phone to her ear.

“Inez, I’m sorry to be taking so long,” Thomas said quietly, and she presumed it was in case she was being read and then immediately tried not to think about that.

“That’s all right,” she murmured, managing not to look around and try to spot the men on the roof where they were supposed to be positioned to watch her.

“I shouldn’t be much longer, but in the meantime, I was thinking about that seventh person business.”

Inez tilted her head, a frown plucking at her brow. “Were you?”

“Yes, and I want you to think who those seven people might be while you wait,” Thomas said, his voice very solemn.

Inez stiffened, understanding at once.

“Can you do that?” Thomas didn’t sound like he really wanted her to, but she wasn’t surprised. He’d been angry with her ever since she’d agreed to be the bait in Bastien and Etienne’s plan. In fact, he’d been short and stiff with her when he brought her here to the café. She’d almost been relieved when he’d left after sitting with her for ten minutes or so.

“Yes,” she answered calmly. “I’ll do that.”

There was a long silence and she knew Thomas wanted to say something, but was hesitating. Finally, he simply said, “I’ll see you soon.”

“Yes,” Inez whispered and closed the phone, and then slipped it back into her purse.

Leaving her purse on the table, she closed her book, but continued to hold it. She stared down at it, trying to do what Thomas had suggested and then glanced around as she heard a phone ring. Spotting Rachel pressing her phone to her ear, she glanced quickly away, cutting off the thought that Etienne must be calling to tell her what was going on. And then her gaze moved to Terri and away, as her phone too began to ring.

Forcing her mind away from the two women, Inez concentrated on focusing her thoughts. It took her several moments to manage it, however, but finally she found herself picking away at the puzzle of who the seven people in Marguerite’s party could have been, but nothing happened. She wasn’t suddenly controlled and forced to leave the café. Instead, half an hour passed and then her phone, Rachel’s, and Terri’s all rang at the same time.

“He’s not going to make his move,” Thomas said in her ear. “Something must have scared him off. Etienne and Bastien and I are coming down.”

Inez felt her back and shoulders, and indeed, her entire body suddenly relax. She’d thought she’d been relatively calm about sitting there playing bait under the watchful eyes of five immortals, but now that it was over, Inez realized she hadn’t been as relaxed as she’d thought, or even really distracted by the book she’d been reading. It had absorbed her conscious attention, but her subconscious had been as wound up as a clock.

“We’ll be there in about five minutes,” Thomas continued. “Why don’t you order us both a cappuccino and we’ll relax a bit and decide where you want to have your last meal as a mortal.”

Inez wanted to smile at his words, he certainly sound cheerful saying them, but then he wasn’t the one who was going to suffer the unbearable agony, drowning in a vat of acid that’s eating you up inside and out, horrible, nightmare-ridden, desperate pain that will make you wish someone would just put a bullet in your brain and end it all. At least that’s how she thought Etienne had put it. While she wanted to be with Thomas, the whole suffering-the-agony-of-the-damned part to do so kind of sucked.

“Yes,” she said her tone solemn. “I’ll go order us both a cappuccino and see you when you get here.”

“I love you,” Thomas said and then hung up before she could respond. Inez wasn’t sure if she was glad or not. It suddenly occurred to her that she hadn’t yet actually told him that she loved him. She’d nodded when Rachel had asked if she loved Thomas, but had never got the chance to actually say the words to him. She would do so the minute he got here, Inez decided…and then maybe she’d suggest they put off turning her until after Marguerite was found, or maybe longer. She loved him, but was not a great fan of pain.

“Inez? I’m going down to get another tea while I wait for the men to get here. Do you want anything?”

Glancing up, Inez smiled as she peered over at Terri in her wig and dress. She looked totally different in the outfit. Standing, she said, “I’ll come with you, I have to order Thomas a cappuccino too.”

“Okay. Don’t forget your purse,” Terri said easily.