"Yes." Roman slapped his old friend on the shoulder. "Your fusion drink of whisky and blood is next on our list."
"Och, good," Angus said.
"I tried the Chocolood." Jean-Luc wrinkled his Gallic nose. "It was too sweet for my taste, but the ladies love it."
"They love it too much." Roman opened his office door. "That's why I invented the second drink we're introducing tonight. Blood Lite."
"A diet drink?" Jean-Luc entered his office.
"Yes." Roman remained at the door until all the men had entered. "I was receiving too many complaints from the women in my coven. They were gaining weight and holding me responsible."
"Umph." Angus took a seat in front of Roman's desk. "I've had a wee bit of grousing from my women, too, but it dinna stop them from wanting the stuff."
"They love it." Gregori perched on the corner of Roman's desk. "Sales have tripled in the last quarter."
"Hopefully, Blood Lite will take care of the weight problem. It's low in cholesterol and also has an extremely low blood sugar count." When Roman saw that Laszlo was hovering by the door, he laid a hand on the chemist's shoulder. "Laszlo is my most gifted chemist. Last night he received a death threat."
Laszlo studied his scuffed black loafers and twisted a button on his rental tux.
Angus shifted in his chair, his expression grim as he looked Laszlo over. "Who would threaten this man?"
"We believe it was Ivan Petrovsky." Roman closed the door, then crossed the room to his desk. "Och." Angus frowned. "The Russian coven master here in America. According to my intelligence reports, he works as a paid assassin. But who would pay to kill yer wee chemist?"
"The Malcontents would want to kill anyone who is involved in the making of synthetic blood,"Jean-Luc said.
"Aye, that's true," Angus agreed. "Is that the case then?"
Roman sat behind his desk. "We haven't heard from them since last October when they left their little Halloween present at my front door."
"You mean the explosives?" Jean-Luc turned toward the Scotsman. "You're the expert. Who do you think is the leader of these True Ones?"
"We have it narrowed down to three suspects." Angus loosened the lace collar around his throat. "I thought we would discuss it during the conference. Something has to be done about them."
"I agree." Jean-Luc tapped his walking stick on the floor as if to accentuate how strongly he felt. He had reason to feel strongly. The Malcontents had tried to kill him, too.
Roman clasped his hands on his desk. "If you don't have Ivan Petrovsky on your list of suspects, then you should add him."
"He's already at the top of the list," Angus said. "Why has he threatened yer chemist? Ye would make a more likely target."
"I'm sure he'll get around to me as soon as he realizes I'm responsible for this latest situation." Angus narrowed his eyes. "Explain yerself."
Roman shifted his weight in his chair. "It's a long story."
"They always are." Jean-Luc gave him a knowing smile. "And they always involve a woman, n 'estce pas?
"In this case, yes." Roman took a deep breath. "Her name is Shanna Whelan. She's Ivan Petrovsky's latest mark. The Russian mafia wants her dead, and Ivan's working for them."
"Ye gave the woman yer protection?" Angus asked.
"But of course." Jean-Luc shrugged. "If she is a member of his coven, it is his duty to protect her."
"Laszlo was instrumental in her escape," Gregori explained. "That's why Petrovsky wants to kill him."
With a groan, Laszlo leaned over to pick up a button off the floor.
"So ye must protect the lady and the chemist." Angus drummed his fingers on the arms of his chair.
" Tis a tricky situation, to be sure, but one you couldna help. Our most sacred responsibility as coven masters is to protect our followers."
Roman swallowed hard. The shit was about to hit the fan. "She's not a member of my coven."
Angus and Jean-Luc stared at him a full five seconds.
"She's mortal."
Jean-Luc blinked. Angus's knuckles turned white as he gripped the arms of his chair. They exchanged wary looks.
Finally Angus cleared his throat. "Ye're interfering with the assassination of a mortal?"
"Yes. I gave her sanctuary. I felt it was justified since she's being hunted by one of our kind."
Jean-Luc placed both hands on the gold knob of his walking stick and leaned forward. "It is not like you to involve yourself with the mortal world. Especially when it could result in danger to your coven."
"I … was in need of her services at the time."
Jean-Luc shrugged. "We all have needs from time to time. But we have a saying in French-in the dark, all cats are gray. Why risk so much for this one mortal?"
"It's hard to explain. She … she's special."
Angus banged a fist on his chair. "There's nothing more important than keeping our existence a secret from the mortals. I hope ye dinna confide in the girl."
"I kept her as ignorant as possible." Roman sighed. "Unfortunately, my … harem couldn't keep their mouths shut."
Angus's frown was forbidding. "How much does she know?"
"My name, my business. Where I live and that I keep a group of women. She has no idea we're vampires." So far. Roman knew she was clever enough to figure out the truth.
Angus snorted. "I hope the lass was worth it. If Petrovsky finds out ye're hiding her-"
"He knows," Gregori announced.
"Merde," Jean-Luc whispered.
Angus grimaced. "Was he invited to the ball?"
"Yes." Roman crossed his arms on the desk and leaned forward. "The invitations went out before this problem arose. Petrovsky is invited every year as a gesture of goodwill, but he hasn't attended in eighteen years."
"Since the introduction of synthetic blood," Jean-Luc added. "I remember his reaction. He was furious. Refused to try the stuff and stormed out of the building, yelling curses and threats to all who betrayed his outdated ideology."
While Jean-Luc talked, Angus unbuttoned his jacket and withdrew a pistol from a shoulder holster.
He checked to make sure it was fully loaded. "I'm ready for the bastard. Silver bullets."
Roman winced. "Try not to shoot any of my coven, Angus."
The Scotsman lifted a brow. "I'm betting he'll come. After all, he knows ye have the girl. Is she here at Romatech?"
"I don't have her anymore. She escaped."
"What?" Angus jumped to his feet. "Are ye saying she escaped while my Highlanders were on duty?"
Roman exchanged a look with Gregori. "Well, yes. She did."
Jean-Luc chuckled. "She is special, n 'est-ce pas"?
With a muttered curse, Angus stashed his gun back into its holster. He paced across the office. "I canna believe it. A wee mortal lass outsmarting my Highlanders? Who was in charge at the time?
I'll flay him alive, the bastard."
"Connor was in charge," Roman answered, "but she was smart enough to avoid him. She picked a guard who didn't know her. She used a disguise and pretended she had come with Simone.
Apparently, her French accent is very convincing."
"I like her more all the time," Jean-Luc said.
Angus growled and continued to pace.
Gregori's cell phone rang. "I'll take this outside." He went out the door.
"Speaking of Simone-" Roman frowned at Jean-Luc. "Why did you let her come early? She's been nothing but trouble."
The Frenchman shrugged. "There is your answer, mon ami. She is trouble. I needed a break."
"She destroyed a nightclub the first night she was here. Last night she threatened to murder a few of my … women."
"But of course. La jalousie. It drives the women mad." Jean-Luc set his cane across his lap.
"Luckily, Simone is not in my harem. It is hard enough being her employer. If I were her master, she would drive me to despair. I have enough problems with my harem as it is."
Angus was still pacing back and forth, glowering at the floor. "I'm thinking of getting rid of mine," he grumbled. Slowly he became aware that the other men were staring at him. He stopped and squared his broad shoulders. " 'Tis not that I doona enjoy them. Hell, I enjoy them all the time. The lassies canna keep their hands off of me."
"Ah. Moi, aussi." Jean-Luc nodded and looked at Roman.
"Me, too," Roman repeated the words in English. He wondered if the other men were lying, too.
Angus scratched his chin. " 'Tis hard to keep that many wenches happy. They think I'm supposed to keep them entertained every night. They doona understand I have a business to run."
"Oui, exactement," Jean-Luc murmured. "I wonder sometimes if I am being selfish, keeping so many beautiful women all to myself. There are many lonesome male vampires in the world."
God's blood. Roman couldn't believe it. The other coven masters were just as tired of keeping a harem as he was. Maybe Radinka was right, and it was time to let the old tradition go. After all, he had convinced most of the vampire world to give up biting for the bottle.
Gregori slipped back inside, pocketing his cell phone. "That was Connor. Petrovsky and a few of his followers are on the move. Headed north into New Rochelle. Connor's following them."