“I’m tight.”
John pulled at the hem of his T-shirt and turned away. As he walked to the door, he couldn’t breathe.
Oh, please let him not run into anyone on the way to his room-
“John.”
He stopped. Pivoted back around.
As he met Tohr’s weary navy blue stare, John felt like his knees were having an out-of-socket experience.
Tohr closed his eyes and opened his arms.
John ran to the bed and grabbed on to his father for everything he was worth. He buried his face in what was once a broad chest and listened to the heart that still beat inside of it. Of the two of them he held on harder, not because Tohr didn’t care, but because he hadn’t the strength.
They both cried until there was no more breath with which to wail.
Chapter Fifty-two
Triggers didn’t have to be on guns to be trouble, Phury thought as he stared at ZeroSum’s glass-and-steel facade.
Shit, detox was about the body banging through a shift in chemistry. It didn’t do jack dick for the cravings that were in your head. And, sure the wizard was smaller than him, but the bastard still hadn’t left. And Phury had the sense it was going to be a long while before the voice did.
With a kick to his own ass, he walked up to the bouncer, who gave him an odd look, but let him in. Inside, he didn’t pay any attention to the crowd, which as usual parted to make way for him. He didn’t nod at the bouncer standing at the velvet rope in front of the VIP section. He didn’t say anything to iAm, who let him into Rehv’s office.
“To what do I owe this pleasure,” Rehvenge said from behind his desk.
Phury stared at his dealer.
Rehv was wearing a standard-issue black suit about which there was nothing standard. The fit was gorgeous, even though the male was sitting down, and the fabric gleamed under the low lights, a clear indication that there was a bit of silk in the weave. The lapels lay perfectly flat on a powerful chest, and the sleeves showed precisely the right amount of shirt cuff.
Rehv frowned. “I can feel your emotions from here. You’ve done something.”
Phury had to laugh. “Yeah, you might say that. And I’m on the way to Wrath’s now, because I have some serious ’splainin’ to do. I came here first, though, because my
Rehvenge’s brows shot up over his amethyst eyes. “
“No.” Phury cleared his throat. “Look, I know you have houses. Like, multiples. I want to know if I can rent one for a couple of months. I need a lot of rooms. A lot.”
“Brotherhood mansion too full?”
“No.”
“Mmm.” Rehv tilted his head to the side, the shaved parts of his mohawk smooth. “Wrath has other places, doesn’t he? And I know your brother V does. I’ve heard he’s got a BDSM pad somewhere. Hafta admit I’m surprised you came to me.”
“Just figured I’d start with you.”
“Mmm.” Rehv stood up and relied on his cane as he went over and opened a sliding panel behind his desk. “Nice out fit, by the way. You get it at Victoria’s Secret? ’Scuse me for one sec.”
As the male went into the bedroom that was revealed, Phury glanced down at himself. No wonder those people had been giving him strange looks. He was wearing his white satin robing from the other side.
Rehv came out a moment later. In his hands, he had a pair of black alligator-skin loafers with telltale bridle bit links.
He dropped the Guccis at Phury’s feet. “You might want to slip your bare soles into these. And I’m sorry, I don’t have anything you can rent.”
Phury took a deep breath. “Okay. Thanks-”
“But you can live in my great camp in the Adirondacks for free. For as long as you want.”
Phury blinked. “I can p-”
“If you’re about to say you can pay me, fuck you. Like I said, I don’t have anything you can rent. Trez can meet you up there, give you the codes. You’ll see me right before dawn after the first Tuesday of every month, but other than that you’ll have the place to yourselves.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Maybe someday you’ll return a favor. And we’ll just leave it at that.”
“My honor is yours.”
“And my shoes are yours. Even after you get your own back.”
Phury arranged the pair, then slid into them. They fit perfectly. “I’ll bring them-”
“Nope. Consider it a mating gift.”
“Well… thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I know you like Gucci-”
“Not for the loafers, actually, although they are fabulous. I meant… for putting me on the no-buy list. I know Z talked to you.”
Rehv smiled. “So you’re getting clean, huh.”
“I’m going to do my best to stop.”
“Mmm.” That amethyst stare narrowed. “I think you’re going to make it, too. You’ve got that kind of resolve I’ve seen in the eyes of people who come into my office a lot, and then one night, for whatever reason, they decide never to come again. And that is that. It’s good to see.”
“Yeah. You’re not going to catch me around here anymore.”
Rehv’s phone went off, and as he checked the caller, he frowned. “Hold up. You might be interested in this. It’s the de facto head of the Princeps Council.” As he picked up, the male’s voice was part impatience, part boredom. “I’m doing all right. You? Yeah. Yeah. Terrible, yeah. No, I’m still in town, call me a stalwart.”
Rehv leaned back in his chair and played with his envelope opener, the one that was shaped like a dagger. “Yup. Uh-huh. Right. Yeah, I know, the vacuum in leadership is- Excuse me?” Rehv let the opener fall onto the blotter. “What did you say? Oh, really. Well, what about Marissa? Ah. Indeed. And I’m not surprised…”
Phury had to wonder exactly what kind of bomb had just been dropped.
After a while, Rehv cleared his throat. Then a slow smile spread across his face. “Well, then, considering how you feel… I’d love to. Thank you.” He hung up and his eyes lifted. “Guess who the new
Phury felt his mouth fall open. “You can’t. How the hell can you-”
“Turns out I’m the oldest surviving member of my line, and there is a rule that females may not serve as
“Holy… crap.”
“Yeah, if you live long enough, you can get to see just about anything. Tell your boss it’s going to be a pleasure doing business with him.”
“I will. I absolutely will. And listen, thank you again for this. For everything.” He went over to the door. “You need me, ever, just call.”
Rehvenge dipped his head once. “I will, vampire. Sin-eaters always collect on favors.”
Phury smiled a little. “The politically correct term is
As he left the office Rehv’s low, slightly evil laughter rolled like thunder.
Phury materialized in front of the Brotherhood mansion and straightened his robe. In his desire to make a good
