Bill stared at the man with a flat expression. He then slowly looked toward Rurik. “No matter what way Awe-Shuckle-Berry tries to spin it, it wasn’t France saving their own asses, was it?”
Garth chuckled. “And that would be…typical.”
Bill smiled wide and lifted the pie toward Rurik. “Want some? It’s delicious.”
“No,” said Rurik, curling his lip at the sight. All he wanted to do was get on the road to Durham.
“Hey, Commie, did you fight against the Nazis?” asked Bill.
Rurik inclined his head. “I did.”
Bill thumbed his nose at Auberi. “Did you see Frenchie back then?”
“No,” said Rurik. “I would have shot him on sight, ally or not. I have always had little patience for the French and only so much for vampires.”
A loud laugh from Garth cut through the room.
Auberi even chuckled partially under his breath. He licked his lip. “I’ve always enjoyed Russians. They’re good in bed.”
Bill stepped toward Rurik and lowered his voice. “Pretty sure he just asked you to the prom.”
“I do not know what that means,” said Rurik, eyeing the door, ready to get on with his new mission.
“Say no, man. Abort, abort,” Bill repeated. “Looks like he’s into some freaky shit in the bedroom. It’s all fun and games until someone breaks out a hamster and says, hey, let’s see if this will fit up—”
“We get the point,” said Garth, mercifully cutting the man off before he could finish his sentence.
Bill eyed them. “Hey, are any of your asshole buddies werehamsters? Is that a thing? It should be a thing. Tell me it’s a thing.”
“He likes to hear himself speak, doesn’t he?” Garth rubbed his temple, his patience for the small man clearly exhausted.
“That didn’t answer my question,” said Bill with a loud grunt.
Gus put his back to everyone and faced the mirrored wall.
Rurik wanted to join him and no longer be part of the conversation either. “I’m ready to go.”
“I want to know about werehamsters,” said Bill with a stamp of his foot.
Garth groaned. “I’ve never met one. There is a wererat though.”
“Means there is probably a hamster too. Hey, Frenchie, up for giving me some bedroom kink ideas?” asked Bill, focusing in on Auberi. “Ixnay onyay ethay amstershay. Once was enough on that one.”
The therapist eyed Bill. “Are you dressed as Uncle Sam?”
Bill nodded. “Duke said the Russian was having a change of heart about America and wanted to celebrate his birthday with style. Gus decided to be Abe Lincoln. Mostly because he’s so tall and it was the only costume the shop had that didn’t stop partway down his legs.”
Gus, the man in the black top hat, continued to face the mirrored wall as he reached into his front pocket and withdrew a small American flag. He waved it around. He then returned it to his pocket, only to reach into his other pocket and withdraw a small stuffed brown bear. He waved it around as well before shoving it back in his pocket. When he was done, he faced the men once more.
Garth bent his head and touched his brow line. “Who keeps letting them in?”
“I thought it was you,” said Auberi. “You have always had questionable judgment.”
“Ha, jokes on all y’all,” Bill interjected. “I got a keycard. It has my name on it and everything. I’m official now.”
“You have a visitor’s pass,” said Auberi.
“You mean I had a visitor’s pass,” said Bill. “Some of the other teams’ wives did something so my card lets me in anywhere. They think I’m adorable. Most women do.”
Miranda smiled at him before tugging gently on his fake beard, causing pieces of pie to fall to the floor. “You are very adorable.”
Bill beamed. “See?”
She skimmed her hand down him, over his belly, and then around to his arm and back. She pressed in even closer. “So, you like pie? Just so happens, I know a place with an all-you-can-eat buffet of pie.”
Bill stared into her eyes. “Have mercy, woman.”
Gus made a strange noise and flapped about a second before calming.
Bill watched his friend. “Nothing? Really?”
Silence ticked by.
Finally, Bill glanced at Miranda. “Looks like I can’t go to a buffet with you.”
Garth lifted his arm, motioning to Bill and Gus. “You mentioned a catch and they arrived. You’re not thinking of sending them on this surveillance mission too, are you?”
“I am,” said Auberi.
“Another one of Duke’s suggestions?” asked Garth.
Auberi nodded.
“No,” said Rurik, still itching to get a move on it. “I draw the line there.”
“I grow on people,” said Bill. “Plus, I gotta help drive since you’re not back to full strength. Pussy.”
Garth reached out quickly, pushing on Rurik’s shoulder to keep him seated and from going at Bill. Not a moment too soon either.
Rurik looked at Auberi. “I will kill him before we leave this room.”
“Not if you want to get out of here and be back to work,” said Auberi with a sugary-sweet smile. This time he did show fang. “As you noted, I am a doctor. I can just as easily make sure you spend another week here.”
“Want to stay here with me or go on a mission? You pick,” said Miranda.
Rurik’s eyes widened at the thought of being subjected to her a moment longer than need be. “No. I’ll take them with me and do my best not to kill the little one.”
Bill lifted the pie and took a bite, getting even more of it all over the front of himself. He talked as he chewed. “Probably the best offer you’re gonna get out of him, Frenchie.”
“Can we go now?” asked Rurik as he headed for the door.
Chapter Eight
Durham, North Carolina…
Rurik leaned against the black SUV that was parked toward the back of the driveway of the safe house, near the detached garage. After being on the road for nearly three hours, everything on him was stiff, and not in a good way. When
