"Roger that. "
The four of them dematerialized and reappeared on the rear stoop in a flanking formation that provided as much protection to Wrath as possible: Tohr was right in front of the king, John to his right, Qhuinn to his left. V immediately assumed the rear.
And right on cue, Assail opened the door.
Chapter Forty
Tohr's first impression of their host was that Assail hadn't changed at all. He was still big enough to be a Brother, with hair so dark he made V seem like a blond. And his clothes were, as always, formal and perfectly tailored. He was also as cagey as ever, his stare shrewd and hooded. . . seeing too much, capable of too much.
Another fine addition to the continent.
Not.
The aristocrat smiled in a way that didn't reach his eyes. "I'm guessing that's Wrath in the middle of all those bodies?"
"Show some fucking respect," V snapped.
"Compliments are the condiment of conversation. " Assail turned away, leaving them to come through the jambs by themselves. "They just get in the way - "
Wrath dematerialized right in the guy's path, moving so fast they met chest-to-chest.
Baring fangs long as daggers, the king growled low. "Watch your mouth, son. Or I'll make it impossible for you to throw any more bullshit around. "
Assail stepped back, his eyes narrowing like he was reading Wrath's vital statistics. "You're not like your father. "
"Neither are you. Unfortunately. "
As V shut the door, Assail went for his inside pocket - and immediately had four gun muzzles pointed at his head. As he froze, his eyes went from weapon to weapon.
"I was getting out a cigar. "
"I'd do it slowly if I were you," Wrath murmured. "My boys wouldn't mind dropping you where you stand. "
"Good thing we're not in my living room. I love that rug. " He glanced over at V. "You sure you want to do this here in the mudroom?"
"Yeah, bitch, I am," Vishous ground out.
"Window phobia?"
"You were about to light up," Wrath said. "Or get lit up. How about we solve that one first and then talk about your sieve of a house. "
"I like the view. "
"Which could be me standing over your grave," V announced as he nodded at the guy's disappeared hand.
Cocking a brow, Assail pulled out a long Cuban, and made a point to show it to everybody. Then he went into a side pocket, took out a gold snipper, and held it up to his well-armed peanut gallery.
"Anyone care to join me? No?" He clipped the end off and lit up, seemingly unconcerned that his head was still in the crosshairs.
After a couple of puffs, he said, "So I want to know something. "
"Don't give me an opening like that," V muttered.
"Is that why you finally called me?" Wrath asked.
"Yes, it is. " The vampire rolled his cigar back and forth between his thumb and forefinger. "Do you have any intention of altering the laws concerning commerce with humans?"
Leaning to the side, Tohr did a flash scan of what he could see of the rest of the house - which wasn't much: modern kitchen, a hint of the dining room, a living room out the far side. Finding no one moving through the empty rooms, he refocused.