Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 77485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
There were a bunch of odd paintings and macabre sculptures—one deemed the Veiled Virgin with a contorted face, among other things I couldn’t possibly name. I stopped a few feet behind a balding man and curvy blonde having a conversation about a painting.
The man looked old enough to be her great grandfather, but seeing as his weathered hand was firmly planted on her ass, that likely wasn’t the case. I took a quiet breath and braved approaching them. With the looks I’d been receiving half the evening when I dared speak to some of these pleasant individuals, I loathed to interrupt, but it’s not like I had much of a choice.
“Beef carpaccio?” I asked politely, keeping my voice low.
Without sparing me a glance, the man let go of his partner’s ass and reached back for one of the delicacies. I counted what was left and silently rejoiced. If I could hand off the final three, I’d have a valid excuse to slip away for a few minutes. It shouldn’t be too hard. These things seemed to be a crowd favorite. I personally didn’t see the appeal in them. Even if I had all the money in the world, I couldn’t imagine myself fancying thin slices of decorated raw meat.
It brought back memories of when I handled freshly skinned chickens.
I stepped away from the couple and made my way back around my side of the room. I was waved off twice and then completely ignored before finally ridding myself of the last meaty delicacies. I added my serving tray to the small pile waiting to be collected by kitchen staff and lingered near the back of the room, giving myself a few minutes breather.
More guests arrived as another set of items were brought onto the dais, the room full of soft chatter and music. There was no auctioneer, just two older men in suits minding the stage so no one got too close.
I’d worked out that this was a silent auction kind of thing. Selections up for bid would remain for a set amount of time during which the bidders would be tapping away on their phones. They didn’t have to give them up like we did.
The process wasn’t nearly as exciting as someone firing off numbers and specs. I imagined it had to be done this way due to the heavy degree of privacy they were aiming for. Anya hadn’t been exaggerating when she mentioned how exclusive it was. All the entrances and exits were being safeguarded so that outsiders couldn’t sneak in.
I searched the room to see if I could spot her, not having any luck. A few men looked my way, one’s gaze lingering for longer than was socially polite. As I contemplated going to get another tray of appetizers to pass around—or plotting an escape—a dark-haired woman stepped into my line of sight.
There was a look in her eyes that gave immediate cause for concern, yet no one paid her much attention. She started to approach me and faltered. I smiled to reassure her I was staff, but the look of trepidation remained.
She subtly glanced behind her and then came forward with a renewed determination.
“Are you okay, ma’am?” I asked once she was closer, keeping my voice low.
“Quickly,” she whispered, making a motion with her hand.
I looked down and saw a small slip of paper grasped between her fingers. Deducing she wanted me to be discrete, I plucked it from her as subtly as I could and read what was written.
Diabolus has come for you.
I re-read it, brow pinching in confusion. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”
From just over her shoulder, I caught sight of Shana making her way towards us. The second my attention shifted elsewhere, the woman snatched the paper back and stuffed it into her mouth.
Bewildered, I watched as she chewed and swallowed, rendering me speechless. The trepidation morphed into what I could only describe as something that rang of desperation before she turned and walked away without another word.
What in the world?
“What’s with her?” Shana echoed my private thoughts once she reached me, staring after the woman.
“I have no idea.”
She leaned closer and lowered her voice. “I should’ve warned you, some of these people are a bit, er, different.”
I wasn’t sure if that applied to what just happened. Everything about her behavior indicated something was wrong.
I decided right then to keep my mouth shut. If she needed help, maybe this was her way of trying to get it. I wasn’t sure what Shana would do if I told her.
I’d feel terrible if I made a bad situation worse by involving the wrong people. I wanted to find her again without being obvious about it, but first I had to deal with this.
“Did you need me for something?”
“Oh, yes. I need to borrow ya for a moment.”