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"Tell me," Dekes said "What do you like best about s to admire about the construction, but antly blend in with the existing Blue Sands hotel It looks like you’re going tolandscape And of course, the overall structure of the casino itself It’s going to have beautiful architectural lines"

Landscaping and architecture weren’t exactly h classes in enough subjects at Ashland Co and ent

My answers in his ot Dekes alone, the sooner I could tell the vaure out if I needed to put hiht have a few moments of your time," I said "So I can conduct a private interview one-on-one and let my readers discover the real man behind the curtain, so to speak"

Vanessa stiffened at my words, but Dekes didn’t notice Or if he did, he just didn’t care

"Of course," the vampire murmured "There are a few folks that I need to say hello to first, but I’d be happy to give you a private interview Why don’t you o inside and get out of the heat for a while"

I smiled "It’s a date"

Dekes returned my smile with an even wider one of his own "Indeed Now, please excuse me In the meantime, I’m sure that my lovely ill be more than happy to talk to you about the interior of the casino, since she’s the decorator for the project Vanessa, please keep this lovely lady entertained for a few uests"

Vanessa pinched her lips together into so that was supposed to resemble a smile "Of course It will be my pleasure It always is"

Dekes pressed a kiss to his wife’s cheek beforeoff into the crowd The two of us stood there and watched hi one hand after another

"He’s certainly char than I expected him to be"

Vanessa stared at me, her black eyes cold in her face "Do yourself a favor Stay away fro to the rancor in her voice "You’ll get your giant guards to throw me out? I doubt that your husband will let that happen, since he’s so eager totalk to htened her beautiful features "You have no clue what you’re getting yourself into if you go off with my husband for a private chat Don’t say that I didn’t warn you"

She turned on her stiletto and stalked off I watched her weave in and out of the crowd, barely stopping to acknowledge the people who tried to talk to her Her reaction wasn’t unexpected I’d played the part of the saucy seductress et, and irlfriends anted me to stay away fro in the depths of Vanessa’s gaze, burning there along with the faintest flicker of her Fire ic - fear Not for herself, her relationship to Dekes, or whatever threat that I ht pose to her

No, unless I was mistaken, Vanessa’s fear had been for me - and I had no idea why

Chapter 14

I shook off my concerns about Vanessa and wandered back over to the model of the casino A few minutes later, Owen sidled up besideout into the crowd I leaned over, pretending to peer at so nonsense notes on the pad that I’d pulled out ofwith Dekes?" Owen asked, raising his cha tohiine that he’ll take me to his office or somewhere else private so that we can have a little chat"

"Be careful," Ohispered "I didn’t like the way he was looking at you"

"What is it with you and the looks this weekend?" I teased, trying to make a joke

I could see only the side of his face, but the hard set of his hed "Okay, so tellat me?"

Owen frowned "Like you were on the dinner menu, and he was the only one who knew it"

His words echoed what I’d felt when I’d looked into Vanessa’s eyes a few nition, and I couldn’t see the future, not likewasn’t right Oh, the stones of the s Dekes had done here over the years, but there was er on exactly what that ht about calling the whole thing off Just walking away, leaving theI’d never heard of Randall Dekes It would definitely be the safer option, at least until I could gather soht be Fletcher had always toldat a train crossing Get on the tracks to try and beat the train, and you were going to get splattered

But I couldn’t cut and run Not when Callie was counting on et Dekes to leave her alone, even if she wouldn’t admit it to herself - or Donovan I couldn’t abandon Bria’s friend any more than I could any of the other people who’d asked me for help over the last few months Warren and Violet Fox, Roslyn Phillips, Vinnie and Natasha Volga

Like it or not, I’d changed, and I wasn’t the cold-blooded assassin I used to be Bit by bit, piece by piece, my heart had slowly thawed, until noas just as determined to help people as I was to kill them - even if one almost always seemed to follow the other these days

Dekes finished his latest round of handshaking and started scanning the lawn, no doubt looking for me The va s once more Dekes raised his eyebrows and pointed to the house, indicating that he was ready for ourhim I’d be there in aover the casino ht," I oing in Keep an eye out If soet out of here I’ll find a way to slip out, make it back to the beach house, and meet up with you"

"I don’t want to leave you alone here, Gin," Owen murmured