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But Mattheas not interested in tonight’s entertain wrapped around the second-floor balcony that provided a sheltering overhang for the pedestrians below That floor and the one above were restricted to nificant portion of the Doned up when it was founded in 1839--two years before the Boston Club, officially the oldest gentlemen’s club in New Orleans, opened its doors The rest had been carefully selected according to their looks, breeding, and ability to lose large su tables

Ransome Fayrweather, Marcus’s eldest son and the club’s owner, would be on the second floor in his office overlooking the corner Matthew pushed open the black door and entered the cool, dark bar

The place smelled of bourbon and pheromones, the most familiar cocktail in the city The heels of his shoes ainst the checkered marble floor

It was four o’clock, and only Ransome and his staff were on the premises

"Mr Clairh he’d seen a ghost and took a step toward the cash register One glance from Matthew and he froze

"I’m here to see Ransome" Matthew stalked toward the stairs No one stopped him

Ranso

A man sat with his back to the door and his feet propped up on the sill He earing a black suit, and his hair was the saany chair in which he sat

"Well, well Grandpa’s home," Ransome said in a treacle-dipped drawl He didn’t turn to look at his visitor, and a worn ebony-and-ivory dos you to Royal Street?"

"I understand you wish to settle accounts" Matthew took a seat opposite, leaving the heavy desk between hirandson

Ransolass in an otherwise handso all that sharpness and suggesting a sensual soyou to heel Your brothers and sister have all agreed to support me and the new scion" Matthew sat back in his chair "You’re the last holdout, Ransome"

All of Marcus’s other children had subenetic e, they had been first stunned and then furious After that had coh in vampire law to know that their bloodline made them vulnerable, that if any other vampire found out about their condition, they could face immediate death Marcus’s children needed Matthew as much as he needed them Without him, they would not survive

"I have a better memory than they do," Ransoer

With every day away from Diana, Matthew’s temper shortened and his propensity for violence increased It was vital to have Ransome on his side And yet, at this randson The whole business of confessing and seeking atoneer than he’d anticipated--and it was keeping him far from where he should be

"I had no choice but to kill them, Ransome" It took an effort for Matthew to keep his voice even

"Even now Baldould rather I kill Jack than risk having him expose our secret But Marcus convinced me I had other options"

"Marcus told you that last tied?" Ransome asked

"I have"

"Never try to con a con, Matthew," Ransoot that look in your eye that warns creatures not to cross you Had you lost it, your corpse would be laid out in ive hiister" Matthew’s attention never drifted from Ransome’s face "Tell him to pull the knife from his belt next time"

"I’ll be sure to pass on that tip" Ransoht between his ers "What happened to Juliette Durand?"

The muscle in Matthew’s jaw ticked The last time he came to town, Juliette Durand had been with him When the two left New Orleans, Marcus’s boisterous fanificantly ser to prove her usefulness at a ti the de Clermont family’s problem solver She had disposed of more vampires in New Orleans than Matthew had

"My wife killed her" Matthew didn’t elaborate

"Sounds like you found yourself a good woer before him He took the cap off a nearby pen, the tip of which looked as if it had been chewed by a wild aniame of chance with reen gaze Matthew’s pupils were growing larger by the second Ransome’s lip curled in a scornful smile

"Afraid?" Ransoaiance if you win," Ransome replied, his smile foxy

"And if I lose?" Matthew’s draas not treacle-coated but was just as disar

"That’s where the chance co into the air

Matthew caught it "I’ll take your wager"

"You don’t knohat the game is yet," Ransome said

Matthew stared at him impassively

Ransome’s lips tipped up at the corners "If you weren’t such a bastard, I row to like you,"

he observed

"Likewise," Matthew said crisply "The gaer closer "If you can narandchild of o--as well as any other va the way--I will throw randson

"Wish you’d asked for the terrinned

"Malachi Smith Crispin Jones Suzette Boudrot Claude Le Breton" Matthew paused as Ransoer’s entries for the naical order instead of alphabetical That’s how I remember them"

Ransome looked up in surprise Matthew’s smile was small and wolfish, the kind to make any fox run for the hills

Matthew continued to recite na after the downstairs bar opened for business He finished just in tiamblers arrive at nine o’clock Ransome had consu his first glass of 1775 Château Lafite, which he had given to Marcus in 1789 when the Constitution went into effect Ranso it for his father since the Domino Club opened

"I believe that settles matters, Ransome" Matthew stood and placed the domino on the desk

Ransome looked dazed "How can you possibly reet?" Matthew drank down the last of his wine "You have potential, Ranso business with you in future Thank you for the wine"

"Son of a bitch," Ransome muttered under his breath as the sire of his clan departed