Read Online The Taste of Magic by Gina Rosavin - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Gina Rosavin
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"The information, or you both die. I don't need my vampire powers to do that."
Joshua visibly pondered his options, then heaved a sigh and nodded. "All right. He's got two residences in the United States. One in Los Angeles, the other in Chicago. Also a place in France, and one nearby in Luxembourg."
Adrian turned to William. "Go, both of you. Find out if he's telling the truth."
William nodded as he and his partner left the office.
"So Joshua, tell me what else you know."
Joshua shrugged. "That's it. He's been globe-trotting a lot this year, buying out a lot of businesses around the world."
Although Joshua apparently didn't think Machiavelli's business plan significant, Adrian sensed this information was crucial.
"What businesses?"
"I don't know. I don't have my files with me. But I can go get them, and…"
Adrian smiled and shook his head. "I don't think so. You and Sophie will be my guests. Until I can entertain you properly. Tonight."
"Damn you, du Lac, let Sophie go." Without his two guards, Joshua stepped closer, warily watching the remaining two men as they moved to surround him. Adrian held them off with a slight hand motion.
"What were you looking for down in my lab?"
"Anything I could find. What are you doing down there?" Adrian chuckled and released his hold on Sophie.
"Do you really think I'd tell you? It's a shame you won't live long enough to find out."
"You think so? Don't be so sure." With a sudden move, Joshua slipped a long, narrow wooden spear from his pocket and flung it towards Edgar, his aim true as the point sank deeply into the vampire's chest. With an agonizing scream, Edgar collapsed, falling forward to the floor. His dark hair grayed, then his body shriveled as it caught up with his true age, and he disintegrated, leaving a moldering pile of ashes beneath his clothes.
"Sophie, run, now!" Joshua pulled out another spear as Sophie broke free from Adrian's reach. Joshua turned toward the other vampire, flinging the second stake.
Shock left Adrian briefly motionless as he watched his other soldier destroyed. Apparently William had not searched Joshua closely enough. Fury welled within him, released in a roar that shattered the windows. He moved toward the hunter, as Joshua reached into his jacket once more, but came up empty handed. Adrian smiled. The hunter was helpless now. But Joshua's speed again surprised him as the young man disappeared through the doors.
Enraged he'd let the perfect opportunity elude him, he picked up the crystal sculpture from the desk and heaved it against the wall. An ashtray and another sculpture soon followed. Why hadn't he locked them up when they'd first been brought in? Because he'd been too greedy for information about Machiavelli. Because he knew if anyone had information on the Italian, it was Joshua Taylor.
His anger at being thwarted intensified his hunger, until it gnawed at him, winding its way through his veins and reaching his heart with a sharp ache. He fell into his chair, surprised his rage also made his legs feel strangely weak. Yanking open a drawer, he removed a flask and unscrewed the top. The lukewarm blood was not as appetizing as he would have liked, but the taste soothed him as the red liquid re-energized him.
Greta appeared in the doorway. "How can I help, sir?"
"Notify security to seal off the building entrances. Then send up Michael Herring. I want him to explain how this happened. I also need Jacques Kaufmann and Alberto Denuzio. They're due for a promotion."
"Right away." She turned.
"Oh, and Greta? Send maintenance up to take care of this mess." He waved a hand toward the two piles of ash and clothes.
Greta nodded and set off to complete the tasks. Adrian leaned his head against the back of his chair. Several hours would pass before his new assistants could be fully promoted. He would use the time to prepare them for their new roles.
Joshua visibly pondered his options, then heaved a sigh and nodded. "All right. He's got two residences in the United States. One in Los Angeles, the other in Chicago. Also a place in France, and one nearby in Luxembourg."
Adrian turned to William. "Go, both of you. Find out if he's telling the truth."
William nodded as he and his partner left the office.
"So Joshua, tell me what else you know."
Joshua shrugged. "That's it. He's been globe-trotting a lot this year, buying out a lot of businesses around the world."
Although Joshua apparently didn't think Machiavelli's business plan significant, Adrian sensed this information was crucial.
"What businesses?"
"I don't know. I don't have my files with me. But I can go get them, and…"
Adrian smiled and shook his head. "I don't think so. You and Sophie will be my guests. Until I can entertain you properly. Tonight."
"Damn you, du Lac, let Sophie go." Without his two guards, Joshua stepped closer, warily watching the remaining two men as they moved to surround him. Adrian held them off with a slight hand motion.
"What were you looking for down in my lab?"
"Anything I could find. What are you doing down there?" Adrian chuckled and released his hold on Sophie.
"Do you really think I'd tell you? It's a shame you won't live long enough to find out."
"You think so? Don't be so sure." With a sudden move, Joshua slipped a long, narrow wooden spear from his pocket and flung it towards Edgar, his aim true as the point sank deeply into the vampire's chest. With an agonizing scream, Edgar collapsed, falling forward to the floor. His dark hair grayed, then his body shriveled as it caught up with his true age, and he disintegrated, leaving a moldering pile of ashes beneath his clothes.
"Sophie, run, now!" Joshua pulled out another spear as Sophie broke free from Adrian's reach. Joshua turned toward the other vampire, flinging the second stake.
Shock left Adrian briefly motionless as he watched his other soldier destroyed. Apparently William had not searched Joshua closely enough. Fury welled within him, released in a roar that shattered the windows. He moved toward the hunter, as Joshua reached into his jacket once more, but came up empty handed. Adrian smiled. The hunter was helpless now. But Joshua's speed again surprised him as the young man disappeared through the doors.
Enraged he'd let the perfect opportunity elude him, he picked up the crystal sculpture from the desk and heaved it against the wall. An ashtray and another sculpture soon followed. Why hadn't he locked them up when they'd first been brought in? Because he'd been too greedy for information about Machiavelli. Because he knew if anyone had information on the Italian, it was Joshua Taylor.
His anger at being thwarted intensified his hunger, until it gnawed at him, winding its way through his veins and reaching his heart with a sharp ache. He fell into his chair, surprised his rage also made his legs feel strangely weak. Yanking open a drawer, he removed a flask and unscrewed the top. The lukewarm blood was not as appetizing as he would have liked, but the taste soothed him as the red liquid re-energized him.
Greta appeared in the doorway. "How can I help, sir?"
"Notify security to seal off the building entrances. Then send up Michael Herring. I want him to explain how this happened. I also need Jacques Kaufmann and Alberto Denuzio. They're due for a promotion."
"Right away." She turned.
"Oh, and Greta? Send maintenance up to take care of this mess." He waved a hand toward the two piles of ash and clothes.
Greta nodded and set off to complete the tasks. Adrian leaned his head against the back of his chair. Several hours would pass before his new assistants could be fully promoted. He would use the time to prepare them for their new roles.
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