Hupotasso (Vampire Bachelor Games #2)

16

16

“It’s patently obvious,” I snarl to Jag as I pace my library while he stands staring into the fire, his back to me as he listens to me rant after having watched The Games for the first time.

“She was planted there deliberately,” I repeat. “Anyone — fucking Blind-Freddy — could see that just by watching the show. Every step of the way I was encouraged to focus on her. From the moment her heel stuck in the paving, to the helicopter in the snow. The whole fucking thing was rigged.”

He sighs.

“Yes, I’m starting to believe you’re right, as much as I hate to say it. I’ve tortured pretty much everyone I could get my hands on. Everyone who was left, that is. The Families had gutted the selection panel and crew after the whole Free Men debacle and I was left with part-time lighting technicians, researchers and set consultants, among others. There was undoubtedly some dabbling with the selection process.”

“Can we even trust that the Spaniard was with The Free Men?” I frown. “We only have Tom and Angelina’s word for it, and Angelina pushed her off a cliff. I’m starting to think The Free Men issue might have been a ruse to divert my attention from Angelina the whole time.”

Jag shakes his head.

“No, I’ve definitely confirmed Isabel’s link to The Free Men, and you know Angelina didn’t attack you in the Louvre. Don’t let your discussion with Tom blind you to the facts you already have. And don’t forget your experience differs from how the show was edited and delivered.”

“Nevertheless,” I frown, “given that it’s a fact that Angelina is a spy, as you just said yourself, my course now is obvious.” I snarl the last word, for some reason furious that he’s agreeing with me. Perhaps part of me had hoped that he’d uncover something to prove her innocence.

“It appears so,” he murmurs, “although I still have one or two more avenues to go down. Unedited footage to view, a few contestant families to speak to and the like. I’m still not satisfied that there’s a solid link between your wife and Spider — something still doesn’t sit right with me — and you know I trust my instincts.

“Instincts are bullshit,” I snap. “Yours and mine.”

“You never had a problem trusting mine in the past,” he says quietly, turning slowly to glare at me.

“That was before both you and I were fooled by a home economics teacher,” I snap. “If that’s even what she really is.”

“If you’re right,” he holds up his hand to forestall my interruption, “and it’s starting to look that way, then your instincts are still on the mark — you didn’t trust her, or your feelings for her, from day one. IF you’re right, I’ll take it on the chin that I was fooled and you can simply go on as you planned, get your heir, dispense with your bride and marry the gold-digging blonde.”

“It won’t be my heir,” I mutter, ignoring his dig at Sophie.

“Pardon?”

I meet his steady gaze.

“Sophie has agreed to help me destroy Spider only if I guarantee that our first child together will inherit my title.”

“Christ,” he laughs harshly, “gold-digger was a goddamned compliment for that woman. Isn’t it enough that one of her children will inherit Spider’s seat?”

“No,” I shake my head.

“And what of the child from your marriage to Angie? You’ll simply pass him over in favour of the first son Sophie has with you? That will definitely rouse suspicions with The Families. The death of a wife and the passing over of a firstborn son…”

“No,” I shrug, turning to walk away from him so I don’t have to witness his reaction. “The baby will die in childbirth, as will his mother.”

Despite feeling more comfortable saying this out loud, I wait for Jag’s opinion. I know it will clarify my thoughts on this matter, which are far from settled despite his acknowledgement that Angie’s a spy.

But when I turn around, he’s gone.