She exhaled, then offered him a weak smile. “It’s good to be back.”

Van went to her side and took her bag, instantly concerned. “Was there trouble? Did he try to stop you?”

“No.” She slipped her arms around him and leaned in. “It’s just good to be back here with you.”

He wrapped his free arm around her. “It is very good to have you back.” He kissed the top of her head. “Pandora, Nick, and Willa have arrived. They are hungry, so I thought we would go eat. Okay with you?”

“Okay with me.”

Late lunch turned into early dinner, and with all five of them together, they lingered over the meal. It was a chance to eat, drink, and make merry with friends, something Van hadn’t done much of in his life.

And every time he looked at Monalisa, she was smiling or laughing, and for that, he was grateful. The presence of Willa and Pandora seemed to lighten her mood significantly. It made him think that her transition to life in Nocturne Falls would be an easy one. That pleased him. Her happiness, after so many years of unhappiness, was important.

After dinner, they went back to Van’s and lounged around in the big outdoor area, taking advantage of the stunning view despite the cold. The men gravitated to the balcony railing, and the women settled into the plush seating by the fireplace—and the fire that Van had started for them.

While he and Nick talked about the possibility of taking a quick night flight, the women shared the pictures they’d been taking all night and indulged in the rest of the chocolates from Delaney’s.

All of a sudden, Pandora, who’d been taking more selfies and pictures of the group than anyone else, called out to the men. “Come over here. I need to ask you guys a question.”

Nick and Van joined the ladies.

Van stood behind Monalisa, his hands on her shoulders. “What is it?”

She turned her phone around to show them a picture. “Look at the guy in the background having dinner with that gorgeous woman.”

Van shook his head. “What about him?”

But Nick looked closer. “Is that Julian Ellingham?”

Pandora nodded. “I think it is. How do you like that? Someone should warn that poor woman she’s about to get her heartbroken.”

Van squinted. “Let me see the picture again?”

Pandora held it in his direction.

He snorted. “Julian’s the one who should be warned. That woman is Desdemona Valentine. She’s an entertainer in town and a bit of a man-eater. Literally. She’s a vampire. An old one.”

Monalisa tipped her head back to look at him. “I love her show. I’ve seen it three times. But I had no idea she was actually a vampire. Makes sense, though, considering some of the stunts in that production.” Then her eyes narrowed. “Have you seen her show? It’s very sexy.”

Van almost smiled at the jealous bite to her words. “I have never seen it.”

Monalisa’s mouth quirked up. “And yet you know so much about her…”

“She lives in this building. That is how I know her. That, and her billboards are everywhere in this town. I am more of a Will-o’-the-Wisp man, myself.” He bent to give her a quick kiss, then straightened. “I don’t want to end the party, but I have to train early, so I am saying good night.”

Pandora stood. “That’s a good idea. I want to dig into that book Gertrude gave me. And do some shopping tomorrow. That takes energy.”

The rest of them agreed, and they all headed for bed. Monalisa walked with Van to their side of the condo. He kissed her good night at her bedroom door, then went to his own room.

He stared out the windows at the city below and thought about the fight to come. Not the one in the ring, but the one with Padraig Devlin.

If getting physical with the man wasn’t enough to make him give Monalisa the coin she needed, Van wasn’t sure what their next step would be.

The man liked gold. Van had a lot of that. Maybe he could trade his hoard for her freedom. He nodded at that idea.

Better to have the woman who made him feel like the richest man in the world than to be alone with his riches.

Monalisa got up early enough to see Van before he went to get his first round of training in. She wanted to kiss him and tell him she loved him as much as she could before their time ran out. She knew he thought he would be able to convince her father to turn over the coin, but she knew her father better than Van did. And he was a very stubborn man.

With Van off to the gym, she went into the kitchen to get coffee started for their guests. She smiled. Their guests. Like this was her home too. But then, in a way it was. At least, until she had no other choice. Van had made it clear he wanted her with him as long as possible.

Willa, Nick, and Pandora wandered out a few minutes after the scent of brewing coffee began filling the space.

Pandora was in her pajamas and robe and clutching a small, leather-bound book with a tattered cover and yellowed pages. Her hair was piled on her head in a messy bun, and her lids were still heavy with sleep. She settled into a chair at the counter and blinked a few times like the morning light was hard on her eyes.

Monalisa started filling mugs with coffee. She set the first one in front of Pandora. “Hard to sleep in a strange bed?”

“No, I slept okay. I was up late reading this book. Lots of interesting stuff, but nothing yet on how to get you free from your father. But I’m not done with it either.” She wrapped her hands around the mug and inhaled. “This should do it, though. Cream and sugar?”