Chrysabelle put her hand on Mal’s knee. Did she think he’d balk? He placed his hand on top of hers. “We’re fine with whatever you need.”

“Bene. I will have everything with me and begin work on it as soon as we arrive.” He hesitated. “You should know, I will be taking Katsumi as my second.”

Mal growled deep in his throat. Dominic held a hand up. “I know you don’t like her, but she’s an excellent fighter and since the navitas, exceptionally loyal.”

“And your nephew isn’t?” Mal asked.

Dominic splayed his hands, lifting his palms up. “I need Luciano at the club.”

Mal snorted. “So Katsumi is exceptionally loyal, but not so much that you trust her to run the club alone. Luciano is caedo. He’s a trained killer. He’s exactly who we need on this mission.”

Silver edged Dominic’s irises. “Luciano is here because he couldn’t complete his last job. He froze. Almost got killed himself. I trust him with my business, but I do not know if I trust him with my life.”

Mal lifted his brows. “If that’s the case, I don’t want him at my back or Chrysabelle’s either.”

Dominic calmed as Velimai came in with a tray of small sandwiches and set it on the coffee table in front of Chrysabelle, then took a nearby chair.

“Grazie. You’ll also need clothes for the ball. My formula will change only your facial appearance, not your clothing.” He extended his hand toward Mal. “If you need, I’m sure my tailor can construct something appropriate for you, but, Chrysabelle, a dress… I do not know. A dress fit for a Dominus ball is not something that can be made in a day.”

Velimai tapped her fingernails on the table to get everyone’s attention. As soon as Chrysabelle looked her way, she began to sign. For a few minutes, she and Chrysabelle went back and forth, hands moving like pale birds.

At last, Chrysabelle smiled and spoke. “Velimai says my mother’s collection of gowns is extensive and that Nyssa is a wonderful seamstress. She can alter whatever I need.” She looked more confident than when the conversation began.

Dominic knit his fingers together. “Katsumi and I will leave immediately for achtice. It will allow me time to procure everything I need for the disguises and an opportunity to assess the situation. Whatever hangar we are assigned will become our headquarters. You’ll just have to look for us when you arrive.”

“Then it’s settled,” Mal said. “We leave tomorrow night.” Once again, he would come face-to-face with the woman who’d been his human wife. The woman who had betrayed him.

Except this time would be the last.

Lola frowned. Chief Vernadetto hadn’t touched the good Cuban coffee Hilda had brought in. His visit was a little unusual at this late hour, but nothing she couldn’t handle considering everything else going on in the city.

“Are you sure you won’t reconsider, Madam Mayor?”

“No.” She tapped her spoon before setting it on the saucer. “Crime is down, isn’t it? There have been no other incidents of mischief since the varcolai broke curfew the first night.” She sipped her coffee, the thick black liquid renewing her spirits. “The curfew is working. In fact, other cities have started curfews of their own. It stays in place.”

Vernadetto sighed. “The citizens are not happy.”

“You mean the othernaturals? This curfew wasn’t set up to punish the othernaturals; it was set up to protect the humans. I know neither side is completely happy, but right now it’s the best solution to a difficult—”

“Ma’am, I don’t think you understand. The police force alone has lost at least fifty good officers over this.”

She hesitated. “What do you mean lost?”

“They’ve quit. The local varcolai groups are urging their members who work for government agencies to resign. The hospital can barely maintain its night staff. One entire ambulance shift has been cut.” A muscle in his jaw twitched. “Our emergency services are dwindling fast. The city needs these people.”

That explained why Luke and John had left. She smiled anyway. “If crime is down, we won’t need as many emergency services, correct?”

He stood, smoldering like a day old ember. At last, he spoke. “I’m sorry about your daughter. I’m sorry about your grandchild. But you know what?” He stuck his finger into the air. “You keep this up and you’ll never get reelected.” He stabbed his finger against her desktop. “Never.”

“Good night, Chief Vernadetto.” She lifted her cup in his direction. “Thank you for coming by.”

With a huff, he left, muttering under his breath. Let him go. Let him be mad. He is the one who is wrong. He is the one who doesn’t understand how difficult my job is. She waited a few minutes to make sure he was gone; then she got up, walked through the house and out the front door.

The new nighttime security officer greeted her. “Anything I can do for you, ma’am?”

“No, just wanted to make sure the police chief left without incident.” Actually, she wanted another look at him, one of the four new guards she’d hired. He was fringe vampire, but he seemed… normal enough. Satisfied, she said good night and went back in, but the sense of security she’d had with Luke and John just wasn’t there. It would just take some time to get to know the new people, that was all.

She double-checked the locks on the French doors in her bedroom before getting into bed. She lay there, trying to sleep, wondering what was happening with her grandchild, wondering if some other creature would try to get into her room that night, hoping she’d live to see another day and crossing herself against the possibility that she’d never find a vampire willing to give her the power she needed.