VEE

“Hotel bar?” suggest Heath as we enter the lobby after our meeting with Ripley. “I think Xander needs to calm his nerves. Right, Xan?”

He pushes Xander in the shoulder, who breaks out of his distracted thinking and pushes Heath back.

I squint under the lights. “Jeez, you guys are so obvious.”

He holds out a hand. “Syv could be waiting for us there. Isn’t she supposed to meet us at this hotel?”

“Yeah, bars are her usual meeting place,” says Joss with a chuckle.

“I don’t think she’s here yet. She hasn’t messaged anyone. One drink while we wait?” Heath heads away without waiting for agreement.

Like horses drawn to water, the guys head through the black door into the subtly lit bar at the back of the hotel. I trail behind with Ewan. As we walk through the lobby, a loud argument echoes through the high-ceilinged space. A man’s voice in low tones tries to reason with a raised female voice.

I recognise the voice before I recognise the hair.

Syv stands, back to me, gesticulating around her as a concierge attempts to prevent her leaving. Definitely the red-haired mercenary I last saw covered in trouble after her trip to Paris. I grab Ewan’s arm but he’s already spotted her.

“Syv?”

“What’s happening?” asks Ewan.

Syv spins around. She crosses her arms and backs away from the grey-haired, middle-aged man.

“This young lady is intoxicated and disturbing other guests.”

“I am not intoxicated!” she retorts. She sways to one side, contradicting her words. “I’m just tired. Jet lag.”

Syv stalks to a nearby lobby sofa, and the alarmed concierge follows. Syv’s a mess. Her red hair is scraped into a ponytail away from her face, revealing dark smudges beneath her eyes set in a pale face. That and her dishevelled clothes makes her look like she belongs in a divey hotel. Not here. Her aggression toward the concierge doesn’t help.

But what the hell is happening with Syv?

“Do you know this woman?” asks the concierge.

“Yes. She’s a friend.” The man flicks Heath a disdainful look at his words. “If she’s caused any issues, we can sort it out.”

The man pulls something from his pocket and rests it in the palm of his hand. A large pendant, jeweled with diamonds and an onyx centre on a thick silver chain.

An expensive one.

“She was caught acquiring this from our jewellery store.”

“That was careless, Syv,” puts in Joss, shaking his head. “You’re slipping.”

“He planted it on me,” she protests. “I came here looking for you.”

“That’s ridiculous. Why would we do that?” snorts the guy.

“You tell me!” She nods at the necklace. “Not my preferred style, either. Big and tacky.”

The man looks at her in disbelief. “You know damn well this is worth thousands.”

She shrugs. “Again, not interested. I can make more money than that bauble is worth from things easier to…” She smirks. “Find.”

The guy turns to me. “We’ve seen her sneaking around the hotel and loitering around the stores on the ground floor. We have security footage.” Syv mutters something under her breath. “I was about to escort her quietly to an office while I called and waited for the authorities. Instead of coming quietly, she starts behaving like a psycho.”

“You grabbed me!” she snaps back. “Listen, dude. I had no way to access your pretty jewellery behind the glass cabinets, even if I’d wanted to. Somebody planted this on me.”

“And that’s a ridiculous excuse.” The man sneers at her. “Why else would someone like you come in here?”

“To meet my friends.” She points at us. “I don’t see you hassling them. Are you judging me?”

The concierge blinks at her. “In my experience, people who look like you don’t come here to purchase a room.”

“I could be a millionaire, for all you know.”

“Uh huh.” The man shakes his head. “Just come with me and we can deal with the situation privately.”

She tips her head and raises a brow at Ewan. “Maybe this lovely man could show you the security footage? Prove I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“I don’t feel like getting involved,” he replies. I nudge Ewan in the ribs. Does he forget what Syv did for us all? I’ve no clue what’s happening here, but we need to intervene. We all know Ewan can make ‘adjustments’ to the tape if there is anything on there. He sighs. “Fine.”

“Why would I let you see the footage?” The man frowns down as Ewan takes his elbow and leads him to one side. I can’t see clearly what they do next but money appears to change hands.

“What’s happening?” I whisper to Syv.

“Long story. But I didn’t steal that shitty necklace.”

A woman dressed in a designer dress snaps her head around at Syv’s loud exclamation. Syv pulls a falsely sweet smile and utters an equally false apology for her language.

“Wait here.” Ewan crosses back to us and points after the man. “I’ll sort this. And you’d better have a bloody good reason for drawing attention to us.”

Syv pouts. “You were the ones who said you knew me. I told you I was meeting you here.”

“Yeah, to keep a low profile in the bar and not get involved in dumb shit.”

“I was in the bar! He dragged me out.”

I sit on the sofa with Syv while a hotel demon stands at a discrete, but warning, distance.

“You believe me?” Syv asks. “Honestly, the last thing I want to do now is draw attention to myself. I still have people following me.”

“Who?”

She shrugs. “Different people. They don’t get close. Plus—” She rubs her nose.

“Plus what?”

“I’ve seen Spot around.”

“Around where? Bloody hell, in public?” Ewan has watched out for attacks by, or reports of, Spot, but there’s been none.

“No. Maybe I imagined it, but a Spot-sized dog is hard to mistake.”

“Did you see him after a few drinks?” I ask and she scowls at me. “Just saying, Syv.”

She shuffles down in her seat and stretches her legs out. “Fine. Tell me more about what shit you’ve been involved in.”

I give Syv a brief rundown on recent events, repeatedly glancing at our unofficial bodyguard close by, but he doesn’t show any interest. As with the last time I gave her a rundown, her expression remains neutral.

“Since Paris, I’m being followed more. I’m worried what will happen next. Paris hurt, and I don’t have Col with me at all times.” She sighs. “He’s distracted by the Portia issue. No idea what’s happening there. Where are Heath and Xander?”

“Hotel bar.”

Syv perks up. “Good plan.”

The security guard straightens and looks behind us. I twist my head around too and Ewan approaches with the pissed-off concierge. Ewan isn’t far from Syv’s look—recent stress has taken its toll on him. Unkempt hair, leather jacket and a build and stance that would scare people. Especially with that sour look on his face.

He stops short of us and regards Syv with a tightlipped expression. “We can go.”

“We?” I ask.

“Yes. I’d appreciate if you all moved on. Then we can avoid any more ah… unpleasantness.” The guy’s attitude remains stiff and unimpressed, but at least he’s not threatening Syv with police involvement now.

“Is everything straightened out?” I ask Ewan.

He nods curtly. “The footage appears to have been wiped.”

A guilty silence hangs between him and the concierge, who no doubt has a pocket full of cash now.

“But I’d appreciate it if you’d accompany your friend and leave my hotel.”

I widen my eyes. “What? Why?”

“I feel it’s best for all concerned.” I look in confusion at Ewan, who pulls a face. “I don’t think this establishment suits you all.”

I wait for Ewan to argue and for Syv to step up too, but Ewan shrugs. “Probably best we move on. Things to do.” He’s gruff and still half-scowling at Syv. “I need to find an ATM. I’m suddenly short of cash.”