Chapter 2

Aiden

"Chris, there you are!"

A woman pushed her way in between Aiden and Chris. Aiden tried not to wince as he watched her smile up at Chris. Well, she tried to smile but had a little trouble with all the wrinkle injections that had paralyzed her face. Eye shadow reached all the way up to her brows, and the shiny gold dress she wore was at least one size too small for her plump figure.

"I had to come tell you what an amazing party this is," she exclaimed, stepping closer to Chris.

"This?" Chris said, trying a modest look but failed badly. "This is just a little thing I threw together. Barely a gathering."

Aiden recognized an opening for flattery. "Oh, no. This is definitely your best one yet.  I don’t know how you keep doing it. I’ve never seen anything like that band.”

No, it wasn't. The terrible music had probably killed the crowed long ago.

Chris laughed. "Save your charm. It doesn't work on me."

But it did. Chris was more than happy to give out cash and lodging, so long as Aiden continued to smile and show up at parties. But he had a feeling that someday Chris would get bored of him and find some other novelty to show off.

The woman turned toward Aiden, her eyes widening in a way that didn’t help her appearance. His accent had tipped her off. “Is this one from the RUSA? I’ve never met one before.”

“Aiden, this lovely creature is Ana Santiago,” Chris said. “Her husband is a dear friend and associate of mine.”

“You should be ashamed of yourself,” Aiden told him, shaking her hand. “‘Lovely’ doesn’t even come close to describing her.”

A truth, but not in the way Ana understood it.

Chris laughed at the “compliment” and reached around her to slap Aiden on the back again.

“Now, now, she’s married.” Chris winked at Ana. “I’ll leave you two to chat. Be careful, though. He’s trouble.” He wandered off to find his next distraction.

Ana actually batted her eyelashes, which were decorated with multicolored crystals. That was extreme, even by the hideous standards around here. Ana had the feel of someone who’d been raised in the lower classes and was trying to compensate now.

When Chris was gone, she slid over to Aiden. The smile on his face was starting to hurt, but he knew that Chris' guest had to be entertained. "Chris didn’t have to tell me you were trouble,” she said. “A little voice in my head told me that right away.”

Aiden straightened up. “You hear voices in your head?”

She looked surprised. “I mean, not literally. You’d have to be crazy for that.”

“Right,” said Aiden flatly. “Of course.”

Ana tried smiling again and had the same trouble as before. “Not many RUSA*es come here.”

“Well, they’re missing out. Believe me, their women don’t even compare to the ones here.” Aiden knocked back the rest of his drink, looking down at the empty glass with dismay.

She giggled in a way that was completely inappropriate for a woman her age. “Aren’t you sweet. And just as cute as Blanca said.”

Aiden’s smile almost slipped. Almost. “Blanca Jessup?” he asked carefully.

Ana nodded. “She’s a good friend of mine. She told me so much about you.”

Wonderful. Aiden’s last encounter with Blanca had involved bad judgment and even worse tequila. Definitely not one of his finer moments.

She leaned forward on the table, giving her cleavage increase that it most certainly didn’t need. “Blanca said you were some kind of witch hunter?”

He heard that a lot around here. Sometimes they called him a “priest killer.” “Nothing so exciting. I used to investigate religious groups for the government. Had to make sure they weren’t dangerous.”

“Doesn’t the RUNA think all religions are dangerous?” she asked.

Ha, maybe she’s not as vapid as she seems, said Horatio.

If you were of any use to me, you’d magically appear and get me another drink, Aiden told him.

She’d be happy to get you a drink back at your place, said Magnus helpfully.

“It’s a little more complicated than that." Aiden placed another bet.

“I’d love to hear more,” Ana said. She moved even closer. “Perhaps we could go somewhere quieter to talk.”

Not on your life, Aiden thought. Hans came to the rescue.

“Aiden doesn’t like to talk about his past,” he said, looking award-winningly grave. “Too many painful memories. Aiden, you should tell her the story of why you left.”

Aiden averted his eyes. "I don’t want to burden you with my personal drama.”

“I’m sure Señora Santiago wouldn’t mind. She seems like a great listener.” Hans was playing a good supporting role

“I am,” she said, nodding eagerly.

“I can tell.” Aiden gave her a small smile. “It’s in your eyes, you know. That kind of understanding and kindness…it shines out from the soul.” Hans cleared his throat and had to look away.

“People say that all the time,” Ana replied, moving even closer. “Now, please. Tell me what happened.”

Aiden took a deep breath. “Not much to tell. You see…there was this girl….”

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