The Queen's Dance (Emerging Queens) (12 page)

Margery choked on a gasp. She had a soft heart. Yet they would have done worse to her if she hadn’t been a Queen. In the next cell, the men were dead or appeared so. Their faces had a greenish tinge.

“Are they…?” Margery couldn’t even say the word “dead.” How was she going to compete on a global stage with Queens who killed dragons for serving their breakfast with the wrong plate?

These pirates had shot at her. Kicked and abused her. Starved her and would have sold her into prostitution. Remy didn’t want her to feel sorry for them.

“Too soon to tell. Sergei tried to modify his poisoned jab.” Reed sounded bored. “I don’t give them good odds.”

In the final cell, two men were huddled in the corner.

“That’s the captain and his first mate,” Margery said out of the corner of her mouth to him.

They shrieked when they saw her and Remy. “No, don’t hurt us anymore. We told you everything.”

She tried to get closer to the bar, but Remy held her back. “Who hired you to take the Smooshie dolls down the river?”

“Inspector Javert. He knew that there wasn’t any industrial traffic on the lake so no one would be looking for the shipments. My yacht has been used for smuggling once or twice. It was either carry his shipment or get busted.”

“You were well paid?” Remy sneered. He was nearly blind with rage that this shit happened on his lake.

“Of course. I have my standards.”

“Who paid you?” Margery asked.

“Javert. He wired us ten thousand dollars in cash at the beginning of the trip and another ten when we came back.”

“Where would you off-load the dolls?”

“We were met on the water. We rafted up together, had a barbecue, and switched the cargo in broad daylight.”

“What was the name of the boat?”

The captain looked down.

“Tell her.” Reed crossed his arms.

“I’ll tell her,” the first mate piped up, speaking for the first time. He pointed a finger at Remy. “It was Champ’s boat.
Nessie.
”

“I was in Scotland,” Remy said, pushing Margery behind him as he faced off against Reed.

Chapter Twelve

Margery’s head whirled at the quick movement. Normally, she wouldn’t mind staring at Remy’s broad, muscular back, but right now it was a little annoying.

“We’re investigating your alibi,” Reed informed him in a cool voice.

“He’s not responsible for this,” Margery said, trying to get between them but blocked each time she went around.

“Then he has nothing to worry about,” Reed said.

Remy and Reed still glowered at each other, but the testosterone diminished considerably. Margery hoped Reed didn’t believe Remy was capable of smuggling dangerous drugs over his lake.

The first mate continued, “We figured that since Champ’s boat was used, we’d give you to him in order to continue with our transactions.”

“I was not behind any of this,” Remy said.

“I know,” Margery soothed, rubbing his arm. “I believe you.”

“It would have taken a dragon with international connections to make all this come together,” Reed answered.

“Right,” Margery said. “Smythe has that, and, unlike Remy, he has a motive.”

“All studs have the motive,” Reed said bleakly. “That’s why this is going to be very difficult to unravel.”

“Difficult. Not impossible. And someone’s worried. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have dropped a bomb in your backyard,” Margery pointed out.

Reed’s lips tightened at her reminder.

She returned her attention to the men in the cell. “And how long have you been doing this?”

“Almost a year.”

Margery made a note to find out when the Smooshie dolls started to ship and to see if there were any similarities. Not all dolls would have the pills in them, though. So it was possible Smythe didn’t know about the special shipments. She wouldn’t put it past the Queens to set him up as the scapegoat.

Shit. This was going nowhere fast.

“I need to go over all the reports,” Margery said to Reed, sighing in defeat.

“They will be put on your new laptop and brought to you by this evening. Now, please allow me to escort you to your chambers while Remy sees my assistant for some paperwork that needs to be filled out.”

Remy crossed his arms in front of him.

“He can do that later,” Margery said, hooking her arm through one of Remy’s. She wasn’t going anywhere without him.

“He hasn’t been cleared by security to go up to your temporary lair.”

“He is my protector and my consort,” she said, forcing herself to look into Reed’s fathomless black eyes without flinching. “
I’ve
cleared him.”

His lips twisted again. “As the Queen commands.”

Reed didn’t like that much. But too damned bad.

He led them out of the dungeon and into a nicer part of the building. Then they took an elevator up to the top floor. Margery was surprised to see that the entire roof was made up to look like an apartment suite. Less surprising was that Casimiro had made himself at home behind a well-stocked bar and was mixing drinks in a steel shaker. A martini sounded good about now. When he added some olive juice to the drink, she was touched that he remembered how she liked it.

“A dirty martini for a dirty girl,” he said, handing it to her.

“Careful,” Remy snarled.

“It’s an old joke between old friends. Can I get you one?” Casimiro smirked.

“I prefer to stay alert.”

“One drink and you’re no longer alert?” Casimiro sniffed and moved off.

Farther down the roof, Carolyn was reading a book under a large lamp. And a gorgeous redheaded man was dancing with an equally exquisite blonde to music that sounded like it was from a 1960s cocktail party.

“I hope the Queen finds the accommodations to her liking. The caterers have set up dinner by the pool,” Reed said.

“There’s a pool up here?”

Reed pointed farther down, and sure enough, there were buffet tables set up around a kidney-shaped pool. If her life weren’t in danger, this would be really swank. She breathed in the sweet night air, and some of the tightness in her chest eased. It was going to be okay—she just had to keep telling herself that until she believed it. No more passing out after almost having the best sex of her life. No bombs. No one trying to kill her. Margery took a bracing swallow of her drink.

Ice-chilled olivey perfection.

“There’s everything up here,” Remy mumbled under his breath.

“Who are those guys?” she asked out of the corner of her mouth.

“No clue,” he muttered back.

“That is my sister, Arianna,” Reed said, bringing her a plate of shrimp cocktail and crab cakes. Her favorite. He didn’t miss a trick. “She is the Queen of New York and has graciously allowed you and Carolyn sanctuary here.”

“I’m her consort, Jack,” the redhead said, finishing their dance by dipping Arianna gracefully.

Reed frowned. “Jack, what’s the situation in Poland?”

After bringing Arianna back to her feet, Jack kissed her on the cheek. He strode over, power and violence with every step. Remy tensed beside her, but Jack only bowed low to Margery. “You must be Queen Margery.”

“Hi.” Margery waved a shrimp tail at him awkwardly. “Your Queen kicked me out of my apartment. Are we expected to rumble?”

Jack winced. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t.”

Margery chewed and swallowed. She shrugged. “Up to her.”

Arianna looked unfazed, but Margery wasn’t playing. This might be Arianna’s territory, but she’d lived in New York all her life. If she was going to make a career as a writer, she needed access to all fifty states.

Reed frowned over at Carolyn, who still hadn’t come over to join them. She appeared engrossed in what she was reading. “Carolyn, please come here.”

“Go to hell,” she said without looking up from her book.

Reed moved as if he was going to drag her over to them, but Jack interrupted. “No, I wouldn’t. Come on. Let’s talk about Poland. And then I’ll tell you how many books you need to give her to make up for being such a dick.”

“A whole lotta books,” Carolyn grumbled, still not looking up.

Jack led Reed into the elevator as Arianna and Margery sized each other up.

“I need to make a phone call,” Remy said in her ear. “I’ll just be over there if you need me. And Casimiro has eyes on you. Remember what I said. Ask him.”

Margery nodded, holding in her sigh. It would be easier if she never saw Casimiro again, but she had to admit he’d never harm her. If they were really going to bring down an elder Queen, she was going to need help. But first, she had to iron things out with the pretty dragon princess.

“I liked my place,” Margery challenged. “I could have lived there and gone on with my normal life if you hadn’t evicted me from my little apartment.”

“Until studs broke in and kidnapped you from it.” Arianna shrugged. “I’m being practical. You need a castle in Vermont and a handsome protector at your side.” She nodded at Remy.

Back off, bitch.

Margery was surprised at the possessive snarl that almost came out of her mouth when Arianna eye fucked Remy as he was running his hands through his hair and having a very serious conversation with someone. What was that all about?

“And I needed to rent out your place for triple what you were paying. Don’t worry. I cut you in. You have thirty thousand dollars in your bank account for your trouble. Plus, I’m paying for all your moving expenses.”

Margery stuck to her guns. “I’m going to need safe passage for bagels, Chinese food, and Broadway plays.”

Arianna tilted her head. “That shouldn’t be a problem—if proper tribute is paid.”

“Tribute?”

“There are some stunning artisan jewelers in Burlington. I’m sure we can come to terms.”

That was easier than Margery thought it would be. “I’ll even throw in some cheese and maple syrup.”

“It’s settled.” Arianna clapped her hands.

“This is all highly unusual,” Casimiro said. “Queens helping each other without their studs ripping each other apart.” He handed her a plate of crudités and cheese and crackers.

“It’s a new world order,” Carolyn said. “Get used to it. We’re the modern Queens. Bitches take care of themselves.” She fist pumped the air.

Margery hadn’t realized how hungry she was and devoured the tasty treats while Arianna wandered over to Carolyn. While the Queens had their heads together looking at the book Carolyn was reading, and Remy was pacing during his phone call, there was nothing else to do but talk to Casimiro.

Big-girl panties.

“Cas,” she said, dusting her hands off. “I don’t want you to read anything more into this”—she slugged back more of her drink, the chilled vodka soothing over her rattled nerves—“but would you consider being my—”

“Consort? Of course.” He swept her into his arms, but as he went for the kiss she put her palm over his face.

“No. Remy’s my consort.”

“You can have two,” he said as she smooshed his face.

“I need a protector. If you want the job, keep your tongue in your mouth.”

Casimiro swept her back to her feet. “I would be honored.”

“Good.” She tugged his head to her, turning his face to the side so she could whisper in his ear. She met Remy’s eyes over Casimiro’s shoulder and nodded at him. He glared at Casimiro’s back and nodded. “We need to get out of here. I think Esmeralda might be sponsoring Smythe with the Smooshie dolls.”

To his credit, Casimiro blanched, but he didn’t make up any bullshit excuses to bail on her, like he did when she was human. “Where are we going?” he said.

“I’ve got to get to Quebec. It was my last lead.”

“How do you plan on doing that?” he asked.

“Leave that to me.” Carolyn popped up from her seat.

Margery cursed; she hadn’t meant for their conversation to be overheard. But if Arianna was pissed about Margery suspecting her mother of treachery, nothing showed on her perfect face.

“You’re a sitting duck up here,” Carolyn said.

Margery nodded. She’d told as much to Reed. And Remy agreed with her. She looked over, but he had a finger stuck in one ear, and he was bent down out of the wind.

“This Smooshie business isn’t going to solve itself if Reed just sticks to the official procedures.” Carolyn made a jacking-off hand gesture.

No arguments so far.

“So if you want out of here, I can clear your exit with the sky guards and forbid them to tell Reed or anyone else.”

“We can go tonight.” Finally. “Cas, can you fly me to Quebec?”

He took her into his arms and dipped her low. “
Querida
, I can fly you to the moon.”

“Canada will be fine,” Margery told him and smacked him on the arm until he let her up. “What about Remy?”

Remy’s head came up. He put his hand over the phone. “What about me?”

“Do you want to go back to Vermont tonight?”

Relief creased his face, and he nodded.

She gave him the thumbs-up. Finally, she was doing something right as a Queen.

Carolyn smiled brightly and rubbed her hands together. “Excellent. So while you fly to Canada, Arianna will fly Champ back to Vermont. That should confuse anyone who is tracking you long enough for you to get what you need. You’re going to want to look through this.” Carolyn handed her the book she’d been reading. Only when it passed out of her hands, the dragon glamour wore off and it was a laptop. “New one. Battery’s fully charged. I put the plug into the backpack that Casimiro has for you. Along with a few necessities.”

“Including the latest Lee Child book and a biography of Samuel Champlain,” Casimiro said, rolling his eyes.

Carolyn nodded. “Necessities.”

“Isn’t Reed going to be pissed?” Margery asked, biting her lip.

“I’m counting on it.” Carolyn said. “Thinks he can talk to me like that? Any other Queen would have flayed him alive. I’m more modern than that. I’m going to kick him in the balls. Metaphorically speaking, of course.”

“What’s in it for you?” Margery asked Arianna, who just smiled.

The blond Queen assessed her with a look and held her gaze. An ancient intelligence stared back at Margery, even if Arianna seemed no older than the rest of the Queens Margery had met. “As much as I like putting my brother in his place, I do feel a little responsible for your situation. Carolyn and I got a little carried away with our fighting. We’ve made up.”

“It’s not always going to be that easy,” Carolyn said.

“Do you think getting the ARC of the novelization of the next
Star Wars
movie was easy? And it’s autographed by the actors.”

Carolyn smiled. “I forgive you.”

“I should hope so,” Arianna huffed.

“What’s going to happen to you?” Margery asked Carolyn.

“After you’re gone, I’m going to come back here and eat myself silly. If Reed hasn’t figured things out by then, he will eventually have to come look for me. He is my consort and protector, after all. But I think he’ll respect this area as yours and will only come back if invited. I’ll stall him as long as I can. But expect to be back on everyone’s radar by the morning.”

“Reed won’t hurt you, will he?”

Carolyn burst out laughing. “No. He might break a blood vessel in his face trying not to scream at me. But I’m actually just hoping for some really great makeup sex in that bed over there.”

“All right, then.” Margery patted her on the back. TMI. But she felt a little jealous. She would have liked to try that bed out with Remy.

“Can you fly?” Casimiro asked, holding out his arm to Margery.

Margery shook her head. “I don’t dare try. I might pass out.”

He bowed. “Then I will carry you until we reach Quebec.”

“I want to start at the warehouse and try to see if anyone will talk to us.”

“We will leave at your command.”

Remy finished up his phone call and came back over to them. The lines in his face were more pronounced, and she could see how exhausted he was. “It’s settled,” he said.

“Carolyn is going to cover for us while we escape.”

“Thank you.” Remy bowed in Carolyn’s direction. “I just spoke with the contractors, and they’ll be starting on your castle on Isle La Motte right away. But for tonight, I’ve hired a team of dragon mercenaries that I’ve worked with in the past to put up a perimeter by my house.”