Zrakovi nodded. “I’ve taken out a room for you at the Hotel Monteleone, directly across the hall from Jean Lafitte—that took some serious negotiating with hotel management, I assure you.”
He paused, waiting for me to respond. Given the conversation Alex and I just had, my wisest response would probably be forget it. But I was a woman with two plots of land, a third of a house, no vehicle, and no heat. “When should I be there and what, exactly, do you want me to do?”
“Keep close tabs on Captain Lafitte. In fact, you should go to Old Barataria now and find out when he plans to return to the city. I don’t want him to go anywhere without you either accompanying him or following him.”
Alex’s face was as revealing as a clay mask, but his anger levels had ratcheted way up.
“Uh, that could be difficult,” I said, dragging my gaze away from Alex. “And is it really necessary?”
It seemed awful to even think it, but would the world be such a bad place if Etienne Boulard no longer occupied a spot in it? Once Jean took care of his former friend, he’d probably be willing to play political footsie again with the elves since Lily and her head had parted ways.
“It is absolutely necessary.” Zrakovi stood up, looking at his watch again. “We can’t afford for him to go off on some vengeance-seeking mission and stir things up with the vampires and elves. And we need Etienne Boulard alive.”
He paced the length of the room once before stopping in front of me. “Relations between all the species are more sensitive than ever after what just happened, especially given Geoffrey’s involvement. The wizards’ position is very precarious.” He frowned at me. “I wish you’d told me your suspicions about the First Elder before bringing them out in such a public way.”
I nodded, swallowing down the scathing comments I wanted to make. Namely, that had I told him, he wouldn’t have believed me. Not without proof. “I apologize for that. He took me by surprise, trying to pin everything on me.”
Zrakovi nodded. “Perfectly understandable. Anyway, Captain Lafitte will want revenge, and probably deserves it. But he can’t worsen our standing with the other species. I have given my guarantee that he will be held in check.” He paused and speared me with fierce brown eyes. “So hold him in check.”
“Check. I guess.” I looked at Alex, but he was staring at the floor like Sebastian trained on a bug.
Zrakovi held out the stinky robe. “Can you throw this damned thing away? One of Geoffrey’s stupid ideas. It’s high time some things changed back at headquarters.”
I took the robe. It sounded like Zrakovi already had First Elder kinds of plans.
He walked toward the transport, but Alex stepped in front of him. “Sir, could you stay a few more minutes? There’s a situation you need to be aware of.” He glanced at me. “It’s of a delicate nature.”
Alex was nervous. Alex never got nervous. Damn it. He was going to tell Zrakovi about Eugenie.
“Of course,” Zrakovi said, glancing at his watch for the third time. “I can give you ten minutes. What’s the problem?”
Alex looked at me. “DJ, don’t you need to be heading to Old Barataria, to check on Lafitte?”
Oh hell no. “I can wait a few more minutes, thanks.”
“No,” Zrakovi said, clueless to the relationship dynamics swirling around him. “I really would feel more at ease knowing you were on your way.”
“I don’t have a car,” I said, glaring at Alex. “I’ll have to call a cab. By the time Alex has discussed his delicate situation, it should be here.”
By God if he told Zrakovi about Eugenie’s pregnancy, I would sauté his boy parts and feed them to the cat.
He stuck a hand in his pocket, retrieved his keys, and tossed his key ring to me. “Take the Range Rover and leave it near the cathedral. I’ll get a ride from Jake and pick it up later. I have another set of keys.”
Alex had never, ever, ever offered to let me drive his vehicle, even before I’d proven a talent for burning them. But he and Zrakovi stood and stared at me, waiting for me to leave. Zrakovi tapped his foot, and I could tell he itched to take another look at his watch.
“Fine. See you later.”
I walked out, got in Alex’s SUV, drove across the street, and parked next to Eugenie’s back door. She didn’t know it yet, but we were going to visit a pirate.
CHAPTER 8
I wedged Alex’s behemoth vehicle into a semi-legal space two blocks from St. Louis Cathedral, then texted him to let him know where it was. The only message I added was “heater works well.” I didn’t mention that Eugenie was with me, or that I’d already driven out to my half-finished house in Lakeview to change into clean clothes, attempt some quick—and useless—research on elven reproduction, and cook up a quick healing potion for myself and a second one for Jean Lafitte.