Black Opal by Sandra Cox

“Darling,” he murmured, his eyes closed reaching out to the other side of the bed.
    “Mrrow.”
    Adam blinked and opened his eyes. Small green ones stared back. For a moment, he frowned, puzzled, then his memory kicked in—Sabina, the amulets, Victoria Price. He shook his head. Maybe he would think more clearly after a quick shower and a cup of coffee.
    Getting into the shower, he leaned his palms against the cool white marble tile. As the sharp hot beads of water sluiced over his head and made stinging contact with his skin his mind cleared. I’ll shadow the women today and meet Victoria tonight .
    Just thinking of Victor’s daughter made his skin crawl. It would be all he could do to keep from reaching over and choking the life right out of her. The woman was trying to kill Sabina.
    He showered quickly, wrapped a thick velour towel around his waist and padded into the kitchen. One of the maids had made coffee and fed the kitten.
    He pulled a plain white mug out of the oak cabinet and poured a cup of coffee. The fragrant steam filled his nostrils and he took a long swallow. Caffeine jolted through his system. It was time to find out what the women were up to.
    Carrying his cup with him, he strolled into the bedroom and began to dress. In the act of buttoning a maroon silk shirt, he paused as an unwelcome thought hit him. Surely, those women wouldn’t be crazy enough to try to draw Victoria out using themselves as bait?
    Of course they would ! His expression grim, he zipped up his pants and scooted his bare feet into his loafers. Picking up his cell phone and keys from the dresser, he pocketed them then hurried out the door.
    He strode the few steps to Sabina’s room and knocked on the door. He waited a moment then knocked again. No answer. He glanced at his watch, nine o’clock. Maybe they were in the restaurant.
    Long strides took him to the elevator. Stepping into the sleek silver box, he punched the button. He jingled the coins in his pocket, waiting for the fast five-floor journey to come to an end. As the doors slid open he stepped out.
    “Young man.” An imperious voice and a shaky hand on his sleeve stopped him as he headed toward the dining room.
    He paused. An elderly man leaned heavily on his cane. Adam grabbed the old boy’s arm as he tipped forward.
    “Thank you, son,” he said, his voice high-pitched and quavery.
    “Can I help you, sir?”
    “Can you tell me how to get to the coliseum?”
    Not now. He batted back the impatience driving him. “It’s on South Mint Street, sir.”
    “And where is that?”
    As Adam glanced at the front desk, he saw a rack of information pamphlets in the hallway. He walked over, grabbed the pamphlet displaying a large black panther and handed it to him. “I’m sure the front desk will arrange for a ride over there as our guest. Just tell them it’s on Adam.”
    “Why thank you.” The wrinkled lines on the old man’s face spread upward in a delighted smile.
    He nodded and walked rapidly away. Pausing in the dining room entryway, he glanced around. Tension mounted. Where are they?
    As Adam turned to leave, he glimpsed them out of the corner of his eye. They were walking out of the ladies’ room and heading toward a corner table.
    The hostess hurried toward him. “Good morning, Mr. Morelly, so good to see you. We have your table saved.”
    He nodded in the direction of Sabina and Bella. “I’ll be joining Ms. Comti and Mrs. Tremaine-McHenry.” He hated hyphenated names. Why couldn’t women these days just take their husbands’ names like in the good ole days?
    “Very good. Please follow me.”
    He followed the hostess as she wove her way gracefully through the tables.
    Sabina saw him first. Her pleasant smile congealed on her lovely features.
    Adam tamped down his impatience. He had never encountered a female he couldn’t bring around to his way of thinking. Like his Uncle Johnny, he loved women. But unlike his uncle he loved them for a variety of