thief?"
"No. I want you to fall in love. You need him."
Piqued, she demanded, "Is this an official prescription? Fall in love and all my troubles will be over?"
Strain made his face tighten. Icki walked slowly to the couch and sat down with a grimace. He sighed and slowly relaxed into the recliner. He closed his eyes. "I don’t have the strength for this conversation, bittermelon. You might want to do whatever it is women do in the mornings. Datsu will be here soon, and he’ll want to talk."
Frustrated, Bali left him alone. He wasn’t always going to be sick. They’d have it out when he was better.
Chapter 22
Datsu was a brick-built big wall. Icelandic, built like his Viking ancestors with a braided blond beard, a long braid down his massive back and huge, hairy arms, he stood almost seven feet tall. In his mid-forties his blue eyes showed the fearlessness that came from a long life of warring. Gruff, disinclined to shows of affection, he only grunted in the face of Bali’s cheery hello.
Undeterred, she gave his arm a squeeze and introduced him to Icki, Domino and Lore.
Lore eyed the miniscule clearance between the top of Datsu’s head and the apartment doorframe. "That has got to be annoying."
Datsu made a low sound that might have been a growl of annoyance or assent. "I hear you’ve had some trouble."
Bali quickly filled him in and handed him a data disk. "That’s everything I know. You’ll have to talk to Domino’s general to find out what they’ve got. The general won’t talk to me."
"You’re still new to Draconian customs, wife. He tells me what he knows and I pass it on to you. He won’t consider telling you, since you’re a woman. He’d feel it might endanger you."
"Bloody stupid," Datsu rumbled. He sat down with his laptop and popped in the data disk, ignoring them all. Less than three minutes later, he stood and looked at Domino. "I need to see the entire building."
"Be my guest."
Bali trailed along for the tour as Datsu made his way from basement to rooftop, inspecting even the ladies room in his tour. More than one woman had met her end in a secluded restroom. He spoke little, but seemed mostly satisfied with the building’s security.
"Might get a weapons and explosives sniffing dog," was his only comment when he saw the club’s guarded entrances.
Domino appeared to consider the idea. He nodded his head and let Datsu finish his tour before demanding, "Well?" Bali, Datsu and Domino had adjourned to his private booth in the club for lunch.
Datsu considered him over his mounded platter of food. "Your security’s good. She’s not likely to die in here. It’s when she leaves the place that you’ll have problems." He finished a sandwich in three bites.
Lore returned from his errand and joined them at the table. Datsu eyed him. "Will you stay with her?"
Lore raised his brow as he selected a morsel from a serving platter. "Why not? I’m on extended leave.
Domino’s is as good as any place to spend my nights. Most of the women congregate here, anyway." He grinned wickedly.
Datsu grunted and forbore to lecture him, willing to judge by observation for a while.
"Now that that’s settled," Bali said brightly, "I’ve a mind to do some shopping. I need some time to myself."
Three frowns came her way.
She shrugged. "Make the arrangements. That’s Datsu’s forte. No more than three stores, I promise, but I must get out. I’ve never taken confinement well."
"Can it wait until this afternoon? I need to hire at least two more men," Datsu said slowly, frowning in thought. "Give me time to get them in place, then we’ll go."
"Who did you want to hire?" Domino asked coolly.
"Ferret. He’s an information specialist and security equipment guru. Zag Tramysin. He’ll be my backup."
"A little redundant, don’t you think? We’ve got myself, Lore and some military personnel in the building already, besides my personal security."
"You can’t be at her side night and day, your
"No. I want you to fall in love. You need him."
Piqued, she demanded, "Is this an official prescription? Fall in love and all my troubles will be over?"
Strain made his face tighten. Icki walked slowly to the couch and sat down with a grimace. He sighed and slowly relaxed into the recliner. He closed his eyes. "I don’t have the strength for this conversation, bittermelon. You might want to do whatever it is women do in the mornings. Datsu will be here soon, and he’ll want to talk."
Frustrated, Bali left him alone. He wasn’t always going to be sick. They’d have it out when he was better.
Chapter 22
Datsu was a brick-built big wall. Icelandic, built like his Viking ancestors with a braided blond beard, a long braid down his massive back and huge, hairy arms, he stood almost seven feet tall. In his mid-forties his blue eyes showed the fearlessness that came from a long life of warring. Gruff, disinclined to shows of affection, he only grunted in the face of Bali’s cheery hello.
Undeterred, she gave his arm a squeeze and introduced him to Icki, Domino and Lore.
Lore eyed the miniscule clearance between the top of Datsu’s head and the apartment doorframe. "That has got to be annoying."
Datsu made a low sound that might have been a growl of annoyance or assent. "I hear you’ve had some trouble."
Bali quickly filled him in and handed him a data disk. "That’s everything I know. You’ll have to talk to Domino’s general to find out what they’ve got. The general won’t talk to me."
"You’re still new to Draconian customs, wife. He tells me what he knows and I pass it on to you. He won’t consider telling you, since you’re a woman. He’d feel it might endanger you."
"Bloody stupid," Datsu rumbled. He sat down with his laptop and popped in the data disk, ignoring them all. Less than three minutes later, he stood and looked at Domino. "I need to see the entire building."
"Be my guest."
Bali trailed along for the tour as Datsu made his way from basement to rooftop, inspecting even the ladies room in his tour. More than one woman had met her end in a secluded restroom. He spoke little, but seemed mostly satisfied with the building’s security.
"Might get a weapons and explosives sniffing dog," was his only comment when he saw the club’s guarded entrances.
Domino appeared to consider the idea. He nodded his head and let Datsu finish his tour before demanding, "Well?" Bali, Datsu and Domino had adjourned to his private booth in the club for lunch.
Datsu considered him over his mounded platter of food. "Your security’s good. She’s not likely to die in here. It’s when she leaves the place that you’ll have problems." He finished a sandwich in three bites.
Lore returned from his errand and joined them at the table. Datsu eyed him. "Will you stay with her?"
Lore raised his brow as he selected a morsel from a serving platter. "Why not? I’m on extended leave.
Domino’s is as good as any place to spend my nights. Most of the women congregate here, anyway." He grinned wickedly.
Datsu grunted and forbore to lecture him, willing to judge by observation for a while.
"Now that that’s settled," Bali said brightly, "I’ve a mind to do some shopping. I need some time to myself."
Three frowns came her way.
She shrugged. "Make the arrangements. That’s Datsu’s forte. No more than three stores, I promise, but I must get out. I’ve never taken confinement well."
"Can it wait until this afternoon? I need to hire at least two more men," Datsu said slowly, frowning in thought. "Give me time to get them in place, then we’ll go."
"Who did you want to hire?" Domino asked coolly.
"Ferret. He’s an information specialist and security equipment guru. Zag Tramysin. He’ll be my backup."
"A little redundant, don’t you think? We’ve got myself, Lore and some military personnel in the building already, besides my personal security."
"You can’t be at her side night and day, your
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