Carpathian 09 - Dark Guardian

like Barnes, he would have celebrity status. He moved silently, remaining aware of the location of all those in the house. There were four men, including Barnes. Bruce was right behind him, and two others were playing pool in a recreation room on the first floor toward the back of the house.
    Samuel Barnes met him halfway across the room, his right hand outstretched. He was a slim man with a quick, practiced smile and thinning hair. "Lucian Daratrazanoff, this is quite a surprise. What can I do for you?"
    Lucian's black eyes were hard and uncompromising. "I believe we have some private business to discuss."
    Barnes indicated the door with a nod to Bruce. The man immediately went out, closing the heavy oak door behind him. Barnes crossed to his leather bar. "What can I get for you?" He poured himself a scotch and water.
    "Nothing for me, thank you," Lucian replied softly. He waited until Barnes was seated comfortably across from him before leaning toward the man and fixing his black eyes on the other man's gaze. "We have a small problem, Mr. Barnes," Lucian said very gently. "I know you will be more than pleased to help me with it."

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    "Of course, Mr. Daratrazanoff. Anything at all."
    "I would like you to tell me quite frankly why it is you wish Miss Jaxon Montgomery and her partner, Barry Radcliff, dead." Lucian's voice had dropped an octave, so that the tone wrapped around the other man, every bit as mesmerizing as those empty black eyes.
    "My partners and I have made several attempts to pay off her or some of those in her unit, but they're all very loyal to her. She seems to know where every shipment is before it even arrives. She's putting a stranglehold on our cash flow. I told my partners that we couldn't hit a couple of cops, but they said we had to or they would find a more agreeable partner. I had no choice."
    Lucian nodded seriously, as if they were simply discussing the weather. "And who are these people who are insisting upon her death? Because, you know, you do not really want such a thing."
    "Dennis Putnam and Roger Altman. They have big connections in Colombia and Mexico."
    "And where would I find these two men?"
    "It's hard to get to them. Bodyguards surround them all the time. I think they've got one of their men planted here, but I can't figure out who it is. They always know what I'm doing. They have a base of operation in Miami."
    "Write down the address for me."
    Barnes complied immediately. Lucian rose with his casual, fluid grace. "The men in this house—how many of them are aware of the fact that your partners want Miss Montgomery dead?"
    "All of them."
    "Thank you. I appreciate your help. I want you to wait until I have left this room, and then you will suddenly cease to be able to breathe. Do you understand?"
    "Yes, Mr. Daratrazanoff."
    Barnes walked him to the door and held out his hand. "It's been a pleasure doing business with you."
    Lucian took the hand offered to him and stared directly into Barnes's eyes, ensuring his instructions would be carried out swiftly. "I cannot say the same for you, but, then, you are a deceiver and a murderer, are you not?"
    Barnes frowned and rubbed his temples.
    Lucian's white teeth flashed. "Good-bye, Mr. Barnes."
    Bruce was waiting just outside the door. "Please follow me, Mr. Daratrazanoff. I'll show you out. I trust everything went well."
    Lucian put a friendly hand on the man's shoulder. "Please show me to the pool room. That would make me very happy."
    Bruce blinked rapidly several times. "Of course, sir. This way."

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    As they descended the long stairs, they heard a faint noise from the upstairs sitting room. A strangling, a gasping, and then a thud, as if someone had fallen to the floor. Bruce turned quickly. Lucian merely smiled. "You will not go to his aid, because I do not wish it. Take me to the pool room."
    Bruce nodded and led the way down the hall to a set of double doors.
    Lucian waved a hand, and the doors opened wide. The two men looked up from their game, both putting their hands on the weapons in their shoulder holsters. They relaxed visibly when they saw Bruce.
    Lucian walked directly up to the first man. "I want you to get into your car and drive very carefully, obeying all traffic rules, until you come to the entrance to the cliff road. You will go up that road and drive straight