Chapter 254

Dashiell looked travel-worn and had a prominent five o’clock shadow on his jawline. He started walking towards Elodie but stopped short as a broad-shouldered man stepped in front of her with an arm raised like a stop sign. ‘That’s far enough, Mr Kellan.’ ‘It’s okay, Cory.’ Elodie asked the bodyguard to stand down. She glanced around the lobby and tilted her head towards the hotel bar. Cory frowned disapprovingly, but Mr Moretti had only put him in charge of Elodie’s safety, not her social calendar. Still, there’d be a phone call to Mr Moretti later. Dashiell had a suitcase with him, which told Elodie he’d just stepped off a plane. She didn’t bother asking how he tracked her down. She picked a stool at the bar and gestured to the bartender. ‘A Vesper Martini.’ She looked questioningly at Dashiell, who ordered coffee, black. ‘I have business in Antwerp,’ he said, anticipating her question. Elodie sipped her drink, sceptical but saying nothing. ‘Where’s Ari?’ ‘He has business elsewhere.’