Free Blood Debt by Tanya Huff Page A

emphasis, she fitted the civilized mask more firmly in place. "Better?"
    "Yeah. But, uh, if Henry's coming, shouldn't you…" He glanced over at Celluci who was obviously going to be no help at all. "… shouldn't you be here?"
    "Are you warning me against hunting in Henry's territory?"
    He knew this mood. He'd seen Henry wear it a hundred nights. "Do I look stupid?"
    "No." When she smiled at him, he barely resisted the urge to lift his chin and he released a thankful breath when she turned her attention to Celluci. "If Henry gets here before I get back, make my excuses, would you?
    "Vicki." He placed his hand on her arm and Tony thought he saw the edges soften as she looked up at him. "Be careful."
    "I'm always careful."
    "Bullshit." But he let her go.
    She paused at the door. "Trendy people still gather on Denman, Tony?"
    He'd barely begun to nod when she was gone.

    Henry liked to hunt on Denman. Tony chewed on a corner of his lip and turned toward the detective. "I thought you were going to ask her not to go."
    Celluci snorted. "Not likely. It's safer not to have her around when she's in that mood."
    "Yeah, but…" He spread his hands, unsure of the words.
    "I know what she is, Tony." Celluci's voice was surprisingly gentle.
    "I don't always like it, but I like the alternative even less." He cleared his throat, suddenly embarrassed by the spontaneous shared confidence. "Have you eaten?"
    After Tony pointed out that Henry didn't like the apartment smelling of food, Celluci ordered a pizza.
    "Give him something else to think about."
    "Besides Vicki?"
    "Besides Vicki."
    Expecting to be uncomfortable, Tony was astonished to find himself relaxing. They were just two guys thrown together by mutual friends, age the biggest difference between them. They even argued over which toppings to order.
    Halfway through a large double cheese, mushrooms, tomatoes, and pepperoni, Celluci sat back, wiped sauce off his chin, and said, "You want to tell me what's wrong?"
    "Nothing's…" Tony let the protest hang half said. He could tell from the expression on the other man's face there was no point in finishing it. "You wouldn't understand."
    "Tony, if it has to do with Henry, the odds are I'm the only person in the world who would understand."
    "Yeah, I guess." He chewed and swallowed, unsure if he was trying to think of what to say or if he was avoiding the question entirely. He could feel Celluci waiting, not impatiently but like he really wanted to know. After a moment, he put down the half-eaten slice and scrubbed at the grease on his fingers. "This is just between you and me?"
    "If that's what you want."
    After a few minutes of expectant silence, he sighed. "When I first met Henry, I wasn't anything, you know? And I wouldn't be what I am now without him. I mean, he sort of made me go back and finish high school just because, well, he believed I could, and…" He poked at a congealing piece of cheese. "I guess that sounds pretty dumb."
    "No." Celluci shook his head, remembering how he'd fallen into position by Henry Fitzroy's side on more than one occasion. "The little shit has a way of making you live up to his expectations."
    "Yeah, that's it exactly. He just expects." Tony ripped his napkin into greasy squares before he continued. "Trouble is, sometimes he doesn't really see me in those expectations. I mean, he didn't choose for me to know about him, Vicki just kinda dumped me on him and he never really felt about me like he did about her." Realizing who he was speaking to, he colored. "Sorry."
    "It's okay. I know how he felt." But it's my life she's a part of, not his, his tone added smugly. "It seems to me, it's time for you to get out and find a life of your own."
    "I guess." He lifted his head and met Celluci's eyes. "But how do you just leave someone like Henry?"

    Vicki had the taxi drop her off in front of the Sylvia Hotel on English Bay. Her memory of the three nights with Henry in the vine-covered, Victorian building, learning