Page 47 of The Guardian

I scoffed. “That is such an American thing and boring as well.”

“So says the Brit who likes badminton.” Michael scoffed. “My God, if anyone invented a game you could sleep through. They nailed it with that pansy ass nonsense.”

Maya giggled.

“Mate, it is the same as tennis. Just with more class,” I defended.

“Tennis can get grueling and rough and not for teetotalers.” Michael laughed. “Wow, it is good to know that you haven’t changed, brother of mine.”

“I felt the same way when we met up in San Diego,” Rain interjected. “That Sir Henry never changes. He just gets more arrogant and annoying.”

The two men laughed.

I rolled my eyes at them. “Jealous much? Those who lack class make up for it with jokes.”

“Don’t act like you are superior to me,” Rain advised. “I have skills that often blows your little British mind.”

“Like when you showed up at the Super 8 out of the blue after not knowing where Carlos and Selena were?” I crossed my arms over my chest.

“Da, exactly.” Rain smirked at me. “You all were, how you say, gob smacked.”

I nodded in agreement. “We were but I’ve had time to figure that slick move out.”

“Is that so?” Rain kept smiling at me.

“Yes, you tracked my bloody phone! You followed me there.”

Rain didn’t look like he was taken off guard as he laughed. “Took you a week to figure it out, did it?”

“Yes and pretending to be that skilled at tracking?” I quipped. “Someone’s map is too small I’m guessing.”

Michael burst into laughter.

Maya joined him with a giggle as she noted, “They get like this a lot.”

Michael swiped a tear away. “They’re worse than Henry and I. But damn, that is funny.”

“Nah,” I said. “You are family so I have to put up with you. Him? Only when I need a semi-good tracker.”

“Oh, ho-ho, blyat!” Rain exclaimed as he chuckled.

“Rain and I have talked about this trip,” Michael told me in a more serious tone as he got down to it finally.

I took a sip of my Earl Grey and then set the teacup down. “And what have you both surmised?”

“Blin…” Rain nodded. “We need to be careful even from the time we make the arrangements to the time we get to the island. So, I have procured identities for us. Your brother here filled me in on the rest of this.”

“They have done worse than kidnap people and drain their blood?” I asked.

“They are protected by the League, Henry,” Michael announced.

“The fuck?” I swore as I stared at him, then looked at Rain.

“Who is the League?’ Maya asked.

“The deadliest security force you can hire,” a voice came from the doorway.

We looked up to see Mr. Mancini standing in the entry.