CHAPTER FOUR
The Stark mansion was the same as he remembered it. On arrival, he hadn’t been shown into the usual office they worked from, he was taken to Maurice’s suite. That was unusual to the point of concerning.
Serg was on guard and told him to go straight in. No one was inside. The furniture was opulent, classic in its style. The focal point of the room was the large fireplace, almost taller than him. He’d never seen an actual fire burning there, then again, it had been a few years since he’d been in the usually private space.
The side door opened, and Mauri came in from the bedroom. The patriarch had lost weight, that was immediately obvious, but other than appearing slightly gaunt, there were no other indications of illness.
They stood for a few seconds, looking at each other,
