The corner of his mouth turned up ever so slightly. “I am not PC.”
I smiled back at him. “Then I guess you’d better procure a tux. And get me a dress while you’re at it. Alejandro made a point to mention how formal the event is going to be, and we don’t want to offend our host, now do we?”
“What color?” he asked, his expression full of mischief.
I cocked my head at him as if to say ‘what do you think?’
“If it isn’t black, I’m going naked.”
That playful expression fell. “Black it is then.”
“Good. Now that we have that settled, let’s go tell the others how we’re going to bring down the Northside alpha.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
I slept well that night.
It was as though having a solid plan that I could hold on to gave my mind a sense of peace—enough to let it shut off for a few hours. I woke up excited at the thought of bringing Alejandro down. The joy I felt was obvious from the pep in my step as I strode into the kitchen, humming a happy tune as I fished some food out of the fridge.
“Well you’re in a good fucking mood,” Nico said, coming through the front door.
“I am. Please don’t ruin it.”
Cooper and Alek followed him in, and I couldn’t help but wonder whether they’d been out for business or pleasure. I feared it was the former while I prayed it was the latter.
“Throw me a bagel, would ya, Fi?” Cooper asked. I chucked a pumpernickel bagel at him, which he tore into the second he caught it.
“I guess you didn’t go out for breakfast,” I said, my anxiety rising. “Something else happen last night?”
“Sort of,” Nico said, “but nothing regarding the fight club deaths. Just some bullshit that needed to be shut down before it escalated. Pretty routine PC shit.”
“I guess I wouldn’t know much about that,” I said, doing my best not to sound bitter. “I seem to get all the crazy outlier stuff.”
“Sounds like it,” Cooper said, his mouth full of bagel.
“About your outlier stuff,” Alek started, walking toward me, “I’m not settled with this plan of yours for tomorrow night.”
“Wait,” Cooper said, spitting out his bagel, “the party is tomorrow?”
“Yeah. She said that last night.” Alek looked annoyed with Cooper’s outburst.
“Yeah…I’m not so sure about this plan either,” Cooper said. Thankfully, he gracefully evaded the ‘why’ by saying it might not be enough time to prepare a plan. He left any mention of the full moon out of it, but I’d gotten his message loud and clear. In all the chaos, I’d completely forgotten that Friday was the full moon—the one Damascus had told me to beware.
That made what I had to do seem far more ominous.
“You guys, TS and I have been through everything. We’re going to get in and get out. Only so much could possibly go wrong.”
“Still,” Alek argued, coming to stand before me, “there are too many variables for you to account for. You don’t know where the stone will be. You don’t know what kind of security he will have. Cameras. Alarms. You two could be walking into a shitstorm and not even know it—and that is assuming TS is permitted inside at all. Did he say to bring a date?”
“He didn’t say not to…”
“I think this is all too risky.”
“Maybe, but remember that Alejandro has no idea that anyone knows about the stone, and that’s going to work in our favor. That and the fact that Reah’s stone will lead us right to it.”
Alek’s jaw worked furiously as he tried to conjure up a way to make me see reason. Too bad for him that shit wasn’t going to happen.
“Does TS know everything about Friday night?” Cooper asked, shooting me a pointed look. His subtext about the full moon was so thick I was worried Nico and Alek would pick up on it.
“He knows everything I do about the party. We’re just going to have to see how it all plays out.”
“Maybe I can go too,” Cooper said, not satisfied with my answer.
“Coop, I can’t see how that will help.”
“I can distract him while you and TS go find the stone…together.”
“And if Alejandro doesn’t take kindly to you crashing his party?”
“I’ll deal with it,” Cooper growled.
“No,” I said, walking over to him. “That isn’t why you came out here.” It was my turn to shoot him a pointed look. “TS and I can handle this. We’ve handled worse.”
At that, his gaze softened, undoubtedly thinking about my struggles before Nyx and I had been fully integrated. Instead of arguing, he pulled me into a hug that bordered on uncomfortably tight.
“Nothing bad can happen to you,” he said softly, kissing the top of my head.
“Which is why she shouldn’t go,” Alek said.
I turned to find Nico’s eyes darting back and forth between our brother and me. It was clear that he wasn’t used to being in this position—the tiebreaking vote. It was he and I who usually locked horns, with Alek being the one to mediate. Now he’d gotten a taste of Alek’s position, and judging by the sour expression on his face, he wasn’t a fan.
“She goes,” Nico finally said, “but we’ll have people planted around the building, and Trey at the ready to go in and get them out if need be.”
“Yeah, not gonna lie. I wasn’t expecting you to say that,” I said, pulling away from Cooper.
“You handled yourself last time. Just make sure you do it again. And if push comes to shove, you let Nyx out and burn that building to the ground. Whatever you have to do to get out alive.”
Alek exhaled hard in frustration at Nico’s words, but he didn’t argue. Though clearly not happy about it, he accepted Nico’s order. Then he stalked out of the room and made his way upstairs.
“You know how he can be when there are too many unknowns,” Nico said, looking over to where Alek had just disappeared. “He’ll come around.”
I nodded, but the gesture felt hollow. I could feel Alek’s lingering anger and frustration. He was really worried about me, and that thought gave me pause; but not enough to not follow through with what needed to be done.
“Listen, it’s late, and I gotta get some food and get cleaned up. I’m going to the bar tonight. I’m hoping to find out some info on this party through the grapevine of Northsiders that come in.”
“Good idea. The Fates are out doing the same. They have informants everywhere. They’re calling in favors.”
“And Muses?” I asked, wondering what that creepy fucker was doing to help.
“He didn’t say where he was going when he left, just that he had to do something to prepare,” Cooper said.
“I’ll just bet he does.” My sarcasm wasn’t lost on Nico and Cooper.
“Go eat. You’re grumpy,” Nico said before heading toward the stairs. Cooper shot me a look that said we’d talk more about the full moon warning later, then followed Nico, leaving me to eat alone and try to corral my wandering thoughts.
I needed to get to the bar early or I’d go crazy.
I needed a distraction in the worst way.
Chapter Thirty
I walked down the side street toward the front entrance to the bar. Jenkins had given me a key so I could open up if need be—or escape my family, which he suddenly understood my need to do. As I slid the key into the door, a voice startled me. I hadn’t heard anyone as I’d approached the bar. That fact made me wonder if someone had been waiting for me.
An ambush.
“I’ve been doing a little digging since our last encounter,” PI Bowers said as he walked around the corner of the building. He looked sharper somehow—like he’d woken up from a hazy existence. Like I’d somehow given him a higher purpose. Yay for me.
“Like in the literal sense, or…?”
His unamused expression was answer enough.
“Tell me something, Sapphire,” he started, using my alias. “I’m curious about why you were out at that
abandoned warehouse the other night. It seems to be the last night anyone can account for Ward’s whereabouts.”
“Why were you there?” I countered, taking a step closer to him.
“When did you start working here?” he asked, not skipping a beat.
“When my other place of employment burned to the ground.”
“About that,” he said, approaching me with a casual-looking gait. But there was nothing casual about it. It was predatory—a means of intimidation. Too bad for him humans couldn’t intimidate me. “How did Sinful meet that end?”
I shrugged. “Do I look like the fire chief to you? I don’t have a fucking clue how it went up in flames, but I do know that this city is better for it. One less Russian mobster for them to worry about.”
“Did he die in the fire?” he asked, feigning curiosity. “I hadn’t read that.”
“No clue. But he hasn’t been seen since, so he either died or ran. Take your pick. All I know is he’s gone and I’m glad.”
“I can’t help but notice a pattern here, Sapphire. One that doesn’t paint you in the best light.”
“My love of seedy establishments?”
His expression soured at my sarcasm.
“No. Your involvement in missing persons cases.”
“Working at a place that burned down hardly makes me involved in it somehow.” It was amazing how easily that lie flew past my lips. How calmly I could claim innocence when I was not only the reason Sinful had burned, but also the reason its shady owner had been killed.
“Just like being where Ward was last seen is a coincidence?”
“Yep.”
His shrewd eyes narrowed. “You don’t fool me.” He stepped so close to me that our bodies nearly touched. It was then that I realized just how massive a man Danny Bowers was. How tall and formidable a cop he must have once been.
“And you don’t scare me. You think you’re a big, hulking man who can browbeat me into submission. Well good luck with that, asshole. I’ve spent my entire life around guys like you. I’m immune to your tactics. But feel free to keep fucking with me. It’s adorable.”
“Phira?” a young voice called out from behind me. “Everything okay here, chica?”
I turned to see Michael approaching, his brow creased with concern. Pain in my ass though he was, the kid had a good heart. And he was loyal—a quality I valued. He came to stand beside me before shouldering his way in between Bowers and me.
“I think you need to go,” the teen said to the mountain of a man looming over us both. Bowers shot him a curious look; one that held anger and suspicion and a hint of respect.
“I’ll see you soon, Sapphire,” Bowers said, walking back the way he’d come.
“Sapphire?” Michael repeated, looking at me for an explanation.
“Long story, kid. If you’re lucky, I’ll explain it later.”
He looked unconvinced as he stared at me, then turned his head to follow Bowers’ retreat. Once the PI was out of sight, Michael reached in front of me to unlock the door, then swung it wide to let me in.
“What?” he asked when I didn’t move. “My mother raised me right.”
I shook my head and laughed. “You just want to stare at my ass.”
An impish smile tugged at his lips. “That too.”
“I’ll let that slide because you almost just got your butt handed to you on my behalf.” I stepped into the building, knowing that Michael was doing exactly what I’d said he would. At least the kid owned his perv tendencies.
We walked toward the back in silence. When we reached it, I was surprised to see Jenkins already in his office, staring at his laptop.
“Hey,” I said, throwing my bag on a chair.
“You’re here early.”
“First time for everything,” I replied.
“Hey Jenks, some guy was messing with her outside,” Michael said, entering the small office. Looking around, I wondered how the hell we’d all fit in there the night before.
“What guy?” Jenkins asked, standing up.
“Danny Bowers,” I said, hoping he’d remember the business card he’d read over my shoulder the other night.
“What did he want?”
“He was totally harassing her. He was all up in her face before I showed up,” Michael replied.
“Little perv here scared him off.”
Jenkins looked over to the teenager and smiled. “That’s why we keep him around. He’s the hired muscle.”
“Well I gotta give him credit, he wasn’t backing down from that guy.”
Michael smiled. “She let me stare at her ass as payment.”
Jenkins choked on a laugh. “Aren’t you in a charitable mood…”
I shrugged. “It’ll pass.” I walked over to Michael and put my hand on his arm. “I need to talk to Jenks for a second. Alone.”
“Okay,” he said. Then he walked out without question.
I closed the door as Jenkins rounded the desk to stand in front of me.
“Did you learn anything last night?” he asked. I quickly regurgitated all I’d learned from Reah and explained the plan to go to Alejandro’s party to find the stone. It took him a minute to absorb everything I’d said. Then he paced the room, running his hand through his hair. “This is a dangerous idea, Phira.”
“I know. But don’t worry. TS is going to the party with me. We’ll be fine. We’ll go in, I’ll keep the alpha busy while TS tracks the stone, and then we’ll bail. Easy as can be.”
“And if you get out and he suspects you took the stone, he’ll come after me because of my association with you.”
“The PC will protect you—”
“I don’t give a shit about being protected. I just don’t want to give you away.”
“Then you’ll need to lay low until we deal with Alejandro. Can you do that? Do you have somewhere you can go?”
“Yeah…sure. I’ll figure something out.”
“Okay…then if we’re done here, I’m going to go get shit ready out front. I need a distraction.”
He hesitated for a second.
“What TS said last night—about Little Church. That’s the town Nyx destroyed? The one you told me about?”
I nodded. “I didn’t have control of my power back then. Nyx and I weren’t integrated like we are now. It’s complicated—maybe once all this is over I can try to explain it better.”
He said nothing in response.
I made my way to the bar and started the prep work. With every minute that passed, my confidence in what I had to do the next night wavered. The realization that Friday was the full moon didn’t help. Damascus’ warning kept popping into my mind, an unwanted guest. Beware the full moon… Yeah, it promised to be ominous, given that I was going to be attending a party packed with werewolves. But that didn’t change anything. The party was our best opportunity to do what we needed to with a cover that all but gave us direct access to the evidence we needed. All I had to do was distract Alejandro while TS tracked down the stone.
How easy that would prove remained to be seen.
“Why do you look so pissed off?” Jenkins asked as he came to join me behind the bar.
“This thing with Alejandro—I don’t know how I’m supposed to keep him busy so TS can find the stone. There’ll be a shitload of people there. How am I going to get his attention?”
“You could try stripping,” he replied with a playful smile, ribbing me with his elbow. “That sure got my attention.”
Before I could slap him, Michael rounded the corner right on cue, eyes wide with surprise and lust.
“Stripping? You’re a stripper?”
“She used to work at the club a couple blocks over,” Jenkins said. “The one that burned down.”
“As a DJ,” I added, shooting Jenkins a scathing look. “DJ Sapphire. I ran the music. And no, Jenks, I won’t be taking my clothes off for the cause this time.”
“What are you two talking about? What cause?” Neither of us answered f
or a few seconds too long, and Michael’s curious gaze turned suspicious. “What are you not telling me? Does this have to do with the guy at the door? He called you Sapphire…”
“Did he?” Jenkins asked, quirking an unfriendly brow at me.
“Later for that,” I said, shutting him down. “Listen, Michael, I have this other job—I can’t tell you a lot about it—but sometimes it requires things of me. Things I don’t like to talk about.”
“She’s an escort,” Jenkins blurted out, “and she has this big soirée tomorrow night with some super important business guy, and she’s nervous. She doesn’t want to mess it up.”
Stripper to hooker. Not certain his cover story did much to improve my standing.
“Are you going to fu—”
“NO! I’m not going to sleep with him. Jesus! I’m not a whore. I’m arm candy for single men who need something pretty at their side. That’s all.”
“Then why are you worried about getting his attention?”
Good question.
“She’s worried about keeping it,” Jenks said.
“I need to impress him somehow.”
“Wear something tight,” Michael said with a mischievous smile. “That’ll work.”
“For you, yes. For a man who can have whatever he wants, not so much.”
“What do you know about him?”
“Well…he’s rich. He’s good looking. He’s Latino...” I left ‘he runs the Northside werewolf pack‘ out of my description for obvious reasons.
“Latino?” Michael asked, perking up.
“Cuban, to be exact,” Jenkins replied.
The excitement in Michael’s eyes was so childlike it reminded me just how young he was. It was also mildly terrifying, since I didn’t know why his mood had improved so quickly.
“Do you salsa?” he asked.
I stared at him blankly. “Do I look like I salsa?”
His gaze drifted over me, all the way up and down. “I’d sure like to see you try...”
“Can you find something for him to do?” I asked Jenkins, who looked all too amused with the conversation.
“Do you know how, Michael? Could you teach her?” Jenkins asked.
Dead Zone (Blue-Eyed Bomb Book 3) Page 17