Page 56 of Throwing Shade
She tapped her lips. “Only if you come see me as I requested.”
If Laurent’s thigh hadn’t been right up against mine, I’d never have noticed his sudden tension, because his smile didn’t slip. “Another time.”
“He wants to see you. He’s pack.”
My ears pricked up but I pretended to check my phone for a text so I wasn’t staring avidly at the two of them.
Laurent crossed his arms. “I have no pack, remember? I’m the crazy loner who kills humans for money.”
I touched his shoulder. “I shouldn’t have made that mercenary crack.”
He stiffened, then tapped a teaspoon against the tablecloth, not looking at either of us. “Forget it.”
Tatiana sniffed. “I won’t mix in.”
His expression softened. “I know you mean well, but some things can’t be fixed.”
She patted his hand. “I wish it were otherwise.”
Laurent caught my confused stare and pulled away. “We’ve got to go. We have shit to do.”
Tatiana shot us a knowing look. “Miriam, it was a pleasure.”
“Same.” Agreeing was smarter than saying, “Not really, because I think you are dangerous and if I see you coming, I’m running the other way.” My mother didn’t birth a fool.
Laurent stood and abruptly strode off, ever the gentleman.
I bade Tatiana goodbye and hurried after him. Did he think she was harmless or did their connection blind him to her game playing?
“What the fuck?” he hissed. “I told you repeatedly not to speak to anyone.”
“But—”
“Allow me to escort you out.” Vikram had joined us and it wasn’t a request.
The shifters had never emerged from the back room. I didn’t ask.
Ignoring Laurent, who still shot me daggers, I said, “Is this a ‘Thank you for coming to my lovely speakeasy’ seeing us out, or a ‘Darken my doorway again and I’ll kill you’?”
“Any friend of Tatiana’s gets special treatment,” Vikram replied.
“Since when?” Laurent said.
Vikram smiled enigmatically.
I dodged a server carrying a full tray of cocktails. “Can I come back? And if I do, is there some code of conduct I should follow?”
“Yes and yes.”
“Care to enlighten me?”
“Where’s the fun in that?” Vikram held the front door open.
“So this place is some kind of Darwin ‘survival of the fittest’ test?” I said.
“Or the Darwin Awards. Guess you’ll find out which way you land.”
“That’s cold, man.” I nodded. “I think I’m going to like you.”
