Deathtrap (Crossbreed #3)(7)

“I’ve changed my mind,” I said.

He gazed at me through the mirror, a smile hovering on his lips. “Too late.”

“I’m serious. I just want a trim.”

He leaned over my shoulder, eyes still centered on mine. “We agreed on highlights.”

I lowered my eyes, thinking about my plans to see my father. It wasn’t as if a few highlights would alter my appearance entirely, but I wanted to look the way he remembered me.

“Claude, I know you can do amazing things with your hands, but I’m not ready for amazing just yet. Snip off the split ends and let’s call it a day.”

He shook his head, but his nostrils were twitching. Claude was trying to figure out my emotional scent, and probably the only thing he could pick up was my resolve. “Female, I wouldn’t do anything but enhance the beauty that’s already there.”

“You gave me some layers last month. That’s progress.”

Claude folded his arms. “I fixed a catastrophe involving duct tape.”

“Don’t give me that look,” I said, lacing my fingers together. “I’m not going to be guilted into something I’ll regret. I’ve already got too many oddities going on; maybe I need something plain in my life.”

Claude growled and reluctantly grabbed the comb off the counter. I should have felt guilty for wasting his time, but I kind of liked seeing him all flustered.

When I looked to my right, the customer beside me was gone.

Claude combed out my hair and sectioned off a piece. “You’re going to have to do a lot of things you don’t necessarily like, but that’s our job.”

I glanced around.

He bent down next to my ear. “No one can hear us. I usually don’t allow Vampires in my shop.”

“Maybe you should. Christian could use a trim.”

“What Christian needs is a lawn mower from the neck up.”

“I wish Viktor had chosen someone else. How am I supposed to carry on a conversation with Shepherd? The man barely grunts at me when passing in the hall.”

“He grows on you.” Claude snipped another section and resumed combing. “If you run out of things to talk about during dinner, rich people like to discuss travel and politics. Given you’ll probably say something offensive on the latter, you might stick to asking him about Paris.”

“What makes you think he’s been there?”

Claude pushed my head down. “They’ve all been to Paris. Some of those European countries have a long Breed history. Most of them have old friends they like to visit.”

I peeked through my hair at his reflection in the mirror. “What exactly does Patrick do?”

“He serves on the panel. The higher authority has officials in every major city, and they take turns rotating who’s going to sit in on trials. They know more about what’s going on in their district than anyone.”

I yawned noisily. “And I have to chat with this guy for how long?”

“If Shepherd has more than four drinks, it’s time to go home. Maybe if you bring up something innocuous like lager or stogies, it’ll give them a topic to discuss. Shepherd isn’t the most talkative male, but careful not to pick the wrong topic or he’ll get on his soapbox.”

“Lovely.”

After a few more snips, Claude circled in front of me where I could see him. The other employees wore black button-up shirts, but not Claude. He had on a black tank top with the store logo RAZOR SHARP on the front, a pair of scissors snipping off the bottom of the P. His tank top showed off his amazing shoulders—the kind a man is born with and doesn’t need to sculpt. Claude could ascend our rock-climbing wall faster than anyone in the group… and using only his hands.

“How are you getting along with Poe? Feeling better about Viktor’s decision to pair you up?”

I shrugged. “He’s okay.”

Claude arched a single brow, and that’s when I remembered he could smell my emotions. Lies, truths, doubt, fear—the only way to avoid Claude sniffing out the truth was to avoid answering questions.

“I noticed earlier you’re still wearing that heart-shaped necklace. Didn’t he give you that?”

I could almost feel the stone burning against my skin. “Don’t read into it or else I’m going to have to spread rumors about all the snuggling you do with Gem.”

“Gem likes my cuddles.” He smirked while snipping the ends of my hair at an angle. “It’s good to see you loosening up.”

I furrowed my brow and shook my hair away. “What do you mean?”

Claude crossed around to the other side and trimmed a few ends. “When you first came into the house, your guard was up. It’s like that for everyone. I have to admit, when I first heard about the Shadow killing people in Breed bars, I never imagined the ruthless killer to look like you.”

I leaned my head back and grinned. “A lot of sleepless nights?”

“A few. Viktor’s decision to offer you a spot took me by surprise. I couldn’t figure out why Gem liked you so much, but now I get it.”

“Enlighten me. I still haven’t figured that one out.”

He combed out my tresses and held a long section straight up, a ribbon of hair falling loose as the scissors sliced together. “Blue’s disciplined, hardworking, and serious. She also likes to be one of the guys. Gem is drawn to people with a sense of humor, which you have. Albeit black humor. You’re not the first person I’d choose to deliver my eulogy, but you’re easy to talk to.”