Gaslight (Crossbreed #4)(72)

“Raven will find a way out of her situation,” Niko said, trying to offer Gem hope. “I’m sure she’s just waiting for the right moment.”

In truth, Niko knew firsthand how slowly time passed for a man enslaved. The only way to survive was to take each moment as it came and not think ahead.

“It’s been a month,” she said sullenly. “Maybe she got lucky and her buyer’s an Arabian prince in search of true love.”

“I thought we came here to forget our troubles?”

“I know, but it’s hard to forget. I miss her banter at the table. And sometimes late at night I think I hear her walking the halls, but when I peek through the door, it’s just Claude coming back from the kitchen. Do you think it’s wrong that I sometimes wish she were dead? Death can be a gift when your life is nothing but pain and misery.”

Niko gripped the edges of his hood, wondering how Gem could know such a thing.

Shepherd’s light flashed into view, and the sound of a tray hit the table. “Cut me off at three beers.”

“Drink all you want. I can drive,” Gem said, resurrecting an argument they’d had on the way over.

“No, honey. Not my Jeep. You’ll put a scratch on it.”

“Moi?”

“Yeah, you. Remember that fire hydrant you backed into?”

“That wasn’t my fault. Wyatt drives a stick, and I got confused. Can you watch my drink? I have to go powder my nose.”

When her light glimmered away, Shepherd’s voice grew quiet. “Do you think they really powder their nose in there?”

“I think half a woman’s allure is her mystery.”

“I’ll drink to that.”

Niko wrapped his hands around his glass and hesitated. “What did Gem order?”

“Same thing as you. Pussy water. Except she didn’t want the lemon wedge.”

When Shepherd wasn’t playing darts or pool, he usually put his wallet on the table so he didn’t have to keep reaching in his pocket to tip the waitresses.

With a casual swipe of his arm, Niko knocked it onto the floor. “Apologies. Was that something of yours?”

Shepherd’s bottle tapped against the table. “Huh?” His chair creaked. “Yep. It’s just my wallet. One sec.”

When his light briefly disappeared, Niko reached across the table for Gem’s glass and switched it out with his own. He quickly grabbed the lemon wedge and then sat back, hoping Shepherd hadn’t noticed.

The table thumped.

“Dammit,” Shepherd grumbled. “Hit my damn head. This place must be a jinx. Last time I was here, I lost my keys.”

Niko dipped his finger in the glass of sparkling water and then licked the tip. His emotional shift was subtle but noticeable. He felt a sense of longing, and his mood brightened just enough that a smile touched his lips.

“Where do you think Christian is?” he asked.

Shepherd swallowed his drink audibly and set down the bottle. “I never thought I’d see the day they’d become a real duo. I thought those two were going to kill each other in the beginning.”

“They seem to have settled their differences.”

“I’ll say. Guess he likes having a partner after all with all the searching he’s doing. Either that or he feels embarrassed about her being taken from right under his nose. I mean, the man has sonic hearing. How did he miss that?”

“They used an interference device. Christian wouldn’t lie about such a thing. It could have happened to any of us. We’re all part of this group because we have no aversion to danger.”

“Speaking of danger, what the hell do Patrick’s men want with you?”

Confused, Niko leaned in closer. “Apologies. I misheard the question.”

“I don’t think you did. Wyatt described the men you had a skirmish with in the alleyway outside Club Nine. Sounds a lot like Patrick’s bodyguards. You want to talk about what happened after our conversation in the alley?”

Cyrus and his men working for Patrick Bane? It wouldn’t be beneath them. Cyrus was crafty and not one to accept menial jobs—especially not ones working for a white man. He was up to something, but there was no way to know without confronting him.

“I don’t know who you saw with Patrick. The men I fought in the alleyway are old enemies who won’t let the past go.”

“Yeah,” Shepherd said with a chuckle. “They can join the club.”

“Needn’t worry. You can trust me,” he said, reminding Shepherd that he hadn’t and wouldn’t divulge his secret to anyone.

“I believe you, brother. Maybe I shouldn’t have opened my big mouth in a public place. That wasn’t the reason you fought them, was it?”

“Put it out of your mind.”

“You let me know if something’s up. I mean it.”

“Where’s Gem?” Hooper asked from behind Shepherd. Niko didn’t recognize his light, only his voice.

“Powdering her nose,” Shepherd informed him, amusement in his voice. “Have a seat. You off duty?”

“Not a minute too soon. A group of thirsty Vamps just walked in.”

Niko couldn’t help but notice Hooper used what many considered a derogatory word. “You don’t get along with Vampires?”