Dead Drop (The Guild #2)(70)
“Of course it would,” I replied, frowning. “I like you.”
His lips curled in a smile. “Is that all?”
Panic filled my chest, and my palms turned sweaty. “You’re changing the subject, Bunny. We were discussing how you won’t kill Kai for touching me.”
His expression shifted murderous again. “And has he? Touched you, I mean.”
My eyes widened as I realized what I’d essentially just admitted to. “Um…”
“Where?” Leon practically growled the question. “Where has he touched you, mon cœur?”
I wet my lips, weighing my options. Refuse to provide details, knowing it would drive him nuts? Or give him all the details and hope he was more turned on than infuriated?
Or… I could bargain. “Give me something useful, and I’ll tell you something in exchange.”
Leon’s blazing green eyes narrowed. “What do you want to know, beautiful? I can promise you I’ve not been with any other women. You’re it for me.”
Oof, my heart just doubled in size.
“Not that,” I murmured, feeling a slight blush touch my face. “Tell me where to find one of Blanchet’s guys. I need to go on attack, or I’ll lose my fucking mind here.”
His gaze shifted to pensive, then he ran a hand over his stubbled chin. “Not Blanchet. But I did uncover Layla’s last assignments before her death. One of them is near where you are now.”
Okay, not as useful as I wanted, but it would certainly help Mo if I could uncover Layla’s data cache. And possibly even answer the question of why Blanchet was involved. Why he was targeting me.
“She was given a simple surveillance contract in a club there, something that should have only taken one night at best. But the paperwork says she was there for a full week.” There was a small line between Leon’s brows, and I wanted to reach through the phone to smooth it out.
“You think the extra time was stashing her data?” It certainly sounded plausible. “Wait, you know where I am now, too? Come on, Leon. You’re not supposed to be—”
“I’m not tracking you, beautiful,” he cut me off with a laugh. “I promise. But I recognize the gym you’re in right now.”
I swiveled my head, realizing there was a framed poster behind me for one of The Archer’s old illegal fights at a creepy old amusement park. Whoops.
“Where was her contract meant to take place?” I asked, changing the subject back to Layla.
“A club called Meow Lounge,” he told me with a grimace. “She was sent to run recon on a couple of regular patrons, but her debrief mentions having spoken with the owner, Lee Sheridan. He might be worth questioning.”
I nodded my understanding. “I’ll drop by today and have a chat with him.”
Leon immediately scowled and shook his head. “No, not yet. Just wait for me, I’m already on my way back to you.”
Smiling, I rolled my eyes. “I think this is probably something I can handle, Marx. But thanks for the concern.”
He glowered back at me. “It’s not like that. Lee Sheridan is a suspicious kind of guy; he won’t just talk because you asked nicely. You’ll need to catch him when the club is open, and even then—”
“I wasn’t planning on asking nicely, Bunny.” I grinned through the phone at him.
He stared at me for a long moment, then sighed. “You’re gonna go without me, aren’t you?”
I nodded. “You already know I will. Fair’s fair, though. Want me to tell you about how Kai put a spy camera in my room at Hestia and witnessed our last video chat?”
Leon’s expression flickered with a whole host of emotions. Fury, jealousy, lust…
“But he didn’t realize I was on the phone to you,” I continued. “Until I told him.”
Leon’s lips parted, then he started laughing. Although it was at Kai’s expense, I much preferred competitive mocking between them rather than attempts to kill one another. Now I just had to hope that would hold up if they were in the same room together.
Ultimately, though, I knew this balance could never last. Sooner or later, one of them would snap, and I’d be forced to choose. Just the thought of it made me sick to my stomach, so instead, I focused on forming a plan to visit Meow Lounge.
Leon stayed on the phone with me for a while, much longer than I’d anticipated, and it was just as enjoyable as the other night when we shared our pasts. He eventually told me that he was about to lose reception and ended the call with a solemn promise to see me soon. It made me all fluttery inside.
Putting my phone aside, I refocused my energy into a grueling workout. Then I headed into town to buy a costume for my trip to Meow Lounge. It felt good to have an objective again, even if it wasn’t the end game.
31
My shopping trip was very productive. So much so that I waltzed straight to the front of the line of scantily clad women and expensively dressed men waiting outside Meow Lounge just before midnight two nights later—the first night the club was open that week. The security on the door gave me a long once over, then licked his lips and let me in.
I was dressed in a black pleated skirt, short enough that my butt cheeks poked out from under the hem when I walked. My black push-up bra was complemented by a leather harness of buckles and straps, and my stiletto boots laced up over my knees. With plum lipstick, heavy eye makeup, and my white hair in twin French braids, I looked like a slutty goth schoolgirl.