Page 22 of Dead of Night
“Living my best life,” he said.
“I’d expect nothing less.”
“I thought you might stop by the club for a drink one night.”
I held his gaze. “Why would you think that?”
His full mouth twitched. “Because you seemed thirsty.”
Josie’s reentry broke the tension. She thrust the document at me.
“I need a pen,” I said.
“It isn’t the kind of agreement that requires ink,” Josie said and licked her lips.
“Blood only, I’m afraid,” Kane chimed in. He glanced at the vampire. “You may leave for this part.”
Scowling, Josie turned and exited the room.
Kane presented me with a small blade. “It’s sterile, I assure you.”
I reviewed the document, wanting to make sure I wasn’t being tricked into signing away my house or my bodily autonomy. I’d heard enough stories over the years to be cautious when it came to supernatural agreements. Once I finished, I pricked my pointer finger and signed my name in blood.
Kane rolled up the document and tucked it inside his suit jacket. “Fair warning, Miss Clay. Once you enter that room, every assassin in the guild will know who you are.”
“I have a feeling they already do.”
Kane escorted me to the lounge area, where a handful of assassins were assembled. I recognized Camryn Sable and Gunther Saxon in the small crowd.
Gun wiggled his fingerless-gloved hand in greeting. “Do my gorgeous eyes deceive me or is that the one and only Lorelei Clay in the flesh?”
“Mm, flesh,” someone said as I passed by.
I chose to ignore it.
“I didn’t know you’d be here,” Camryn said, as I approached them.
“I wanted it to be a surprise.” Mainly so no one would try to stop me.
Gun gestured to the tall, solidly built man beside him. His black hair was slicked back, and a gold earring glittered in one ear.
“Lorelei Clay, I’d like you to meet Alfonso Triton,” Gun said.
I shook his hand. His skin felt surprisingly smooth for an assassin. “Are you a member of La Fortuna, too?”
Alfonso groaned. “Don’t I wish? They get to do the coolest stuff. My skills are way more ordinary.”
Charles Diamond emerged from an adjacent room. His eyes narrowed when he spotted me in the crowd. “What’s she doing here?”
I glared right back at him. “Sheis coming to issue a proclamation as a result ofyourrecent transgression.”
A server approached me. She wore fake red horns and a tail. “Can I offer you a drink? Cocktails are on the house during meetings.”
“I’m good, thanks.” Opening the bar to a room full of magical assassins didn’t seem like the smartest move in my book, but what did I know?
“You’re not a member. You shouldn’t be here,” Charles grumbled. “You shouldn’t know about the meeting at all.”
“Perhaps Miss Clay is interested in a side hustle,” Kane said, keeping his gaze fixed on me. I felt mildly uncomfortable as he continued to stare at me like he had X-ray vision.