“Oh, one more thing, woman to woman?” Charley leaned over the bar, eyes glittering with a conspiratorial gleam. “Don’t let Gabriel fool you. He’s not as much of an asshole as he wants everyone to believe.”
Jaci cracked up at that. “Sorry, Charley. Gabriel Redthorne? He’s the biggest asshole I’ve ever met.”
“Oh, he’s definitely the biggest asshole, bar none. Just not as big as he lets on.”
“We’ll have to agree to disagree on that.”
“Disagree all you want, but…” Charley shrugged and finished her drink, then leaned in close again, dropping her voice. “Hedidtake down two Rogozin demons just for messing with you, which seriously pissed off his brother.”
“Two?” She knew about Kostya—she’d had a front row seat to that one. Buttwo? “Which demons?”
“Russians. Former Chernikov goons—talk about the world’s biggest assholes.” Charley shuddered in a way that suggested she was intimately familiar with the bastards. “One of the guys didn’t even have a name. Something about eyes? Watching? All I know is Gabriel wanted to send a message that you, blondie, are not to be fucked with.”
Jaci poured herself another shot and downed it quick, doing her best to hide the shock.
He killed another demon? For me?
“There’smy little prowler.” Dorian approached the bar, sweeping Charley into his arms and smothering her with kisses.
With a breathless laugh, Charley winked at Jaci, tucked a twenty under the glass, then left with her man.
Jaci was so entranced by their adorableness, she didn’t even realize she had another customer until she heard the impatient clearing of a throat.
She turned to find Gabriel eyeing her up across the bar.
“Bourbon,” he said flatly. “If you can spare a moment from your daydreaming to do your job.”
“Since you askedsonicely.” Jaci reached for the bottle, the brand she knew he loved, and poured a glass for each of them. She held his gaze, refusing to let him get under her skin.
Yes, he was an asshole.
So much so that if asshole were a disease, he would be terminal.
But he’d killed two demons for her. Demons who’d tortured and brutalized her. Demons who’d done things to her that still haunted her nightmares, all with Renault’s blessing.
A surge of gratitude rose in her chest, making her eyes water. She downed her drink, then worked up the courage to say the words trapped inside.
“Thank you, Gabriel Redthorne.”
He let out a soft sigh, a hundred thoughts flashing through his eyes, none of them readable. “For what?”
“Charley told me what you did to that other demon. He Who Likes to Watch.”
Gabriel’s fist tightened on his glass, but he said nothing.
Jaci squeezed his arm.
He glared at her fingers as if her touch burned him. “Don’t.”
She pulled back, surprised at how badly his rejection stung. “Don’t what?”
“Donotget emotional over this.”
“I’m… wait. Emotional? What?”
“I’m not your white knight, Jacinda. I didn’t eliminate those demons for you.” He held out his empty glass, gesturing for her to refill it.
She did as he asked, swallowing the knot in her throat. When she spoke again, her voice was high and tight. “Then why? Why instigate them?”
