Page 67 of His Fatal Love

“Fine,” I say, sliding out of the booth to leave. I throw a hundred on the tabletop, just to stop the mutinous glare I’m getting, and I hand out another hundred each to the rather ineffective bouncers on my way out of the bar.

I don’t feel particularly charming tonight, so cash in lieu seems fair. They seem to agree, turning all smiles as I bid them goodnight.

Once I hit the streets, I dive back into feeling sorry for myself. Leoreallyoverreacted tonight. I mean, at one point I almost spilled to him aboutThe Plan, he was being that ridiculous. The Plan that Jack and I have come up with to get Roxanne Rochford away for a while until I can finish with the Bernardis.

Leo’s reluctance actually lookedusefulto me there for a moment. And then he had the gall to lecture me about loyalty—trust—even as he threw aside his own father’s orders? HisDon’sorders? What an utter hypocrite!

Well, I’ll show him. Once this is all over and that silly redhead pops up alive again, Leo will see just how wrong he was about me.

The streets are unusually quiet—but it’s quite late, I suppose. And then I feel it. That prickling sensation all over that tells me I’m beingwatched. I duck into a dark doorway and peek behind me.

Nothing.

I’m about to shrug it off as late night paranoia when I hear footsteps. They’re too careful, too quiet. Instinctively, my hand moves to the knife tucked away at my waist, closing around the handle. It reassures me at once, but I still take a quick glance down my body to make sure there are no rifle sights on me again.

Nothing.

And no more noise, either.

Leo’s paranoia must be rubbing off on me.

But I take one more look around just in case—and that’s when I spot a figure creeping through the shadows. I tense up, ready to fight, spin the knife in my hand.

Incense and ambergris meet my nose, giving me pause.

“Julian?”

I sheath the knife at once. “Nevermore,” I say, touching a finger to my forehead in a salute.

“Ha-fucking-ha,” Mistress Raven says, hurrying forward. “Listen, I’m glad I saw you. Could you walk me to my car? I don’t know what it is, but I’m nervous. After what happened with poor Vinnie—and, I don’t know, I was extra-creeped out by the customers tonight.”

“We are quite creepy,” I agree. “And certainly.”

I offer her my arm, and she takes it with a shiver. “Thanks. What’s your deal, anyway?”

“My deal?”

“What’s a Castellani doing at a dump like The Cellar?”

I laugh. “I thought you weren’t supposed to ask questions?”

Raven scrunches up her nose. “It’s smarter not to, of course. But I’ve seen you with Leo, and I know he’s alright. He’d never hurt me, or anyone at The Cellar. Or let any of usgethurt,” she adds with emphasis.

How interesting. “Am I to believe that Mistress Raven overheard my private conversation tonight?”

She looks innocent enough to get into heaven. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”

So she’s smart enough to deny overhearing something like that, at least. “You like Leo,” I say.

“Nah. He’s an asshole. But I don’t hate him or anything.”

“How long has he been working at The Cellar?”

Raven looks away. “Not long. Couple of months, maybe? I don’t know. Anyway, I don’t like talking about my employees any more than I like talking about our customers. Okay, here we are,” she finishes in a rush. “Thanks for walking with me.”

I pause in the street next to her car. “Mistress Raven,” I say, leaning casually against the driver’s side door, “I’d really like to know a little more about Leo.” I slide a hand into my pocket. Her eyes widen, but as I remove a money clip, she relaxes—although her lips curl derisively.

“You think you can pay me off?”

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