“Yeah, and that kind of set Jack off because my father dated a vampire before he died,” she mumbled. “Another piece of our history that is coming to light. I feel numb and sad. I don’t know where Rianne’s head is at. It’s like Layla and I are now banished from the family.”
I wheeled onto the main road. “I’m usually not good at giving advice, but I would be numb, too, after learning all that. I had a hard time when I woke up as a vampire, and not by my choice. It had been a life-or-death situation. I feel ya.” As a foster child, I knew what it was like not to have anyone care about me—except Jo, of course. “Your aunt cares about you and your sisters.”
She whipped her gaze at me, pursing her lips. “When did you and my aunt become best friends?”
I chuckled. “We’re far from that. But she’s worried about Layla.” I sped down the road faster than the speed limit, keeping my focus ahead of me. “What’s this about you talking to my dad about a job?” Her brazen delivery of that information still had me shocked.
She stared at her phone in her lap. “He was interested in my dad working for him. I’m an Aberdeen with skills. Why not? I could be a scout like Conrad or help in some way.”
We had a few humans working for our government, but Conrad wasn’t a human.
“My father is fighting for his life right now because of Roman.” A stabbing pain clutched my chest.
She sucked in a deep breath. “I’m so sorry. Is he going to make it?”
I gripped the steering wheel with crushing force. “Let’s hope so. Otherwise, I’ll go on a rampage until Roman is dead.”
Silence followed us for a few miles. The mood in the car was as dark as the storm clouds rolling in.
She rubbed my arm. “What can I do to help?”
“You can light a fire under Layla’s ass and tell her to hurry up.” It was best if we took off before the weather turned nasty.
She tapped out a text to Layla.
Silence followed us the rest of the way to the Deer and Elk, and within twenty minutes, Jordyn and I were crushing empty peanut shells beneath our feet on the sticky floor inside what looked to be a dive bar.
The burly bartender glanced up from the glass he was wiping. “Have a seat anywhere.”
The place was dead as a doornail.
Booths and tables were scattered around in front of the U-shaped bar. A doorway with a lighted sign above it led the way to the restrooms, and Sam Tinnesz belted out “Legends Are Made” from a jukebox that sat in the corner adjacent to the entrance.
A petite blond waitress, who was cutting lemons and limes, popped off the bar. “Jordyn Aberdeen, is that you?”
“Linda Getty,” Jordyn said. “It’s been a long time.”
The two women hugged briefly.
Then Linda sized me up, lingering too fucking long on my crotch. “Who’s this tall drink of water?”
I was about to say “none of your business” when Jordyn answered, “A friend of Layla’s.”
Linda finally looked up at me with too much lust swimming in her brown eyes. “You have a name?”
I didn’t want to say and didn’t have to when the bartender called Linda.
She huffed. “We just opened. I have to finish what I was doing. What can I get you two to drink?”
“Coffee for me,” Jordyn said.
“I’ll take a draft beer of any kind.”
She bounced away while Jordyn and I commandeered one of the booths.
“She and Layla went to high school together,” Jordyn offered. “Not a match made in heaven, if you know what I mean.”
Linda went by the wayside when a deep belly laugh pierced the stale air as two men strutted in. The shorter of the two was dressed in business casual—black pants, blue shirt, and loafers. The taller one was taking off his suit jacket as he ponied up to the bar. Then he smoothed a hand over his brown crop and glanced around. When his gaze landed on me, his dark eyes widened.
