And what a distraction he was.
I managed a shrug. “Someone smashed up my bar.”
“Who?” The question was flat, his voice neutral, but his expression was a mask of wrath.
“None of your business.”
He gave me a slow smile, and I turned my back on him, taking the next shot Evie handed me. Vas merely walked around the bar and into my line of vision.
“Try again, baby. Who would dare fuck up your bar?”
I scowled, glancing at Orin. He gave me a knowing look, and my scowl deepened.
“Why isn’t this place warded?” Vas asked.
“Too many people in and out, from every faction. We have deliveries during the day as well.” My heart hurt as I glanced around at the wreckage, and I had to swallow around the lump in my throat before I could speak. “Looks like we’ll need to close for a few days.”
Orin took my hand. “It’ll be okay, Mere.”
Vas leaned on the bar, his gaze steady as his eyes found mine. “Tell me who it was.”
“Relax. It was a human.”
The last thing I wanted was Vas fighting my battles for me. Besides, I wouldn’t risk anyone else getting hurt while I figured out what I’d do about Nero. If we found Ilayda, I’d be able to pay off a solid chunk of what I owed. Then Nero would leave me alone.
“Human or not, I want to know who it was.”
I clamped my mouth shut. Vas gave me a slow smile.
“Congratulations, Mere, you just got yourself a full-time demon bodyguard.”
“Sounds like a good plan to me,” Evie said.
I gaped at her. Traitor. She merely smiled at me.
Orin squeezed my hand. “I agree.”
I opened my mouth, searching for a new tactic, but there was no point.
I was stuck with Vas. And my stupid, traitorous heart wasn’t all that upset about it.
“Let’s talk about something else for now,” I said, getting up and grabbing a broom so I could at least sweep away some of the glass from behind the bar.
“Well.” Evie held up her phone. “I just got a message from Steve. Becca Casey isn’t the woman’s real name.”
Vas was still watching me out of dark eyes. I focused on my sweeping.
“Has he figured out who she is?” Kyla asked.
“Nope. He said it’s like a game of dominoes—as soon as he finds the next fake ID, it leads to the next one. He’s practically rubbing his hands together at the challenge, though, and he’ll get back to me as soon as he knows who she is.”
“Put the broom away, Mere, and come have another drink. We’ll figure out the bar situation tomorrow,” Evie said.
The lump had reformed in my throat. I refused to break down until I’d made Nero pay, but seeing my bar—my livelihood—this damaged…
Orin stepped over to me, took the broom, and wrapped me in his arms. I ignored the urge to let the first tear fall. If I did, I’d never stop. Orin must have figured out I was barely holding on to control, because he pulled away, leading me back to the bar. “We’ll fix it, Mere.”
“Yeah.” I took a deep, steadying breath. “We will.”
