“Are you all right? Lucius asked me to check on you.”
Forcing a smile that probably doesn’t fool him, I nod. “I’m fine. Is Dexter still here?”
“In the dungeon. If you want to remain up here, Lucius said you can take the rest of the night off. Paid.”
“Thanks. I’ll still do some work. I have enough paperwork to keep me busy.”
He nods, hesitating.
“What?”
“Did Dexter upset you?”
“No, not at all. He was a perfect gentleman. All we did was talk, and Lucius was right that he didn’t act improper in the slightest. He was very nice.”
He doesn’t look convinced. “I know you don’t leave while it’s dark, but if you’d like me to have people drive you home early, I will.”
By people, he means vampires.
I’m actually touched, but small problem—I live in shifter territory, and them taking me home would violate the treaty. I won’t let them get in trouble like that over me. “I’m good but thank you. Unless Dexter can’t explode at dawn, I’m certain I’ll be fine.”
He chuffs with a laugh. “If you change your mind, let me know, and I’ll arrange it.”
“Thanks. Hey, I know I’m off tomorrow, but I’ll unofficially be here. I told Dexter he and I can eat dinner up here in the conference room.”
“Certainly. I’ll keep everyone out, so you have privacy.”
“Thanks.”
He leaves me alone again. I pull out my phone and call up the Pluto TV app, tune it to the cat video channel, and prop it on my desk in its cradle charger while I work. It’s a feel-good distraction that won’t interrupt my concentration.
I’ve never allowed myself to have pets. We moved so often, it wouldn’t have been practical. One more painful good-bye. Instead, I have a stuffed dog and stuffed cat Dad and Zuzu bought for me when I was little. With the wholly original names of Cat and Dog, they’ve made every move with me and stay on my bed at night and on my nightstand during the day.
It’s not long before I know I’m alone in the club, and when I check the time, I find it’s nearly six.
Past dawn.
Yawning, I shut off my computer, gather my things, and head downstairs.
I smell stale human sex and sweat and alcohol, but also the sharp, artificial aroma of pine in the cleaner we use in the mop water and the bleach solution we use on the tables and chairs and the bar.
Likely, humans would only smell the barest traces of piney bleach. The ventilation system will have it cleared out long before the first vampire arrives later this evening.
I don’t bother going downstairs. Technically, not my shift tomorrow. If someone fucked up, they’ll hear about it from Theophilus, if they’re lucky, and Lucius, if they aren’t. I check the front door, find it secure, then head to the back and set the alarm, locking that door behind me. I’m in my old 4Runner seconds later despite knowing how silly my reaction is.
It’s morning. Daylight.
Nothing bad ever happens to me in daylight. That’s always reserved for darkness.
Still, I’m wary as I leave the club and randomly pick a direction. I never drive straight home. It’s stupid, I guess, because if someone’s determined to figure out where I live, all they’d have to do is run my license plate. It’s registered under my fake ID, but I used my apartment address because I needed paperwork proving where I lived, like utility bills and my lease.
But not being predictable is something Mom drilled into my head, and old habits die hard. It’s weird having what amounts to roots in the Tucson area. Not a bad-weird, either.
Almost enough to make me want to hope this will be my home.
Once I reach my apartment building, I scurry across the parking lot and manage to catch the elevator with perfect timing as people are exiting to start their day. I’m so used to living a swing-shift lifestyle that it doesn’t bother me. I’ve lived this way for years, even before Mom died. I was homeschooled and earned my GED when I was fifteen.
I take the elevator up to the floor above mine and then descend via the stairs. Not that it would matter, I suppose. I’m one of many humans in a building whose population is tilted heavily with both shifters and non-shifting shifter races.
