Now that I knew Ben was Rossi’s actual vampire-related kind-of-son, I really didn’t want to see what Rossi would do if Ben were hurt.
“I’ll look after him,” Jame rapped his knuckles on the table top. “No matter how stupid he’s being.”
Ben made a dismissive sound. “I’ll have you know I’m older than both of you by a long shot. I know how to look after myself, thank you.”
“Yeah,” Jame said. “So did Sven.”
“Sven was foolish,” Ben said. “And trusting. I’m smart and suspicious. Besides.” He flashed a winning smile. “I’ll have you tight—very tight—at my back.”
Okay, that was a bit over the line for subtle double-entendres.
Jame turned on the alpha-smolder and Ben laughed. Apparently, it didn’t work on vampires either.
“I’m serious, Ben,” I said. “If you have anything that will help me catch the killer, I want to see it. But not at a risk to your life, understand? And if you do anything—anything—to mess up this case or compromise my investigation, I’ll bring you in on charges.”
Ben tucked his smile away, though I still saw laughter in his eyes. “Understood. I promise not to jeopardize myself or the case.”
He pushed the plate of fries away with a sort of regretful frown, then turned toward his boyfriend. “You done eating? Because I’m in the mood for a night cap. Something...hot and strong.” He watched the smile pull the corner of Jame’s mouth and there was a new hunger that passed between them.
I started calculating the melting point of Linoleum and vinyl.
“Good-night, Chief,” the werewolf said without taking his eyes off Ben.
“Night, boys. Have a good couple of days off. Remember to stretch before and hydrate after.”
Ben chuckled. They stood, Ben sliding his arm around Jame’s wide back, long fingers plunging down into Jame’s back pocket. They talked quietly to each other and grinned as they walked out of the diner, oblivious to the people around them, and oh, so obviously in love.
I sighed. They made it look easy, even though they had so many factors working against them.
Why couldn’t I figure out my dating life? It wasn’t like the questions were hard to solve. I either loved or didn’t love Ryder, and would either give him a chance to prove he was innocent or not.
And I either forgave him for dumping me or I didn’t.
Easy.
Why did it all seem so much harder than that?
My half-eaten turkey sandwich and quickly cooling soup didn’t have any answers for me, so I finished my meal, and checked in with Myra and Jean one more time to see if they’d made any progress on the video.
It was easy to stay busy with work while I drank my way through a pot of coffee. The Blue Owl had that sort of outside-of-time effect. People came and went, first the families, then the late night diners, then the college kids and singles loading up on good, cheap food between hitting the bars.
Through it all, Piper was cheerful, friendly, and prompt. But I never once heard so much as a peep of power.
What I did hear was a text from Jean, who had gotten a clear view of the ring on the hand across Sven’s mouth. She was looking into any identifying marks that would lead to its owner.
She sent me a picture of it. All I could see on my phone was the band, and that it was clearly a man’s fingers, so I wasn’t much help.
But at least it was something we could go on.
By the time eleven-thirty finally rolled around, I’d given up coffee and was sipping a cup of tea. The last bunch of twenty-somethings laughed their way out of the diner, waving at Piper and each other.
Three of them put umbrella hats over their beanies and made silly faces and high-fives.
Oh, for Pete’s sake.
It had stopped raining. Even though clouds still crowded the edges of the moon, light shone through.
There were no other customers in the diner. No cars in the parking lot. I hadn’t seen anyone walk around outside, didn’t see anyone loitering now. But in a half hour, I was supposed to meet someone out there.
