Darren and I step a few feet away. “Is this about Jade, because you should shit or get off the pot,” I say.
“Thank you, but no.” He grins and shakes his head. “Grae’s not hitting on her.”
“I wasn’t worried.”
He laughs and then realizes how dangerous that is as several members of the Triad turn to face us. He gives a contrite shrug. “Listen, if Grae was hitting on her, they’d already be fucking on that table, and you’d be cheering them on.”
Doubtful.
Darren continues, “Grae’s a great guy. He listens when you talk. He’s honest and genuine. If he says something, he means it. And if he doesn’t have anything nice to say, he’s silent.” He leans in closer. “He’s also on a very short list of clients Alana monitors personally. Do with that information what you will.”
Hmm… Alana protects him? I don’t know if that makes me feel better or worse. But when I turn around, he’s lit up like a Christmas tree. “Stop! You run Leash Legends? That’s the best job ever!” Grae doesn’t look like a sex god, he looks more like a golden retriever carrying a big stick. “Tell me it isn’t doing paperwork and dealing with insurance companies.”
Jenny matches his energy. “I walk his dog.” She waves me over, and my body responds like it’s being pulled toward her by a string. “Show him a picture of Kingston.”
I swipe through a couple of pictures in the folder I’ve set up for Kingston on my phone, stopping on one from earlier in the day. Huh. This is a good picture of him, maybe I should set it as my background.
Grae takes one look at the screen. “You have a husky?”
“No, he’s a…” I turn to Jenny, because for the life of me I can’t remember what she said.
She finishes my sentence. “Alaskan Klee Kai. He’s full grown.”
Grae’s eyes widen like he’s seeing the single greatest dog ever.
And he is. Because Kingston is my dog. Just like Jenny’s my girl.
“That can’t be a real animal.” He hands me back my phone. “Nope, that's what God created when She asked for suggestions for the cutest animals and She shmooshed them all together.”
I’m about to question the ‘She,’ but then I glance back at the picture, and yeah, if God is a woman, this is exactly what She would create.
Grae turns to Darren. “Can I get a dog?”
I’m about to say he’s a grown-ass man and he can do whatever he wants, but Darren says, “Only if you can watch Rudy and that episode of Futurama without crying.”
And the words shatter Grae. His shoulders slump, and all joy vanishes from his face. For a split second, I’m about to break into an animal shelter and go get him a puppy.
But then I notice some of my Triad allies stiffen on the other side of the room. My stomach twists when I see Terk Henderson walking in. Terk is one of Rita’s boys, but I’m not sure if he’s blood or through marriage. He works out in LA, entertainment or something. Donny’s the one who follows this shit.
Terk slithers his way over to us, and the change in Grae is instant. His body stiffens, his eyes darken, and his lips are pressed together so tightly, they’re almost invisible. He went from the sex god, to a goofy good guy to someone who could be an actual physical threat. Grae has layers.
Terk does not. He slams his hand on Grae’s shoulder. “It’s nice to see you not passed out on the bathroom floor at an industry event.”
Darren lifts Terk's hand off Grae and says, “You know damn well that’s not what happened.”
Terk responds in an obnoxiously creepy singsong, “That’s what the rumors said, your majesty.”
Then it hits me. One of Alana’s clients was poisoned by Majesty. He almost died. No wonder why she’s taken an interest in Grae. He was almost a casualty in the Four Family’s war with the Deviant.
Fuck.
I must have changed the way I’m breathing, because now Terk’s focus is on me. “Hello, Cousin.” He touches his chest with his palm. “I’m so sorry to hear about Nonna.”
Before I can ask how the fuck he knows about it, he answers, “Rita told me, after she got off the phone with Aunt Dawn.” He tilts his head to the side in mock sorrow. “First Mommy and Daddy, and now Nonna. Gee, everyone you love dies violently. Do you think it might be a you issue?”
Should I use my fists or a gun to kill him?
“I admire your bravery.” Jenny’s voice cuts through my rage. “To talk like that when you have such a punchable throat.”
