"What he said," I agreed. Sometimes the man was wise. In this case, he was simply right.
The restaurant was popular before it was closed for renovations. People were waiting for it to reopen. Some would be regular customers. Others curious to see if it lived up to the hype, which it would, since it was Harlow's restaurant now.
I spotted a couple of food critics near the front of the line before I strode past them. I had no doubt they'd give her a good review. Before you ask, no I wasn't going to kill them if they didn't. Giving a bad review wasn't a good reason to murder someone. Or even maim them.
Usually.
One of Harlow's new staff met us inside the door and led us over to a table with a card in the center that said, 'Reserved.'
I managed to maneuver myself so I was sitting beside Harlow with Cass on the other side. Boner huffed slightly before flopping down beside Cass.
I gave him the faintest of smirks. He couldn't sit next to her all the time. He busied himself pouring glasses of water for eachof us from the jug in front of him, and passing them around. I nodded my thanks and took a sip. It was cold and refreshing and the glass was clean. Tick and tick.
As a stickler for cleanliness, I tended to notice these things. If a glass had stains on them, I always sent them back, especially lipstick stains. No offense to people who wear lipstick, but I don't want to wear it myself.
"I propose a toast." Boner raised his glass as if the water was fancy champagne. "To the most beautiful woman in the whole city. Harlow St. James."
I raised my own glass, and didn't offer any thoughts about his bias. If I did, I'd have to accept that I had my own bias. Fuck that. Harlow was the most beautiful woman in the city.
"To our woman," Cass said, looking at his glass like he hoped the water would turn into a milkshake.
Harlow must have been thinking the same thing I was, because she laughed and reached over to put a hand on his bicep.
"We make milkshakes here," she assured him. "Wouldn't want you going without."
He grinned back at her. "You're the best."
The guy might pop, or implode, if he didn't get his hourly fix of the drink.
Personally, I couldn't see the appeal, but each to their own.
"I hope you don't mind, but the menu is set tonight," Harlow said. "I couldn't have opening night without serving my meatballs."
Cass, who'd just taken a sip of his water, almost choked on it. He started coughing, his hand thrown over his mouth.
"They only have beef and pork," she assured him.
He turned his face to give her a look, brow furrowed. "Promise?"
"I promise," she said with a nod. "Angel's Redemption is only going to serve the best ingredients."
Apparently that meant no bad guys on the menu. I was curious to see what bad guy tasted like, but not curious enough to try. Human flesh wasn't that good for you after all. It contained all sorts of bacteria and bad shit. Considering the source, they might have been tainted by evil too. Not that I believed in evil. Not really. People usually had reasons for the things they did, even if they were completely horrible and fucked up.
I said reasons, notgoodreasons.
"I'm sorry to bother you, Harlow." The maitre d' stopped beside the table. "There's a man outside who says he knows you. We weren't sure if we should let him in."
Harlow's brow dipped briefly before she nodded her thanks. Only when her employee walked away did she turn and look at us. Her face slightly pale.
Had Hypnos or Zeus found us? Or Hans Getzoff come to arrest us?
She mouthed the word, “Fuck," before pushing herself to her feet and stepping toward the door.
CHAPTER 5
HARLOW
It was Archer who followed me to the door. I smelled his unique cologne. I didn't need to look back to know the others were close behind or keeping an eye on us, ready to act if necessary, but playing it cool for now. Nothing would say 'suspicious as fuck' like them standing around me like an angry honor guard.
