Ronan nodded. “Alright. Jo will bring in the patron now. I’ll bring my kit over.”
Luis went back to his booth and focused on breathing. In, out. His heart was beating so loudly he was certain everyone could hear it.
The door opened and closed. Two sets of footsteps headed toward him, but he couldn’t make himself look just yet. He was going to let a vampire bite him. He was going to do this.
The footsteps got closer, and then Luis couldn’t resist anymore. He turned to look at who he would be letting bite him and—
There was Karim.
Karim?
He looked as he always did, dark gleaming eyes, attractively tousled hair, and a smirk that Luis pretended didn’t make heat coil in his belly.
“What’re you doing here?” He accused.
Jo was already retreating, Ronan taking her place. “Oh, you two know each other?” He asked.
Karim dropped down into the booth beside Luis, sprawling out like this was a casual meeting. “Yeah, we do.”
Luis blinked at him, trying to put this together. Of all the outcomes, he hadn’t expected this. The text conversation came back to him. Karim had been quizzing him about where and when he was going to be doing this.
“You came here onpurpose,” Luis said, accusatorily.
Karim shrugged again, “Yeah, for the purpose of having a drink.”
“Hey,” Ronan moved closer, expression falling from friendliness into suspicion. “Is this a problem, Luis?”
Luis’s eyes dropped to Ronan’s hand not holding the kit. It was inching toward something on his waist in a holster that Luis hadn’t noticed before. It wasn’t shaped like a gun, but it was still obviously a weapon.
Something that could be used against vampires?
Ronan probably saw plenty of Karim since they were regulars here, but he also knew if he said yes, that Luis did have a problem, Ronan would toss him without argument. The contractLuis had just signed had been very, very clear about the safety protocols for humans. Vampires could be banned, fined, or even jailed for causing problems.
Karim was staring at Luis, the picture of ease, purposefully ignoring the looming threat.
“No,” Luis said, eyes flicking to the weapon again. “No problem. I know him, yeah. He’s just usually here onFridays.” This last part he aimed at Karim.
“I got the mid-week munchies,” Karim said. “You know how it is.”
“Oh, did you?” Luis mocked. He wanted to say he couldn’t believe Karim would do this, except he could.
And part of him was pleased by it. Flattered? Wasn’t this sort of the thing he’d been wanting in texting them about it.
That was kind of fucked up.
Karim held a hand up in supplication. “Can’t blame a man for wanting something sweet, can you?”
Over their heads, Ronan did not look amused. His hand was still hovering near the device on his belt. “I can escort Mr. Singh out,” he said.
Karim didn’t say anything, just raised a brow at Luis in inquiry.
Annoyance, excitement, and anticipation swirled in him. Karim, that bastard, was giving him an opportunity. One less scary than having a stranger bite him.
But of course, he was doing it in a jerky way, coming here without warning.
“No, it’s fine,” Luis conceded. “We’re friends.”
Ronan only looked more confused. Karim smirked. “We are friends,” he said.
