Raven could almost feel the pieces and their weight in his hands, could see the board from their last game in front of his eyes.He didn’t have a chance of winning, that he knew.Maxim controlled the game so subtly yet so perfectly that it left Raven in awe, but the hunter would tell him when he made a good move, and after the game, he’d set the board back to whichever position it had been in when Raven had made an error.Maxim would show him what he could’ve done better, leaving Raven amazed at his skill for memorization.
“And what are you smiling to yourself for?”Jason said, gently nudging Raven’s arm.
“Oh, I wasn’t thinking about anything, really.Just maybe getting…a cocktail?Do cocktails even still taste okay?”
He looked at Heath, who cleared his throat.“Well, let’s hope they have blood cocktails.”
Jason straightened.“I’ll have one with you!”
Heath frowned.“I’m not going to hold your head if you decide to throw up tonight.I’m not Clement.”
Jason tsked.“One drink isn’t going to lay me out like that.Come on, we’re here.Get out already.That bouncer is starting to look at us funny.”
“Tinted windows.But yes, uh, we’re going to have a business dinner.Everyone, follow my lead.Amara, can you park around the corner and stay on standby?”
“Sure, boss,” the driver said.
Raven didn’t like the idea of just leaving her alone in the car, but hopefully they wouldn’t be staying long.
Heath opened the door and got out, and the two of them followed him.Raven immediately noticed the noise from inside the club—music and a jumble of people talking, dancing, laughing.Those waiting in line were loud as well.Not that they were shouting or aggressive, just excited to get in soon.Yet Raven was no longer used to any kind of bustle, not after the orderly chaos of the Forbidden Floor, and the chess games followed by trips to get blood from the restaurant downstairs.Not even taking Ume for his walks and exercise in Seneca Park came with the noise of this many people in one place.
I’m oversensitive, that’s all.I’ve been to parties before.I can handle this.
Heath waited for the two of them to get out, and Raven caught him reaching up to straighten a tie he wasn’t even wearing.
“Ready?”he asked when the car had driven away, and with it their easy path to escape.
“Oh, we are so ready.”Jason hooked his arm through Raven’s.“Aren’t we?”He then leaned in closer.“Hey, is this the water bottle in your pocket?”
“The one you told me to hold on to?”
Jason cleared his throat.“Hide behind me.We’re probably not supposed to smuggle drinks inside.”
Heath laughed.“You’re so funny, you two!Come on, cut the jokes and let’s head inside!”
He walked right up to the bouncer, who had his arms crossed and was staring at them while the people in line were trying to get his attention.Raven bit his lip, wondering whether they’d get told off for skipping the line or whether that was what people like Maxim and Heath did on the day-to-day.It led him to wonder whether Maxim ever went to places like this.
“Hello there,” Heath said.
“Hello.”The bouncer, good-looking in a solid sort of way, with wide shoulders and symmetrical features, kept up hard eye contact.He had an accent Raven couldn’t quite place from the single word.
“Yes, hi.So, um, do you remember me?”
The bouncer raised one brow.“Remember you?Sugar bear, I see a lot of people.I do not remember everyone.”It was a Russian accent, Raven thought, or close to it.It sounded good, sexy, especially when the bouncer smiled.“Did I make you breakfast?”
Heath’s eyes bulged.His jaw dropped.Then he turned a soft pink that looked bright red in the light of the neon sign above them.Possibly he agreed with Raven’s assessment about the bouncer being attractive.
“I—no.I mean, you came by the house with surveillance footage and asked for an audience from Maxim Vallois?You talked to me first?Then you called my office the other day about that vampire?”
The bouncer narrowed his eyes.“Hmm.The memory is fuzzy.Did I flirt with you?Is that why you are here now?Did I not leave you my number?”He gave Heath a smoldering look.“I do not mind a booty call.”
“No!You—I—we just want to go inside?Me and my two friends here.We’re having a work thing.”
The bouncer looked at them, first Jason, then Raven.His gaze was intent, and Raven felt the weight of it.It wasn’t uncomfortable, just a lot of scrutiny and sharp attention.
“None of you are here to flirt?”the bouncer asked.
They all shook their heads.
