The security guards monitoring the stairs were far more accommodating this time around, making sure the cluster of people hoping to be allowed through stayed out of the way as Jamie’s group made their way up.The second level wasn’t as crowded as the first, which meant their presence was noticed by far more people as they were led to their private table.Jamie ignored them in favor of steering Kyle over to the couches that made up a comfortable alcove situated against the wall.Bottles of expensive alcohol were neatly clustered in the middle of the low table, glasses close at hand for a straight pour if one didn’t want a beer.For mixed drinks, roving bartenders tended to the tables when summoned while scantily clad women made sure empty bottles were replaced with full ones.
Bottle service like this was pricey, the water tax a heavy hit on any establishment, but especially places that served alcohol.The thin margin between going under and breaking above even could be found in the accounts of the wealthy, so long as they were willing to pay for it.Jamie’s group didn’t need to worry about that tonight.
They settled in, with Madison and Trevor taking up discreet positions beyond the alcove to keep watch while the rest of them pretended they were having a good time.Almost immediately, a bartender approached, offering his services, to which Liam declined after taking one look at Jamie’s annoyed expression.
Alexei reached for the vodka bottle with one hand, flipping over six shot glasses with the other.“You make good asshole, Jamie.”
“He’s had practice,” Katie said mildly.
Jamie purposefully ignored her, settling his hand high up on Kyle’s thigh as he turned to look at Liam.“How long do you think it’ll take for word to get around that we’re here?”
Liam took the shot glass Alexei offered him with a shrug.“You keep being a proper wanker, probably not long.I give it an hour, maybe less.”
“You SAS as bet prone as the Marines?”Kyle asked, taking two shot glasses and handing one to Jamie.
“I’d wager we’re worse.”
“Forty minutes.A hundred dollars.”
“This is Jamie we’re talking about.Thirtyminutes, tops, and two hundred pounds.”
Katie pointedly raised her shot glass.“We’re here to drink, boys.To finally getting out and getting our business off the ground.”
“Davayte vyp’yem za uspekh nashego dela,” Alexei said, toasting the table before knocking back his vodka.
Jamie drank his down easily, letting Sean pour them all another round this time.None of them really needed to worry about getting drunk.As metahumans, their metabolisms ran a lot faster than humans.Jamie could probably work his way through a bottle or two on the table by himself and maybe get a buzz, if he was lucky.
Word traveled fast when real money walked through the doors of the club.Trevor and Madison stopped a dozen people from trying to reach the group, hoping to introduce themselves, all of whom were denied the privilege.Jamie paid them zero attention, intent on catching up with Liam as much as he could before the real work began.
“That didn’t take long,” Katie said under her breath barely twenty minutes later, eyeing the sleekly dressed woman talking intently with Trevor and Madison.
Jamie ignored them until Madison came forward, getting within speaking range.“Zara is Mr.Jansen’s assistant.He’s extending a personal invitation for you and your friends to join him upstairs.”
Jamie kept his eyes on Zara as he said, loud enough for her to hear, “Liam, do I care who this Jansen guy is?”
“Pretty sure he owns the club,” Liam said, pretending to be more interested in his beer than the conversation.
“How nice.He owns a club.One that doesn’t pay particularly close attention to the clientele they need to keep it open, so I can’t see how he’ll stay in business much longer.”
Even from where he sat, Jamie could see the annoyed expression forming on Zara’s face.
“If he owns the place, then he’s a businessman,” Katie said, setting down her glass and snapping her fingers at Alexei.“Let’s say hello.”
“Am celebrating, not working,” Alexei grumbled.
“You can multitask.Let’s go.Jamie?”
Katie perched on the edge of her seat, looking at him with an expectant expression on her face, perfectly playing the businesswoman not wanting to waste an opportunity for networking.But she wasn’t going to do anything without his say-so, revealing to their audience where the real power lay within their group.Jamie made a show of turning to look at Kyle, who was sprawled out beside him, one foot propped up on the table, fiddling with the face of the Rolex on Jamie’s right wrist.
“Apparently, Katie wants me to work,” he said.
“I’d let you work me, but I don’t think that’d make Katie happy,” Kyle drawled.
Jamie didn’t have to fake the desire that filled his gaze at that statement.“Later.”
“Promise?”
“If you’re good.”
