“Tried to.” Bea pulled a beaded evening bag out of the pocket of her coat and tossed it to Vivian. “Been holding on to that for you. I went all over my building trying to find someone with money to lend who wouldn’t ask too many questions, but it was too damn late. Or early, however you want to look at it. So I ended up having to go back to the Nightingale.”
“Honor Huxley bailed me out? Why?”
“That’s the owner of the place, right? She didn’t get picked up in the raid?” Leo asked. He nudged Vivian’s arm to get her moving again.
“But why’d she bail me out? I don’t pay for my own drinks most of the time, so she can’t know whether I’ll pay her back. And I certainly don’t know anyone worth knowing in the city.”
“Pretty girls who dance well are good to keep around,” Danny pointed out.
“Maybe she felt bad you were in a jam. Maybe it’s just because…” Bea grinned. “Because she thinks you’re sweet. Why does it matter?”
“Because when people like her do favors, they expect something in return.”
“And wouldn’t you rather owe her than be back in jail and waiting your turn at the Women’s Court?” Bea asked, exasperated. “Would you rather I hadn’t gone to her?”
“No, of course not.” Vivian shivered at the thought and pulled her borrowed jacket closer around her. “You’re the best of friends to get me out of there, really. I don’t know what I’d have done without you.”
“Damn right I am,” Bea said, but her tone was playful.
“I’d just like to know what the favor is,” Vivian said. “She makes me nervous.”
“Well, you’re probably about to find out. Come on, she’s waiting for us. Danny, you coming?”
The bartender shook his head. “I was there before I went to spring Leo. We’ve said what we need to, for a few hours at least. I’ll be there once I finish my shift in my parents’ kitchen.”
“Will she shut down now?” Vivian asked, not bothering to hide her worry.
Danny slung an arm around her shoulders. “Hux would never let a little thing like a police raid shut her down. We’ll be back up and swinging by tonight. Cheer up, kitten,” he added, giving her a quick squeeze. “Hux’ll never ask you for something you can’t do. And she doesn’t bite, unless you like that sort of thing.”
“Gee, thanks,” Vivian said dryly, uncomforted by his teasing.
He only laughed as he dropped his arm. “See you later, Bea?”
“Count on it.”
They moved off in different directions, Danny jerking his chin toward Leo to motion him to follow. “Come on. We can snag breakfast at my parents’ restaurant. It’s not open this early, of course, but Ma and Pop will already be in the kitchen prepping breakfast. Where I’ll be soon enough, but they won’t mind feeding us first. Will their jaws hit the floor when they see you again…”
“One sec,” Leo said, hanging back, his eyes still on Vivian.
She had been about to follow Bea, but she stopped in surprise as he took her hand. She noticed that he checked carefully to make sure it was the uninjured one before he did, and she felt a glow of pleasure at his concern.
“You sure you’re all right?” he asked. For the moment, their friends were far enough away that they could speak almost privately, but she could see them watching—Danny looking unsurprised, Bea scowling. “First night in the lockup’s a scary thing.”
“Right now I’m tired more than anything,” Vivian said. “I just want to go home and not think about it.”
He frowned, and for a moment he looked like he was going to say something else. Vivian prepared herself to tell him to mind his own business, that she was perfectly able to take care of herself. But then he surprised her again.
“So, was Bea right about her boss?” Leo asked quietly, still not letting go of her hand.
“Which part?”
“The part where she thinks you’re sweet.”
Vivian’s cheeks heated. She knew what he was really asking, and it wasn’t just an awkward question to answer. In the wrong company, it could be a dangerous one. “I don’t know,” she said, settling for as unrevealing a truth as she could manage.
Leo brushed his thumb across the back of her hand so lightly she almost thought she imagined it. “And what do you think of her?”
Vivian felt her blush grow hotter. “I don’t know her too well.”
