We’d identified three definites to look out for tonight, and this guy was the nearest match we’d found.
Max gave him another look, then faced me, sipping his beer. “I think it’s worth having a chat with him.”
“What do you want to do?” If we both approached him, there was a strong possibility we’d spook him if he was our guy. Since he was our only possible lead at the moment, we needed to handle it carefully.
“Fancy a dance?” Max asked, eyebrow raised. That was one way to get close to him, but if he bolted, we wouldn’t be able to chase him easily.
“I have a better idea.” I raised my now-empty beer bottle. “I’ll go get myself a dance partner. You make your way around the back behind him in case he does a runner.”
Max nodded and slinked away into the throng of people behind us.
I waited for him to reappear again, leant against the back wall, our guy in his sights, before heading back to the bar.
And Nick.
He was busy serving when I got there, so I caught his eye, gestured for him to come over, then I took a seat at the end of the bar and waited for him to finish.
I didn’t have to wait long, thank the Goddess, or I might’ve ended up grabbing him.
“What’s up?” Nick leant on the bar, easy grin in place.
It took me back years to a time when the only thing I had to worry about was not pissing off Tombs. In the end, I’d managed to send him into a blind rage.
“I need a favour,” I said, focusing on the now. I told him the plan and what I wanted him to do. “I shouldn’t need you for long, just until we can get close enough to talk to him. You in?”
Nick glanced along the bar, where two other bartenders served. “Yeah, should be okay for a bit.” He smiled and gave me a nudge when he rounded the bar to stand beside me. “It’ll be like old times.”
“Except there won’t be any trouble this time.” I gave him a pointed look and he raised his hands.
“I’m a reformed witch, I promise.”
“Come on, then.” I stood. “Max’ll be wondering where I’ve got to.” And hopefully our target was still in his place watching the dance floor.
Nick grabbed my hand as he passed, tugging me easily through the crowd, his broad shoulders and tall frame paving the way. When we reached the edge of the dance floor, I pulled him close.
“Blue-black hair, fae-looking, over by the far pillar,” I murmured into his ear.
Nick turned me and pulled me backwards so his chest was against my back. It gave him a good view of where I’d told him to look.
“I see him.”
I spun in his arms, looping mine around his neck, and we danced and laughed our way further into the throng.
A couple of songs later, I was in position—our target in my sight. I searched out Max, nodding when our eyes locked.
* * *
Rys
“What the fuck?”I leant on the railing of the upstairs balcony, watching the dance floor below. Falon and I had come up empty on our search upstairs, but I’d definitely caught sight of something below us. My fingers curled around the metal bar, fighting every instinct that urged me to go down there and prise Gabriel out of the arms of the fucking bartender.
Nick.
I thought he and Max were supposed to be working? Doesn’t fucking look like it to me.
“Hey.” Falon nudged me and pointed to the right of the dance floor. “That guy looks like one from the photos.”
I dragged my gaze from Gabriel and looked to where Falon was indicating. Even from where we stood, I saw what Falon meant. He bore a striking resemblance. I zeroed in on Gabriel again, teeth grinding at the wayNickhad his hands all over him as he pulled Gabriel back against his chest.
