“How strange,” Aida murmured. “Do you thinkshe’s a vampire?”
“I couldn’t tell from the picture.” There wassomething wistful and almost sad in her eyes. “I hope he findsher.”
Cassidy turned away. Lifting Julian’s beer,she gulped down half of it before setting it on the bar. Aida’seyebrows were in her hairline as Cassidy wiped her mouth with theback of her hand. She’dneverseen Cassidy drink whileworking before and not because she only turned twenty-one a coupleof months ago. No one here knew her or Kyle’s real names or ages.They made sure of that when they started working here.
“What else did he say to you?” Kyle demandedwhen Cassidy finished the beer.
Cassidy glanced over her shoulder to where agrowing cluster of women was gathering around the vamp to examinethe picture. They gave him sad looks as they rested their hands onhis shoulders or brushed his back. With the way the women in thisplace were crawling all over him, Kyle might end up going homealone for a change.
“He said I have a lovely voice,” Cassidysaid.
“Anything else?” Kyle pressed.
A muscle in Cassidy’s jaw twitched as shefaced her twin. “His name is Dante.”
“And that’s it?” Julian asked.
“Yes.”
“Then why are you drinking?” Kyle asked. “Younever drink when you’re singing.”
“I’m just… I’m just…” Her hand trembled whenshe brushed back a strand of her sandy blonde hair. “I’m thirsty.Is that okay?”
Kyle eyed her skeptically, but he must haverealized that she might kick him in the nuts if he kept pushingher. “Whatever you say.”
He lifted his hands in the air and returnedto his position behind the bar. He got a few nasty looks from someof the guys who were waiting for their drinks, but he ignored themas he grinned at the women who melted before him.
Julian eyed the vamp like a wolf protectingits pups, but Aida kept her attention on Cassidy. Her friend waspaler than normal as she chewed on her bottom lip and eyed the wallover Aida’s shoulder.
“Do you want to go to the bathroom?” sheasked Cassidy.
“Yes,” she replied.
“Not without me,” Julian said.
“We’ll be fine,” Aida assured him. “Stay hereand keep your eye on him.”
“He could have friends out back, or he couldhave sent in another vamp like Gerald did. You’re not goinganywhere without me. Kyle can keep an eye on him.”
“Fine,” she relented.
She hooked her arm through Cassidy’s, andthey strolled toward the back hallway. Julian kept himself firmlybetween her and the vamp as they went, but Dante didn’t pay themany attention as more women joined the cluster of admirers.
She lost sight of Dante when they steppedinto the hallway. The walls muffled the din of voices as theystrolled down the carpeted hall. Cassidy glanced over her shoulder,but there was nothing fearful in the glance. In fact, Aida sensedsomething almost hopeful in it.
Cassidy pushed the bathroom door open, andwhen Julian went to follow her inside, Aida slammed her arm acrossthe doorframe and leveled him with a look that froze him inplace.
“That’s far enough,” she said.
“At least let me make sure no one’s inside,”he said.
Aida glanced into the hallway beforerelenting. “Hurry.”
He kissed her cheek before ducking into theroom to check the empty stalls and the locked window. He eyed theglass in the window as he tugged at the lock.
“For fuck's sake, Julian. If someone tries tobreak through the window, we’ll have plenty of time to escape orkill them. Now, get out,” Cassidy ordered and pointed at thedoor.
“I’m trying to keep you safe,” he muttered ashe strode toward the door.
