Harry’s voice drones out. Hadrian plays with the neck of his bottle. His green eyes appear darker.
It’s never occurred to me to feel sorry for Hadrian. It’s hard when he’s such a dick all the time.
I think his sister means well, turning up to celebrate his birthday. But I don’t think she’s the twin he’d have wanted to show up tonight.
He still loves her.
It’s not Sammie’s voice that I hear. It’s my own. Hadrian is twisted up in his lovesickness.
Deciding there are too many emotions at the table, I slip my phone out. Alex and Morgan have glanced at theirs all night, so I don’t feel bad typing out a message.
Isolde: I need a meeting.
Ben: AA?
Isolde: I want my contracts back.
Dots appear, but a response takes an awfully long time.
Ben: Ren’s not going to like that.
I’m tired of playing nice.
I think Ben senses it too. He knows I’ve got anotheroption. I could cut out Fujimori’s. Cut out any middlemen. Customers could hire me directly instead of making requests through Ren.
Ben: Come by for lunch tomorrow.
My spine relaxes against the hard booth.
“Another round?” Harry asks.
“It’s my turn.”
The bar has only gotten more crowded, the city always in need of a desperate drink.
“You still haven’t told him about the Spider, have you?” Hadrian is in my ear.
My back pocket begins to burn like it did when I shoved the photo of Yelena there.
“Let me deal with it,” I tell him, nodding to a bartender, getting his attention. He doesn’t need to know that for the first time in months I might have a possible one-up on Cade.
“That would require you to deal with shit.” Hadrian slips out his credit card before I can stop him.
“You hate birthdays or something?” I hand him a drink.
His green eyes brim with darkness.
Most would assume it’s anger, but I’ve stood in front of violent men.
Harry is now chatting with Morgan and Alex. Harry’s smile doesn’t show his teeth. He doesn’t tip his head back or look animated. There’s familiarity, but not warmth.
“You ever want to talk,” I tell Hadrian, the irony of my offer clear to me, “I’ll listen.”
Hadrian doesn’t so much as blink. “Thanks for coming tonight, Isolde.”
I think it’s the first time I’ve ever heard him saythe word ‘thanks.’
“Give this to Harry.” I pass over the Coke. “Tell your sister it was nice to meet her.”
