“An atomic bomb could go off, and he wouldn’t fucking hear it,” Margo deadpanned, reaching under her shirt sleeves to pull down her fishnets. She hooked them over her middle fingers and lifted her chin to me. “You look like you work in an office right now, so all you’ll need to do is keep your steps even and head down, got me?”
“You sound like Hayes,” Carrie teased.
Margo’s cheeks tinted pink. “Shut up, Cardinal.”
The words left my mouth before I could make sense of them. “You’re so in love with him.”
Her eyes flashed, softening. “Yeah, I am.”
I smiled. “I think it’s sweet. I’m glad you have that. Both of you.”
A smooth, deep voice slithered into our hiding spot then. “And I’m glad I have the absolute pleasure of finding you three.”
Slowly, we looked up to find Dominic leaning against the tailgate, hands in his pockets, ankles crossed. He gave us a beautiful, calculated smile, chuckling. The sound washed over me like rain. I’d only interacted with him a handful of times since moving to Astoria. I've talked to him more in the last two weeks than in the nearly two years before that, but I’d never seen him smile or laugh. It was quite a sight. Dominic was almost ethereal. He reached up, loosening his tie and unbuttoning the top button of his shirt. Then I held my breath as he pushed his black hair out of his face. “Would you ladies care to tell me why you’re crouched on the floor of Red Snake’s parking garage?” he asked, his voice like wine.
“Hi, Dominic,” Carrie squeaked.
His lips twitched, finding her eyes. “Hello, Carrie.” He looked at Margo. “You doing okay this evening, Margo?”
“Peachy, Dominic,” she drawled, rolling her eyes.
“Excellent,” he replied before looking at me. “Ms. Howell.”
“Dr. Edwards,” I greeted in return.
He pressed his tongue to his cheek. “Was there something you ladies needed, or is this a new hobby?” He looked over his shoulder. “I have to say, this isn’t the most secure spot for secret meetings.”
“We’re trying to break into Red Snake.” Carrie sighed, pulling off her hood.
Dominic looked as if he was two seconds from losing it. “I see. Well, uh, good luck with that.” He started walking away, and Margo shot up to her feet. “Wait! You aren’t going to help us?”
He spun on his heel, thumb brushing his bottom lip, his indigo eyes glinting with amusement. “Why would you need my help? You and Carrie have the door codes, after all.”
“Not all of them,” Carrie mumbled.
“Yes, but you can sneak us in through the secret passageway.”
The what?
All amusement melted from his sharp features. The air shifting. “Excuse me?” He looked around, coming to us. He got close to Margo, staring down at her, jaw tight. “How do you know about that?” he asked in a hushed, harsh tone.
Margo was taken aback by his sudden mood change. We all were. The hair on my arms rose. “Um…”
“If you tell me that Hayes told you, please know I intend to break at least one of his hands,” he warned.
Margo blinked, stepping away from him. “Whoa, Dominic. It was just a joke. Chill.”
He seemed to snap out of it, jerking back and clearing his throat. “My apologies,” he murmured.
“Though judging by how you just went all scary, now we know there is actually a secret way in,” Carrie said, getting to her feet and holding her hand out for me. “We had our suspicions, but we could never figure out how you five would’ve installed one.”
He watched me get to my feet and then rubbed a hand down his face. “I should’ve left earlier,” he grumbled to himself.
“You don’t have to show us,” I said.
“What? Yes, he does. He just got all scary and rude,” Margo snapped.
“I apologized.” He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I’m sorry. I just—it’s been a long day.”
