Page 80 of No One’s Daughter

Pain in my jaw alerted me to the fact that I’d been clenching my teeth unknowingly. I pulled a hand down over my face on an exhale. I really didn’t like watching her flirt so obviously with him.

I stilled.

Was I jealous?

Why? It’s not like she was mine. She was free to fuck whomever she wanted.

But why Niko, for fucks sake?

Okay yeah, he was attractive—obviously—I wasn’t blind.

But I didn’t like the way he looked at her.

I didn’t even know what they were talking about, I was so focused on their body language. Why was she smiling like that, and why the fuck was he touching her arm like that?

More importantly, why did I give a fuck?

I stood abruptly, pulling their attention as though they only just remembered I was here.

“Time to go.”

Ailsa rolled her eyes. “We only just got here. Don’t you need to wait to hear back from his contacts or whatever?”

Shit. That’s right.

I’d literally managed to forget why we were even here.

Still, I wanted to get her away from him. “We can come back later, no point sitting about here.”

“Oh, come on,” she protested. “This is the most fun thing we’ve done in ages.”

I really didn’t see what was ‘fun’ about being here and looking at boring objects.

“Yeah, come on, Davien,” Niko said with a grin that told me I was outnumbered. “How about we head out for some drinks while we wait. I know a nice little place where it’s safe.”

“No, it’s too dangerous.” But not for the reason you think.

“It’s always dangerous,” Ailsa chastised as she took two steps toward me, wagging a finger. “I think you’ve just forgotten how to not be so bloody moody all the time. Remember that time you taught me how to compel? We had fun then, didn’t we? I know you know how to laugh.”

“It’s a quiet little spot. Just a few drinks,” Niko offered.

I didn’t like this. Any of it. The idea of being out in the open. Didn’t like the way she was looking at him. Didn’t like that I suddenly felt the need to prove something.

I’m not always fucking moody.

I clenched my jaw. “Fine.”

And damn me, the way her eyes lit up did something to me I didn’t have the guts to admit.

Niko led us though back streets that grew progressively narrower and less welcoming, until we reached the mouth of a dimly lit alley that looked like it hadn’t seen sunlight—or law enforcement—in years.

At the very end of it sat a bar.

A flickering neon sign buzzed overhead, half the letters missing, the doors scuffed and worn from years of use. Inside, the air was thick with stale smoke and the scent of cheap alcohol.

Only the odd head lifted up when we entered.

The place was quiet, but nice enough if you liked old man bars.