Jericho sipped his cocoa and began working on his third donut. “They have to keep it hush because of the limited space on the grounds. I don’t think anyone got a human permit for this, so it should be interesting.”
Joker fiddled with the napkin dispenser. “I heard Vamps paid a visit to the folks who live near the lake and charmed them away on vacation. I don’t see how there could be a problem.”
Ren reached over and snatched a glazed donut, cramming the entire thing into his mouth.
“Dare you to eat the whole box,” Joker said.
Jericho leaned in privately. “I packed you a bag. I thought it would be fun to stay for the night and get away from the house. If you want to stay longer, we can do that too.”
“You do realize you just made me into a target for mosquitoes after eating all these donuts?”
“Did anyone find out if we can shift?” Chaz asked, shoving half a donut into his mouth before spitting it out on the table.
“It’s restricted from what I heard,” Jericho said. “I wouldn’t risk it. We’ll have Vampires, Chitahs, Sensors—you name it. Bound to piss someone off if one of us bites them in the ass.”
“You bringing her?” Chaz asked.
“Her?” Jericho eyed him coldly. “You call her Izzy.”
“Is that what you’re calling your flavor of the week?” he replied, drumming his fingers.
Jericho suddenly snatched Chaz’s beard and yanked his face down to the table. In a swift movement, he pulled out a switchblade and with one clean slice cut off Chaz’s goatee, leaving a mark on the wood surface.
“What the fuck!” Chaz yelled, knocking back his chair and standing up.
Jericho slowly rose to his feet and towered over him by at least five inches. “Here’s what the fuck, Chaz. If you disrespect my woman again, it won’t be your hair I cut off next. Get your junkie ass outside and I’ll be along shortly.” He snapped the knife closed and slipped it into his back pocket.
My heart was pounding as I looked between them. Chaz gave everyone the finger and scowled. “Bad move. I’m walkin’. See how you guys do without a bassist.”
“What the fuck,” Joker hissed. “We need him.”
Jericho sat down and wiped his face. “That’s exactly what he wants us to think so he can keep getting away with shit. You guys know anyone we can call on short notice?”
“News alert. We have one hour,” Ren said, glancing at his watch.
“What about Trevor?” I suggested.
Trevor lived with the Weston pack. He and April were best friends, and he seemed like a cool guy. I’d walked by his door a few times and caught him putting together model airplanes, but every so often, he would be strumming his guitar.
“I don’t think he plays bass.”
“Maybe you should ask,” I said.
Jericho pulled out his phone and dialed a number, stepping away from the table with his finger in his other ear.
“We’re really fucked now,” Joker said with a sniff. “I may need one of those pink ones.”
I slapped his hand and closed the box when he reached for a donut. “How is it that you have diabetes? I’ve never heard of that with a Shifter.”
“I’m a human.”
I blinked in surprise. “Really?”
Joker laughed and flipped his sandy-blond hair out of his face. It was wavy and past his ears. “Jericho’s an equal-opportunity kind of guy. They kept it a secret from me for almost a year before filling me in. I’m tighter with these two guys than my human friends. I guess I’ll stick with the band until I become an old dog or they get sick of me.”
“We’re the old dogs,” Ren said. “You’re the old human. Get it straight.”
“Shut up, Lord of the Lip Rings.”
Jericho filled the space beside me and spun his phone on the table. “Looks like we have someone to fill in.”
“Trevor knows how to play bass?” I asked in surprise.
“No. They’re swinging by a pawnshop on the way and he’s going to practice in the car.”
A slow laugh began to build in Joker and he wiped his eyes. “This should be fucking magical. Why don’t you call him up and hum the bass line for Another One Bites the Dust? We’ll open and close with that one.”
Chapter 15
After stuffing my face with five donuts, I napped in Jericho’s truck while he drove us to the music event. It reminded me of old times, before he’d formed a band. Now he was a talented rocker who could take on the world if he chose to. I knew he could have rocketed to superstardom because he was smart, talented, and wrote his own music. But that kind of fame puts a target on the backs of men who don’t age at the same speed as humans.
I moaned and stretched, nestling my head against something soft.
Then hard.
My eyes widened when I realized my head was in Jericho’s lap. I bolted upright. “Very funny.”
“You’re the one who laid down, Isabelle. I tried to wake you up, but you bit my arm.”
“I did not.”
He held up his arm and showed me the teeth marks. “I know you don’t like being forced awake, so I let you snooze.”
“Thanks.” I rubbed my eyes and saw people walking everywhere.