“We will,” Caleb said.
Satisfied with that, Grigori drove off, leaving us alone. I cracked my knuckles as we approached the entrance to Thirst. A long line stretched down the block, one we wouldn’t have to wait in. But before I had time to fish my badge out of my bra, the bouncer guarding the door eyed me and then stepped aside and let us through.
“That was weird …” I said.
Caleb shrugged and said something back to me, but the pounding music of the club swallowed his voice.
A dozen sets of eyes clung to me as I moved through the club. Self-consciously I smoothed down the tiny red dress I’d been asked to wear. The Politia wanted me to be noticed—both so that I caught the murderer’s attention and so that I had many witnesses.
My gaze swept over the crowd. This late in the evening, most of the club goers were drunk, and their otherness was slipping through to the surface. Slitted pupils, a flash of scales, fur. Those were the monsters in the mix. The more common supernaturals—witches, seers, and such—were less obvious, but if I looked closely, I could catch a glimpse of their manifested powers as well.
Many of the clubbers stared back at me, not bothering to look away even when I met their gaze. I had no idea who I was supposed to meet.
Gee this wasn’t awkward.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Caleb said, loud enough for me to hear.
I glanced over at him, but he wasn’t looking at me. I followed his gaze across the room.
I only had a second to register the thrum that now overshadowed the pounding music and the collective dip in conversation before my eyes fell on the object of Caleb’s focus.
Andre.
Andre was already staring at me, and ho, he did not look pleased. Yay, I’d managed to piss off my immortal boyfriend without even trying this time. That deserved some sort of prize … other than my ass on a plate. ’Cause that’s what the look he was giving me promised.
“Is it just me, or does Andre look like he’s going to murder us?” Caleb asked.
“Not helping,” I said, my eyes never straying from him.
The entourage of scary-looking men that surrounded him followed his gaze. Eep. They looked like they were going to eat me.
Never taking his eyes off of me, Andre pushed forward, the muscle in his jaw feathering.
“Should I shift and hold him off?” Caleb asked next to me.
I shook my head. “That will only make it worse.”
“He’s going to ruin the meeting.”
“Maybe,” I replied, the gears in my mind turning.
The crowd parted for Andre, and every step he took towards me brought his expression in sharper relief. Yep, he was definitely pissed. The current between us amplified as he neared. I could feel it vibrating in my chest and making my fingers tingle.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Caleb’s hands fist. I reached out and touched his arm. “Don’t even think about it,” I said. “If you start a fight in here, this whole thing is going to fall apart.”
Caleb worked his jaw and reluctantly nodded, uncurling his fists and relaxing his muscles.
I felt a surge of energy run through me, and when I looked up, Andre’s eyes had moved to where my hand still touched Caleb’s arm. Something primal and possessive had entered into his expression. I would’ve rolled my eyes except this whole situation was clearly heading south, and fast.
“Grab us some drinks Caleb.”
“But—”
I gave him a light shove in the direction of the bar. “Just please, do it.”
Caleb reluctantly left me just before Andre closed the remaining distance between us.
Then Andre’s hands were on either side of my face. “What are you doing here?” he said, his voice almost desperate.
I was expecting anger, but not this, not the intense worry written onto his features. I wrapped my hands around his wrists. “What are you doing here?”
“I had a break between sessions of the trial, so I came here to meet with my staff and managers.” His thumb rubbed my lower lip, and his gaze dropped to my mouth.
Realization hit me like a punch to the gut. “This is your club.” Of course. How had I not put that one together?
“Yes, it is.” Andre took a steadying breath and gazed back up at my eyes. “Now, what are you doing here?”
My breath came faster, and I shifted my focus to the crowd around us. “They knew,” I said, more to myself than to Andre, “they knew this was your club. They had to know you’d be here.” But why? Why?
Andre gave me a light shake. “Gabrielle.”
My eyes honed in on Andre. “There’s been another murder, and the killers left a note for me asking to meet them here.”
“And you came,” Andre said. His voice was calm, his face placid except for that muscle in his cheek. It kept clenching and unclenching.
Uh oh.
“The Politia is here,” I said quietly. “They will make sure nothing happens tonight.”
“The Politia doesn’t give a shit about your life,” he snapped.
I flinched at his words. He said it with such vehemence.
I tried to draw away, but one of his hands dropped from my cheek and snaked around my waist. Instead of letting me go, he pulled me forward, and I stared into those deep, remorseful eyes of his.
His thumb rubbed my cheekbone. “I didn’t say that to hurt you, soulmate.” His expression had gone soft and a little sad. “I just cannot stand by and watch them place you in danger over and over again.”
“Andre, it was my choice to join the Politia, my choice to take this case, and my choice to be here. I am the only one putting myself in danger.”
He cupped my chin. “You need to leave.”
Here we go again. “Andre, we’ve already talked abou—”
“There are vampires from the trial here.”
Oh.
Hell.