“Yeah, yeah. Don’t mention it. But, do you really think it’s a good idea to have Kale running that circus? He has enough issues, don’t you think?”
“I don’t think there is a better person for the job. He knows everything about that place. If anything, it will be good for him.” To Shaz I said, “I have a job for you, too, but it’s your call. When all is said and done, I’d like you to work some kind of security there.
I need people I can trust monitoring who and what is coming and going in that place.”
“Count on it. I have nothing keeping me at Lucy’s Lounge. And, I’m eager to get my hands dirty.” A devilish grin spread across his features, reminding me that the boy I once knew was long gone.
“Not too dirty, I hope.”
“So when do we do this? Take out Harley.”
Shaz looked far too eager, but I couldn’t really blame him. He had his reasons almost as much as I did.
“Tomorrow night. I want it done fast, before either he or Arys have a chance to find out I’m planning it. It’s not always easy to keep Arys out of my head. I don’t want to risk him blowing this.”
Silence fell as we all mulled it over. I shoved my plate away, too full and too anxious to take another bite.
Ky stood up and began clearing the table even though I tried to make her leave the dishes. “So, have you thought about what you will do if Arys is at the Kiss when you arrive, or if he shows up?”
I hesitated. I knew it was a possibility, but I hadn’t planned for it. Ky was right. That could f**k up the entire scenario. Before I could open my mouth to reply, Shaz gave a short laugh.
“I’ll run interference. Arys won’t be a problem.”
“Oh no.” I shook my head vehemently. “The two of you brawling is not going to help me kill Harley. Bad idea.”
“You can trust me, Lex. I won’t start anything that can get out of control. I’ll just throw a few distractions at him.”
“No. I need you. I’ll have Jez come along in case he shows up. That’ll go over much better.”
Shaz frowned. I knew he wanted to protest, but he dropped the subject altogether, much to my relief. The discussion quickly died down. There was little more to say on the issue.
When Kylarai suggested a run outside of town, my wolf practically leaped for joy.
Not only was it the best way to free both my body and mind, it also gave me a chance to sniff out Zoey. If I could track her down, I had every intention of finding out if I had it in me to get her back into a physical body.
* * * *
When the following night arrived, I was ready. I stared out the window, watching the sunset. I kept expecting the nerves to hit me, but I was rock steady. I’d woken up a few hours earlier ready to face the evening, maybe even a little eager. By the time this was over, Arys and I would finally discover where we stood with one another. I reached into the pocket of my tight black jeans, lightly toying with the keys to Raoul’s Jaguar. It had sat in the garage for several months. Tonight I would be driving it to The Wicked Kiss. It would enable me to arrive a little more incognito than my bold red Charger would. I didn’t want to announce my presence any sooner than necessary.
I’d dressed for a fight: slim fitting jeans that I could still move well in and a sporty tank top. With my hair pulled back in a ponytail that reached my elbow, I felt good, ready to kick some ass. However, I didn’t intend to get any more physical with Harley than I had to. I’d spent hours before bed working on my focus and honing my control. Harley’s coaching had helped incredibly with envisioning my power and guiding it. He’d sealed his own fate in a way.
The banging and clanking of dishes in the kitchen reached me as Shaz moved about cleaning up after dinner. I’d had no appetite though I’d tried to eat. When this was all over, I’d likely be ready to devour a four-course meal.
One of my biggest concerns had been dealt with, all thanks to Kylarai. I had such amazing friends. She’d been able to reach her contact in the city and not only had he asked her to dinner, he’d also been more than willing to make Kale’s ownership legal.
She’d agreed to the dinner as a means of saying thank you. I was crossing my fingers that it may lead to more, as long as he wasn’t a dirt bag like Julian.
If everything were going as planned, Jez would be getting to the Kiss any time now.
She was going to play the role of vampire junkie and hang off Kale as if she was his donor of the night. As long as Arys didn’t show up, she wouldn’t have to do anything else. I was keeping my fingers crossed. Could I be so lucky?
I paced impatiently as the sun vanished from sight and darkness fell. When Shaz came in and wrapped his arms around me, I found it hard to relax into his embrace. He smelled faintly of steak and shampoo, scents that I associated with home and comfort.
The sooner we got this over with, the sooner I could snuggle up with those lovely smells and entwine his warm body with mine.
I sighed and rubbed a hand along his arm. “Are you ready to get this show on the road?”