“Hi there, Ms. Helsing.”
We all turned to look in the direction of the sultry voice and I looked at my shoes, hiding my smile when Nina’s eyes went big.
“It is Ms., I hope.” Standing directly in front of Nina, staring her down with his beady hazel eyes was a “breather,” dressed to kill in a stretchy red velvet T-shirt pulled over a pair of black skinny jeans leaden with chains. He may have been Nina’s height originally, but his feet were stuffed into boots with a four-inch stacked heel.
“Oh my gosh,” I whispered.
“Is he hitting on her?” Parker muttered into my ear.
Nina’s breather friend propped his elbow against the wall and fiddled with his shoulder-length black hair, grinning the whole time, his eyes boring into Nina’s. He scanned our group quickly and then went back to staring Nina down.
“The name is Reggie, and you know, you and I seem to have a lot in common.”
Nina crossed her arms, jutted out one hip. “Is that right, Reggie? You think so? Now why would you think that?”
“Well, it looks like you and I are both the odd men out in our respective groups.”
Nina peered over Reggie’s shoulder. “I don’t see any group with you.”
He just shrugged, an arrogant smile playing on his thin lips. “So, what’s say we make this foursome a six-some?”
I tried to fight the bubble of laughter that started in my stomach. I leaned against Parker and could feel his body shaking with silent laughter. I gripped his hand, willed us both to remain silent.
“You mean, because we have so much in common?” Nina asked Reggie.
“We’re both obviously good-looking people. Both have this whole”—his eyes slid over Nina from tip to toe appraisingly—“dark-side vibe going on.” He licked his lips. “I think you and I could have a lot of fun together.”
I saw Nina’s lips purse, a single challenging eyebrow raised. “Well, all that may be very true, but there is one very significant difference between us.”
“Oh yeah?” Reggie asked. “And what would that be?”
“That I could eat you for dinner.” Nina smiled broadly, her white fangs standing out against her deep red lips.
Reggie paled and stumbled backward, his hazel eyes wide and terrified. “What the hell?” He angled a shaky index finger at Nina. “You’re a vampire?”
Nina just continued her bloodthirsty grin until Reggie spun on his stacked heel and began pushing through the crowd of patrons waiting to get into Dirt. “That chick’s a vampire,” he mumbled into the blank, ignoring faces of the crowd. “She’s a real fucking vampire!”
We heard “Idiot!” and “Drunk” rumble up from the crowd before Reggie disappeared down the street.
Nina turned to face us, still grinning. “Now, where were we?”
“Lucy,” I said, stepping forward, “Vlad told us that some people—uh, breathers—talked to you the other day.”
Lucy turned her big eyes toward Vlad. “She says yes, that’s right. It was two days ago.”
Nina slapped her palm to her forehead. “Oh God. First Reggie the loser and now this?”
“Can vampires read minds?” Parker whispered.
“No, we can’t,” Nina confirmed angrily. She widened her stance, put her hands on her hips, and stared Lucy and Vlad down. “We can’t read minds, we don’t turn into bats or mist, we don’t sparkle, fly, or dress like Count Chocula. And we never miss a meal.” Nina bared her fangs at that last part, and Lucy stood upright, a tiny squeal escaping her purple lips. “So spit it out, wannabe.”
Vlad put his hand on Lucy’s shoulder, and she started to babble. “I was here, two days ago, and these two breathers approached me. Guys. Um, one fat and one thin, but otherwise, I don’t remember too much. Except that they came out of a limo—a black limo—and someone was inside there waiting for them. Whoever it was wasn’t too pleased that I didn’t know anything about the sword thing.”
“What happened after you talked to them?”
Lucy shrugged, still watching Nina who was still baring her fangs. “Nothing. They got back in the limo and drove away.”
I looked back at Parker. “Well, that doesn’t really tell us anything.”
“Thank you for your help, Lucy,” Parker said over my shoulder. And then, to me, “I don’t think we’re going to get any more information here. Maybe we should just go.”
“No. If Lucy got that far outside the bar, there is a good chance we’ll get more information inside. Something we can really use. Right?” I raised my eyebrows.
“Well, we’re here,” Nina started.
“Might as well,” I said.
Vlad and Lucy pulled open the doors, and Nina followed them in.
“I’m still not entirely sure about this,” Parker said, his lips pressing into my hair as we followed behind.
I looked over my shoulder, and I was nearly nose to nose with Parker, his blue eyes fierce.