steal it, I borrowed it - plus I had a four-hundred-thousand-dollar deposit down on it, and -
Oh, my God, I'm not hearing this - take it back.
But, baby, I paid for it in full... wire transfer. It's all legal. You doctored the paperwork, tell me I'm lying. She got in his face, her eyes hard and her mouth in a tight line. This was their only floor model in the region from the car show and you jacked it right off the showroom floor and changed all the mess on the papers, didn't you?
He touched her face and began to stroke her cheek. I did it for you, baby . . . after the way I saw you fight over there in Nod, and all the healings, all the -
You did not do that for me, she said, pointing at his chest hard with every word.
"Ow ... dang ... well, the car is in your name." He cocked his head to the side with a chuckle and shrugged.
"My what!"
"If you don't want it..." His smile widened. "But that pretty, red, sassy, Saleen S7 parked behind the cleric's limo is mine."
"Take it back." Damali grabbed her locks with both fists. "Take them both back. We're going to jail."
"Now how would that seem? We ain't got time, it would raise all sorts of legal questions, and - "
"Carlos Rivera, I swear to you - "
He kissed her quickly and held her face . I did too do it for you. You 're exhausted and can't fly - now this time you tell me if I'm lying.
When she didn't answer he nodded and kissed her eyelids until all resistance left her. This is the closest thing to a rocket on the ground that I can give you to get you out of harm's way. I'm exhausted, too. My foldaway needs about eight hours and a dog gone bowl of Wheaties, ya know? So I want my wife to put her key in the car, crank the engine, and get out of Dodge with the team, if something crazy jumps off. That's all I'm saying. Is that so wrong?
" How come when I argue with you, I always feel like I'm the one who's crazy?" she said, finally hugging him.
Carlos smiled as Rider called out, ribbing him. "Hey, D, I love the new ride!"
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
It was everything Rider told her to expect, and probably a whole lot closer to what she knew it would be - a honky-tonk dive. She would slay any vamps left topside and go after Lilith's foul ass again, too, for making her have to deal with this again in life. Two steps forward, three steps back. So the vamps wanted to play hardball and make her team start at the bottom again. Aw'ight. Cool.
Damali stared at the chicken wire that protected the stage, making a mental note to have the tacticals light it up for sure.
"Well, it's homey," Rider said with a big grin. "Has atmosphere." Mike and Shabazz just looked at each other and shook their heads.
"The only reason I'm cool with this," Carlos muttered, "is because it's a Guardian joint, owned by your boy ... but let one of them rowdy yahoos out there who ain't a Guardian throw a beer at my wife, and - "
"Hey, hey, hey," Rider said, laughing. "Duke'll bounce 'em, and remember, we are the world - rednecks need love, too." Rider laughed harder as Carlos bodily pushed him away.
"Rap, in here, dude?" J.L. said, glancing at Rider.
"Yeah, okay," Rider said with a grin. "Might be a little problematic, but what can ya do?"
"I know, Jack-o boy," Father Pat said, glancing around uneasily as hard glares over beer met Monk Lin, Rabbi Zeitloff, and Imam Asula. "We could have a non-vampire-related incident before the band hits the first note ... and if Marlene starts pouring libations in here - I don't think this is the crowd that would appreciate high art."
"Ya think?" Damali said from the side of her mouth. "And you have me roll up here in a Bugatti - they don't even know what it is, while you're flossing a Saleen S7?" She cut a hard glare at Carlos. "This ain't Hollywood Boulevard or Beverly Hills."
"I think maybe our clerics might want to go upstairs and watch from the light booth where Marj is working with Bobby and Krissy," Marlene said calmly.
"Yeah, take Dan and Heather up there, too, while you're at it, before Dan unloads a