Dark Kings (Feathers and Fate #1) - Sadie Moss Page 0,62

his brothers. “We need to cover as much ground as possible. This’ll go much better if we find the mark quickly.”

The others nod, even Phoenix, who I’m sure is still resentful of having to do any work at all.

Okay. That means it’s time for me to slip into my role as a cocktail waitress.

So, full disclosure: I’ve never drunk alcohol before. I’ve just never really seen the appeal, I guess. Why would I bother? It tastes nasty, and I never needed to get drunk to have fun, or feel different, or escape my life. Besides, people get drunk together, for fun, and I never had anyone to do that with. So, really, what was the point?

But even though I’ve never had alcohol, I’ve seen plenty of movies and television that included a lot of booze. I even bought a book once called Tequila Mockingbird that had all these cocktail recipes that were puns on book titles, just because I’m a sucker for puns. And I’ve seen a lot of films that take place in casinos. Every single Ocean’s Eleven movie, Casino Royale, the works.

I neatly grab a tray that’s sitting on the edge of the bar and balance it in one hand, moving through the casino. I move my hips, swaying them from side to side as I walk, and adopt a sophisticated-but-bored expression. I’ve seen it on the face of every cocktail waitress in every fancy establishment in James Bond films.

Posing as a waitress was a smart choice. Most people don’t even look at me, or at least not my face, as I take empty glasses and distribute drinks. It makes me invisible, in a way. I can see everyone, observe them, but nobody pays attention to me or what I’m doing.

I kind of wish one of the men was with me, but then I scold myself for such a thought. I don’t need—okay, so I do need them, that’s a fact, but that doesn’t mean I need one of them with me at all times. I don’t need a babysitter. I can handle this myself.

Besides, I shouldn’t be getting too attached to any of these men. I shouldn’t get used to having them around me. I’m supposed to be redeeming them. That’s it.

“Hey, sweetheart.” One of the patrons at the roulette table smiles up at me. He’s older, and looks mostly human, but his eyes are yellow and slit like a snake’s. “Get me another gin and tonic, wouldja?” He squeezes my ass.

My mouth falls open in shock. Since arriving on Earth, I’ve had some moments where a coworker would leer at me a little or say something creepy. And I’ve been catcalled, a lot more than I would’ve thought when I first fell. But no one’s ever been this blatant before.

Before I can say or do anything—not that I’m even sure what I would say or do—another hand shoots out to wrap around the man’s wrist.

“Hey, buddy. I’m sure you don’t wanna do that. Groping an innocent woman who’s just tryin’ to do her job? All the trouble it would cause—would it really be worth it? The managers yelling at you… the other patrons judging you… what if she fights back and breaks your hand or something? Why not just pay for a hooker later tonight instead? Far less work, and isn’t that why you’re here? No work, just relaxing?”

I stare, my eyes feeling like they’re going to fall out of my head as I watch Phoenix’s eyes glow blue. The personification of Sloth, making someone else be lazy and feeding off of it.

The man nods, as if in a daze, and his hand slides away from me back onto the table.

“Come on, sweetheart, let’s get the fuck away from this lech,” Phoenix murmurs, putting his hand lightly against the small of my back and guiding me away.

“I could’ve handled that,” I say, my mouth forming the words automatically.

What I really want to do is ask him why he went out of his way to help me. That seems to go directly against his philosophy of doing as little work as possible. The slothful thing to do, the lazy thing, would’ve been to just hang out, eat some popcorn, and watch.

“Yeah, I’m sure you could’ve, but then there might’ve been some kind of crazy fucking scene, and the last thing we want is to draw attention.” Phoenix pauses, staring into my face. “You okay?”

I nod. I’m fine. It wasn’t fun, of course. I feel a little bit