“What is it?” Noah asked turning back to her, his eyebrows furrowed with concern.
Eden gave him a little smile. “I was just thinking you'll have to tell me about it sometime.”
“What the 80's?”
“Your life.”
His eyes brightened and his mouth quirked up into a sexy half smile. “Anytime.”
“Oh, out on a double date are we?” an annoying sugary sweet Celtic voice shot through Eden. She closed her eyes and groaned . Shona. The four of them turned as Shona and Mark strolled over to them. Arms crossed over her chest and hip cocked, Shona slid a pointed look at Tobe and then Cameron. “Oh silly me, of course not.”
At the wounded, tight look on Tobe's face, Eden's eyes narrowed. What was that all about? Shona knew something. Enough to hurt Tobe's feelings with it. Oh, to hell with making a good impression.
Eden snapped her gaze back at Shona and the girl flinched under her regard. “What about you, Shona? It's getting late; shouldn't you be working your corner already?” Eden ignored the choked laughter from behind her and the expressionless Noah beside her as Shona bravely ( or foolishly) sneered at her, “Whore jokes? How original.”
“Well, I like to stick with the classics.”
“You know, it's no wonder McLeish has a problem with you. I thought his attitude was peculiar because you're an Ankh, but you're such an unbelievable brat I can see why he can't stand you.” Eden tried not to let the comment affect her and was about to verbally bitch slap Shona when Noah stepped forward. “What are you talking about?”
Immediately Shona's eyes widened, a tiny spark of fear glittering in their depths at Noah's sudden interest. “Nothing.”
“Tell me.”
At his rumbling tone, Mark nudged his girlfriend to respond.
“Um,” Shona gulped. “I just overhead him telling my dad that he thought Eden was a problem.” Anxiety shot through Eden. Crap, was Councilman McLeish the betrayer? Please no. She glanced at Noah for his reaction and watched the tendons in his jaw flex. “The only problem I see right now is your lack of respect for the Princeps' daughter.”
At the thickening tension, Mark coughed uncomfortably, his olive skin flushing dark with embarrassment. “Uh, we're just here to see Drop Dead Zombie 2.”
“Ehhh nooooo.” Shona spun on him, glaring. “The Diary.”
“I thought-”
“Don't think.” She threw her palm up to interrupt him. “Ugh, I need the bathroom. The air in here is messing up my hair. Get the tickets will you. And get me a Diet Coke, no ice. Diiieet. No ice. Also a little box of salted popcorn, not sweet like last time. It was sweet instead of salt and they gave me crap for trying to change it. Oh and make sure it's fresh and hot. I don't want any of that soggy rubbish.” With that she flounced off in search of the ladies room, leaving them all in stunned silence.
Eden quirked an eyebrow at the easy-going Mark. “Dude, your girlfriend is so far past high maintenance even the janitor quit.”
Chapter Fourteen
Playing with Fire
Dwight Carey was the kind of guy even an unconscionable son-of-a-bitch like Teagan despised. He was a Warrior of Neith who had worked for the Ankh Princeps for six years as part of his security team in his mansion in Weston. Teagan watched him pace nervously back and forth before him, sweat sliding down his pale face, his hands scrunching into his brown curls. Betraying someone as powerful as Cyrus was bound to make a man anxious.
“You got the money?” Dwight asked him, his eyes wide with a mixture of terror and guilt.
Teagan took another drag of his cigarette and leaned back against the packing crates. He could tell his utter calm was making the Neith more nervous; it sprinkled his soul with a dash of salt and Teagan was enjoying the extra flavour. Flicking some ash, he glanced around the dark warehouse.
He'd come all the way to Boston for this information. So far Dwight had been feeding him the right info but Teagan needed to know his guilt hadn't gotten the better of him. He nudged the briefcase at his feet forward along the dusty concrete floor. “It's in there. You get it when I'm done grilling you.” Dwight suddenly stopped. “I got all the info you need man.” Teagan shrugged. “I'm just curious about a couple of things. Indulge me.”
“What kind of things?”
“No need to be nervous, Mr Carey… not if you're telling me the truth.”
“I am.”
You better be. The flare of anger nudged at his hunger and it wrapped its hands around Teagan's windpipe with its pleading. Take him, take him now. “Why did you betray Cyrus to Cosmina Arcos.
To me?”