Delinquents Turned Fugitives - Ann Denton Page 0,31
sorry.”
Her eyes took on a wet sheen. “They have to choose to stay, right?”
That felt tricky, like I might be tossing her mom under the bus somehow. I shrugged a shoulder and weighed each word. “I mean, it’s all about unfinished business. My dad stayed—”
“Your dad?” She shook her head, fist slamming down on the bar top. “I knew it. I researched the shit out of it. I told her before the end—”
I reached out and put my hand over hers. “He stayed because he was murdered, Lysa.”
That made her stop short. Her shoulders sank and she pulled out of my grip to swipe at a tear that was gathering in the corner of her eye. “Fuck. I’m an idiot. Sorry.”
“Don’t be,” I told her.
Lysa shook her head and blew out a breath, changing her posture immediately when Gunther returned. Clearly, she didn’t want him to know what she’d asked. She pursed her lips and then asked me, “So, how’d you and Gray meet?”
“He tried to strangle me so I turned all his water bottles into vibrating dildos,” I replied. “It was a match made in heaven.”
Her jaw dropped. “Holy shit, that’s my favorite boy meets girl story ever!” She leaned forward, everything else forgotten. “Details!” she commanded.
So I gave them to her.
Gunther shook his head at us and went to go put chairs up on top of the tables, pretending not to listen to us. But he totally was. And he was busted when he grabbed a chair but froze in place when he heard about the dick tick—his shoulders started shaking as he dissolved into laughter.
I was glad that I could amuse a couple people tonight. But my foot jangled on a rung of the barstool and my eyes flickered over to the door yet again. I kept wondering if I should check on Gray or go outside and see if Evan needed help … or if I’d just be a distraction.
Lysa saw my eyes on the porthole door and waved a hand dismissively. “They’re gonna be in there at least another half hour, I bet. Luckily, this time the scratches he got are pretty minor.”
“What did happen the first time?” I asked, taking a sip of my water and wondering why the hell Gray had gotten that close to a vamp before.
“He hasn’t told you yet? It was what started the whole “Rebellion of Grayson Mars.” And yes—that totally did need the air quotes. I was part of the first wave of that rebellion. But we only dated for like three seconds. We were so not right for each other.”
I only got to ponder that for half a second before the front door burst open and Evan and a fully restored Andros came stomping in.
“Shit!” Lysa sprang to her feet, her hand raised. Behind her, Gunther dropped a chair and did the same, raising his palm and letting a fireball form on it.
“Wait! They’re with me!” I cried, springing out of my barstool. I pushed myself in front of Lysa’s hand, which shimmered with invisible heat. “We ran into a little trouble and Evan had to do some unraveling.”
Lysa lowered her palm and eyed the guys. “Well. Aren’t you two just orgasmic? Dirty. But I like it dirty.”
That statement made my eyes flash with heat but then Lysa made a ridiculous face, waggled her tongue, and pointed at Gunther, using her body to hide her hand. She might think the guys were hot. And they were. But she was mostly fucking with her dad’s friend.
The old biker clenched his grizzled beard and gritted out, “I’m still here, Lysa.”
“Then leave,” she called out brashly. “Cause I’m about to invite them to come inside—if you get my drift.”
Gunther gave a shudder and quickly left as she laughed. “God, you’d think he was a prude, the way he tightens up. Sorry guys. You’re hot and all, but I just can’t resist torturing him.”
Evan wandered closer and asked, “That your Dad?”
She responded but I hardly heard their exchange because I was too busy eyeing Andros. He was human again, huge and muscled—still wearing his black clothes from the heist, though they were ripped and torn in places, his muscular arms and tattoos peeking through. My gaze flitted over him as I reassured myself he was okay before I was drawn back to his deep blue gaze.
His eyes searched mine too, but he seemed hesitant.
I wasn’t.
I barreled into him and wrapped my arms around his waist. “I’m so fucking glad you’re okay!”