Hunter reached between the rungs for Shepherd’s hand.
Shepherd gave her a nod of thanks. The crisis had ended.
She clapped him on the shoulder and lowered her voice. “Third floor, center hall, sixth door on the left. Have fun, and make sure you try out the flying carpet. I hear it goes to Istanbul.”
Chapter 20
The worst hangover wasn’t a night of heavy drinking. Well, not unless you counted drinking blood. It was the process of waiting for dark core light to leave the body. The blood didn’t help matters either. I tried sleeping, but I mostly just remained in the fetal position. Pulling in fresh sunlight helped dilute the energy, but not enough to make a difference. It had to leave on its own.
Instead of returning to work, I called the club and left a message for Karen, the manager. Making that decision killed me. I wanted to check with Flynn to make sure everything went smoothly with the cleaner. Even more important, would Flynn rescind his offer because I took a sick day? Would my absence spook him? No matter how much I wanted to go in, I was in no condition to get out of bed, let alone tend bar. If he saw me with his own eyes, he’d surely change his mind. I needed to be in prime condition when I met his boss—not looking like a haggard mess who can’t hold her own. Viktor wouldn’t want me to rush this and make mistakes.
So I stayed in bed all day, all that night, and the following day. Christian didn’t visit, but I spied Blue on the window ledge the prior evening while gazing at the city lights. I gave her a thumbs-up before closing the drapes.
After two full days of rest, it was time to get back to work.
The corset stayed on the floor, and I put on the spiked bra instead. Same leather shorts and black boots. I kept my tousled hair down, applied makeup, put in my brown contact lens, and grabbed a long duster before heading out.
By the sour look I got from the hotel desk clerk, she thought I was a prostitute. I squinted at the late afternoon sunlight as it pierced through the tall windows in the lobby. As I neared the door, I stopped short.
Flynn waved at me from the outside. His round glasses were pink today.
I moved through the revolving door and approached him. “What are you doing here?”
“Thought I’d see what my investment’s up to.”
“How did you know I was here?”
“Karen tells me anything when I flirt with her.”
The club manager would be the only person who would have my location since it was required on the paperwork.
I casually strolled up the sidewalk, the wind at my back and the sun on my left. “Did you think I skipped town or something?”
“One never knows.”
I came up with a quick excuse before he started grilling me. “I was afraid someone busted you while hauling the body, and if so, they’d be looking for me at work. Thought I’d lie low for a day or two.”
“You really think I’d snitch?”
“Don’t take it personally, but I don’t trust anyone. I’m probably fired by now, but better that than going to Breed jail.”
“Worry not, love. Everything is copasetic. But if you’re having second thoughts about my offer—”
“No, I’m in. The tips at the club are nice, but it would take me decades to get ahead.”
He hooked his arm in mine. “Brilliant. Let’s take a detour, shall we?”
Instead of going straight, Flynn turned right at the corner. He was surprisingly candid, telling me how he bounced from one convenient relationship to the next. He bragged about the penthouse suites he’d stayed in and cautioned me to avoid Breed apartment living like the plague. Not unless I enjoyed Shifter fights, Vampires complaining about noise, broken doors, and juicers passed out in the halls.
“Where do you live now?” I asked.
“A swanky little place, but I’m running out of time. You see, my last relationship ended in a flood of tears. Hers, not mine. She left but had already paid the lease for six months. It’s mine for another five weeks.”
“I thought you got paid good money for recruiting?”
“Keep your voice down,” he murmured. “And take off that bloody mask. You look like an invitation.”
I removed the mask and tucked it in the long pocket of my duster, which had no buttons to cover up my provocative outfit. We walked for twenty minutes. Flynn revealed he didn’t