He shifted position, and I recognized the lighthouse print behind him. He was home rather than at work. "Look, this story you've handed me is a little tricky given not only the Directorate's involvement but a definite unwillingness on the street to discuss the buy-up. I think it would be better if we appear to meet accidentally rather than on purpose. Might be safer for us both."
Alarm swam through me. "Meaning you've been threatened?"
"Not in so many words, but I got the distinct impression it might be better to leave this one alone." He laughed, and his face came alive. "Which of course only stirred my curiosity all the more."
I snorted softly. He hadn't changed, not one little bit. "So where do you want to meet? And don't say the Blue Moon because I don't go there anymore, and I'm certainly not dancing with you."
"Ah, Risa, that's such a shame." His voice was almost wistful. "We were so good together."
"We were being the correct phrase there."
"Perhaps." He shrugged lightly. "What about Chrome? Do you and that gang of yours still hang out there?"
Chrome was a trendy bar in Brunswick that Ilianna, Tao, and I had all but lived in as university students. The booze was cheap, the atmosphere fantastic, and on a Friday night, it was still the only place in that area to be seen. "Yeah, once or twice a month, just for old times' sake."
"Good. Shall we say seven?"
Seven would still leave me time to see Tao. "Okay. Save me a barstool."
"Naturally." He hesitated, then added softly, "I love the new hair color. Makes your eyes stand out more."
And with that, he disconnected. I swore softly and wished that he—and the past—would just leave me alone. Which was a stupid desire, since I was the one responsible for bringing him back into my life. The past was always going to come as accompanying baggage.
I finished my breakfast, then went back into my bedroom, swapping my dress for a summer top and jeans. Although the jeans I found myself reaching for were the Kevlar-infused ones, and that had me wondering if my sometimes unreliable clairvoyance ability sensed a bike fall in the near future. I hoped not—I didn't want the Ducati damaged.
It was close to five by the time I locked up and headed down the side steps to the garage. Azriel was waiting near my bike, his expression as remote as I'd ever seen it. Not happy about something, that was for sure.
"What's happening?" he asked, his voice as neutral as his expression.