a hard look coming into her eyes. “Follow my lead, and don’t do anything to fuck it up. I mean it.”
Me, fuck it up? What was she planning?
I didn’t have to wonder for long.
She gulped down her coffee, then waved in the direction of Littlefinger, who had returned from the kitchen and was shuffling the pages of a newspaper, clearly bored. Four of the other patrons had left by this point, and apart from us, there was one elderly couple, who looked as if they were on the verge of falling asleep.
I watched as he lumbered to his feet, heading in our direction. Tall, built, pale, shaved head, a thin scar on his right cheek, he looked like a stereotypical goon from a crime movie. He flexed his knuckles as he drew closer, and I noticed the gold rings on his fingers.
“Hello.” My head whipped around at Winter’s sickly sweet tone. What the fuck? While I was watching Littlefinger, she’d taken off the hoodie she’d been wearing, and she was now sitting in a tiny low-cut top that showcased her perfect, perky tits. Worse, she was leaning forwards, giving Littlefinger a clear view down her top, batting her eyelashes and twirling a strand of her dark hair with one finger.
I clenched my jaw, grinding my teeth. The fucker was staring at her tits, and from his face, he liked what he saw.
Winter kicked me under the table. Then again. I breathed in and out through my nose, trying to keep my cool as he openly ogled her.
“What can I help you with, my darling?” He had an accent I couldn’t quite place. Possibly Russian.
“Do you have a moment?” Winter indicated the empty chair opposite her. He glanced around him, then shrugged.
“For a pretty girl, anything.” He sank his huge bulk into the chair.
“I was just wondering if you could tell me anything about the history of this place, Mr… Oh. How rude of me! I haven’t introduced myself. I’m Summer.” A tiny, sly smile crossed her lips at this point. “And this is my brother, Barry. And you are…?”
Barry? What the actual fuck? And brother? Yeah, okay, I was technically her stepbrother, but. Yeah, no.
“Petr.” He accepted her outstretched hand, shaking it firmly, ignoring me. “I’m afraid I don’t know anything about the history of this place. I just work here.” His face fell.
“That’s a shame.” She leaned forwards even further, pouting her lips, and I wanted to haul her over my shoulder and drag her out of there, and punch Petr’s leering face simultaneously. “Oh!” she suddenly exclaimed, brightening. “That ring on your finger is beautiful. Is it a sovereign ring?”
“Yes.” He beamed, clearly pleased with the attention, as he slid his hand across the table towards her.
“Ooh. It’s beautiful,” she purred, tracing her finger over it and simultaneously kicking my shin again. I could now see his finger clearly, and she was right. He was our man. I picked up my phone, and on the pretence of sending a text, snapped a photo of his hand. How I was going to get one of his face without him noticing, I had no idea.
While I’d been trying to subtly take a photo, Winter’s finger was tracing along Petr’s knuckles. Both mine and his attention were laser focused on her movements, his with pleasure, and mine…all I knew was I wanted to break every fucking knuckle on his hand.
“What did you do here?” she asked softly, indicating the missing fingertip.
I glanced up at his face just in time to see a hard, dangerous glint flash in his eye, his whole body tensing.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.” She withdrew her hand from his meekly, staring down at the table.
“It’s okay, my darling. You have no need to apologise. It was a…gardening accident.” He reached out and squeezed her hand, his thumb caressing hers, and she raised her eyes to meet his, brimming with faux sympathy.
I needed to break something. Preferably his face.
“You poor man. I’m so sorry. You know what, though? It makes you memorable.” She actually winked at him. “I’ll certainly remember the handsome man who so kindly took time out of his workday to answer my questions.”
He preened, pleased with her “handsome” compliment, leaning closer to her, and I clenched my jaw harder. “It’s always a pleasure to spend time with a beautiful woman such as yourself.” He studied her more closely. “You look very familiar. Have we met before?”
She gave a light laugh that I could tell