you knew?» Blay said.
«Nah. Just didn't want to come off as an idiot-Wait, I think we have a winner.» He nodded to a
roped-off area that had two huge guys standing in front of it. «That just screams VIP. Ladies,
shall we?»
Qhuinn walked over like he knew exactly what he was doing, said two words to the bouncer, and
whaddaya know, the rope was down and the three of them were parading in.
Well, Blay and Qhuinn were parading. John was trying not to run into anyone else. He'd lucked
out that the guy at the door had been some kind of pansy. Next time he'd probably manage to
land on a hit man. Who was armed.
The VIP section had its own private bar and bartenders, and its waitresses were dressed like
high-class strippers, showing a lot of skin as they went around on a lot of heel. The male patrons
were all in suits, the women in expensive bits of nothing much. It was a fast, flashy crowd… that
made John feel like a total poser.
There were banquettes on both sides of the room, three of which were open, and Qhuinn picked
the one farthest back, in the corner.
«This is the best,» he pronounced. «Next to the emergency exit. In the shadows.»
There were two martini glasses on the tabletop, but they sat down anyway, and a waitress came
over to clear. Blay and Qhuinn ordered beers. John passed, thinking he needed to stay tight
tonight.
They'd been chilling for no less than five minutes, Blay and Qhuinn barely getting a start on their
Coronas, when they heard a female voice say, «Hey, daddies.»
All three of them looked up at the blond Wonder Woman standing in front of them. She was a
knockout in a very Pam Anderson kind of way, more breast than anything else.
«Hey, baby,» Qhuinn drawled. «What's your name?»
«I'm Sweet Charity.» She put both hands on the table and leaned in, flashing her perfect chest and
her tanning-salon skin and her gleaming, bleached teeth. «Want to know why?»
«Like I want my next breath.»
She bent down a little farther. «Because I taste good and I'm a giver.»
Qhuinn's tight smile was all about sex. «Then come over and sit by me-«
«Boys,» came a deep voice.
Oh, Jesus. A huge guy had come up to their table, and John didn't think it was a good thing. With
a beautiful black suit and a pair of hard amethyst eyes and a cropped mohawk, he looked like
both a thug and a gentleman.
Okay, that was a vampire, John thought. He wasn't sure exactly how he knew, but he was sure of
it and not just because of the size thing. The guy just gave off the same vibe as the Brothers did:
power in check on a hair trigger.
«Charity, you mine elsewhere, feel me?» the male said.
The blonde seemed a little bummed as she pulled back from Qhuinn-who was looking pissed.
Except then she trotted off and… well, shit, pulled the same routine two banquettes down.
As Qhuinn's expression lost some of its edge, the mohawked male bent down and said, «Yeah,
she wasn't just after the pleasure of your company, big man. She's a pro. Most of the women you
see walking around in this section are. So unless you want to pay for it, go out to the open-access
area, pick up a few, and bring them back here, deal?» The guy smiled, flashing a tremendous set
of fangs. «By the way, I own this place, so while you're here I'm responsible for your asses.
Make my job easy and keep righteous.» Before he turned away, he looked at John. «Zsadist said
to say hello.»
He left on that note, checking out everything and everybody on his way to an unmarked door in
the back.
John wondered how the guy knew Z, and figured that no matter the connection, that mohawked
brass-baller was definitely someone you wanted on your side.
Otherwise you might want to pick up a Kevlar bodysuit.
Or better yet, leave the country.
«Well,» Qhuinn said, «that's an important tip. Shit.»
«Um, yeah.» Blay shifted in his seat as another blonde strolled by. «So… um, you want to head
out to the floor?»
«Blay, you little slut.» Qhuinn hustled out of the banquette. «Of course I do. John-«
I'm going to hang here, he signed. You know, save our table.
Qhuinn clapped him on the shoulder. «Fine. We'll bring something back from the buffet for you.»
John frantically shook his head, but his buddies just turned away. Oh, God. He should have
stayed home. He so should have skipped this.
As a brunette waltzed by he glanced down quickly, but she didn't stop, and neither did any of the
others-like the owner
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