We moved the take-out boxes to the dining room table and ate directly from them, sliding them around to get the combinations we wanted. Connor turned on music, and we ate through Nina Simone and Otis Redding, the heartfelt crooning he preferred to the jarring guitar usually played at the Pack’s bar.
I turned at the sound of footsteps, found Alexei padding through the kitchen, naked but for a pair of very snug boxer briefs.
His body was remarkable, every inch toned and taut, from strong shoulders to flat abdomen to the hard lines of muscle that ran past his hips toward his . . . other apparent assets.
I glanced at Lulu, found pink on her cheeks and her gaze very focused on her food.
“As his grandfather liked to say,” Connor mused, “Alexei is . . . unburdened by humility.”
“I mean, if you look like that,” I murmured, “why would you be? You might be the third-prettiest boy in the Pack,” I whispered to Connor. I’d teased him before that one of Lulu’s exes, Riley Sixkiller, was in second place.
Connor flicked my arm. Which I probably deserved.
Lulu worked very hard not to notice, but her gaze followed as Alexei moved across the kitchen.
“Chinese take-out leftovers,” I said. “Help yourself.”
He looked across the spread, then back at us, gaze settling on Lulu. “What happened?” he asked, and there was no irritation in his voice now, and no teasing sarcasm. Just concern.
“I was dumped,” Lulu said, and she broke open a fortune cookie, spread the tiny paper between her fingers, read it. Then scoffed and tossed it into the pile with the others she’d pillaged. “But it’s fine. I’ll stuff myself with broccoli beef now, and we’re going to throw darts at his picture later.”
“No,” Alexei said and, without another word, walked out of the kitchen.
“Hmm,” was all Connor said. We waited in silence for the two minutes it took him to come down again.
He’d added jeans to his ensemble, carried a small black case. He walked to Lulu and, while she stared, set it on the table in front of her. Tapped it once.
Blinking, she opened it. The case spread into three sections, each holding a throwing knife of gleaming silver.
“I don’t have his picture,” Alexei said. “But these are more satisfying than darts. I’ll show you how to use them.”
Silence, then Lulu swallowed hard, nodded once.
When he turned to walk back to the kitchen, I took his hand as he passed. His eyes widened in surprise, darting down to the contact.
I almost pulled my hand away, afraid I’d insulted him or that physical contact just wasn’t his thing. But he squeezed my fingers, nodded, and headed for food.
* * *
* * *
Shifters and vampire made a decent dent, but Lulu and I would be eating leftovers for many nights to come. Or would, once we were able to go home again. And because there was no chance of that without dealing with the AAM, I called the meeting to order.
“Why did we need a meeting?” Lulu asked, rubbing her belly.
“Because your BFF,” Connor said, “offered to meet the AAM in forty-eight hours.”
Lulu stared at him for a minute, then turned her icy gaze to me. “She did what?”
I told her about the AAM showing up at Cadogan House, the threats Clive had made, and what I’d agreed to. She slugged me in the arm.
“What the hell,” I said, rubbing it and looking between them. “I’m pretty sure I don’t deserve that for being incredibly noble.”
“You should have told me,” Lulu said.
“Supernatural shenanigans,” I said with emphasis. “I was trying to protect you.”
Lulu rolled her eyes. “There are obvious exceptions to the no-shenanigans rule when my now rent-paying roommate is in danger.”
“So your interest is financial,” I muttered. “Maybe you shouldn’t have spent the difference on Chinese food.” I held up a hand to stop more argument. “We are under a literal deadline, so let’s skip the blame and get to the solution. Given the running from attacks and stalkers, I haven’t had a lot of time to brainstorm.”
And forty-eight hours would slip by quickly. Especially since I’d be unconscious for a good chunk of it.
“Do we get T-shirts like the OMB has?”
We all looked at Alexei.
“What?” I asked.
“Our team. We can call ourselves ‘Lace.’ L, A, C, E,” he said, pointing to Lulu, himself, Connor, and me in turn.
“Can we put ‘Sups against Fangs’ on the back?” Lulu asked.