"I can't do this, Tabitha."
Tabitha paused on the front steps to look at him. There was a catch in his voice that told her this wasn't him being ridiculous.
She actually felt a wave of fear go through him.
"It'll be okay. Five minutes. That's it."
"And if I cause Marla to be hurt?"
"I'll be right there. Nothing bad is going to happen. Trust me."
He nodded, but she felt his reluctance as she tugged him toward the taxi she'd left waiting for them. Getting in, she gave directions to the driver to the Cha Cha Club on Canal Street.
It barely took them fifteen minutes to get there. Tabitha paid for the cab while Valerius stood on the sidewalk looking like he was ready to bolt, especially since some of the club's clientele had already taken notice of him.
"Don't worry," Tabitha said as she joined him. "They really won't bother you."
Valerius couldn't believe he was doing this. He must have lost his mind.
Tabitha took his hand and led him through the bright pink double doors.
"Hey, Tabby," a bouncer at the door called. He was large and muscular, wearing a sleeveless T-shirt. His dark brown hair was cut short and he had a Celtic band tattooed around his exposed biceps. At first glance he appeared intimidating, but his open, honest smile stole the ferocity from him.
Tabitha pulled out her wallet to pay their cover charge. "Hi, Sam. We're here to help out Marla. Is she in the back?"
"Put that away," Sam said, pushing her wallet back toward her. "You know your money's no good here. Yes, Marla's in back and please go help her. My boyfriend's about to lose his mind because she won't stop crying."
Tabitha winked at him. "Don't worry. The cavalry's here."
Valerius took a deep breath as he followed Tabitha into what had to be the scariest place he'd ever been. Personally, he'd rather walk straight into a nest of Daimons who were armed with chainsaws and guillotines.
But by the time they reached the bright yellow door beside the stage, he felt a little better. Though many of the men in the club stopped to gawk at him, none of them made a move toward him.
"Don't worry," Tabitha said as he walked past her. "I've got your flank covered."
Valerius jumped as she pinched his butt playfully. "Please don't give them ideas."
She laughed at that.
They walked through a crowd of people who were in the process of applying makeup, wigs, and elaborate dresses. Marla sat in a back corner, wailing while another man flitted around her, complaining. Her bald head was covered by a pink net turban and her makeup was completely wrecked.
"You're ruining all my hard work, honey. You have to stop crying or I'll never get it fixed in time."
"What does it matter? I'm going to lose. Damn you, Anthony! All men are pigs. Pigs! I can't believe he'd sell me out."
Valerius felt bad for Marla. It was obvious this pageant meant a lot to her.
"Hey, babe," Tabitha said. "Buck up. We got something a lot better than old Tone. In fact, both he and Mink will die when you step out with this by your side." She pushed Valerius forward.
"Hi, Marla," he said simply, feeling like a complete and utter jackass.
Marla's jaw dropped. "You're going to do this for me?"
He glanced over his shoulder to see Tabitha watching him closely. There was actually fear in her eyes that he might back out.
God knows, he truly wanted to.
He really, really didn't want to go through with this. But Valerius Magnus was tougher than this. He had never run in his life and he would do this favor for Tabitha no matter how distasteful it might be to him.