the cushions. Then he faced us again. “No mushy stuff when I’m in the same room.”
“We’ll take it into Dulcie’s bedroom,” Knight said and I felt like slapping him. “Lead the way.”
Not having much choice, I headed for my room, Knight on my tail. I closed the door behind us, propping my hands on my hips. “That was totally uncalled for.”
“Have to keep up appearances, right? And, by the way, I thought I was your cousin?”
I scowled. “I forgot how you said you knew me.” I shook my head as Knight took a seat on my bed. “None of that matters right now.” He smiled up at me. “And what does matter, Dulce?” “Stop flirting with me.” He chuckled. “Go on.” “Both the gremlins that were watching me are dead.” He wore his surprise. “What killed them?”
“I think it was the Kragengen. It came after me when I was in the woods earlier.” He nodded and was quiet for a second. “Someone ordered it to come after you.” “That’s what Quillan said.” He pulled his attention to me at the mention of Quillan. “Did you tell him anything about…” I shook my head and paced the room. “No, I didn’t tell him anything. He thinks you’re an old boyfriend of mine.” Knight smiled, nodding. “Okay, good. Dinner and we head to Dagan’s?” “Yeah, but what about Trey?”
Knight shook his head. “He can’t come with us. Relations Office orders that no one else is to be involved. It’s bad enough Sam got involved.” “I can’t leave Trey here alone. Not after what the creature did to the gremlins and tried to do to me. He comes with us.” His lips were tight. “No.” My lips were tighter. “Yes.” “I can pull rank on you, Dulce.” “Don’t call me Dulce. My name is Dulcie and I don’t care what you pull on me. I’m not leaving Trey alone here.” “Then he can stay in the car.” Okay, we were getting somewhere. “I have a better idea.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Which is?”
“I have some business with Bram. We go there first, leave Trey with Bram then go to Dagan’s and question him about the shape-shifter. After Dagan’s, you and Trey can have a drink while I take care of my business with Bram.” “What’s the nature of this business with the vampire?” “It’s personal.” Knight narrowed his eyes. “Are you dating him too?” “That’s none of your or anybody’s business.” “Fine.” His eyes narrowed. “I’m staying with you and Trey until all this boils over.” My mouth dropped open. “To hell you are.”
“You aren’t safe now. The creature has clearly made it known it’s after you. I’m making it my responsibility to see that you’re okay.”
“I don’t have room for you. The couch is taken in case you didn’t notice the hobgoblin in my living room.”
He smiled, long and languid. “Then I guess I’ll be in here with you.”
TWELVE
“So, why are we going to Bram’s, Dulce?” Trey asked as he leaned over the driver’s seat and breathed heavily down my neck.
“Are you buckled in?” I asked. “The last thing I want is a ticket for your sorry ass not being buckled.”
Knight chuckled. Trey resumed his position of breathing down my neck-a smell that oddly reminded me of the Alpo I’d been feeding the gremlins.
“Are we going drinking?” Trey started in again. “I haven’t been out partying for a long time…this is going to be so cool. You know, Dulce, you and me have never been out together.”
More sweltering breath on my neck. I came to a red light and tested the brakes. I glanced back at Trey in the rear view mirror and watched him knock his head against the back of my seat.
“Jeez, watch your driving,” he said, rubbing his forehead.
“No, we aren’t going partying. I have some business I need to take care of, and Bram is going to take care of you.”
I caught Trey’s grimace in the rear view mirror. His shoulders sagged, and his bottom lip stuck out like he was about to cry. “I don’t need Bram to babysit me.”
“Yes, you do.” I said. Not wanting a forty year old hobgoblin crying in my back seat, I softened my tone. “Just do me a favor, and don’t argue with me. Angela will keep you company. You can stare at her boobs all night.”
Trey started to deny the fact that he was a fan of Angela’s boobs, but at Knight’s chuckle, I guess he thought he’d take the manly way out. A smirk replaced the grimace on his lips.
Trey nodded to Knight. “They’re nice, man.”
“Holy Hades,” I said. “Can we change the subject please?”
The light went green, and I accelerated again. No Regrets was just at the end of the street-the fluorescent sign promising separation from Trey soon enough. And giving the slip to the albatross around my neck was as appealing as a slurpee on a super hot day.
I threw a wave to Nick as I pulled into the lot behind No Regrets. Putting the Wrangler into park, I faced Trey who was beaming like a kid at the gates to Disneyland.
“Trey, hang out at the bar with either Bram or Angela all night. Make like your ass is stapled to the chair and wait for us to get back, okay?”
He bobbed his head but there was a day-dreamy gaze in his eyes, and I would’ve bet money he’d paid absolutely no attention to me. “Yeah, yeah,” he said, waving his hand in dismissal. Then he seemed to glom onto the fact that I hadn’t included Knight in the Angela-babysitting-Trey paradigm. “Hey, why does Todd get to go with you?”
Knight gave me a quick discouraging glance, as if I were such a moron I couldn’t remember I’d been sworn to secrecy. “Don’t worry about that,” I said and glared at Knight.
I opened the door and hopped down, my spine tight with anger. Dropping my attention to my jeans and tank top, I sighed as I thought of the horrible getup I’d have to invent for myself prior to going to Dagan’s. I didn’t want to give Trey even the slightest inkling that we were headed to Dagan’s, so I’d have to use my magic to dress Knight and myself up later.
I started forward with Trey and Knight on my heels. Bram met us at the back door, giving me a lascivious smile. This was going to be a long night. “Sweet, looking lovely as always.” A snide response buried itself on my tongue when I remembered Bram was doing me a favor. “Hi, Bram, thanks for watching Trey. I appreciate it.”
Bram didn’t show his surprise at the first friendly words I’d ever said to him. Instead, he inclined his head toward Trey in greeting. His eyes narrowed when they fell on Knight. “And who is this?” he asked with all the pretense of propriety but anyone with half a brain would realize he was less than thrilled to make Knight’s acquaintance. Men of the Netherworld were a macho bunch.
Knight extended his hand. “Todd, an old friend of Dulce’s.”
Bram pasted on a grin that was as fake as a politician’s and shook Knight’s extended hand. Even though his lips were smiling, his eyes held a warning. Knight’s eyes echoed the sentiment.
Bram stepped aside for us as he opened the door. I lingered near Bram as Knight and Trey walked inside. Knight gave me a quizzical look, as though wondering why I wasn’t following them. I ignored him, needing some private time with Bram. “Todd, can you take Trey to the bar? You can put drinks on my tab. Angela’s cool with it. And don’t worry, I won’t be gone long.”
“And where are you going, Sweet?” Bram asked as he pulled the door shut behind him and locked it. The Notorious BIG’s “Hypnotize” launched me into a drunken flashback to college.
“To Dagan’s to talk to him about the creature that killed Fabian,” I paused. “You don’t happen to know anymore about that, do you?” Might as well try.
Bram shook his head, throwing me another smile laced with desire, and the promise of pleasure. I frowned.
He dropped the smile. “I know nothing, Sweet.”
Knight gave me a questioning glance as Trey droned on about how the French judge a perfect breast by using a champagne glass. I breathed a sigh of relief as they disappeared around the corner. I turned back to Bram. “I’m looking for a woman…” Bram chuckled. “Aren’t we all, Sweet?” “Ha ha. She’s tall with long red hair. Ring any bells?”
Bram tapped his slender fingers against his chin, patronizing me. “No tall redheads have come to the club lately that I can think of. I will ask around for you though.”
He smiled again, and I knew something I didn’t want to hear was about to come out of his mouth. “Have you
