“No ‘buts.’ You took on the Queen. This capricious ruler who never wants to get involved has agreed to share information with you.”
He slashed his hand through the air like “enough.” “She was concerned about my threat to cut the place off.”
“Please. The simplest response would have been to behead you or stick you in her Garden of People. She could have done away with both of us with no one the wiser. She agreed because in her eyes you’re a worthy player on the gameboard. If the Queen believes that, the Untainted Party doesn’t stand a chance.”
“You aren’t onboard with my beheading?”
“Only forty-five percent of me. You still have your uses.” I blinked innocently at him. “In that you now sign my paycheck. All joking aside? Don’t let your father win. You were a little kid and Isaac physically abused you. That didn’t make you weak or helpless. You survived and instead of repeating the cycle, you’re so incredibly compassionate.” I placed my hand on my loudly growling stomach. “Whoops. Sorry.”
“Do you want to eat something?” Was he asking me out or was he planning on ordering take-out and feeding his employee after their debrief? “Why don’t you and Mrs. Hudson come over and I’ll feed both of you?”
It might have been a perfectly innocent offer, but Levi’s house was tangled up in memories of incredible sex. That was great. I could handle sex, I just wasn’t certain about blurring it with dinner before I’d figured shit out about us.
“I’m beat and the pug needs a walk. I’ll grab something on the way home.”
“You’re sure?”
No. I’m not. Which is why I’m going home while I have the willpower to do so. I averted my gaze from his mesmerizing blue eyes, busying myself standing up without waking the puppy.
“Rain check.” I did a double take at the book sitting on his desk. The Hound of the Baskervilles. “You’re reading Sherlock? I knew your knowledge was only Wiki deep.”
“Wow. I’m trying and all I get is grief.”
“That might be kind of very sweet.”
“I’ve got your back.” Levi brushed his lips over mine.
That wasn’t in question. But he also had my trust, my respect, and my friendship. Now he was reading Sherlock because it was important to me. Levi Montefiore, who had no free time to speak of and who had been the bane of my existence during our youth, was reading a book simply because I liked it. So many things were different between us and I was constantly wondering where I stood. Life had been so much easier when we couldn’t stand each other.
Chapter 11
Let it never be said that it took Ashira Cohen more than one pee-fest on her floor to learn her lesson. I bolted awake on Thursday morning as soon as the puppy did, hustling to shove my feet into boots, clip a leash onto her collar, and get her outside to do her business.
At least it wasn’t raining. I hopped from foot to foot to stay warm, my breath misting the cool April air, and the jolt of adrenaline from my rude awakening amping the curl of anxiety tingling through me.
Today was the first official meeting of Team Jezebel. I wasn’t worried about Rafael meeting Priya or Arkady, but Levi had insisted on being present, and the ways those two could dislike each other were legion. Who had more authority, who had more of a claim on me, whose reaction was the most valid should I suddenly give in to my cravings and fall upon Rafael’s magic like an eight ball of cocaine?
There was also a part of me that worried Rafael had washed his hands of me altogether.
My stomach was almost too knotted up to guzzle down the coffee that Priya shoved into my hand when the pug and I got inside. It turned out the gesture wasn’t all that altruistic. She decided it gave her leave to lounge on my bed as I tore through my closet deciding what to wear.
I scowled at her ivory tunic and matching leggings. She looked like a soccer mom.
“Who exactly are you trying to impress?” Priya said, scratching Mrs. Hudson’s tummy. “Because your window with me shut a long time ago, Levi’s already onboard, Arkady barely tolerates your authority so the effort is wasted on him, and your Attendant seems more resigned than excited about this gig.”
I sniffed a blue sweater, grimaced, and pitched it into the corner. “As the Jezebel on the team, I feel it’s up to me to set the correct tone.”
“Which is what?”
“I. Don’t. Know.” I tossed my leather pants on the bed and paired it with a long sleeved T-shirt. Black and blacker.
“Maybe I should lend you some pink,” Priya said. “Infuse some optimism into the cynical disdain currently projected.”
“This is why I’ve done shit on my own and not in a group.”
“Because of the color-coordinated outfits? Isn’t it your general dislike of all mankind?”
“That too.” I pushed her off my bed. “Let me get dressed.”
My nerves hadn’t abated by the time we reached the office. I juggled the dog’s leash and three take-out boxes from Muffin Top containing a variety of baked goods and grabbed the door handle. Priya had the box of coffee that I’d purchased at Starbucks, along with a bag of creamers and a box of sugar cubes.
Eleanor poked her head out when we entered the reception area. “Is this Mrs. Hudson?” She crouched down and tentatively extended one hand to the pug, a large latte cup with the dregs of foam around the edges, and Muffin Top’s new logo on it, in the other.
I dropped the leash and the puppy trundled over to her.
“I’m more of a cat person,” Eleanor said, giving the pug a half-hearted pat. Shocker.
“I’m more of a cactus person,” I said.
Eleanor frowned. “But you got a dog?”
“She’s not—”
Priya cut off the rest of my sentence with a sharp boff across my head. “Ash
