Page 115 of A Quick Buck

“I assumed you wouldn’t want to wait to conduct your little investigation.” Alistair winked.

Noah had a smartass comment all lined up, but the door opened before he could say it.

Probably for the best.

The young man that walked in was wearing a black silk robe, fishnets, and black stiletto heels. He was thin, painfully beautiful, and his long purple hair was pulled up into an elaborate bun except for two streaks of silver at the front that were left hanging to frame his face. His eyes were painted with black and silver, his lips bright red like all the neons of the club, and he smiled without showing his teeth.

“Ah, Odie.” Alistair set down his glass and stood to greet him. “Thank you for coming so quickly. I appreciate it.”

“Oh, well, when the boss calls, I drop everything,” Odie purred with syrupy sweetness.

“Thank you.” Alistair turned, gesturing for Noah to stand up. “I want you to meet someone. He’s my guest for the evening. This is Noah All—”

“Noah Allan.” Odie’s sweetness vanished. “Oh, I know him.”

Chapter 16

Noah blinked. “You do?”

“He’s Patrick’s nephew.” Odie leered viciously. “He’s a spoiled rotten lazy brat who really likes his Captain Morgan spiced rum and not apologizing to anyone ever, even after he throws up on them.”

“Huh. I guess he does know me.”

Alistair snorted.

“And when did we meet, exactly?” Noah pressed, trying to place Odie’s face.

To be sure he would have remembered meeting someone so beautiful.

“Ha!” Odie sneered. “You don’t remember? Guess you really did drink the whole bar that night, huh?”

Andbitchy.

“Easy now,” Alistair soothed, his voice carrying a warning.

Odie’s sweet smile fell back into place immediately. “We met a few weeks ago at Nocturnis Spirits and Wine, just a few blocks from here. He was buying shots, we drank the shots, then he puked them up all over me.”

Noah only vaguely recalled that evening. He’d just gotten his allowance for the month, so he’d had money to spend. Drinking himself into oblivion wasn’t unusual.

“He never even apologized,” Odie went on, a hint of his earlier distaste resurfacing. “His little friend did, though. That’s how I found out who he was.”

“Friend?” Noah asked.

“Landon something. Short, glasses?”

Noah didn’t remember Landon being there. Then again, he didn’t remember fuck all about that night. Landon was like a little puppy, so it made sense he would have been there too.

“What a small world,” Alistair said.

The door opened and Junior walked in, bottle of wine and an empty glass in hand. His face lit up when he saw Odie, but he spoke to Alistair first. “Got your wine, Mr. Star.”

“Thank you, Junior.” Alistair waved for Junior to set down the glass and took the wine to pour it. He refilled his own glass and the new one, offering it out to Noah when he was done.

“Thanks.” Noah resisted the urge to chug.

“Hey, Odie,” Junior said quietly. He was rubbing his hands together and smiling stupidly.

“Hi.” Odie flashed him a dazzling smile, but it vanished in a blink.