Page 39

CELINE

“ Y ou want to go back to the club? The one where a woman was supposedly kidnapped and killed?” Ava waves her ceramic mug at me with a deadpan stare. “You who doesn’t even enjoy clubbing?”

It’s the weekend and I invited her over to the apartment to hang out. Things with Spencer haven’t been going well since she’s not positive what she wants to do. Spencer hasn’t committed to the new job yet either, but I can tell they’ve both made up their minds and just don’t want to say it.

“I’m not going there to have a good time.” I wrap my fingers around my own mug. “I’m going to check things out.” I give a small shrug. “I’m still fighting a nagging feeling something’s up with that place.” I implore her with my eyes to indulge me. I need her help. The more eyes the better.

“If you’re doing that, I’m coming this time!” Zavier shouts from the bedroom.

I roll my eyes, and Ava hides a chuckle behind her sip of coffee.

He refused to leave the apartment when Ava came over, but he compromised by staying in his bedroom with the door shut for “privacy.” Load of shit if you ask me now that I know vampires have strong hearing, but Ava’s none the wiser so that’s what really matters.

“If you’re coming”—I call back, raising my voice even though it’s unnecessary— “then that means you need to help me. That means eyes open and ears listening.”

“Not a problem, dear,” he sing-songs through the door.

“I’m always down for some sleuthing.” Her frame droops a little and her rose gold hair shields her face from my view. “It’s over with Spencer and me.”

I shake my head, jolted by the sudden change in topic. “What?” I blurt, reaching over to place my hand over hers.

Ava sniffles and smiles through watery eyes.

“It was a mutual decision. Heartbreaking but mature all the same. I’ll always love him, and I wish nothing but the best for him but we both wanted different things and couldn’t get past it.

I didn’t want to hold him back, but I also didn’t want to leave my life behind, you know? ”

“Aw, I’m so sorry, Aves.”

Her sweet perfume hits me when I pull her in for a hug. I’m not a huge hugger but she is, and I know she needs it right now.

“I should’ve put a shot of vodka in our coffee,” I throw out, and I’m rewarded with a laugh. “Not too late for it.” Inching toward the refrigerator I pull out the bottle and she nods.

I startle when Ava suddenly shouts. “Zavier get your fine ass out here!”

He appears before us in a tumble of crimson hair. Rocking a black hoodie and somehow making it sexy as hell he holds Midnight stretched across his shoulders. The cat looks perfectly content, yet when he makes eye contact with me, he hisses. Still no progress there for me.

“You rang for me and my emotional support pussy?” He strokes Midnight’s tail like an evil villain waiting expectantly in their chair.

“You, me, Celine, the club. Be there or be square.”

She holds up a finger as she names each thing and ends with a palm in the air. Zav slaps it with no questions asked.

These two together are trouble.

“All right let’s go. Nobody misbehave please, this is a perfectly legal observation, and it’ll stay that way.”

I glance pointedly at Zavier, and he holds his hands up in surrender before answering.

He pouts and adjusts his glasses where they’ve slid down his nose. “Now when have I ever misbehaved?”

Music pulses through the large space and I’m hit with déjà vu sitting in a booth with Ava in Vex. This time is different, though, because we have a particular redhead with us who glances around and takes everything in with sparkling inquisitive eyes.

“I can’t believe we’re back here.” I try to ignore the heat of Zavier’s palm where it rests on my thigh under the table. The man insists on being glued to my side at all times.

“Believe it,” Ava responds mid crunch. “Funny enough, we’re here for the same reason as the first, which is not in fact to have fun, but to scout out the scene.” She gives me a pointed look which I stick my tongue out at.

I laugh sheepishly. “Sorry.”

Ava wags a finger at me. “Don’t apologize. We both know you’re not one bit sorry.”

“Speaking of, we’re not going to find out anything just sitting here.

” Zavier nudges me out of the booth and hops out with a flourish.

“Will you do me the honor of a dance?” He holds out a hand like we’re at a regal ball and not a nightclub and tops it off with a wink.

“We can check things out inconspicuously that way.”

He offers me his hand, and I slide mine onto it. Pointing at Ava before Zav can pull me away, I say, “Why don’t you hang out at the bar and see if you can glean anything from the bartenders?”

She picks up her drink and slides out of the booth. “You got it, boss.”

Zav weaves us through the throng of bodies to not quite the edge of the dancefloor and pulls me in tight.

I gasp at the feel of being pressed so firmly against him.

My eyes flick up to his. I know I’m here for investigative purposes and can’t afford to get distracted, but I can’t help it the way lust shoots through me.

I’ve always wished a man would look at me the way he does.

He might not have told me he loves me, but there’s no mistaking the emotion reflected in his eyes behind his glasses.

Brushing my ponytail off my neck he blows lightly on the delicate skin raising goosebumps in his wake. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. He turns me around and my back fits effortlessly to his front as our bodies move to the music.

Realization trickles through me and I gasp, flipping back around to face him. “You fucker!” I yell over the music. Spinning around to face him, he simply grins in response, knowing exactly what I’m going to say. “It was you!”

“What was me?” He plays dumb like he loves to do.

“My sexy stranger from the club that night.”

How long has he been lurking around? How could I have been so blind?

“You think I’m sexy?” His long eyelashes bat at me.

“I know you like to stalk me, but exactly how long have you been watching?” I inquire, poking his chest as his hands drift down my body, settling low on my waist.

“I can’t hear you over the music!” Zavier points to his ears.

“You liar! Of course you can hear me!” I purse my lips at him, and he grabs my hand, twirling my body into his and holding me tightly.

I’ll let it go. For now.

“You’re thinking too much. Just feel the music with me. And look around ,” he reminds me. “Don’t forget why we’re here.”

I hate that I got so distracted by him that I forgot the whole reason I had asked to come here in the first place.

I spot Ava at the bar, where she chats with the bartender. When her gaze flits my way, I see the hurt in her eyes. I wish I could wave a magic wand and make this whole situation with Spencer better for her, but I just have to hope the saying of time healing all wounds applies here too.

“Move me more this way,” I tell Zav, trying to nod as discreetly as possible to the door that I believe leads to something of interest. The guard by the door pays us little attention, his gaze skipping over us as he scans the crowd.

He does as I say, but it does no good. No one is coming or going, and the door remains firmly shut.

“I think tonight was a waste of time,” I admit, feeling a bit beaten down by that fact.

It’s driving me insane that I can’t get answers when it comes to this place.

“I hope you don’t think I’m a waste of time,” Zav laughs softly.

He swipes a hand through his hair and my knees go a little weak at the action. I want this man, and I want him bad.

“Never.” I press a kiss to his cheek before we claim a table.

“Anything?” Ava asks as she joins us, sliding a much-needed glass of water in front of me.

“No,” I admit, biting my lip. “No one went in or left.” I angle my head toward the door that remains guarded.

Ava frowns. “Maybe there’s nothing funny going on here after all?” she suggests with a lifted brow.

I feel the weight of Zav’s gaze. “You still think there’s something going on here?”

“I do,” I admit. “It just … it’s a feeling.”

I push away from the table. “All right, guys, I’m going to the restroom so don’t do anything too crazy while I’m gone.” I point a finger in warning at each of them. Ava and Zav are not to be trusted left to their own devices.

Slipping out of the booth, I make a beeline for the restroom because I do genuinely have to pee. Narrowly avoiding a puddle of vomit in the hall I blessedly find one open stall.

Quickly doing my business, I hover in the stall for a second, waiting for the girls at the mirrors to vacate the premises.

Thankfully they don’t take too long, so I wash my hands in record time. Spinning on my heel, I’m just about to head back to the table when I hear something from above that makes me stop. Voices come from the vent on the ceiling right above my sink.

I remember Ava mentioning that the first time we were here and try to drown out everything else except for the voices. One in particular has me standing in shock. A voice that sounds oddly familiar.

It sounds like ... but it can’t be.

It’s difficult to listen since it’s not crystal clear through the vent. I tuck my hair behind my ear like that’ll help and close my eyes.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” The female sounds pissed. “It’s like I have to do everything myself.”

“I’m sorry.” A panicky male responds.

“How are you this incompetent?”

He mumbles something in response, and I can’t quite make it out, but the yelling definitely helps with understanding her.

“Enough! You’re going to give me a headache which is saying something.” Her tone brooks no argument. “Get your shit together. You won’t like what happens if you don’t.”

I stand around a little longer after that, but don’t hear anything else.

What the fuck was that?

Something odd is most definitely going on with this club and I’m not just crazy.

That conversation proves it, because I swear the female voice I just heard was Genevieve’s.