Page 7 of Midsummer Phoenixes

“I just wanted to know if they use real balsamic,” Man Bun said, sounding mildly despondent.

The other three groaned. Atkins turned to me. “That one? He’ll be having the chili cheese fries.”

“What?! No. I want salad!”

“Well, that’s too fucking bad then, isn’t it? Cheese fries, and I’m sorry about him. Idiot does yoga a minimum of three times a day and can’t stop talking about fiber. He juices kale, which really isn’t too bad, but then he also juices onion, and I have no words. I have no idea how that fucking happened.”

I was having a flashback to Valentin, Simeon, and Elias walking in here, but these four had a different vibe. Not different enough that I really doubted they were pawns.

“Would you maybe like a salad on the side? And we use real balsamic vinegar. Dressings’re all made fresh.”

“Aw, yes please,” Man Bun said with a beaming smile.

I took everyone’s order and asked Dwayne to make the salad big and the cheese fries small. After that, I collected dishes from tables three and nine and brought them back to the kitchen, then stopped on the staff-only side of the swing doors, taking a few steps back toward the storage room at the end of the hallway. I looked around and pulled out my phone to text Soyer.

Amory

Do you know an Atkins?

Soyer was fast, the three dots barely there.

Soyer

??Depends. Is he annoying you?

Amory

No, just came in with three other guys and weirdly introduced himself. Then ordered fries for a guy who wanted salad.

Soyer

??Yeah, that’s Atkins. And his nephew, who’s a bit of an oddball.

Amory

You know them all? Are they pawns??

Soyer

Yes

Soyer sent, and that was it.

Amory

??

Soyer

I answered.

I rolled my eyes at the screen and clamped my mouth shut to keep my groan in.

Amory

But what are they?

Soyer