Page 127 of The Vigilante's Lover

The girl sets the drinks on the bar. “Hope you two will stick close by,” she says. “I could use the company.”

“We’ll try to come back around,” Colt says kindly and picks up his beers.

I take a sip of mine and grimace at the taste of cheap alcohol mixed in poor ratios. The downside of an open bar and a bartender who may not have been hired for her skills.

We mingle for a few minutes, chatting up other guests while keeping an eye on Parker, Benny, and Anatol. At one point Parker catches our eye and shoots Colt a pointed look at the extra beer.

“I guess I can’t put this off any longer,” Colt sighs. “Be quick, I don’t know how long we can keep Benny occupied before either of us punches him.”

Colt heads off like a dead man walking. I circle through the crowd, placing myself near Anatol without catching Benny’s eye. A woman with bottle-blond hair and poured into a sparkling black dress tries to engage me in conversation. From her speech and mannerisms, she’s obviously a small-town girl. Like Mia.

Mia. God, they better not get to her. I’ll kill them.

The girl pushes on my arm. “So what do you say?”

Hell, I haven’t been listening. Mia on the brain.

And elsewhere, I think, feeling that familiar tug in my groin.

The girl finally gives up, rolling her eyes and walking off. I turn just in time to see Colt and Parker leading Benny away from Anatol.

“Mr. Bronowski!” I call before someone else distracts him. “Anatol!”

Anatol turns to me and his face relaxes with recognition. “Ah, the newcomer. Get separated from your friends?”

“I didn’t want to intrude on their conversation with Benny,” I reply. “Besides, I was hoping to talk with you.”

“Yes, I recall, Mr.… I didn’t catch your last name.”

“De Luca,” I say. “Jax De Luca. How is Lukov doing?”

“His win-loss record speaks for itself,” he says.

I guide him to a quieter corner of the room. I pepper him with quick questions, playing up the fan angle while moving the conversation away from Lukov and toward his entourage.

“He has a sister, doesn’t he?” I finally ask.

“Jovana? Yes, sweet girl. Very devoted to Fly,” he replies.

I hide my bristling at the description of Jovana as “sweet.” Mia is sweet. Jovana is anything but. “So she’s here?”

“Oh, yes! But it’s hard for her now. That boyfriend of hers is very controlling.” He scowls.

Klaus and Jovana. My lack of jealousy pleases me, but I don’t for a second believe that Jovana has any feelings for Klaus. It would explain his turncoat actions, however.

Maybe Klaus is using her, too. Could he be working the double-agent angle? The bombs at the safe house were clearly designed to maim and kill, but Klaus would have known I could figure out that knot. And thus survive.

I need to talk to him, alone. I have to be sure.

“Will they be with Fly when he arrives?” I ask.

“Yes, probably. Why?”

“Colt and Parker would love to meet with Fly,” I say. “Probably really help his publicity along.”

Anatol’s interest in having his boy meet fighters at the level of Gunner and Power Play is clear on his face.

So I dash his hopes with an additional contingency. “But I’m worried about that boyfriend being along when they meet him.”