Page 37 of The Thief

His long hair curtained the left side of his face. “Quit finding ways to spend my money. That’s what you can do.”

“Bear’s gonna have that kitchen sparkling by the time he’s through. We need to get on the ball and look for a restaurant-supply store, but what are your thoughts on food distributors? That’s not my area of expertise.”

“You coulda fooled me. I thought everything was your area of expertise.”

Calvin brayed like a mule, but if he was going along with my suggestions, it proved he was ready for change. I sure wasn’t forcing him. He could have thrown me out on day one, but he hadn’t. He could have put his foot down when I suggested a jukebox, but he hadn’t. And part of that might’ve had to do with our receipts. Based on the daily average I’d seen in his books, his business was already picking up in the short time I’d been here. Making the Rabbit Lounge a success was gradually becoming an obsession.

I watched Calvin dry his hands. “If you hired another employee, you could take a day off once a week.”

“Honey, if I had a day off, I wouldn’t know what the hell to do with myself.”

“You do nothing. That’s the point of having a day off.”

When the main door opened, a slash of light pulled my attention to the customer walking in, his silver hair blowing behind his shoulders, his piercing eyes boring into mine.

No, no. This can’t be happening.

I wasn’t afraid of Argento getting violent in a busy bar, and I certainly had no intention of taking this outside. But I wanted Bear here for moral support.

Instead of approaching the bar, the Mage turned his back to me and sat at one of the tall tables by the entrance. They each seated six, and on slow days, almost no one sat at them.

“I’ll take care of him,” I said to Calvin. “Can you watch us?”

“Do you know him?”

“I need a fifteen-minute break.”

“You just had one.”

“Good lord, Calvin. What did you ever do without me?”

He rolled his eyes and flipped a rag over his shoulder. “Go on. Take your break. Again.”

After dusting off my apron, I headed over to Argento’s table.

“I would like a bourbon,” he said.

I hopped onto the chair across from him. “If you’re thirsty, you can go outside and drink from the hose for all I care. The only thing I want to know is who you are and why you’re stalking me.”

“Again with the games,” he remarked in his thick accent.

“You’re the one playin’ games. I recently discovered my memory was erased by a Vampire, so that’s why you need to be crystal clear about what you want from me. Otherwise, I’m gonna have to ask you to leave.”

When he clenched his fists, the leather gloves creaked. “You killed my progeny.”

Ah. So that solves the mystery.

“He attacked me.”

Argento’s attention lingered on the pants hanging by the door. “I have been searching for you for many years. You deceived me by booking a flight to Europe. That is when I knew you stole it for yourself. But I never stopped searching. Your banker was known in many circles, and when I heard he was doing business with you, I sent my Learner to confirm and bring you back.”

“Back to what? You?”

Please tell me I wasn’t married to this guy. I refuse to believe it.

“Instead of receiving a call from my progeny, the Mageri informs me that my Learner succumbed to a Chitah bite. How mysterious that a Chitah would murder him and yet take the time to seal the bite. After looking at the evidence, I saw a Vespa registered in your name. You were foolish not to use your alias.” Argento casually threaded his hair away from his eyes, his gaze volcanic. “Your banker refused to speak to me.”

“How did you know to find me here?”

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