Page 90 of Black Bird

“Fine … so do I take her to this thing, or not?”

“Get her in. Reserve something for me and Rhaena too, but don’t say anything to her about it. Understand?”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

They hung up and Athan couldn’t sit still. He walked next door and knocked on Rhaena’s apartment door. When no one answered, he knocked again … a bit more forcefully. Wren finally opened, her makeup running and her eyes puffy and red-rimmed.

“What’s up, Count Crapula?” She smirked, wiping her nose with a wadded-up tissue. He couldn’t help but smirk back at her jab.

“Can’t say I’ve ever heard that one. You look like shit.” He pocketed his hands. Wren opened the door and let him inside.

“Rhaena said she was going over to talk to you about it. I guess I don’t have to explain myself.” She shrugged.

“Are girl fights really that serious?” They looked at each other. “Nevermind. Don’t answer that.”

“Honestly … I’m not even really upset that she’s mad. I deserve that. I’m just—she’s gone, dude. The Sarah that I used to know? She wasn’t there when I looked at her. She was like a shell that looked like her but was nothing but frost on the inside. And the way she played it was just so unlike her. It was creepy as hell.”

Athan drew his brows. “What do you mean?”

“She frickin’ made homemade bread and sat on the floor, poured wine, and had communion. Even tossed forty cents at me and got in my face. I would have been fine admitting defeat and just having a conversation about this shit with Brent, but … it was just strange.”

“Listen, Wren … don’t think for one second that I’m sticking up for the guy. I’d like to rip his face off just for looking at her but—I don’t think he meant to out you.”

Wren leaned against the wall and crossed her arms. “Why do you think that? He’s a snake. He knows I hate him. It really didn’t shock me at all.”

“Did you know that Sarah called him yesterday?”

“… No, I didn’t. For what?”

“I called to make sure. Brent said she wanted him to get her into Stratford’s benefit for the children’s hospital. Honestly, I still don’t think the idiot knows why his daddy wants Sarah. I think she’s gonna do something stupid.”

Wren rolled her eyes and shook her head, turning her face up to the ceiling. “Christ … you know, for once … I’d like to imagine that the only thing I needed to worry about this weekend was my period.”

“Fuck me … really, Wren?” Athan snapped, shifting uncomfortably on his feet. She cackled behind her tissue.“Women …”He rubbed the back of his neck.

“So, you drink blood, but you can’t take it when somebody talks about it not coming from her neck?” She howled.

“I’m glad you find it amusing. Rhaena is definitely rubbing off on you.”

“Where is she?”

“One of the patrol officers called her about Sarah. She’s acting out at a strip club. Rhaena went to go shut it down before she gets arrested … or worse.”

Wren scoffed. “And you’re still here? I have to admit, I’m shocked.”

“I’m trying to stay on this case. After the newspapers, she’s right … as bad as I’m itching to go, if I lose my shit … I’ll lose the case and possibly this job.”

“What about the benefit?” Wren asked, narrowing her eyes.

“I think we’re on the same page, Vintorri.” He smirked.

Rhaena pulled up to the dodgy gentleman’s club on the southern edge of Boston. One of the rookies watching Sarah with Lieutenant Blakely was waiting for her at the door.

“Owner wants her thrown out. I told him you were on the way, but you better get in there before Blakely has to cuff her.”

“Thanks,” Rhaena barked, shoving past him and stepping into the smoke-filled club. It smelled like sweat, and smoke … booze and—fuck, how disgusting. Her dinner threatened to creep up her throat with her heightened senses. A thin, older gentleman in a cheap suit approached her with shaggy dark hair that was pulled back behind his head and a thick mustache that curled up on the ends. His neck revealed cogs and clocks tattooed on his skin.

Steampunk idiots. Wonderful.

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