Page 53 of TBR: Dead But Well Read

I gave up my fuzzy socks for a pair of black strappy heels and replaced my lop-sided, messy-hair-don’t-care bun for dark curls that fell halfway down my back. My makeup skills veered more toward a birthday party clown, so I opted for a simple smokey-eye and a crimson lip. I needed to blend in, not stand out.

Satisfied I’d done the best I could, I headed toward the front door of the club. The bouncer blocking the door gave me the once-over from head to toe, licked his protruding tusks, and let me inside without a word.

Stepping into the dark interior, I blew out a relieved sigh. The first part of my mission was complete. I’d made it to the UnderGrave with time to spare before the meeting.

Next, I needed to make my way around the club and see if I could spot Zacharias. Discreetly, of course.

There was a circular bar area set up in the middle of the room, and deciding that would be the best place to scope out the place, I made my way over and slid onto a bar stool. Sitting down in my dress was a challenge I hadn’t anticipated, and the slits in the side showed a lot more thigh than I was comfortable with.

Maybe I should imagine some glue and stick the skirt to my thighs. I was a ghost who conjured clothes out of thin air. Getting those clothes to stay in place seemed like something I should be able to figure out.

A warm hand pressed against my lower back. “Hey… sexy. I’m buying. Whatcha drinking?” the owner of the hand slurred.

I squinted, trying to figure out what type of paranormal he was since he could see me and touch me. Although I suspectedthe reason Wasabi had been able to touch me was due to the massive energy dump Saul had poured into me.

“No need. I like to buy my own drinks.” I scooted forward in my seat, staring straight ahead and hoping he would get the hint.

“Don’t be like that, sweetie.” His breath stank of liquor and tooth decay, and I nearly gagged as he leaned in closer. “Just because your date didn’t show up, doesn’t mean you have to be nasty to all guys. I’ll watch out for you.”

This was exactly why I hadn’t gone out when I’d been alive. And apparently, being dead didn’t exempt you from being hit on either.

“Mister, you’re wasting your time. I’m here for theboo-ze, not the boys.” Angling my body away from him, I hoped he would finally get the hint.

“That’s just because you haven’t given me a chance. Let’s go to the booth in the corner over there and get to know each other.” He wiggled his eyebrows when he said the wordknow, leaving me with zero doubts about his intentions.

Before I could tell him to go take a long bubble bath in a witch’s cauldron, his clammy fingers curled around my elbow. With a hard jerk, he yanked me forward, causing both the stool and me to topple sideways.

It happened so fast that I forgot I could simply have floated away. Instead, I braced for an impact that didn’t come.

An arm circled my waist, catching me mid-air and pulling me back against a hard chest. My rescuer gripped the creepy dude’s elbow, and an instant later, there were two sickening cracks and the man dropped to his knees.

“When a lady tells you no, listen the first time.” My rescuer’s voice was eerily calm.

It was the kind of calm that had warning bells clanging in my mind, telling me I was in peril. But I didn’t need the alarm. I’dknown I was in danger from the moment the newcomer touched me.

Saul.

The last person I wanted to deal with at that moment.

“What’s your problem, man? There are plenty of great tits here tonight. I saw this one first.” The guy on the floor shrieked up at Saul. If he’d been sober, I doubted he would’ve been so bold. “I think you broke my arm!”

He’d reduced me to a pair of boobs and tried to call dibs? Oh no, he didn’t!

I tried to free myself from Saul’s hold. “Let go of me!” I hissed. “I’m going to go ghost and bust his?—”

Saul’s arm might as well have been made from granite because it wasn’t moving. Ignoring my futile efforts to escape his hold, the reaper focused his full attention on the man who’d staggered to his feet and swayed unsteadily in front of us.

“You’re wrong. I broke your arm in two places.” With the speed of a striking viper, Saul’s fingers wrapped around the man’s uninjured arm. There was another sharp crack, and the man roared in pain. “And now you have two broken arms. Since your arms are out of commission, it looks like you’re going to be celibate for a while. Use that time to think about how you treat women. You should appreciate the mercy I’ve shown you.”

“All this because of her?” the man wailed, his face turning a mottled maroon from either pain or rage… or maybe a mix of both.

Shadows leaked out from around Saul as he tucked me against his left side and stepped forward. Before the man could blink, Saul’s right hand gripped his throat. The guy had to weigh well over two hundred pounds, but Saul lifted him as though he weighed nothing.

This time when Saul spoke, his voice had lost its polished elegance and raw malevolence seeped from every word.“Remember this warning. Death will come for you if you so much as look at her again. And I won’t be merciful the next time we meet.”

Saul dropped the man to the floor as though he were a sack of potatoes. Then, giving me a slight bow, he offered me his arm and led me away from the man who lay broken and cursing on the floor.

As soon as we were away from the man and the small crowd of spectators who thought they were getting drinks and a show, I tried to pull away.

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