Page 15 of Queens and Monsters

Emiliano turned to me. “The website says that the Green Lady is an exclusive jazz lounge with Kansas City jazz musicians and shows every day of the year.”

“And I thought the entire city shut down for Christmas Eve.”

Despite Emiliano’s information, my skin cooled as the surroundings around us changed. Gone were the shiny towers of the financial district. Decorated trees were replaced by generic tall streetlights. Windows were covered with paper from the inside while others were boarded shut.

“Are you sure this is safe?” I asked.

Emiliano chuckled. “Anyone who approaches us isn’t safe. You are safe.”

“I don’t know about this neighborhood.” I ran my palm over my arms.

“We’re not far from the Green Lady Lounge,” Emiliano said.

I reached for my sweatshirt and tugged it over the sparkly halter top, unsure if I wanted the attention the halter would provide. When I put it on, I was thinking ofthe two men in the car with me. Our change in scenery was making me reconsider.

Rei parked the car on the street in front of a tall building with a limestone facade.

Looking around, I expected large neon-lit signs, but there were none.

Rei opened my door and offered me his hand.

Sparks rekindled as I laid my palm in his much larger one. “Are you sure about this?” I asked.

“Not even a little bit.” His penetrating gaze scanned the street, searching for possible trouble.

“Stay close to me,” he said, speaking near my ear and holding tight to my hand. “If for any reason, I’m not with you, stay close to Em.”

My gaze went from one to the other. “Okay.” I let out a breath. “Let’s do this.”

The Green Lady Lounge was much smaller than I expected. Of course, Emerald Club was my only standard, and it was mammoth in comparison. A small red canopy over the door had the name of the club. Emiliano opened the glass door.

We were met with a sign saying there was a ten-dollar cover charge. Rei’s hand released mine and rested possessively in the small of my back.

I turned to him. “I didn’t bring money.”

“We have you covered.”

Em was the one who paid the cover, peeling bills from his money clip.

The walls inside were painted velvet red. Vintage oil paintings hung from the walls and a colorful variety of lamps, looking like something from a century ago, hungover a massive bar. It was as if we’d stepped back in time. Rei led me to an empty circular booth. I scooted in and each man sat on either side.

All the waiters were dressed in suits and ties and the waitresses in cocktail dresses.

A man with a saxophone was on the main stage beside a large organ and drum set. Music filled the air along with the din of patrons. The eclectic group of customers put my mind a little more at ease. It seemed there were people of all ages, races, and styles.

My sweatshirt felt out of place. Unzipping it, I tugged it off, revealing my halter. Rei’s jaw clenched. His concentrated stare scanned over my top with enough intensity to scorch my skin beneath. Each second his eyes roamed was the strike of a match, igniting synapse after synapse until my flesh peppered with goose bumps and my nipples hardened.

“You’re stunning,” Em said.

My gaze met Rei’s. “You don’t approve?”

“Just hadn’t planned on killing anyone tonight.”

“You’re joking, right?”

Rei and Em exchanged glances in a way that didn’t answer my question.

A blond man at the bar caught my attention. His light blue eyes stared in our direction and his smile seemed sinister, telling me that he was equally as dangerous as the men at my sides.

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