Page 39 of Claws and Feathers

Kate’s voice was slurred as she dragged them back to the table. She plopped down onto James’ lap and wrapped her arm around his neck. There was already a new round of shots waiting.

Abby glanced at Cooper as they both reached for a glass. A mischievous smile passed between them.

Bottoms up.

“Spice Girls! Spice Girls!”

They were all piled onto the dance floor, sweating and drunk as shit, and the girls were chanting for the absolute worst song in the history of music. The cover band, however, met their demands with enthusiasm and began to play the God-awful ‘Wannabe’.

Kate and Abby jumped up and down, clapping and screaming, as only two drunk twenty-somethings could. James slapped Cooper on the back with a laugh, the only sober member of their group, and Cooper shook his head in disappointment. “How many more shots would it take for me to black out right at this moment?”

Kate glided backwards until she was pressed up against James’ chest, and began to move suggestively. James wrapped his arms around her middle, moving right along with her. He turned briefly to Cooper. “Not sure, man, but if this is what the Spice Girls can do, I’m here for it.”

Cooper was semi-happy for the new development between his partner and his sister, but he was also sort of grossed out, so he stumbled towards Abby. She was still waving her arms in the air with wild abandon while singing along to the wretched song. Before he reached her, the king of all assholes got to her first.

Henry grabbed her arms and shouted over the music. “You’re the new girl, aren’t you?”

Abby nodded emphatically. “Yep! Who are you?”

“Henry. I work here.”

“Hey!” she exclaimed.

“Want to dance?” he asked, though, he didn’t wait for a response and began grinding himself against her as the singer sang,“zig-a-zig-ahh”.

Oh,fuckno. Cooper was between them in an instant, pushing Henry out of the way, and pulling Abby protectively into his arms. He was far from the jealous type, and, well, he had zero reason to be jealous over a woman who wasn’t even his, but Henry was just not happening. He was scum, and Abigail Stone was too good for him.

“What the hell, McAllister? Are you screwing this chick?” Henry blared over the music.

Cooper felt anger and too much liquor boiling his blood. “She’s off-limits to you.”

Abby interceded, but didn’t pull away from his arm that was still tightly secured around her waist. “Wait, what? Why am I off-limits?”

“Because Henry probably has diseases that haven’t even been discovered yet.”

“Oh, you are dead, McAllister.” Henry rushed at him, but James quickly jumped between the budding altercation.

“Step back and maybe I’ll pretend like I didn’t just hear you threaten an officer,” James ordered.

Henry threaded his fingers through his jet-black hair, taking a reluctant step backwards, then shifted his eyes to Abby. “I’m not surprised he’s jonesing for you. You’re not the first victim in one of his investigations he’s tried to sleep with.”

Abbydidpull away at that.

That goddamn bastard.

Kate lunged herself towards her ex-boyfriend, but James caught her. “Not worth it, Kate,” James said.

Henry shrugged with a cavalier smirk and strolled away, leaving Cooper with more damage control than he could probably handle in his inebriated state. He watched as Henry joined Maya at the bar, and Cooper grimaced at the colorful stories they were probably sharing.

Cooper returned his attention to Abby who had crossed her arms, and looked to be soaking up the aftermath of whatever had just transpired. She was swaying slightly on both feet, her own intoxication mingling with the dismal change of mood. “That guy’s a dick,” Cooper grumbled. “He’s been with my sisterandDaphne and had an affair with Maya while we were still together. He’s the entire reason Daphne hates Kate. He –”

Abby interrupted him. “You know, I’m getting kind of tired. Think we can call it a night?”

Kate glanced at her cell phone. “Shit, it’s already after one A.M. Yeah, let’s go.”

The girls linked arms and walked ahead of him. Abby didn’t even spare him a final glance.Ouch.

“Don’t let Henry Dormer get to you,” James told him. “He’s a rat.”

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