Page 10 of Isaia

Nicoli raises a brow. “And you didn’t shoot him?”

“Of course not.”

Caelian’s gaze snaps in my direction. “What the fuck were you doing at a shitty bar downtown? Oh, my God, are you having some midlife crises?”

“I’m twenty-six, you dickhead.”

“Oh, of course. Yeah, I forgot you’re still a baby.”

I glare at him then turn my attention to Alexius, who is clearly unamused if the deadly scowl is anything to go by. “Her name’s Everly…something,” I say.

Nicoli frowns. “Everly? Just a random girl, huh?”

“Yes,” I snap, meeting his gaze. “You’re all acting like I brought her home.”

“That’d be a first,” Caelian quips.

“I’ve brought girls home before.”

“Yeah?” he challenges. “Who?”

I open my mouth, think for a second, then lean back and rub my fingers along my jaw. “There’s…um…there’s Melanie,” I say as if it’s my proudest moment of the entire fucking day.

“She doesn’t count.”

“Why?”

“Because you’ve got an ugly-ass car, that’s why.”

“What?” I frown in question because I never got my degree in dumbass.

“Shut up,” Alexius barks. “Both of you.” He turns to face me. “So, you didn’t find her presence a little…suspicious?”

“Sure, it was suspicious,” I admit, forcing myself to sound calm. “Which is why I followed her. Happy?”

Nicoli’s eyes narrow, calculating. “Followed her, huh? And?”

“And nothing. Her life’s as boring as watching paint dry,” I say, though it’s a half-truth. “She walked her dog, went home, read a book. End of story.”

“You think she saw anything back in that alley?” Alexius’s tone takes on a dangerous edge.

“I don’t think so.”

“You think she’s working for someone?”

“From what I’ve seen tonight, I doubt it. But, if tonight was planned, everything she did afterward was part of a show.”

“Not if, brother.” Caelian scoffs. “It definitely was a show. Have you seen the crowds on the streets? People are like collision-avoidance robots. Hundreds walking in different directions on their phones, and no one bumps into anyone.”

“He’s not wrong,” Maximo adds.

“True, but she wasn’t the one who ran into me. It was her damn dog.”

“People don’t just bump into us,” Alexius says firmly. “And even if she doesn’t seem like a threat now, that doesn’t mean she’s not a problem.”

“What are you thinking?” Nicoli asks. “Cop? Spy?”

“All right, enough.” I raise a hand, cutting him off. “Yes, it was odd. Yes, I checked her out. And I don’t think she’s anything to worry about.”

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