Page 48 of Shaken Knot Stirred

The screeching metal ofthe garage door always set my teeth on edge. I had the taxi driver bring us through the garage rather than the front entrance of the Pax. Moxie wasn’t doing great. Overstimulation, she had said. No need to wander through the chaos of the dance clubs and bars.

“This damn door.” Impatient, I bent low and ducked under it before it was fully up.

Nico was standing in the middle of the garage, looking shell-shocked. His hair was a tangled mess and his eyes lookedhaunted. He scanned me from head to toe. Satisfied, his shoulders slumped in relief.

“That’s the most irritating sound on earth,” Moxie said, bending her head to make it under the door. As she straightened, her eyes lit up, a smile hit her lips. Maybe her auracle abilities were rubbing off on me. I could practically see the electricity sparking between her and Nico. And then they both shut down. Like flipping a switch, they turned off whatever they were feeling and backed into the corners of their social facade.

“Where’s my orange juice?” Moxie put her hand on her hip. I knew she meant that to be cocky. She might fool Nico, but I could see through that now.

Nico leaned down and broke a lemon-lime soda out of its plastic holder. He held out the neon yellow bottle but she didn't take it, so he set it on the floor.

“Did you score a date? Find a pack? Making nest plans already?” Nico was fooling no one. He hated that Moxie was here. He hated that Beg had a hold over her. And he hated how she was planning to get herself out.

“Where did you get off to?”

“I had work.”

Moxie rolled her eyes and picked her way across the garage, sweeping me up in her wake. He unconsciously flexed his fist like it hurt. Beg had probably had him rough someone up. Moxie stopped at the keypad and nodded her head pointedly. Nico punched in the code and let her in. They were like magnets, but someone was trying to keep them apart.

As Moxie disappeared into the building. I followed. Nico grabbed my hand, stopping me in my tracks. His thumb stroked the back of my palm.

“Everything okay?” his voice was pitched low, just for me.

“You had work? I asked, to avoid answering.

“Montgomery Hollis pulled out of fight night. He’s making me scramble to find a replacement.” The upper crust had the Gala and the Tea Dance. The Mired District had Fight Night where mostly alphas would come to settle beefs. Some packs would spar against each other for bragging rights. We even featured a beta-only bareknuckle slate.

“You okay?” He asked again.

“Of course,” I said with a smile, the fake smile I used for Beg and for clients.

His chocolate brown eyes sank into me. He knew nothing was okay. Nothing was ever okay.

“I’ll…” He stalled out and didn’t finish the thought. We both looked down at where he touched me. I didn’t pull away like usual.

His touch creeped up my arm, tentative, like he expected to blow to fall.

“Where the fuck am I going?” Moxie shouted from somewhere in the building. Nico’s lips twitched in amusement.

“Beg wants…” He stopped himself, like saying our alpha’s name soured his stomach. I knew it turned mine. “The after party has already started in the Vig.”

I nodded. I knew what that meant. Work the tables, sell drugs, make introductions, do anything that would keep me from having to sell myself.

We hung in a dangerous silence. Nico grazed my cheek with his knuckles. This close, even I could pick up his scent.

“Fuck,” Moxie’s frustrated bellow echoed in the space. Nico pulled away, taking his warmth with him, and darted down the hall.

I paced in circles for a full minute, hoping all my emotions would settle out. I crouched and lined up the clutter of oil cans, anti-freeze, wiper fluid, that soda bottle.

I gave the mess, standing like a row of condemned men, a solemn nod. I filled my lungs with all the air they could hold and screamed until it stole my breath.

Chapter 26

Moxie

Breadcrumbs.

Or string.

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