Page 90 of Let Us Prey

I grab her hand, needing to put a little space between us to maintain control. Once I lead her to the bike, I throw a leg over and look at her with a feral smirk. “I’m falling down on the job, baby girl. I owe you some gruesome tokens of my affection.”

Hand to Hera, her eyes goddamn sparkle at that.

She takes the helmet from me, mounting my bike like a pro as she asks, “Where are we going, anyway? Cori seemed to think it was fancy and I have to assume someone dropped her a hint.”

Chuckling, I shrug. “Chess loves to gossip. We’re going to The Jade Sceptre. It’s one of the closest Khan owned places to us.”

I feel her tense up and I rev the motor for a second before grinning over my shoulder. “Relax, baby girl. Being in public at a family place is a good thing. It will show the sheep we’re serious.”

“Okay, Fitz. I trust you,” she replies as she wraps her arms around me.

Gunning the motor, I take off into the night as I realize how fucking painful this trip is going to be. Then I remember her bright smile, and it makes my gut flutter.

Worth it.

The Jade Sceptrehas a six month waiting list and a line down the block.

Dolly bites her lip as I park my bike in front of it, tossing my keys to a valet with a snarl. I’m sure she thinks we’re going to get turned away or challenged, but neither will happen unless someone wants to die. I’ll walk into any of our places any fuckingtime I want or I’ll send my father pieces of his henchmen in separate boxes for months.

Even he isn’t stupid enough to cut Felix and me off from the family perks. That kind of anger breeds rebellion, and so far, his crooked shit hasn’t been retaliated against. Pissing us off more would be foolish.

So I take her hand, walking up to the podium with a toothy grin at the small cat working it. It might be a caracal, but regardless, the flunky recognizes me immediately. His naturally lined eyes widen, and he gestures for the bouncer to lift the rope immediately.

“Prince Fitzgerald,” he says in a hushed whisper.

My girl looks at me, giggling a little at the formal moniker. I narrow my eyes at the idiot and growl, “Enforcer to you, moron. And give us the royal table, even if you have to kick someone out.”

“Aw, but I like Prince Fitzgerald. It makes you sound so…”

“Ridiculous?” I grumble. “My father has a thing for history and, being the oldest, Felix and I suffer for it.”

She bats her lashes as she snuggles my arm against her breasts, whispering, “I want to know. Please?”

Shaking my head, I grin down at her as the snooty maitre’d leads us to a booth in the back that looks fit for a king. “Only if you tell me your middle name. I couldn’t find it in your files.”

“Fitz!” she hisses. “I’m not telling you; it’s embarrassing.”

I shrug and wink as I let her scoot into the booth before me, giving the host a glare when he seems like he’s going to touch her. “Price of admission, baby girl. Show me yours and I’ll show you mine.”

Once the fox shifter slinks off, she gives me a little smirk. “We’ve already played that game.”

Laughter escapes me before I can stop it and I throw an arm around her as I scope out the dining room. I see several local goons and quite a few mini-bosses, plus some tigers who would throw themselves in front of a tank to protect us. That eases my worry about having her away from the school when so many morons seem to think they can threaten what’s mine without consequences.

“Fair, but let’s play another one tonight, shall we?” I pause when a waiter steps up to take the drink order and after I get us drinks, I give her my best princely smile. “Truth for a truth.”

Delores narrows her eyes at me suspiciously. “Where’s the escape hatch?”

“No escape hatch unless you’d be breaching someone else’s confidence. Deal?” I bat my lashes at her, trying like hell to look innocent. I probably look like a demon wearing a pie tin like a halo, but it’s worth a shot.

Sipping the Dr. Pepper, the shifty vulpine slips in front of her. My girl thinks for a moment before nodding slowly. “Okay.”

Brilliant job, Fitz!

“Tell me your middle name,” I say. My eyes dance as I pick up my whiskey, waiting for her to complain.

With an adorable huff, she crosses her arms over her chest, giving me a spectacular view. “Diamond. My name is Delores Diamond Drew, and if you laugh at me, I’m punching you in the junk.”

Not the boys! I wince a little, rubbing the back of my neck with my hand as I choke back laughter. She’s right; it’s stupid as hell, but she didn’t choose it. Her dumbass mother did, and that’s not her fault. “Your turn, baby girl.”

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