Page 15 of Cheater Slicks

“Not interested,” Kierce said a beat too late to sound genuine.

“I can’t say I blame you.” Pierre grinned at me. “I’d want to hold on to her for as long as I could too.”

Cold prickles skated down my spine as his tongue swiped over his lips. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Other than he was a pervert.Ick.I really wish I had Vi with me right about now.

“What will you give me to tell you?” His smile bared crumbling black teeth. “I’ll tell you all the reasons why you’re making a huge mistake. Again. History does like to repeat.”

Baiting me. He was baiting me. I knew it. I was aware of it. But I couldn’t stop myself from pushing him.

The taunt struck too close to home. It was too similar to the insidious whispers from Ankou claiming Kierce was lying to me, that I was a fool to trust him, but Kierce hadn’t given me any reason to doubt him. Unlike Ankou, who had fabricated an entire persona to infiltrate my life.

“What history?” I gripped the edge of the counter. “What do you mean repeat?”

“How much is the truth worth to you?” He glanced between us. “Either of you can pick up the tab.”

A warm hand landed on my arm, a reminder from Kierce of why we had come.

“Noticed any unusual spiritual activity?” I kept my tone civil. “That’s what we’ll purchase. Nothing else.”

“This is New Orleans.” He planted his forearms on the bar top and stared at me like a wolf about to snap its jaws shut over a juicy rabbit. “You’ll have to be more specific.”

“ThisisNew Orleans,” I agreed with him, “but Vi told me once that you’ve lived here since the first brick was laid. That’s why you and your spirits, more than anyone else, would know if there was a new threat in town and where I can find it.”

“Threat isn’t the right word.” He switched his focus back to me. “But there is a new peculiarity.”

Curling my fingers in my lap until they went numb, I held myself back. “What do you want in exchange?”

“I owe Vi a good turn.” He lowered his voice to a bare rumble. “Tell her to square up with me after she is in betterspirits—” he placed a hard emphasis on the last word, “—and I’ll give you what you need to get started.” He eyed me up and down. “Can you still bargain on her behalf?”

For him to offer, she must have something he wanted, and I had presented him with a way to get it.

“You know I can.” I chewed my bottom lip, debating if I should write a blank check in her name, aware it was a risk. But without his help, there would be no Vi to pay the debt. “You have my word she will honor the bargain we make tonight.”

The knife he pulled from his pants was rusted and coated in gunk I didn’t want to think too hard about, but I didn’t stop him when he slid it across his palm and then mine, clasping hands with me to seal the deal. Though I might have thrown up a little in my mouth.

“Go to Ursulines Avenue,” he said, licking the blade, “and give it a minute.”

“That’s it?” I didn’t fuss when Kierce poured his glass of water over my cut then blotted it with a stack of thin paper napkins left over from our meal. “That’s all I bought us?”

Kierce’s lips brushed my temple, a reassurance I needed, badly, and I managed not to snarl at Pierre.

Pretty sure that was Anunit’s influence. Or Josie’s. My sister was downright feral for a dryad.

Smiling to himself, Pierre went about slicing enough limes to get through his shift. With the same crusty blade. And…yeah. That was the last meal I was eating here. I just hoped I could keep it down. At least long enough to get outside.

Without missing a beat, Kierce flung cash on the counter for our meal, helped me off my stool, and guided me out the door before I could circle back and increase my debt out of desperation.

As soon as we hit the sidewalk, I texted Josie with an update and instructions on where to meet us.

Without knowing what we were walking into, I couldn’t decide if it was a waste of time bringing her and Pedro in, but she would want to be there if we had even a slim hope of putting eyes on Matty tonight.

We strolled to the end of Frenchmen before I opened the Swyft app on my phone and booked us a ride.

“I don’t like that he knows me.” Kierce answered the question I hadn’t drummed up the courage to ask. “I don’t like that I can’t remember why our paths crossed or when.”

I couldn’t imagine any history between them would be the good variety. To add insult to injury, Pierre just had to throw the gaps in his memory in his face.Ourfaces, really.

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