Page 63 of Home to the Hollow

“Shame,” he mutters, lifting the rope in front of the line so we can slip in. “The Boss would like you—both of you.”

I share a look with Seer, and she giggles. There was a time where we would have taken Gigantor here up on that offer. But, alas, no more. No matter how many people tell me ‘I’m gathering’, I’m content with the amount of people demanding my attention at the moment. I don’t care if his boss is Jason Momoa; I’m good.

“Keep yer shorts on, bruiser. I might be free later,” Seer says, winking as we walk into the dark club.

A swift yank on her train stops her, and when she turns to look at me, I hiss, “I’m not running around here alone while you pick out your favorite sausage or taco for the evening, you know. You said this was a girls’ night.”

“We won’t be alone, Peanut. We came to see the show. You’re going toloveit.” Seer grabs my hand and I sigh, letting her pull me deeper into the club.

The inside of this place isn’t at all what I would have imagined based on the name. Howl isn’t some trendy Goth disco, or even a warehouse rave—it’s a velvet seating, crystal chandeliered room with modular seating facing small stages. They dressed the staff like it’s the roaring 20s, and the bar is mahogany.

A few of the areas have curtains drawn around them, and the ones that don’t have darkened prosceniums. They dressed patrons in everything from cocktail gowns to bondage gear to what appear to be period costumes. The one thing the clientele of... whatever the hell this place is... have in common is they’re all ridiculously good looking and almost certainly wealthy.

“Saoirse Viola O’Flanagan, where the goat slaughtering hell are we?” I mutter under my breath. I don’t expect her to answer; she’s too far ahead to hear me. However, even when we were gallivanting around the world, we never came to a place like this. It’s... otherworldly. There’s just no better word to describe it.

We stop in front of a section near the back that looks half filled. Seer drops into one of the fancy booths meant for a smaller group and gives me a cheerful grin. Rolling my eyes, I slide in next to her with my hand over the back of the tux dress so I don’t flash anyone nearby. A server in a flapper dress appears, and we order drinks. My friend ignores my anxiety, humming under her breath as she looks at a menu to decide what she wants to eat. When I can’t take it anymore, I slam my fist on the table, making her jump.

Oddly, no one even looks in our direction.

“I need an explanation.Now,” I growl softly. “Where are we? What is this place? I thought we were going clubbing.”

“We are, lass. But first, we’re meeting up with a few of my friends. They haven’t been to this side of the pond for a long time, and I’m up to high doh for them to meet you.”

The server reappears with our drinks—a Blanton’s neat for me and Ocean Water for Seer—then disappears once she places the food order. I’m not sure what the hell she ordered because it had weird names, but my BFF knows good food and she hasn’t steered me wrong in the past. Sipping my drink, I look at the stage for a moment before I sigh. “Seer, I’m happy you’re here, and I love going on adventures with you, but you need to tell me who?—”

“There’s the bawdy lass who always has a glass!”

Turning towards the sound of the booming voice, my jaw drops. Three impossibly hot people are making their way to our table, and behind them, the curtain around our module is closing as if it was waiting for their arrival. The woman is tall and pale, with silver and rainbow colored hair shaved into a rakish faux hawk.

There are designs shaved on the sides, and she’s dressed in skintight leather matching the streaks in her hair. Her companions are a brute who would give Benjy a run for his money in a ‘stuck in the doorway’ contest and a lithe, long-haired guy who could audition for an ACOTAR movie. It charges the surrounding energy as they approach, and I can’t help but wonder why I’ve never met them before.

“Aye!” Seer shouts, jarring the table in her enthusiasm. “Julia, Tharin, Zasha… this is Jolene Athena Whitley.”

I watch the motley trio, not sure why something inside of me is wary of their presence. I’m not one to be jealous of my friend, but I’ve also had alotof reasons to suspect Trojans bearing gifts, so to speak. “Hello. It’s nice to meet you. Seer has told me absolutelynothingabout you,” I snark, giving them my best Southern belle smile.

“Sheisa pip,” Julia murmurs, her eyes dancing. “I can see why you’re so attached to her, O’Flanagan.”

It’s hard not to bristle at that. People seem to equate my ability to stand up for myself with cutesy spunk of late, and it’s grating on my nerves. I know notallof them are being condescending, but it damn sure feels like it. “Shehas a name, andsheis sitting in front of you, Julia.”

Seer winces when speakers in the club squeal with interference, her gaze cutting to mine with a panicked look. “Now, ladies. Let’s not be a cliche trope. There’s more than enough of me to share.”

“That’s been true many a time in the past,” the big dude says with a knowing smirk.

Assholes.

Seer’s friends are assholes, and she’s giving me the ‘make nice with the scary people’ expression she patented years ago. Her penchant for finding the ne’er-do-wells in every crowd is legendary, and if she’s trying to get me to behave, I guess I’ll go along for now. “Yes, well, since we’re all aware of how flexible my bestie’s proclivities are, would you like to let me know which one of you is Tharin and which is Zasha?”

The smaller man drops into the booth next to me, flashing a toothy grin. “I’m Zasha, love. It’s lovely to make your acquaintance.”

Ah, I get it now. Julia is traveling with a grumpy asshole and a smooth talker. I can relate. “That would make Mr. Personality here Tharin, I suppose.”

Julia climbs into the booth, scooting in next to Seer, and motions for Tharin to follow. After a moment of watching him struggle to wedge himself in, she gives me a wink. “That’s spot on. We took a job that brought us back to the States, and when we heard it was near where Saoirse was living, we had to drop in. Apologies for the last minute notice.”

That was vaguely specific. Hm. “Will you be in the area long? I could recommend some hotels here if you need.”

Tharin coughs, and Zasha lets out a booming laugh. “Unnecessary, Miss Jolene. Saoirse has graciously agreed to host us while we consult throughout the state. We’ll be in and out as our contract dictates, but you will definitely see us.”

Frowning, I narrow my eyes at the server as she returns with a huge tray. Now I get why Seer ordered enough to feed an army—Tharin alone could probably eat all of it and us without getting full. I pick up something that smells delicious and looks fried, holding my glass up to the woman before she leaves again. I’m certain I’ll need more alcohol and a lot of terrible food to get through this evening.

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