Page 35 of Darling Wildfire
I chuckled and nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
We both took a drink. “How was your trip abroad?”
“Profitable,” he said. “Come by the club tomorrow, I could use your help with the inventory.”
My eyebrows raised in surprise and skepticism. “Where’s Palmero?”
Mahoney never let anyone help him with inventory for an auction except his partner in crime, Alex Palmero.
“He’s around. But your advice ended up being crucial on this last sourcing trip and I don’t enjoy being in debt to someone.”
“I didn’t know advice between friends came at a price,” I said.
“Everything has a price,” Mahoney countered dryly. “Even between friends, as you just demonstrated.”
He finished his drink and set his glass on the bar behind him.
“Enjoy the rest of your night,” he said. “Tell your rabbit it was truly a pleasure to see her again.”
I nodded curtly and watched him walk off through the crowd. Only once I watched him disappear through the main doors did I walk back over to Kaelin and Graham, steeling myself for the storm I could see gathering around her. Nyx intercepted me before I made it across the room.
“What the fuck was Mahoney doing here?” He demanded.
“Hell if I know. I want West to look into it,” I said.
I hated secrets and I wanted to know whether Mahoney had been telling the truth about knowing someone here or if he’d been following me. If he was following me, it meant his trust in me was in question. I didn’t completely believe that all of a sudden he was ready to include me in helping him with inventory when for the last three years, he’d only let himself and Palmero touch that aspect of his business. I couldn’t afford to lose all the ground I’d made with him.
I was too close. Deathwing was too close.
“Kaelin recognized him,” Nyx stated, a question in his eyes.
“It’s worse than that,” I sighed. “I let Mahoney have a go at her in the Warren.”
Nyx stared at me and then chuckled. “Oh boy, have fun with that one.”
I continued on towards Kaelin and Graham who were both eyeing me with varying looks of displeasure. Kaelin’s was more violent and as soon as I stopped in front of her she opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. She shut it and then tried again.
“What the fuck, Theron!”
“I didn’t know he’d be here,” I said.
“You’refriendswith him?” Her voice was quiet, accusatory and dripping with hurt.
“It’s complicated—”
“It’s a yes or no question,” Kaelin breathed.
I took a step towards her and she took a step back, running into Graham’s chest. He was frowning at me as his hands went to her shoulders to steady her. My jaw clenched at her avoidance and I stepped up in front of her, my hand going to her throat.
“I might have shared you with him in the Warren,” I growled. “But I want to make it very clear he is never going to touch you again.”
“I don’t know you at all, do I?” She murmured, the hurt now dominating over the anger. She sagged back against Graham. “I want to go home.”
“I’ll drive you—” Graham started to say but she shook her head.
“No, I want to be alone tonight,” she said firmly.
I let my hand drop from her neck but I didn’t step away. Graham released her shoulders and she slipped out from between us. A low sound of displeasure escaped me as I watched her walk away.
