Page 79 of Visions in Blood
“I’m not.”
“Then why did you stop by yesterday?”Harlow’s grin made me want to kick him.
“It wasn’t to look for a job, and you know it.”I looked to Ginger.“I just wanted to see if they could be trusted after Sorrento.In case I need backup for my current employer.”
Ginger nodded, but I saw the caution in her eyes, and I squeezed her leg under the table.She shrugged.“I get it.”
“I’m not interested.”
Harlow pulled his chair closer and leaned his elbows on the table.“The job is a couple of blocks over.Roxie will be waiting for us.You can meet her.Get a sense if you think you can work with her.Then, if you want to go along, we’ll give you a cut of whatever’s in the safe.Or you can walk away.”
A new song started up, and Trudy stood and tugged on his shirt.“Let’s dance and give her a second to think it over.”
When they were gone, Ginger wasted no time.“What were you thinking going to see Harlow?”
I pushed the martini away and drank half the glass of water Harlow had asked the server to bring.“The last few jobs I worked for Devon have been where he and I have both been seen.The only exception was the L.A.job, but the place was crawling with vamps, including Lorenzo.”
Her eyes went wide.
“Sooner or later, someone’s going to put it all together.I wanted to see if Harlow could be trusted as a possible backup.Someone different to send in where I won’t be hanging off Devon’s arm.”
She nodded then picked at the paper napkin that doubled as a coaster.“Change up the scenario so the robberies appear to be different perpetrators.”
“I don’t know if they’re needed, and I haven’t discussed it with Devon yet.”I rubbed my hands along my black leggings, then pulled at my neckline, needing to get out of the warm club and let the cool night air clear my head.“I needed to know who gave me up.”
“Oh, honey.I know.It’s just…”
“You don’t have to tell me I’m walking a line.But Harlow’s right about one thing.”
“You need to checkout this new hacker.”
“At least meet her.Get a sense of what she’s like.”
After a minute ticked away, Ginger nodded.“I’ll wait here.”
I snorted.“That’s crazy and not likely.”
She ignored me.“I have my phone, the band’s not half bad, and there are more than enough people for me to blend in.”She winked at me.“Besides, how long does it take you to lift something, assuming you decide to.What, like an hour, two tops?”
“Exactly.Even sooner if she doesn’t take to Roxie.”Harlow winked at me, too.
I growled at Trudy.“You better not wink at me.”
She laughed and punched my arm.“Not in a million years.”Then she slammed her fist on the table, making the glasses shake.“Let’s go, Harlow.We’re on the clock.”
“Yes, princess.”He gave Ginger a hug.“It was good seeing you, little one.Let’s not be strangers, especially now that you’re living in plush comfort.”
She pushed him away, laughing as she stuck her nose in the air and struck an aristocratic pose.“That’ll be the day I’ll let riffraff into my home.”
“That’s what I used to say.”Trudy shook her head in mock despair, and they all laughed, except Harlow.
He wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her on the neck.“You always say the sweetest things.”
Once they’d headed for the door, Ginger pulled me close.“You know I trust you, right?”
I nodded.
She glanced toward the door where the two waited.“Just promise me you’ll remember the deal you made with Devon.”
