Page 79 of Betrayed in Blood
But deep down in those places we share with no one, well, I just refused to go there, allowing Devon to erase those dark thoughts with his passionate kisses and soft strokes. And when I cried for no apparent reason, he held me and promised everything would be alright. Because what else does one’s boyfriend do when you cry after he’s made such sweet love to you.
But once I’d kissed him and jumped in the shower, I put on my game face. I didn’t eat breakfast, too jacked up on nerves and buckets of caffeine. Ginger, wanting to do her part to show support, picked out my designer-labeled ensemble of pants, blouse, and jacket, all in silk, and topped it off with three-inch heels, a gold bracelet, and a diamond pendant necklace. I would have preferred my jeans and sweatshirt, but that wouldn’t have been acceptable in the neighborhood I’d be visiting.
Devon gave me another passionate kiss on the front steps of the manor, not caring who saw. Then he patted my ass and told me once again that everything would be alright. This was nothing more than a fact-finding mission.
My leg bounced all the way to the hair salon. Sergi watched me. Not out of the corner of his eye, but with one of those damn vamp stares. I ignored him most of the way to Castle Street, the ritzy part of Santiga Bay. Bella and Jacques were in the SUV behind us. They stayed close until we got into the middle of town, where they backed off, giving us space in case they needed to run a diversion.
We drove past the salon, and even with the large windows, it was impossible to see who was inside. Like the day spa my mother went to, the front of the store was all retail space with the stylists behind a wall in the back where no one could see the clients with curlers or tinfoil in their hair.
Mateo turned the SUV around and parked on the opposite side of the street, a block away. The other SUV was parked facing the way we’d just come but found a spot a block before the salon. I waited for Bella and Jacques to get out. They walked the street hand-in-hand, each with a cup of coffee. Where had they gotten those? The cups probably held nothing more than water or might even have been empty. I had to admit, they were excellent at their job. They walked past the salon, eventually turning and coming down our side of the street. Bella gave the slightest of nods before continuing on.
“You have a go,” Sergi said. “We’ll wait here. If we suspect trouble, prepare for something loud and remain in the salon until one of the SUVs pulls up for you to jump in. Understand?”
“Yes.” I checked my pockets. My dagger was in my inside jacket pocket, and I touched it, feeling calmer by the action. When I reached for the door handle, Sergi laid a hand on my arm.
“You already know what you’ll find. Don’t let it deter you from the mission. It only confirms what we already suspect and what we’re preparing for.”
I stared at him. I should be angry, but I wasn’t. How did this stoic, seemingly uncaring vamp do it? A calm swept through me. Somehow, I knew he had his own dark places he shared with no one.
I took a deep breath. “Thank you.”
Then I was out the door, glancing around as if I was getting my bearings and deciding which way to my destination. I crossed the street in the middle of the road, not bothering with a crosswalk, and strolled the half block to the salon. Bella and Jacques had stopped at a boutique bookstore across the street. How perfect was that?
I ducked into the salon, five minutes past my mother’s salon appointment. I glanced around the retail area, not seeing her. No surprise so far.
I’d spent most of the previous night trying to remember her stylist’s name, but it wasn’t until I was in the shower that morning that it came to me. Louise. There was a receptionist station for the stylists, and I waited behind a woman who was changing her appointment. I wanted to tap my foot with impatience, but there was plenty of time before Mom’s lunch date. Her hair appointments were an hour long—a quick color touch-up, a trim, and off she went.
Finally, the woman moved on, and it was game time.
“Hi, I was wondering if Louise was in?”
The receptionist with frizzy brown hair pulled back in a headband, perfectly applied makeup, and bright red lipstick, clucked her tongue and reviewed her display screen. “She usually has an appointment at this time, but it looks like she’s on a break.”
My heart sank at the news, then remembered what Sergi said, and I leaned in. “Then maybe she has a couple of minutes. It’s about my mom, who usually has an appointment at this time.”
The woman blinked. “You mean Willa?”
I nodded and blinked rapidly. I hadn’t expected the burning tears, but they came unbidden, and I had to admit was the perfect touch.
“Oh my, yes, let me just check.” She turned away and tapped an earbud.
I didn’t bother trying to listen in. They were worried about my mom. I stared at a display of lip balms, not seeing them as their image blurred. I blinked faster and channeled Sergi, Simone, and Ginger. Wow, that was a strange combination.
“Miss? Are you alright?”
“Hmm. Oh, yes, I’m sorry.”
“Louise will meet you by the wash station.”
“Oh, thank you so much.”
“It’s no problem, sweetie.”
Louise was short, thin as a rail, with long red curls that reached the middle of her back. Like the receptionist, her makeup was perfectly applied. Everything had to be flawless for their uber-rich clientele. And while she wore a smile, there was worry in her gaze when her eyes met mine.
“Come this way.” Her cheery voice gave nothing away.
She stepped into a mini solarium. The room was small, but there were dozens of windows, a tile floor covered in Persian rugs, several comfortable chairs, a long couch, and a kitchenette. Their breakroom was pretty sweet.
