Page 136 of A Breath of Life
Joshua laughed. “That explains our connection.”
Only too much, but I didn’t have time to get into it, nor was I sure I wanted to explore my best friend’s sexual proclivities. The Jackal was nearly upon us. Time was up.
“Don’t fuck this up.” I hid my comment behind a sip of the noxious orange alcohol.
Joshua had the easy job. All he was required to do was push a button when I gave him the signal and play the role of an innocent bystander like the rest of the patrons.
I tried not to think about what I’d gotten myself involved in. Diem was my sole focus, my main objective. I wanted to believe he would be proud of me for enlisting my cousin and Kitty to break him out of captivity, but I had a strong feeling that if we lived to see tomorrow, he would yell himself hoarse for my reckless behavior.
Fair enough, considering the core of our plan was to cause anarchy and distract people so entirely that we could slip in and out unseen.
The Jackal arrived with a lascivious look in his eyes that made my skin crawl. For half a beat, I wondered if this was who Memphis had entertained on his trip to the club. Or was it Ace himself? I didn’t like that he’d conveniently left that part out of his storytelling. Not that I wanted deets, but he had some explaining to do.
The Jackal wore a striped herringbone vest over an elegant white dress shirt. A chain ran from a button to where I assumed a pocket watch was stowed in a vest pocket. His tie matched the ensemble. A flattop hat sat at a sharp angle, obscuring part of his face. He sported a dated mustache. Only when he stood beside our table did I notice the foldable metal cane, which he clearly didn’t need and used solely as an accessory for his costume.
“Well, well, well. If it isn’t my favorite drug.” He extended a hand to Joshua, who took it and allowed the man to pull him to his feet. They embraced with familiarity, the Jackal kissing Joshua’s cheek as he ran a hand down the curve of his spine, ending with an ass squeeze.
Then, all his attention turned to me.
Joshua waved a hand in my direction. “This is Liam. An old college friend.”
I shook when the man offered. His sweat-warm palm made me want to pull away, but I didn’t.
Joshua sat, and the Jackal pulled up a chair and joined us, his gaze stripping me bare one piece of clothing at a time. “Ace will be upset he missed this one. Delectable.”
“I had him in mind when I brought him.”
“A shame I get to enjoy him instead.”
Hello. I’m right here, I wanted to say. My sharp tongue and whiplash instincts nearly got away from me, but I swallowed the snappy comment and refrained from announcing that I was no one’s plaything—except Diem, but if I didn’t dismiss him from my thoughts, I wouldn’t be able to act my part.
I gifted the Jackal a sultry smile I didn’t feel.
“Cat got your tongue?” the man asked with a smirk.
“It’s a lot to take in.” I nodded at the expanse of the casino floor, ensuring I used the accent Joshua hated.
The Jackal glanced around as though seeing the establishment for the first time. “Impressive, isn’t it?” He studied my barely touched drink. “Do you need something stronger to help you relax?”
“No, I—”
“Nonsense. Allow me.” With the snap of a finger, a busboy hustled over with a tray of what I assumed was a party selection of illegal drugs. My skin radiated goose bumps.
The busboy set the tray on the table, dipped his head at the Jackal, and vanished.
Yeah, this was not going how I hoped. I needed to get this show on the road before I was roped into doing something I would regret. “Could someone direct me to the little boy’s room?”
I purposefully glanced at Joshua, but it was the Jackal who responded. “I’m sure it can wait.”
“It can’t. Tiny bladder. Better I go now. When the fun kicks in, I don’t want any interruptions.” I aimed for coy and facetious, but I wasn’t sure it landed.
The Jackal, busy crushing a colorful selection of pills with the edge of Joshua’s empty glass, seemed perturbed but waved me in the right direction. “Down that hall. Hurry back, or the party starts without you. I’m perfectly content with young Mr. Stroud on his own if you take too long.”
“I’ll be fast.”
Before I could make my escape, the Jackal caught a finger in one of my suspender straps and drew me toward him. I stood, looking down into his hungry, hooded eyes. “You’re not scared of me, are you?”
“Not at all.”
