Page 64 of Blood Owed (Blood Mafia 1)
How did people survive being single before cell phones?
Maybe the bartender has a newspaper. People still read newspapers, right?
I’m about to ask her when two men slide onto the stools on either side of me. The one on my left smirks, thinking he’s real suave, and says hello. The other one gives me a disinterested look and snaps at the bartender.
Asshole.
I drink another sip, ignoring the one on the left who’s leaning on his arms and staring at the bottles of liquor.
Cool and resting bitch face usually gets the point across. I glance in the mirror behind the bottle, searching for my reflection to make sure my scowl is bitchy enough. By accident, I catch the guy’s gaze.
His smile widens. “Boy troubles?” he asks, not taking his eyes from mine in the mirror.
“No,” I respond, fiddling with the rolled-up silverware. The knife is still tucked into my bra, but it wouldn’t hurt to have another one at the ready.
Listen, I don’t want it to seem as though I’m predisposed to stabbing people, but I’m not in the mood for flirting, and I still can’t tell if he’s a vampire.
The bartender comes back over and tosses coasters in front of them. “Hey, boys, what can I get you?”
I unroll the napkin, placing the fork and knife on top of the fabric. With one hand resting near the utensils, I use the other to take another drink.
“I’ll have a blood-Chilton,” the asshole says.
Shit.
“And for you, hun?” She sweeps her gaze to the other guy, but stops when she sees my fingers curling around the knife. It’s a momentary pause, but she gives a slight nod before looking at the one on my left.
I relax the grip on my knife. Being vampires isn’t automatic stabbing criteria.
Chill, Demi. You’ve been around more terrifying vampires. Hell, you’ve punched more terrifying vampires.
“A blood-old fashioned with Glenlivet sounds great.”
She smiles. “A blood-Chilton and old-fashioned with Glenlivet. Anything else? Waters?”
They shake their heads.
“You doing okay, hun?”
I nod. “Great.” My voice comes out strained, so I take another sip of my wine.
The asshole chuckles, turning toward me. “Your heart is pounding. First time being around vampires?”
Tucking a piece of hair behind my ear, I shake my head. “No, it’s not my first time.”
“So you come here a lot?”
“You could say that,” I say to the nicer of the two, still not turning to look either one directly in the eye.
He eases closer. “Have you ever been to Twisted Helix?”
I shiver when he rubs a finger down my arm.
“No. Don’t touch me.”
The asshole grunts. “You’re mouthy for a human.”
I grit my teeth, trying hard not to stab him. They haven’t actually done anything wrong. Sure, the one is being overly friendly, but does he deserve to be stabbed for it? I know human men who are more forward.
