Page 110 of Blood and Bonbons

“Doesn’t hurt to ask around. We can bring Cross to compel people to talk.”

“He already took off for today. But we agreed that I’ll bring him to the store to pick up his clothes tomorrow and get his phone.”

“That’s fine. It’ll give us time to come up with a list of places. I’ll map it out so we’re not driving the city ten times over.”

“Deal.”

The rest of the time before our shift was dominated by creating the list. D.C. catered to everyone, human and creature alike. So we needed to weed out the places designated for specific creatures.

Since we trusted Cross’ nose, we stuck to the human ones.

After the list was compiled, we scarfed down sandwiches I’d thrown together then changed for work.

“Do you think I’ll be in my own section tonight?” Vena asked.

“You’ll have your own section once Shepard posts the new schedule. Otherwise, all the sections are filled.”

* * *

Vena and I ended up splitting the bigger section near Anchor. She winked at him every time she passed with a drink order. He didn’t help the situation when he kept blushing. The man was begging for her attention, and without a full load of tables, she had plenty of time to give it.

It was midway into the night when she dropped a napkin near the last table and bent at the waist, ass toward Anchor. He looked everywhere but at her, but I knew from the shade of red creeping up his neck that he wasn’t oblivious.

When I saw her going toward the bar with another order, I hurried to follow her. She paused when she caught me power-walking in her direction. I kept my smile bright just in case Shepard was somewhere watching.

“Knock it off,” I said close to her ear. “You’re going to get yourself fired.”

She snorted.

“Or maybe I’ll get one hell of a raise.” She nudged me as if I needed help understanding her double meaning.

“You’re impossible. Behave.”

“Don’t I always?”

She was slipping her arm through mine with a huge grin on her face when there was a burst of yelling at the door. Standing as we were, between the door, the bar, and the tables, we had a clear view of the men who rushed Army, the current bouncer at the door. Seven of them surged forward, using their combined weight and momentum to bring Army down.

“Holy shit,” Vena said as more came rushing through the now unguarded opening.

They grabbed the nearest patrons and attacked them. Hitting. Kicking. Biting.

Buzz jumped over the bar and moved incredibly fast to pull one off of a woman.

“Vena! Everly! Move!” Anchor yelled as he rushed past us.

Vena dragged me back as men poured through the opening. We hurried toward the stairs. The DJ killed the music, and everyone in the bar realized something bad was happening.

The place morphed into chaos and panic in an instant.

While some people were smart enough to run for the stage exit at the back of the building, Vena and I raced up toward the VIP area. People jogged down the stairs, and we had to fight against the flow of panic. Women screamed. Men shouted.

I looked over the railing as Anchor grabbed one guy by the collar and smashed his forehead into the guy’s face. Blood poured from the guy’s nose, and his eyes rolled back in his head. Before he even hit the floor, Anchor was already reaching for the next one.

Vena pulled my arm to keep me with her.

My damn heels and lack of cardio were going to kill me.

Winded, I reached the top, one step behind Vena. With the crowd cleared, we raced to Shepard’s office. Vena barricaded the door while I went to the glass wall to watch the scene below.

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