Page 49 of Blood and Bonbons

I nodded. “Paper and plastic.”

“Plastic? I have yet to procure any paper currency and have not heard of plastic.”

“Procure?” Vena’s head shot up from behind the desk. “Are you planning on robbing a bank?”

“I’m not a thief.”

“So you’re going to what? Get a job?” She smirked. “I don’t see you as the job sort, but perhaps Ev can get you in at Blur.”

I glared at Vena for flippantly revealing where we worked.

“Actually,” I said, “She makes a valid point about obtaining money. You’re not exactly employable without playing a bit of catch-up and getting identification. So, howdoyou plan on getting money?”

“Tell me, where would your lombard reside?”

I glanced at Vena, who shrugged before she dipped back under the desk.

“What is a lombard?” I asked.

“Perhaps you would call them a pawnbroker.”

“There are plenty of pawn shops in D.C.,” I said. “What are you selling?”

“Gold.”

Vena popped up like a groundhog. “Gold? How much?”

“Enough,” he said vaguely as his hand drifted to the bulge in his pocket. It looked like he had a fist in there.

“Enough for the dark ages won’t be enough now,” Vena said.

“Then enough to procure blood, perhaps,” he said.

“Depending on the quality of the gold, you should be able to sell it for enough to get what you need,” I said before Vena could say more.

“Then there is no issue. Shall we go now?”

“You can go,” Vena said. “We’re staying. But I’d be happy to walk you out.”

Cross flashed her another annoyed look before exhaling and focusing on me.

“Everly, as the only reasonable female in this room–”

“Oh no he didn’t!” Vena said.

“–will you kindly tell me what it is that you’re looking for so I can address my increasing hunger in a safe and acceptable way?”

Well, when he put it like that...

I held out my hand to Vena. She scowled at Cross but pulled Miles' phone out of her pocket and unlocked it. The book we were searching for was on the screen.

“We need to find this book,” I said as she showed it to him. “We think it might be here because that little corner is that desk.”

“Hmm,” Cross said, already looking at the desk. “I assume you've checked the hidden compartment.”

“Not a fan of your condescension, Cross,” Vena said.

“And neither am I every time you open your mouth.”

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