Page 5 of Blood and Bonbons

“I need to know when you leave so I know how long to wait before I report you missing.”

“Ha-ha. I promise to tell you before I leave your side. Until then, we both know you’re happier when I keep you in the dark.”

“Fine.”

As I ate my cake, I flipped on the news for a bit then switched to our guilty pleasure.The Other House, a reality TV show that had held the highest ratings for thirteen years running. It followed a group of eight housemates that changed from season to season. What made this show stand out above and beyond all the others was that only seven of the housemates were human. It was like Jersey Shore meets Clue with everyone in the cast trying to figure out who wasn’t human while the viewers heard the confessions of everyone, even the non-human.

It was a damn fine drama and one of the major reasons people were more accepting of werewolves. The guy from season one had been a knockout who fell hard for a human woman. Vena and I gobbled up the romance.

An hour before my shift, I stood with a stretch.

“Let’s get ready so we can talk to Shepard before my shift starts.”

Vena sighed and headed to her room.

While I couldn’t see her working in most “normal” places, I could see her managing well at Blur. Serving drinks while listening to music wasn’t bad.

As an upscale nightclub, Blur cultivated a clientele that didn’t get rowdy, appreciated a smile served with their cocktails, and tipped well. Blur also openly welcomed patrons who identified as non-human, which made the place a novelty.

“You know,” I called as I pulled on my black tights, “by working at Blur, you might even make a few connections that could help you and Miles.” I smoothed my hands over my fitted skirt when I finished and inspected myself in my full-length mirror. Playing on my curves usually got me better tips. My naturally sunny blonde hair with a natural wave and thickly lashed dark grey eyes helped too.

“Or you could make those connections for us,” she called back.

I rolled my eyes and fiddled with the black-silver medallion hanging around my neck, thankful for the protective charms etched into the delicate weave. While Blur’s clientele was generally more refined than the average club, I was smart enough to know that didn’t mean it was completely safe.

After smoothing the white, button-up shirt over my chest, I put on my loose black tie, which was part of the standard uniform. When I emerged from the room, I found Vena slipping on her low-heeled, black shoes. The top she wore showcased her medallion while mine was safely hidden under my shirt and tie.

“What do you think?” she asked as I gave her a once-over.

The black stretch pants hugged her lean figure and looked nice enough for a potential interview. The red top complemented her feisty personality. Vena’s hair was down for a change, and she’d put on a little makeup to accentuate her deep blue eyes.

“You’ll do,” I said with a conspiratorial smile.

We drove separately since I knew she wouldn’t want to hang around all night. She parked in front while I went to the back employee lot.

The aromas coming from the kitchen off the service entrance made my mouth water. Most nightclubs didn’t offer food, but Blur wasn’t most nightclubs. The pricey tapas Shepard put on his selective menu tempted any patron with a designer palate.

After placing my purse and keys in my locker, I hurried through the door to the main lounge. The extensive seating area offered a range of tables near the dance floor and stage. The svelte chairs upholstered in purple leather matched the purple accent lighting and table tops. The black ceiling and walls toned down the color and added a moody element Blur’s patrons enjoyed.

I saw Vena already waiting at the bar. A sparkling water sat in front of her. She grinned at me as I approached.

“Who was at the door?”

“Army,” she said. “He remembered me. And I thought for sure you were going to appear with a tie and tell me to get to work.”

I laughed. “You’re safe for the moment. Shepard’s probably in his office. You okay hanging out here for a few minutes while I talk to him?”

“Don’t worry,” Buzz said from behind the bar. “I’ll keep an eye on her.”

Vena winked at the big blonde man, and I shook my head. This wasn’t the first time Vena had visited Blur, so most of the staff knew she was a friend of mine. Vena also knew that Buzz liked to tease and flirt. He was harmless enough unless someone started causing trouble. The muscles he flexed when he mixed cocktails weren’t for show. They also helped keep the peace if things got too rowdy.

I gave him a nod and headed toward the stairs.

“Hey, Ev,” the muscled bouncer at the bottom of the steps greeted.

“Hey, Anchor. Shepard in his office?”

“Should be. Tell Buzz to stop gawking at Vena’s cleavage.”

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