Chapter 34
The three of them had agreed to meet in the lobby, and Raven headed down after his shower. Heath was already there, and Jason walked in almost at the same moment Raven stepped off the elevator. Outside, a purplish dusk was rapidly fading into night.
Bryan eyed them from his desk, and Raven could feel his heart beating hard in his chest as he walked up to the others and said, “Hi.”
Heath cleared his throat. “Hey. So, the Red Clover, huh?”
Raven shrugged. “Jason had the idea.”
Heath put a hand on his hip and turned to Jason. “Of course he did. What? Why’re you frowning like that?”
Jason was. It wasn’t the first time Raven had seen the expression, and he was almost certain he knew what was coming.
“I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, but we look like a weird boy band or something.” Jason looked at Raven and Heath in turn, then crossed his arms. “Heath is suit guy, Raven’s hoodie guy, and I’m fun guy who actually made an effort to dress up.”
At the desk, Raven heard a soft snigger from Bryan.
Heath huffed. “A puffer jacket isn’t dressing up, and for your information, I have a reputation to maintain. I can’t just, you know, put on lace and leather and go out like that.”
Instead of a snigger, there was the tiniest of gasps from the general direction of the desk.
Raven shrugged. “I like this hoodie. You know I don’t do fashion.”
Heath raised a finger. “Also! I helped dress a friend only the other day, and it really brought out his twink energy. The point is, I don’t need that. I like maintaining my je ne sais quoi element.”
Jason rubbed his forehead. “Sure. I don’t know what I was expecting, but I should’ve known. Are we getting on the subway, then, or…?”
“Or.” Heath waved his phone. “We’re taking a car there, obviously. We do have drivers, you know. She’s waiting downstairs, so if everyone’s ready and done with complaining, please follow me.”
The three of them got into the back of a limousine that was waiting for them in the downstairs garage. It didn’t have the divider Raven had seen in movies, but it was still spacious, and there were bottles of water in the fancy, polished cupholders next to their seats. Raven felt out of place.
Jason, by contrast, whistled while he took a slow look around. “Wow. Business expense?”
Heath clicked his tongue. “What else?”
Raven had ended up in the middle seat, though it was by no means cramped and had its own three-point seat belt. Still, he flinched when Jason reached for one of the water bottles in the cupholder between them.
Jason stopped, looking him. “Sorry. I just wanted—”
Raven swallowed as the car started moving. “Yeah, sorry. Go ahead.”
Jason pulled out the bottle and peeled a piece of tape off it. Raven could see something had been written on there, but he couldn’t quite make it out.
“Drink water or enjoy the hangover. Clement,” Jason read aloud.
Heath leaned over and pointed at the bottle on Raven’s other side. Raven nodded, and Heath pulled it free.
“Passive-aggressive little fucker. And mind you, I only say this because we’re no longer inside the house.
‘Drink or feel like death while throwing up,’ this one says.
” Heath tightened his hold on the bottle, and the plastic crunched slightly.
“They’re all trying to manipulate us! We’re not going to let that happen, right?
Also, this whole entire evening is a business dinner, just for your information. So go all out.”
Jason took Raven’s hand. “I think I’m in love.”
Raven chuckled. “Gold digger.”
Jason raised a finger. “Platonic office romance.”
Heath narrowed his eyes at him. “You can only have that with really nice accounting software.”
Jason groaned. “Yes, talk dirty to me. Sum me up and then round me to two decimals, Daddy, please.”
Raven pulled his hand free of Jason’s to hide his smile. “Are you two already drunk?”
Heath was frowning. “Did you just call me Daddy?”
Jason handed the now-tape-free water bottle to Raven. “Maybe. And no, we’re sober. At least I am. I don’t know about my future office husband over there. Means you should catch up. Remember to drink the water.”
Raven nodded. Oddly, holding something offered comfort, and without letting go of it, he slid the bottle into the pocket of his hoodie. It would be okay. This was fine.
Sitting between Jason and Heath was ideal. The two of them were chatty, and it came easy to them. They didn’t force Raven into the fast clip of their conversation, but stopped to get him to say something every now and then. It was entirely manageable.
Raven saw the neon sign of the club before either of them did, given Jason was talking about horse people again.
“You know, I think it’s just expected that you drink like a horse when you ride one.”
Heath made a dismissive noise. “It baffles me that people are still so endeared with horseback riding. Or have made it into a sport. It’s not that I don’t appreciate horses, because a really good one isn’t going to abandon you ever, but you have to stable them and feed them, and you always smell of horse.
Also, some are dickheads and will bite you in the ass. ”
Jason opened his mouth, considered, then started again. “I didn’t smell them. And I didn’t really look at my hookup’s ass to examine it for bite marks. All I’m saying is, they wear riding costumes, they drink a lot, and they don’t stop partying before sunup.”
Heath dipped his head. “That’s probably because being in the saddle all day sucks, and there’s no better way to forget about it than drink.” He gestured. “And a hookup, just like you said.”
Raven tried tuning them out. Ahead, the neon lights blinked in shades of red, a three-leafed clover glowing next to the club’s name. There was a line, too. He hadn’t expected a line. He’d thought Jason was being hyperbolic about getting in.
Everyone waiting to be let inside was dressed up.
Raven had picked out clean clothes, of course, but he looked nothing like the people who actually wanted to be here.
On the one hand, that made him feel guilty, seeing as how Jason wanted to be here.
On the other, a part of him wouldn’t mind if they were sent on their way at the door.
If Maxim isn’t doing anything else, we can play another round or two of chess. I’m getting better. It’s fun now.
Raven could almost feel the pieces and their weight in his hands, could see the board from their last game in front of his eyes.
He didn’t have a chance of winning, that he knew.
Maxim controlled the game so subtly yet so perfectly that it left Raven in awe, but the hunter would tell him when he made a good move, and after the game, he’d set the board back to whichever position it had been in when Raven had made an error.
Maxim would show him what he could’ve done better, leaving Raven amazed at his skill for memorization.
“And what are you smiling to yourself for?” Jason said, gently nudging Raven’s arm.
“Oh, I wasn’t thinking about anything, really. Just maybe getting…a cocktail? Do cocktails even still taste okay?”
He looked at Heath, who cleared his throat. “Well, let’s hope they have blood cocktails.”
Jason straightened. “I’ll have one with you!”
Heath frowned. “I’m not going to hold your head if you decide to throw up tonight. I’m not Clement.”
Jason tsked. “One drink isn’t going to lay me out like that. Come on, we’re here. Get out already. That bouncer is starting to look at us funny.”
“Tinted windows. But yes, uh, we’re going to have a business dinner. Everyone, follow my lead. Amara, can you park around the corner and stay on standby?”
“Sure, boss,” the driver said.
Raven didn’t like the idea of just leaving her alone in the car, but hopefully they wouldn’t be staying long.
Heath opened the door and got out, and the two of them followed him.
Raven immediately noticed the noise from inside the club—music and a jumble of people talking, dancing, laughing.
Those waiting in line were loud as well.
Not that they were shouting or aggressive, just excited to get in soon.
Yet Raven was no longer used to any kind of bustle, not after the orderly chaos of the Forbidden Floor, and the chess games followed by trips to get blood from the restaurant downstairs.
Not even taking Ume for his walks and exercise in Seneca Park came with the noise of this many people in one place.
I’m oversensitive, that’s all. I’ve been to parties before. I can handle this.
Heath waited for the two of them to get out, and Raven caught him reaching up to straighten a tie he wasn’t even wearing.
“Ready?” he asked when the car had driven away, and with it their easy path to escape.
“Oh, we are so ready.” Jason hooked his arm through Raven’s. “Aren’t we?” He then leaned in closer. “Hey, is this the water bottle in your pocket?”
“The one you told me to hold on to?”
Jason cleared his throat. “Hide behind me. We’re probably not supposed to smuggle drinks inside.”
Heath laughed. “You’re so funny, you two! Come on, cut the jokes and let’s head inside!”
He walked right up to the bouncer, who had his arms crossed and was staring at them while the people in line were trying to get his attention.
Raven bit his lip, wondering whether they’d get told off for skipping the line or whether that was what people like Maxim and Heath did on the day-to-day.
It led him to wonder whether Maxim ever went to places like this.
“Hello there,” Heath said.
“Hello.” The bouncer, good-looking in a solid sort of way, with wide shoulders and symmetrical features, kept up hard eye contact. He had an accent Raven couldn’t quite place from the single word.
“Yes, hi. So, um, do you remember me?”
The bouncer raised one brow. “Remember you? Sugar bear, I see a lot of people. I do not remember everyone.” It was a Russian accent, Raven thought, or close to it. It sounded good, sexy, especially when the bouncer smiled. “Did I make you breakfast?”
Heath’s eyes bulged. His jaw dropped. Then he turned a soft pink that looked bright red in the light of the neon sign above them. Possibly he agreed with Raven’s assessment about the bouncer being attractive.
“I—no. I mean, you came by the house with surveillance footage and asked for an audience from Maxim Vallois? You talked to me first? Then you called my office the other day about that vampire?”
The bouncer narrowed his eyes. “Hmm. The memory is fuzzy. Did I flirt with you? Is that why you are here now? Did I not leave you my number?” He gave Heath a smoldering look. “I do not mind a booty call.”
“No! You—I—we just want to go inside? Me and my two friends here. We’re having a work thing.”
The bouncer looked at them, first Jason, then Raven. His gaze was intent, and Raven felt the weight of it. It wasn’t uncomfortable, just a lot of scrutiny and sharp attention.
“None of you are here to flirt?” the bouncer asked.
They all shook their heads.
“But all of you are single?”
Heath cleared his throat. “Well, that’s a rather personal—”
“Yup, only singles here,” Jason said, and pointed at Heath. “Him too.”
Heath’s head jerked around. “Excuse you! It’s not like everyone needs to know.”
“You’re here with us on a Friday night,” Raven said. “I believe that’s called a context clue.”
Jason nodded sagely. “Exactly. Here on a Friday night for a work thing, no less.”
“Well, well,” the bouncer said. “It is all right, then. I’ll flirt with all of you later. You go right ahead.” He unhooked the red rope in front of the entrance and waved them through. “Have fun, sugar bears.”
“We’re here for work!” Heath walked ahead of them. “Come on, everyone. We really should get started with today’s agenda.”
Raven let Jason guide him inside and did his best to hide the water bottle that was actually standing out pretty noticeably in his pocket. The bouncer watched the two of them, and when Raven looked back over his shoulder, he gave a friendly wink.
Inside, there was a heavy metal door that was propped open, a thick black curtain serving as the only barrier.
They pushed that aside and went in. The club itself was a few degrees warmer than the outside, though it was pretty well ventilated.
The music really wasn’t too bad, and the light, while kind of muted and with color-shifting spots, didn’t strobe, nor was it painfully bright on Raven’s eyes.
A wide bar was on their left, tables around it, and farther in, Raven could see a reasonably crowded dance floor.
“That wasn’t how I’d thought we’d get in,” Jason mumbled.
“Well, not all of us dress in tight black clothes and use a sword as a universal key. Anyway, I need a drink now, fuck do I need a drink.” Heath turned. “For real, do I look like a sugar bear to you?”
Jason and Raven exchanged a look. As one, they lied, “No.”
Heath breathed out and relaxed. “Okay, that’s good. Oh, corner table over there. Follow me!”
“Didn’t think it was possible, but there is someone who’s worse at going out than you,” Jason whispered.
“You know vampire hearing is really good, right?” Raven whispered back.
“That it is.” Heath plopped down on a chair and crossed his legs. “And for your information, I’m not bad at going out. Just…out of practice.” He undid the topmost button on his shirt. “It’s probably like riding a bicycle. Let’s get those blood cocktails already.”
Raven was glad he’d brought the water. It looked as if they’d need it.