Chapter 10
Locke
Locke studied the man holding court in the center of the curved, cushioned seat that made up the alcove.
He wasn’t quite sure what he’d expected, but it wasn’t the urbane sophisticate dressed in tailored black, untangling from his blond companion to get to his feet as Isa moved up the two steps into the alcove.
Any lingering signs of the streets that had spawned the man were hidden under a slick veneer of charm as he threaded his way between the legs of the couple sitting to the side and the low round table cluttered with drinks and half-finished appetizers.
“Isa, lovely to see you. Thank you for joining me.”
Isa stepped onto the floor of the alcove and stilled. “Not sure we had much choice.” Her voice remained coolly polite, though under Locke’s palm, he could feel the tension singing through her spine.
White teeth flashed in Angel’s dark, close-cropped goatee as he closed in and caught her hands in his. “The choice is always yours.”
He went to lift her hands, but she pulled them away, turned deeper into Locke, and placed her palm against his chest. Without hesitation, Locke adjusted his hold, his hand sliding down from her back and around to her hip, where he could tuck her into his side.
Based on the quick flash of fury in Angel’s eyes, Locke’s message had made it through loud and clear. Angel’s attention centered on Locke, and his charming smile sharpened. “And you are…?”
“Hers.” The blunt truth served the dual purpose of claim and challenge, neither of which would sit well with Isa but would land him on Angel’s radar as a rival.
“Is that so?” Angel studied him for a long moment.
The hair on the back of Locke’s neck rose as something unseen sniffed around him, bringing with it a skin-ruffling scent.
Uneasy, his magic stirred, ready to snap its jaws at the threat.
Remembering Isa’s earlier warning about Angel’s siphoning power, he played possum, letting his possessive side rise to the fore and take center stage.
Angel turned to Isa and murmured with a hint of menace, “Interesting pets you’re keeping, chiquita.”
There was an actual temperature drop in the air around Isa. Locke was surprised when she didn’t default to her typical cutting rebuke but instead simply watched Angel as if he were nothing more than a curious, potentially dangerous insect.
“I am surprised to see you here.” Angel’s voice had cooled. “I thought you didn’t do this scene anymore. Too—what was it you called it? Problematic?”
“It wasn’t the scene, Angel,” she said without inflection. “It was you, and that hasn’t changed.”
Something flared deep in Angel’s eyes, and for a moment, the monster peeked out from behind the charm. “Yet here you are.”
“My choice, not hers,” Locke said, wading through the treacherous currents lapping around Isa.
Angel’s attention snapped back to him. “Is that so?”
Keeping his tone dismissive, Locke drawled, “Heard about this place from a friend, got an invite, decided to surprise her.” He looked at the woman in question and squeezed her hip. When she turned her face up to his, he said, “Surprise.”
That got him a small smile.
It also earned him an irritated huff from Angel. “Please.”
They turned back to see he had an arm raised and was motioning toward the empty seat on the curved couch, where their silent audience watched the unfolding drama.
“Sit.” It was no less than an order gritted out through a forced smile.
Isa led the way to the booth. As they got closer, Locke recognized the male half of the couple sitting on the end nearest to them—Janek Healy, deep-pocket investor in Signature Enterprises, an investment firm Emilio had gotten Locke to dig into over a year ago when the Delphi serum first came to light.
Interesting to find the man here with someone like Angel, but considering that the woman at his side was too young to be his wife, maybe it wasn’t so surprising.
There couldn’t be many places Healy could indulge his adulterous intentions without gaining public scrutiny.
And the gods knew no one here would risk themselves to expose someone else’s misdeeds.
Healy and his companion shifted over, making room on the couch, while Angel rejoined the now pouting blonde, who alternately glared at Isa and eyed Locke with speculation.
Isa did that female thing of smoothing a hand over her rounded ass before taking her seat and crossing her long legs.
Whatever material her pants were made of was light enough that the movement caused it to ebb and flow like water.
She left room for him, but instead of taking it, he braced a hand just behind her head on the edge of the seat.
He had no intention of being caught unawares or trapped in the narrow space.
She looked up at him in silent question.
“I’m good,” he said.
A server moved in and quickly cleared the glasses before taking requests. When she got to them, Isa did a repeat of their earlier order and the server glided away.
“Everyone, this is Isa and her pet.” Angel wrapped an arm around the blonde. “Isa, pet, everyone.”
Locke was amused by Angel’s continued condescension, a clear sign that Locke’s mere presence was providing enough of a threat to make the man defensive.
“You look familiar,” Healy said, studying Locke. “Have we met?”
“No, I don’t think we have,” he lied. When Healy’s jaw tightened and his gaze narrowed with speculation, something told Locke to step carefully. “But it is possible we crossed paths at some point.”
“What is it you do?” Healy asked.
“Acquisitions.” It was a vague but accurate answer Locke often used and one that would work easily in this crowd. Especially as money appeared to be a factor in, well, everything. It also appeared to appease Healy’s rising suspicions.
Conversation halted as the server returned with their drinks. When she left, Angel eyed Isa over the rim of his glass. “I remember when such things bored you.”
Isa paused with her drink halfway to her lips, her eyes sweeping over the young blonde before landing on Angel. Her voice, when it came, was dismissive. “Much like a good whiskey, some tastes improve with age.”
A strange relief bled through Locke. The acerbic witch he knew and adored had finally made an appearance. Considering how Angel’s knuckles whitened around his glass, he was less impressed.
“It’s good to see your palate has… evolved,” Angel said.
When Isa simply sipped her drink and didn’t bother to hide the small, secretive curl of her lips, he tried again.
“Isa was one of my more popular bartenders once upon a time, back before she decided to try her hand at running her own place. Well, not really on your own, as you have—what, two?” He flicked a look at Locke. “Or is it three partners now?”
Unruffled, Isa balanced her glass on her knee. “Just the two.”
“Well, should you ever need another, I’m always looking to expand.”
Not batting an eye, Isa drily replied, “I don’t think Wonderland would fit with your portfolio.”
“That’s where I’ve seen you,” the woman at Healy’s side said then blushed when attention turned to her.
“Sorry. I’ve been sitting here trying to figure out why you seemed familiar.
I’ve been to Wonderland a couple times. Mainly after work with friends.
We love it. It’s such a cool little place to hang out at. ” She sounded sincere.
“Thank you,” Isa said. “I always enjoy hearing that kind of feedback.”
Locke wasn’t surprised when Angel once again grabbed control of the conversation. “I’m curious, chiquita—now that you’ve been on the other side of the business, what do you think of your old stomping grounds?”
Isa’s eyebrows rose. “They’ve certainly changed.”
“How so?” Healy asked.
“It appears Angel discovered how to attract a more selective clientele.”
“Oh, I’ve always been highly selective about who I let through my doors, but to your point, we have become more discerning of late,” Angel drawled.
Isa lifted her whiskey. “It’s definitely working for you. Business appears to have picked up.”
“That’s due in part to the generosity of people like my business partner here.” Without looking away from Isa, Angel indicated Healy, who winced. A pulse of spite soured the air around Angel as his smile sharpened. “Their investments have allowed us to expand our amenities.”
“Is that so?” Isa sipped her drink.
“As I explained when you mentioned wanting to branch out on your own, never underestimate the influence of a good professional network, as you never know when those connections will prove useful.” There was a hint of a threat in Angel’s statement. “It’s why so many independent businesses fail.”
Seeing Isa’s fingers whiten on her glass made Locke want to wipe the smirk off Angel’s face, but this was a verbal battle—punches weren’t allowed.
“Not something Wonderland has to worry about.” Locke waited for Angel to look at him then issued his own threat.
“There are quite a few names invested in its success. That’s what happens when established locals decide to crown a neighborhood favorite.
” He held Angel’s dark gaze, and the man’s features tightened.
Before Angel could resume his game, Healy cut in, asking Isa questions about Wonderland.
She answered, and the conversation drifted into shallower waters.
Angel continued to watch Locke with obvious calculation, but Locke refused to look away.
He knew the minute he and Isa left the club, Angel would go on the hunt, trying to discover who those local investors were and how they connected with him, Wonderland, and more importantly, Isa.
The predatory part of Locke studied Angel with anticipation while Angel’s eyes glittered with an answering malice.
Only when the blonde at his side demanded his attention did he finally break off their staring contest.
Locke’s lips curved at the small win, and he sipped his drink as he let Isa’s conversation with Healy and his companion wash around him.