Once Bitten, Twice Shy by Jennifer Rardin

Author:Jennifer Rardin
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Jaz Parks
Publisher: Orbit
Published: 2010-01-03T21:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

I drove Vayl back to the Pink Palace, leaving the room-cleaning chores to the experts. The Agency employs a whole fleet of them for obvious reasons. We made it inside with barely twenty minutes to spare before dawn.

“You look exhausted,” Vayl said as I eased my jacket off my shoulders and hung it over a chair. I had something intelligent to say about that, but then I took my boots off and sank onto the couch, and I couldn’t think past my body’s loud and repeated cheers.

“I know I should let you sleep,” Vayl continued, “but I am so relieved Liliana did not kill you, I cannot take my eyes off of you.”

“You’re relieved! When she caught me trying to make my getaway, I thought I was toast.”

“And that young man I took to the hospital. His blood smelled so wrong, I was afraid just being close to him had damaged you permanently.”

“Yeah, what the hell do you think is up with him?”

“I have no—”

My phone began to ring. This close to dawn it couldn’t be good news and I hated to answer it. But Vayl retrieved it from my jacket and tossed it to me.

“Yeah?” I barked.

“It’s Bergman. I’m in Florida, but I’ve gotta sleep. Do you need me tonight or can I meet you tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow’s good.”

“Where do I look for you?”

“Hang on.” I covered the mouthpiece. “It’s Bergman,” I told Vayl. “Do you know of a good place he and I can meet tomorrow?”

He thought a moment; then his eyes lit. “Actually, I do.” He gave me the address and I passed it on to Bergman, along with an agreeable time. When we hung up I said, “So where are we meeting?”

Vayl looked vaguely embarrassed, like I’d just caught him and his pals plotting to stroll on over to the Silver Saddle, where girls dance mostly naked and all the drinks taste like sour lemonade.

“Vayl?”

“The place is called Cassandra’s Pure and Natural, after the woman who owns it. It is a small health food store.”

“Nice front,” I drawled, getting more and more annoyed at Vayl’s hesitation. Hadn’t we just had a major moment? What the hell was he hiding? “And if you pay Cassandra a little extra?” I asked.

“She will take you upstairs and give you a reading.”

“A . . . what?”

“She is psychic. She will touch your hand or read your tea leaves or deal your tarot. Whatever you like.”

I slumped onto a couch and started to mutter. “Unbelievable. After what just happened between us . . . no, I don’t have any right. None at all. I have to—”

“What in God’s name are you babbling about?”

I jumped to my feet. “I’m so sick of your mysteries and evasions I could puke!”

Vayl’s eyes went black. He looked like a drill sergeant about to demand push-ups. “You are overstepping your bounds,” he said slowly and distinctly, so even we neurotic idiots could understand.

“I don’t think so! You work with me for six months before offering a single viable explanation as to why you requested me in the first place.

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