Page 187 of Hunters and Prey

I laughed, as much from the image as anything, chewing on more fries.

I could picture us on the couch, doing exactly what Angel described, wearing fuzzy robes, a bowl of guacamole between us, along with corn chips, gummy bears, those Japanese seaweed crackers Nick got Angel addicted to, margaritas in our hands.

The image was strangely alluring.

It was also completely insane, given what was going on outside.

Remembering that, I frowned a little, even as it occurred to me that I could still feel the seers in Black’s infiltration team hovering around and poking at my light.

I wanted to ask Angel about Jem, but I knew she was right.

I had to get my mind off work, off the insanity outside, if only for a little while.

“Okay,” I said, after a pause.

When she looked over at me in surprise, lifting an eyebrow, I knocked into her with my arm and shoulder, breaking into a smile in spite of myself.

“Order the foot bathtubs.” Thinking about that, I snorted. “And the guacamole, and the gummy bears, and the seaweed crackers and whatever else you want. You’re in charge of our ‘let them eat cake’ moment inside Black’s billion-dollar fortress.”

Her lips pursed, but I saw the relief in her eyes.

Then she reached into her jacket, pulling out her phone.

IDIDN’T LISTEN TO HER conversation with Black.

I went to the bedroom instead, and changed into baggy sweat shorts, a long T-shirt of Black’s and my fuzzy slippers. It wasn’t quite the robe ensemble I’d envisioned, but I figured it would work for the foot bathtubs and for lounging around the couch.

When I got back into the room, Angel looked smug enough that I stopped, laughing in spite of myself.

“What?” I said. “Did you chew him out again?”

“No, ma’am,” she said, shaking her head, once. “Let’s just say Black was fully onboard with this plan of ours for today. I suspect he’d rather be the one in here with you, but he’s graciously agreed to let me act as stand-in.”

I snorted, picturing Black in here with me and Angel, watching old science fiction and Kung Fu movies, his feet encased in a mini bubble bath.

“He’s sending a masseuse for each of us,” Angel added, quirking an eyebrow as if to say I told you so. “…And a manicurist. And guacamole. Although he still wants you to eat the rest of the burger, Miri.”

I laughed at that, too, shaking my head.

I didn’t bother to argue with any of it.

Instead, I aimed a thumb towards my bedroom, motioning her towards my closet.

“Do you want to change your clothes?” I said.

“Cowboy’s bringing something.”

I nodded, then wandered back over to the bar in my fuzzy slippers, mostly to get my coffee, although I stole a few fries while I was there. Truthfully, I was exhausted. I wasn’t sure if I’d slept at all the night before. The idea of just not having to think for the rest of the day had a definite appeal.

When I got back to the couch, Angel had already turned on the big flat screen, and was flipping through Black’s digital movie library with the remote.

We’d settled on an old Jet Li movie when the doorbell to the apartment rang.

Black’s people walked in with smiles.

They got set up without a lot of fuss or preamble. All Angel and I had to do really was sit on the couch. They even set up a narrow table nearer to the couch. Someone took the cheeseburger out of the box, heated it up, and brought it over on a plate, which made me laugh. They also refried the rest of the fries, brought over the guacamole along with black bean dip and chips, and green salsa, which Black knew I liked.

They even brought the gummy bears, which made me laugh again.

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