Page 42 of The Devil and the Dancer
Frost settled in his veins, and Gavin turned to his sister, all familial affection forgotten. “Forget it, Vivian. Forget her.”
The corner of her mouth turned up. “Or what? Is a human more important than me? Are you going to—?”
In the space of a blink, Gavin put a hand on her throat and squeezed, just enough to make her eyes go wide. “Forget. Chloe.”
Vivian’s mouth dropped open.
“You don’t know her. You don’t use her. You don’t tell anyone she’s mine.” Gavin dropped his hand.
Vivian rubbed her throat. “People are going to know eventually if you’re acting so foolishly.”
“Foolishly?” Gavin smiled. “That woman is under Giovanni Vecchio’s personal aegis. She’s friends with his nephew and works for Tenzin. You think I’m the only one protecting her?” The realization settled in his bones and released the knot of tension that had taken residence around his heart. “Forget her connection to me, Vivian. If you try to fuck with Chloe Reardon, you will bring down the wrath of God and Tenzin. Leave her alone. Leave us alone. Trust me when I tell you it’s not worth the trouble.”
His sister crossed her arms over her chest and stared out the window. She didn’t speak. She didn’t antagonize him. She was completely and utterly silent.
It was glorious.
He was sittingat his normal booth at the Bat and Barrel, still glancing at his phone. She had rehearsal tonight, then she was working her shift at the Dancing Bear. He could go there and see her. Since Vivian looked to be on the way out, it was tempting.
Why hadn’t she texted him?
He felt Beatrice approaching before he saw her. Beatrice De Novo had a strong presence she took no pains to hide. He’d met her when she was still a student in Giovanni’s employ, but the fact that she’d become a powerful immortal didn’t surprise him. She’d had a backbone of steel even when she was human.
“Hey there.” The slight Texas drawl still popped out occasionally. “Don’t flinch.”
“I don’t make a habit of it.” He waved Lettie over. “Scotch?”
“I hear that bottle Giovanni gave me came from your own distillery.”
“Did you like it?” He’d given it to Giovanni so Beatrice wouldn’t throw it away.
“It’s tasty.”
“Good. Lettie, two glasses from my bottle, please.”
Lettie smiled. “You got it.”
She walked away, and Gavin shuffled the paperwork he’d been pretending to read back into the file he needed to review. “What brings you to the Bat and Barrel?” he asked. “It’s late.”
“I have a toddler,” she said. “Needed to put her to bed.”
Gavin shook his head. “That is a very odd mental image.”
“Try Giovanni changing a diaper.” Beatrice cracked a smile. “I never thought I’d see the day.”
“You and me both.” Gavin waited for Lettie to set the glasses down and leave them. “Why are you here?”
Beatrice picked up her glass, sipped it, put it back on the table. “That’s even better than what I remember. I hate you a little.”
“Beatrice, why—?”
“You’re in love with her, aren’t you?”
Gavin wanted to say “none of your business,” except it wouldn’t be true. Chloe was their business because she was their family. And since Chloe didn’t have parents in her life, he was grateful she had them.
He drummed his fingers on his glass. “Yes.”
“Does she know?”
