Page 5 of Vex
Three different street thieves she recognized were already eyeing him like he was their next meal. Rory was closest, his fingers already twitching toward the knife he kept hidden in his sleeve.
If the amateur escaped with his wallet, he'd be lucky.
This job was going to suck.
Luisa marched up to the table and put herself between the amateur and Rory. "We're not talking out here," she said.
The man looked up at her and raised one perfect eyebrow. She was struck by his eyes, a deep hazel with flecks of gold in them.
Hells, even his eyes were rich.
Her pulse kicked up a notch, heat spreading through her chest in a way that had nothing to do with the stuffy bar. This was not good. This was the opposite of good. She was supposed to be the professional here, the one who knew how to handle herself in any situation.
No funny business on the job.
He didn't say a word or try to move.
Just sat there watching her with those impossibly composed eyes, as if he was cataloging every detail of her appearance and filing it away for later analysis. The silence stretched between them, and it was getting uncomfortable.
"Come on." Luisa nodded towards the back. "There are ears everywhere."
Still, the man said nothing.
His stillness was unnerving. Most people fidgeted when they were nervous, especially in a place like this. But he sat like a statue, perfectly controlled and calm. It was either the mark of someone with serious training or someone too naive to understand the danger he was in.
Had she called it wrong? She'd be grateful if her partner wasn't this … mark. But no one else in the room fit the bill.
"Are you interested in antiquities?" the man finally asked. His voice was low, cultured, with just a hint of an accent she couldn't place.
The goddamn password. Right.
"Only if they're alabaster," she said through gritted teeth.
The man stood. "Vex."
Yes, she was vexed.
No. That was his name.
"Luisa."
He nodded. "You said there's somewhere we can talk?"
She pointed back towards the gaming tables and porn bots.
Vex's gaze followed her gesture, taking in the flashing lights and the steady stream of patrons moving in and out of the back rooms. He looked at her, eyes flicking up and down. The assessment was clinical, professional, but she felt it like a touch. Luisa tried to ignore the way a flash of heat surged through her. There was nothing hot in his eyes.
She'd never known hazel eyes could be so cold.
"I'm here for a job," he said, "not … that."
Nevertheless, he followed her back to the biggest porn booth. The machine was currently unoccupied, its screen cycling through advertisements for various fantasy scenarios. Naked women flashed on the screen behind them, and Luisa did her best not to touch any surfaces. Who knew when that thing got hosed down?
"Already you take me to the most interesting places," Vex murmured. There was the faintest hint of amusement in his voice.
"I can show you a world of …" Luisa couldn't figure out how to end the sentence. Heat crept up her neck. What was wrong with her? She shook her head. Time for business. "My contact said we're going to the Mountain. That's where the info's coming out of."
The Mountain Gate Casino Resort was a legend among Aetis's impossible venues. It was a playground for the highest of high rollers. There weren't any roads up; you arrived by air or not at all. And the minimum cost of a room was more than Luisa had in her bank account at the best of times.
