Page 53 of Awaken the Dragon
“We should split up,” Ziva said when they walked into Twilight.
“No, we shouldn’t,” Theo replied. “There are too many people in here. Too many possibilities that something could go wrong and too many casualties if it does.”
“Warrick’s not here,” Shola stated.
“But there are definitely vampires in the building,” Theo announced. “Aiken and Reece are staking out Camden’s townhouse, and Bleu’s paying a visit to the Royal Blood. Magnum and Steele are running down the club owners who had their places hit in the last few days. In order to figure out what Warrick’s next move is, we need to know exactly what’s being taken.”
“Well, I don’t know about the two of you, but I’m ready to have some fun,” Ziva said before walking ahead of them.
Theo looked over at Shola. “You okay with this?”
He’d wanted to go to her room to talk to her privately before they’d left the Office, but Bleu had stopped him with more information on the vampires in Burgess. They hadn’t dealt with them much over the years, the species doing their business just like Theo figured he was doing his. It had been pure luck that their paths hadn’t crossed until now.
“I am fine,” she replied.
Theo smiled. Even though they were here on business and he needed to pay close attention to their surroundings in order to keep them all safe, he couldn’t help it. “Yes, you sure are,” he told her and lifted her hand to his lips to kiss. “You look really good in that outfit.”
She blessed him with a smile.
“We should get to work,” she replied, but squeezed his hand before he could release hers. “Thank you.”
Theo didn’t want her gratitude. What he wanted—a fact that came to him via a powerful thud in his chest—was for her to look at him the way she was right now...every day.
“Welcome to Twilight.”
Theo dropped Shola’s hand and looked up at the sound of another woman’s voice.
“You need a table or a booth? We’re pretty crowded tonight, so there might be a wait. Or there are some floor spots but you’ll lose your drink if you walk out there with it.”
The woman standing in front of them was maybe five feet six inches tall, her hair was cropped short, her yellow gold eyes assessing and judging. She was a vampire, and considering she’d left her spot at the bar and walked all the way to the door to greet them personally told Theo she knew he was a dragon. That meant she knew Warrick.
“Where’s Camden?” he asked her.
“Did you have an appointment?”
Even if he did, Theo knew she wasn’t going to let him see Camden.
“Better than that,” Shola said, stepping between them. “I am his fiancée.”
The beast pushed angrily against his skin, and Theo clenched his teeth at her words. Camden was never marrying her. Not as long as Theo lived. He was about to say something, make some clarification or whatever he could think of to get the vampire’s attention back on him, but he didn’t have to. The vampire knew who Shola was too. This one wasn’t trying hard at all to guard her thoughts or feelings. And normally, Theo couldn’t see either of those things, but this vampire was pretty transparent.
“He’s not here,” she said with a less than appreciative look at Shola. “Maybe hisfiancéeshould know where he is.”
“Or perhaps his sidekick should,” Ziva suggested from where she now stood behind the vampire. She’d walked away from them and probably circled back when she realized they weren’t right behind her. Now she was blocking her path, should she decide to leave.
The vampire turned slowly, and Theo watched with intrigue as Ziva’s expression changed.
“Enes?” Ziva asked.
“Ziva,” the vampire replied.
They stood for a few quiet seconds while the bass thumped so loud Theo felt like the blood in his veins was pulsating to the rhythm. When another vampire bumped into Shola, pushing her up against Theo, he knew it was time to move this little meeting along.
“Listen, we just want to talk to Camden. If he’s not available, maybe the four of us can have a private conversation, and you can deliver our message.”
Enes didn’t return her attention to Theo, but Ziva did look up at him, nodding to let him know she’d heard him.
“That sounds like a good idea,” Ziva said.
