Page 27 of Nest of Thieves
Even as I say the words, I know that’s not necessarily true. She knows our names. She’s eyed our rings. All it takes is her running into someone who knows who and what the Atlantic City Knights are.
Jo’ll find us.
And even though I’m pissed at Mac for telling her, I can’t say I’m mad about seeing her again. For every problem it might cause, even I have to admit Jo is intriguing. Vette pulls up the drive, and I search for information on the brown-eyed beauty.
I make it my mission to learn everything there is to learn about Jo.
nine
JO
I pull out of the hotel parking lot and head toward a local cocktail lounge and steakhouse, hoping to scope out the scene and find someone who might have the information I need. I got in late last night and decided to rest first. I ditched the wig, contacts, and nose before booking two connecting rooms at a swanky hotel. If Lark took care of the cameras like Vette asked him to, Edmund will still be able to pull footage from the restaurant we were at last night. And any good cop could dig up footage from hotels near Philadelphia. As much as the Sunrise Ruby costs, it warrants a thorough search.
I’ll need to find a costume store soon, but for now, I’m going out as Jo. I’m not planning on doing anything illegal tonight, so that’s a plus. The cash is safely divided into the two safes in my rooms, and what didn’t fit is in my suitcases under my clothes. Atticus is happy in the vivarium too. The staff side-eyed me, but snakes aren’t exactly messy, so there’s not much they could say to stop me.
The restaurant parking lot is packed by the time I arrive, but that’s good news for me. I park at the back of the lot and head inside, fighting off a chill. It’s a little early in the year for a dress, but once I’m inside, I won’t notice the cold. I smile at the hostess. She eyes my outfit.
“Ilovethat dress.” She’s not catty about it and her smile is genuine.
“Thanks! I got it at MJ’s.” MJ’s is a staple Philly boutique. Fashionable yet affordable clothes. The dark green dress I’m wearing is only one of the pieces I have from MJ’s.
“A Philly girl, eh?” She arches an eyebrow.
“Born and raised. You?”
“I left a few years ago, but I love that city.”
“Me too.” I flash my teeth and glance at the bar. “Care if I head to the bar?”
“Not at all.” She glances down at her list. “It’s a forty-five-minute wait otherwise.”
“Perfect. Thanks, Tina,” I say, reading her gold-plated name tag.
She glances at me and smiles. “You’re welcome.”
Strutting past the tables and up to the horseshoe-shaped bar, I pretend not to notice the men turning in my direction. The slit up my left thigh might have something to do with the attention I’m garnering. I slide onto a barstool and nod at the bartender. The woman holds up her finger to let me know she’ll be right with me and continues preparing drinks for the two men in front of her.
I eye the bar patrons. A few women, but it’s mostly men in suits. One guy with blond hair and blue eyes smiles at me. I smirk and look away, studying the cocktail menu in front of me.
“Hey, doll. What are you drinking?”
“How’s your martini?” I ask, lifting my gaze to meet the bartender’s.
“Best one in town.” She winks. “Are you here alone?”
“Hopefully not for long. I’ll take a dirty martini.”
“Tab?”
“Cash.” I set a hundred on the bar top. She raises her eyebrows but doesn’t ask any questions. A few men down the bar eye the money as well. I won’t use my credit cards. There’s too much risk of them being traced. Not that my accounts could connect me with the crime, anyway, but it’s precautionary.
I’ll have to deal with OU and figure out a way to finish my classes online. So long as I finish them and get my degree, everything should be fine. Mom is used to me screening her calls, so I’m not worried about that either. I didn’t bring my phone because I didn’t want to risk Laurence finding me. Maybe in a week or two I’ll call Mom so she doesn’t freak out.
“What’s a woman like you doing out all by yourself?”
Ah, yes. Because a woman alone is insomuch danger. Plenty of women go out on their own. There’s risk when you’re an omega and near your heat, but by the time an omega has to worry about that, they’re usually with a pack. Really, the only thing a woman has to worry about when she’s out on her own is men. Perhaps they should be the ones who stay in.
“Me?” I glance at the blond. “I’m enjoying a nice evening out. What’s a small, little man like yourself doing out?”
