A broad smile stretched across Caitlin’s cheeks. “You’re in the wrong profession, my dude. Consider joining the detective fast-track programme when?—”
“Fuck no,” Blake said, aiming a scowl at Caitlin. “The hours are shit and the supervisors are fucking cunts.”
“Speak for yourself, prick,” Caitlin replied, smirking as she stuck out her tongue. She handed Pember a small black box and snapped it open. There appeared to be a tiny button inside. “This is your covert mic. You’ll place it under the neckline of your shirt. Don’t wear anything with sequins or loose bits because it causes interference. We’ll have a tech guy come to your house this evening to get everything set up. You’ll catch a taxi at seven thirty and wait for our instructions.”
Pember shuffled from foot to foot. “A-and where will you be?”
Caitlin shook her head. “Can’t tell you that, chicken. If I did, you’d inadvertently give our position away.”
“I’ll be just around the corner,” Blake said, standing and squeezing his shoulder. “If she so much as looks at you the wrong way, I’ll be there.”
Pember gave a small smile and turned towards the door. “Let’s do this.”
CHAPTER 35
AT WHAT COST
Pember
The restaurant was almost empty,the low yellow lighting giving the place an artificially warm glow. The terracotta walls and narrow booths with their brown leather seats should have been cosy, but Pember shivered as he scanned the empty bar and tables. He needn’t have looked far, because Leo’s boisterous tone cut through the quiet hum of the other diners.
“Pember!” he called, sliding out of the booth and walking over with his arms outstretched. He made no effort to hide his bump this time, his tight leggings and sheer mesh top making his pregnancy obvious.
He jostled Pember’s shoulders and pulled him into a tight embrace, inhaling long and hard near the scent gland under his ear. Pember inwardly screamed, hyper aware of the recording device clipped underneath his collar.
“Hi,” he said, coughing and smoothing down his burgundy shirt. The other omega looked flushed, his neck and ears noticeably pink. There was already a smell of alcohol wafting from his mouth, but Pember just took a breath and made his way towards the table.
Then he saw her. Maya, with her long braid and dark eyes. She had noticeable shadows under her eyes, but had tried to hide it with makeup and bright red lipstick.
She watched him, eyes trailing up his black jeans with every step. She smiled, showing her back teeth. Pember shivered, because no one who’d murdered four people should smile like that.
His gaze snapped to Ru, who was sitting next to the wall with Maya pressed against his side, boxing him in.
“Pem!” she said, not moving to stand. “Good to see you again. Your heat go okay?”
Pember tensed, his body stiff as he tried to act natural. He hadn’t expected this. Hadn’t expected her to be so… relaxed.
“Um, yeah. All good thanks. You?”
Maya grinned and tipped her head to the side. “Oh, you know. Same, same. Feels like I haven’t seen you in ages.” She tapped the tabletop, the silver rings on her fingers clacking loudly.
Her gaze drifted to his neck. He’d purposely popped open a few extra buttons on his shirt to show that he didn’t have a mating bite. He gave a tight-lipped smile, which was when Sal rose, her lithe form shifting sideways as she held out an arm, gesturing for him to enter the booth. She wore a silver sequinned top that clung to her chest and looked remarkably like chain mail.
Well, there was no way in hell he was getting trapped between Sal and the wall, so clearing his throat he grabbed a stool from the next table along. “Thanks,” he said, carefully positioning himself closest to the door. “But I’ll let Leo have the comfy seat.”
Leo smiled and touched the curve of Pember’s ear. “Thanks, honey bunch.” He ran a hand over Pember’s shoulder and slipped into the booth. “My hips are killing me.”
When they were sitting, Maya waved a hand and the bartender appeared with a tray of drinks. “Evening, ladies and gents, will you be ordering food?” the server said, hesitating before giving Leo a drink.
Leo looked like he was about to speak, but Maya held up a hand. “In a bit, yeah? Wanna catch up first, right, Pem?”
Her expression was unreadable, making Pember go cold. “Um, sure,” he said, resting his hands on the table. “Unless any of the others would like to order?”
“Ah, thanks, hon,” Leo said, ordering a round of starters. Maya glared at him, but said nothing as she sipped her drink.
The earpiece crackled to life, and it took all of Pember’s self-restraint not to react.
“Try and establish their movements over the last three days,”came Caitlin’s muffled voice. Pember was glad it was her and not Blake. If it had been Blake he’d have already bolted out the door and caught a taxi home.
