“Honestly, I never thought about benefits. Only finding the club and joining.”
“But you must have your reasons.”
She did. Although they were growing rather hazy of late. “They seem to have lost some of their valor.”
“A situation like this will do that to even the best of motivations.”
Selena chuckled. Had she been too caught up in her reasons that she ignored a bright red flag? She took another small sip. “The beer is good though.”
Her friend nodded. “It’s better than mulled wine.”
Selena noticed a man enter from a backroom and whisper into the barman’s ear. A moment later, the scarred man approached them again. “Come with me.”
Selena and Leonora shared a look before rising.
Well, I suppose the time has come.
“What if we don’t want to?”
The man just stared her, his penetrating gaze her answer.
A girl had to try.
The door of the alehouse slammed open, drawing her attention, and two looming figures stepped over the threshold leisurely, sharp eyes taking in everything of their environment. One of those figures’ gaze fell on Selena and didn’t leave.
“Warrick?” Shock, delight, confusion all wrapped up in that one word. She didn’t recognize the other man, who wandered off to inspect the place.
He hadn’t forsaken her yet.
“The moment I take my eyes off you, you run amok,” Warrick said, striding over.
She had never appreciated more the sight of...
A gasp flew past her lips as she took in the cut on his lower lip, then the bruise on his cheek. “What happened to your face?”
“I’ll tell you later. First, I want to know what you are doing at a bloody tavern.”
“A lead brought us here.”
He nodded. “The rose and the sword.”
Selena’s brows furrowed. He’d picked up on it quicker than they had. “In any case, the barman,” Selena pointed at the empty space beside her, and then blinked. “Where has he gone?”
Leonora shrugged her shoulders.
Warrick glanced around the room. “The big one? He left when we entered. Why, what about him?”
“He told us to follow him.”
Warrick’s face turned grim. “And the two of you were just going to blindly do as he said?”
“We couldn’t fight him off, now, could we? I believe he was going to lead us to the head of the club, or at very least a representative.”
His gaze turned more vigilant as his eyes darted from the backdoor to her. “Damn it, you are as reckless ever.”
“We must find him,” Selena pressed. “He could be the final piece of the puzzle to finding these women.”
“It’s too late.”
