“Men in this town are quite simple, Henry.”
“If you say so.” He glances over his shoulder at the man, who is still looking at me. “So, why him?”
I down the rest of my glass and stand abruptly. This has gone on long enough. I don’t need Henry in my business—not when I’m restless about leaving. Not when I have this one last chance to help the women who rely on me, not without a succession plan.
I can’t leave the women of the city in a lurch. Not to mention that if I leave and all the poison-based murders stop, it will be very obvious who the Poison Vixen is.
Kellan might not have figured it out yet, thanks to my signature poison vials left at the scene, but he’s not stupid. I don’t like Bea’s idea for her and Josie to take over while I’m gone. There are too many variables, and I don’t want them mixed up in this. If they’re caught, they’ll go down for the whole thing.
But that doesn’t change the fact that I don’t trust anyone else.
I move to leave, but Henry grabs my wrist. I freeze, looking from his hand to his eyes.
An amused smile plays across his lips. “Not so fast, lovely. We’re supposed to be spending time together—a hostage negotiation, as you so eloquently put it.”
I try to wrench my arm away, but he pulls my hand toward his face. He holds my gaze as he brushes his lips over my inner wrist.
It’s just a soft kiss, but the intimacy of it feels too obscene for a public place where anyone can watch us. Heat rushes through me, and I draw away from him.
He stands and presses a hand to my bare upper back. “Come on, lovely. I planned something you’ll like way more than murder.”
“Doubtful.” I glare at him skeptically, but let him usher me across the room. “I’m not going anywhere else with you.”
“Not even to meet my best friends?”
Divine dammit. I want to turn him down. That man at the bar is beating his wife and children. But I need access to the people who know Henry best; understanding their dynamics will help me manipulate them. This is my only chance to do that before I’m stuck in the fort with the lot of them.
Henry cocks his head to the side. “Or I could go with your plan and I’ll let your brother know about your hobby. It will be hard to talk your way out of that one. Especially since you’ve been the center of attention in this bar all night.”
I click my tongue. “Blackmail is beneath you.”
Henry licks his lips. “Nothing is beneath me. I will get as low and dirty as I need to in order to get what I want.”
I hold his gaze for a moment too long. Then, I cast one last frustrated glance at my mark and sigh heavily. “Fine, but if your friends are as boring as you, I’m leaving and finishing this job, and I don’t care what you tell Kellan.”
Henry helps me into my cloak and ushers me out into the oppressive dark of the city streets.
11
HENRY
When we step inside Guardian’s Crossing, I help Harlow out of her cloak, and she immediately starts toward the bar like she owns the place.
“Don’t worry, I’ll put it on your tab,” she says before I can offer.
I silently thank the Divine that my family has the money for whatever outrageously expensive bottle of wine she’s going to order.
Bryce and Carter are seated toward the back of the room at a table by the window. I push through the crowd, trying to ignore the grating music.
Mercifully, they have a mug of ale waiting for me.
“That was quicker than I expected. How was the murder?” Bryce teases. “Did you help her hide the body?”
“Keep your voice down,” I say, snatching up the waiting ale. Carter pours me a whiskey to go with it.
Bryce winces and lowers his voice. “Sorry. I’m just invested since I tipped you off in the first place.”
I’m glad I had him standing watch. I knew she wouldn’t just go along with a normal date night.
