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"TONIGHT?" Xhex asked "You&039;re going up north tonight?"

Rehv nodded and went back to reviewing the construction plans for his new club The sheaves of paper were stretched out across his desk, the blue architectural renderings overtaking all his other paperwork

Nope This was not what he wanted The floasn&039;t right¡ªit was too open He wanted a layout that was full of set off in the shadows He wanted a dance floor, sure, but not a square one He wanted unusual Creepy Vaguely threatening and very elegant He wanted the club to be Edgar Allan Poe and Bram Stoker and Jack the Ripper, only done in nickel-plated chrolossy black Victorianat was like every other club in town

He pushed the plans away and checked his watch "I gotta go"

Xhex crossed her arms and stood in front of the office&039;s door

"And no, you&039;re not," he said

"I want to co a nasty flashback? Because didn&039;t we just do this the night before last? As well as a hundred other times? The answer is and alill be no"

"Why?" she snapped "I&039;ve never understood why You let Trez go"

"Trez is different" Rehv pulled on his sable coat and opened the drawer of the desk The new pair of Glock forties he&039;d just bought fit perfectly into the holster he&039;d put on with his Bottega Veneta suit

"I knohat you do With her"

Rehv froze Then continued slipping the guns into their sleeves "Of course you do I meet with her Give her the money Leave"

"That&039;s not all you do"

He flashed his fangs at her "Yes It is"

"No, it isn&039;t Is that what you don&039;t want lared at her fro to see Period"

Xhex didn&039;t back down often, but she had the good sense not to push hier siood She tell you why?"

"No" He headed for the door "But this is just going to be business as usual"

"It&039;s never business as usual You&039;ve just forgotten that"

He thought of the years of this dirty shit and the fact that the future held onlypart TrustIf she tried to hurt you, would you shoot to kill?"

"You did not just ask me that"

The topic of conversation alone was enough to make him want to peel his skin off and send the shit to a dry cleaner The idea that Xhex was calling hi he didn&039;t want to look too closely at was beyond the pale

The truth was, a part of him loved what he did once a month, too And that reality was totally unbearable when he was in the world he mostly inhabited, the world the dopamine allowed him to live in, the world that was relatively norliness in his heart was so with anybody

Xhex put her hands on her hips and kicked up her chin, her classic pose whenever they argued "Call me when it&039;s done"

"I always do"

He gathered together the plans for the club, picked up his overday bag, and stepped out of his office and into the alley Trez aiting in the Bentley, and when he saw Rehv, he vacated the driver&039;s seat

The Moor&039;s voice appeared in Rehv&039;s head, deep, melodic I&039;LL BE THERE IN ABOUT A HALF HOUR TO SCOPE THE ENVIRONS AND CHECK THE CABIN

"Good deal"

TELL ME YOU&039;RE UNMEDICATED

Rehv clapped the guy on the shoulder "As of an hour ago And yes, I have the antivenom"

GOOD DRIVE SAFELY, ASSHOLE

"No I&039; trucks and stray deer"

Trez shut the door and took a step back As he crossed his arms over his lowing against his dark, beautiful face For a split second, his eyes flashed brilliant peridot green¡ªthe Moorish equivalent of a wink