"Drink first?" Mei asked. "Or should we get a snack?"
"Drinks!" Dahlia decided. "Then we can wander while looking and blend in."
Mei caught her hand and - of course - headed right up the stairs. The little minx always wanted to get a look at the layout, and the second-floor view would make that easy. The women stopped at the top of the stairs, and Dahlia pointed out the first exit. Mei found another. When they turned for the bar, there was a third door leading to a balcony. It would work, since a single-story jump wouldn't hurt them.
Which meant they couldn't get trapped in here. That removed the last of Dahlia's fears, and the thudding of the music was starting to lift her spirits. As they headed for the closest bar, she let her hips move just a bit, swaying to the beat. Mei was bouncing. It was starting to feel like things were going their way again.
"What can we get for a dollar?" Mei asked, yelling across to the bartender.
He pointed behind him at a sign in the corner. It listed shots, drafts, and a handful of cocktails.
Dahlia moved beside her. "I want a draft beer," she told him.
He nodded, so Mei asked for whiskey. Then, while Dahlia placed two dollars on the counter, Mei reached over to the tip jar and tugged at a bill on top. When the guy turned back around, it looked like she'd just dropped a five in the jar for him. That earned them both a smile, and Mei's shot somehow turned into a double.
Dahlia didn't even feel bad about it. Picking up the plastic cup full of beer, she turned to find her next conquest - and stopped hard. Sitting with his feet propped up on the banister was an exceptionally gorgeous man. A brunette was smiling at him, leaning beside his feet, and while Dahlia couldn't see his face, he looked very, very familiar.
Then he lifted his drink, revealing a Celtic cross tattooed on the inside of his left arm. That was definitely Thane.
"Mei..." she said, catching her girlfriend's arm. "I think we picked the wrong club."
Mei turned and followed her eyes, and then giggled. "Well, that's coincidental, isn't it? The only one to get a good look at you, and he seems to be alone."
"Seems to be," Dahlia repeated, pulling Mei to the side. "We need to go. I don't want them to catch you."
The look Mei gave her wasn't kind. "I'm not a baby anymore," she pointed out. "I will never be as old as you, but I can hold my own. Dahl, what if he is alone? He let you go, you said. He kept his word!"
"And?" Dahlia countered. "He was alone the last time too. There were still four others in the club."
"So go talk to your crush," Mei said, "and I'll make a pass around the club. I can feel their wards. If there's another around here, we'll know. And while I check, maybe you can find out if they're watching my car!"
"Means chasing off the woman," Dahlia pointed out.
"I have faith," Mei teased. "This is the first time we've ever had a chance to know what the Church is doing on the inside. Use it, because if you just kill him, we'll lose it." Then she caught Dahlia's hand. "And I know you like him. He's your type. Worst case, fuck him until his heart gives out."
Dahlia's lips were curling into a smile. "Just remember that this was your idea." Then she let go of Mei's hand and headed that way.
The brunette saw her coming. The woman's eyes jumped up, a scowl took over her face, and she pushed away from the railing. The change in her posture made Thane look back just as Dahlia reached the edge of his chair. His eyes landed on her cleavage, hung there for a moment, then slowly made their way up to her face.
"Fancy seeing you here," he teased.
"Trying to replace me already?" she asked, tipping her head at the brunette.
"Just met her. Keep this up, babe, and I'll start to think we have something serious." The curl taking over his lips was sly.
But the brunette wasn't nearly as impressed. "You could've said something!"
"Thought it was just a polite conversation," Thane told her.
"Asshole," she snapped before storming off.
Dahlia just set her drink on the tiny table, right next to his. Then, without waiting for an invitation, she stepped over his legs and sat down on his lap. If anything, Thane's smile got bigger.
"Are you alone tonight?" she asked.
"I am," he admitted. "Was actually looking for a hot piece of ass. Seems one found me."
Yeah, but she wasn't about to fall for his charm. Sure, he had plenty of it, but this man was still an inquisitor. "When did the Church relax their standards?" she asked.