Page 19 of Bitter Spirits

“Isa…”

The warning note in his voice sliced across her nerves. She tilted her head back so she could glare at the man she considered a brother. “She’s dealing with enough right now, Des. I’m a big girl. I’ll be fine.”

His lips tightened into thin disapproving lines. “I know you can handle your shit,” he rumbled as he angled his body so she could step through the door. “It’s Angel I don’t trust.”

“Me either, but letting Locke walk in there alone is not a good idea.” They started down the short hall. “Something happens to him, and the Cordovas will be all over our asses.” They couldn’t afford to take on that problem, especially if Isa ended up on Angel’s radar again.

She took his grunt as agreement and pushed through the door that led back into the bar. Des grabbed her arm in a gentle grip. Stopping, she turned her head and gave him a questioning look.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked.

“No, but Locke’s not giving me a choice.”

“Maybe if you explained⁠—”

She shook her head. “It wouldn’t change anything. Locke is going in one way or another, and if I’m with him, Angel will focus on me, not him.”

Des looked like he wanted to argue. Worry lined his face. “Promise you’ll stick to Locke like glue tonight.”

She tugged against his hold, and when he let her go, she leaned up on her toes to press her lips against his cheek before dropping back down. “I will. Promise.”

He didn’t look reassured, so she gave him one last smile before turning away. She went through the pass and headed toward Locke. He was already sliding out of his booth. The material of his short-sleeved, button-down shirt glimmered under the floor lights as he dropped a tip on the table and slid his wallet into a pocket of his tailored black slacks.

When she got close, he invaded her space, his hand going to the base of her spine. “Ready?”

The heat of his palm against her skin sent goose bumps cascading down her arms. “Yep.” She tried to sound more confident than she felt, knowing that if Locke caught any hint of her unease, he’d go all alpha on her, which would make this whole thing even harder.

They walked across the floor, Isa returning a few utterances of “good night” from familiar patrons as Locke prowled at her back. He didn’t say anything until they were in his car.

“You want to put in the address for me?” He started the engine, and it woke on a low rumble.

“Sure.” She typed in the location, hit Enter, and sat back. In a sultry female tone, the GPS confirmed the forty-minute drive.

Locke shot Isa a look as she settled into the leather seat. “That seems a ways out.”

“It’s on the west side, out near the stadium.” She dug into her pocket to retrieve the wooden disc and held it out. “And you’re going to need this.”

He took it from her. “What is it?”

“Our entry for tonight.” She snapped her seat belt in place as he examined the token. “It’s a marker that tells whoever is manning the door that you won’t be bringing unnecessary attention to the event.”

He curled his fingers around the token. “Yours?”

She shook her head, thinking of the young woman they’d managed to relocate a couple of years back without getting on Angel’s radar. “No, someone else who won’t be needing it.”

Locke studied her for a long moment, but when she didn’t elaborate, he shifted his weight, slipped the token into his pocket, and put the car in gear. He was quiet as he navigated the maze of one-way streets that made up downtown Phoenix. She watched the lights blur as he hit the highway and wasn’t surprised when Locke finally broke the quiet.

“You want to tell me what we’re walking into?”

No, she really didn’t, but letting him walk in blind wasn’t just unfair—it could be dangerous, as well, for both of them. “The Den started out as an underground rave for the college crowd, but over the years, it’s morphed into an unconventional social club.”

“You called it a vipers’ pit.”

“Vipers’ pit, hunting ground—both would work.”

“Hunting ground for what?”

“Whatever it is you’re looking for. Whether you’re a kid wanting an escape from a shitty home, a college student chasing a high, or a bored socialite looking for forbidden excitement, if you’re there, it’ll find you.” She wrapped her fingers around the belt across her chest. “There’s a high chance we’re going to cross paths with some people from my past.”