I couldn't risk it. Not until I was sure it was safe. Then... Well, they do say revenge is a dish best served cold. I'd bide my time. For now.
"What if Chase really is related to Lucas?" I murmured, putting voice to the fear that had kept me out of Lucas's bed last night.
Zed gave me an understanding look. "Or if one of us is?" He shrugged. "Doesn't make a difference, does it? I mean, sure, if you're related, then that's something that will probably need a whole lot of therapy because you guys used to fuck like rabbits. Ow!" He rubbed his arm where I'd just whacked him with the back of my hand.
"You're a prick," I muttered, "but you're right. Blood doesn't mean shit, even if he is related to that sick fuck. I do sort of have a plan for getting Chase's sample. It'll just depend on getting close enough."
Zed's glance was sharp at that comment. "Dare, you can't... just no. I'll get the sample. It's as easy as grabbing a glass he's been drinking out of."
I shook my head, having already thought through all the options. "I don't trust it. If we're taking a DNA sample from Chase should-be-dead Lockhart, then I want a clean, unquestionably his sample. Straight from his mouth." Or better yet, from his veins.
The tension basically vibrated from Zed as he gripped the steering wheel tighter, and I understood completely.
"I'll do it," he growled, stubborn as hell.
I just rolled my eyes. "We'll deal with it when an opportunity arises. But if Chase is even a tiny bit like the guy we both knew, we also know he has a major blind spot that can be used against him."
Zed exhaled a muttered string of curses. "You."
I nodded, and neither of us said anything else for a long time. Zed silently reached out and placed his hand on my knee, though, and I didn't push him away.
We arrived at Nadia's Cakes a few minutes later, scoring a parking spot right in front of the café. It was late afternoon on a weekday, and she didn't look too busy, which was a small relief.
Even so, my spine was tight with tension as we stepped out of the car and made our way inside. Lots of eyes were on us. Reapers, mostly, people who knew who we were and what I'd done. But there were also plenty of normal customers who had no clue about the gangs who really ran the city they lived in.
"I admit I didn't think I'd see you around here," Nadia commented in a terse, clipped tone as she came around the counter. She wore an apron branded with her company logo and wiped her hands on it as she approached Zed and me. As she got closer, though, I noted the lack of real heat in her eyes. The lack of authentic anger in her posture. For a woman whose grandson I'd supposedly shot a week and a half ago, she was awfully calm.
"We couldn't resist your cakes, Nadia," Zed smoothly answered for us, leaning down to kiss the old woman's cheek and making her smile tightly.
She arched a knowing brow at me. "I hope your pretty one enjoyed his birthday cake."
The penny dropped. Fucking Cass had been in touch with his grandmother. I hadn't even questioned it when they’d had a beautifully decorated cake set up for Lucas the night before.
I gave her a small smile back. "He did, thank you. Zed and I just wanted to pick up an apple-and-blackberry pie, if you have any?" For some reason I was seriously craving that.
She pursed her lips, then indicated to some vacant seats near the counter. "Sit down; I'll sort you out."
Zed and I followed her instruction, sitting down at the small table, and a minute later one of the waitresses came over with a couple of coffees for us.
"Nadia said it'll be twenty minutes; have a coffee while you wait." The woman gave a shrug, raking her eyes over me like I was a rare animal in the zoo or something. Then she met my eyes, blanched, and retreated away from our table quickly.
I gave a small sigh, picking up my coffee as Zed covered a laugh with his hand.
"What's so funny?" I muttered, narrowing my eyes at him.
"You are," he replied, just as quietly. "She was checking you out. Then she spotted that monster lurking in your glare and changed her mind so fast it gave her whiplash."
I frowned. "What? No, she was gawking at the woman who murdered the beloved Reapers’ leader, then had the audacity to show her face in Reaper territory."
Zed snorted. "Okay then."
Scowling, I locked my gaze on the table and sipped my coffee, ignoring the eyes on me from all around the room. If this had been any other gang’s territory, I wouldn't be giving it a second thought. But this wasn't any other gang. It was the Reapers. And Cassiel fucking Saint had left a hell of an impression behind.
Zed leaned in close, brushing my hair over my shoulder. "For what it's worth, I like the monster behind your eyes. She's sexy as hell."
I caught a sharp breath at that, my gaze jerking up from the table, but it locked on someone about to walk through the door instead. "Get fucked," I breathed.
"Uh... what?" Zed replied, recoiling somewhat.
"No, not you," I snapped, "that."
The front door chimed as it opened, and I locked eyes with my nemesis. He didn't even seem the slightest bit surprised, like he'd known I was here. Was he tailing me? Or had someone in the Reapers tipped him off?
Not that it mattered. He sauntered over to us as Zed stiffened beside me, and I laid a hand on his knee to silently remind him we couldn't kill Chase yet.
He got the message but wasn't remotely happy about it, shooting me an angry glare before flicking his scowl back to Chase.
"Uh-oh," Chase said with a chuckle, "do I smell trouble in paradise here? What a shame. You two are the ultimate star-crossed lovers, like something straight out of a Shakespearean tragedy." His sick smile spread wide, and his single eye bored into me.
"What do you want, Chase?" I asked in a cool, unemotional voice. "Zed and I were having a nice time until you decided to stink the place up with your foul energy."
Chase parted his lips to reply but was interrupted by Nadia storming out of the kitchen.
"You!" she barked, shaking a finger at Chase. "You get out of here. You're not welcome in my establishment."
For whatever reason, Chase genuinely seemed surprised that this old woman was scolding him and gaped at her for a moment, speechless. I smirked, leaning back in my seat and stuffing my hands into the pockets of my leather jacket.
"You heard me, Mr. Dibbs," Nadia continued, making a shooing motion at Chase. "You're a known enemy of Hades, so you're an enemy of the Reapers. Now get."
My fingers touched something in my pocket, and I tilted my head, trying to remember what it was. Then it struck me. This was a jacket that had survived the apartment bombing. I knew exactly what was in my pocket and couldn't fight the smile as a rapid plan formulated in my mind.
"Actually, Nadia," I spoke up, drawing everyone's gazes. "Mr. Dibbs here was just passing by. I don't mind handling this if that's okay with you." I gave Cass's grandmother a sly smile, letting a spark of my evil intent show through my gaze when she met my eyes.
She jerked a nod, understanding that I had things firmly in hand, and with a parting glare at Chase, she stomped back to the kitchen while muttering insults about him under her breath.