Obsidian Liquor (Lion Security #1)(15)
Author: Scarlett Dawn

I chuckled, because that was probably true. “Fine. I’ll go to lunch with you and listen to your spiel, but I’m not promising the photo.” I stuck my hand out. “In return, you’ll give me a fifteen question interview, on the record, in two weeks’ time.” I specified a time frame.

She snorted, and shook my hand. “Deal. Sucks you put that last bit on there.”

I shrugged, taking my hand back. “I don’t like getting screwed by details.”

Lev approached, placing his arm over Ember’s shoulders.

Ember leaned quickly so she could whisper against my ear, “But you can’t tell a soul that I want that photo; if you do, the deals off. Just say you’re going to interview me after lunch.”

I nodded. If that was her demand, then so be it. I’d had worse stipulations before.

She stepped back under Lev’s arm, and rested against him. That was when I noticed others were strolling our way. I did not look at any of the faces moving toward us, just stared at their shoulders. I saw Daniil’s among the bunch of too broad frames. He was wearing a turtleneck, like mine, but black instead of cream and his shirt had sleeves.

Glancing at Ember, I jerked my head toward the doors. “We better go. You guys only have two hours for lunch.”

Ember lifted away from Lev’s side when Brent and Cole came up behind her. “We’ll be eating with my group. You’ll be joining us at a little place in town.”

I peered at the ground as Daniil, Stash, Zane, Grigori, and hell, everyone else in her group stopped behind them. I sucked in a breath, and tried not to puke. I did not glance up, mumbling, “How about we eat somewhere else. Alone. It’ll give us a better chance to talk if everyone isn’t around.” She had said she wanted to persuade me to hand over the photo.

“Ember?” Zane asked calmly, “Is Ms. Forter bothering you?”

I peeked up to glare at him. I was not bothering her. She was bothering me.

“No,” Ember stated slowly. “Ms. Forter will be joining us for lunch today. I’m going to be giving my first interview to her after we eat. It’ll save on time that way.” I had angled my body so I did not have to look at Daniil, and still give myself an escape route. Ember shrugged her shoulders, speaking to me, “I would rather have lunch with everyone else. You have to understand that I would prefer their company over…” She said just enough to let me know that she honestly did not like me. She may not be a bitch all the time, but she could be one. And she was letting it show.

The situation all around was more than distressing. I did not want to be anywhere near Daniil, and I hated when people were flat out rude to me when they had other people backing them, like the in-crowd versus the geeks. My stomach was rolling. I swallowed hard, and adjusted my stance when I saw Daniil’s shoulders move.

I breathed deeply, and tried to keep my face blank as all of these fit, beautiful people stared. My father’s advice suddenly flittered through my thoughts again. I was not exactly looking for trouble, but if I went with them, I would be. Holy Grail or not, I wanted to stay breathing. I shook my head and took a step back. “I’m sorry, Ms. Lerrus. I just remembered I have a previous engagement. Thank you for the opportunity, though.”

I took another step back, and turned to go, ignoring how most of them wore shocked expressions. I was a little stunned myself. I hated that I was turning tail and running.

“Ms. Forter…,” Ember stated loudly. “Twenty-five instead of fifteen.”

I froze in place. Shit. Twenty-five fucking questions I could ask her.

Brent asked softly, “What are you doing, darlin’?”

“I want her to do the damn article. No one will bother me after she does it.”

I cracked my neck.

Well…hell.

Father was not always right.

I turned, focusing solely on her. “My other engagement can wait. Let’s eat.”

Chapter 4

I thanked God my new rental car had been delivered this morning. So on the way to the restaurant, I did not have to ride with them. I just followed all of their expensive rentals into town. Unfortunately, as luck would have it, my new rental’s air conditioning was not working.

I was a sweating mess when I entered the restaurant at the back of their group. I had it in mind to sit as far away from Ember as I could, so that she could not convince me to give up the photo. She was bizarre enough to be able to do so. When everyone began sitting at the huge table in the open and airy restaurant that was painted white-as in everything in the place was white, except for a few splashes of blue here or there-I purposely dropped my purse, giving someone else a chance to take my seat next to her.

Lev hopped onto it quickly. I mentally made a note of that.

When I straightened, slinging my purse over the same arm as my duffle, I stared at the back of Lev’s head in fake surprise, then glanced around the table, playing the part perfectly…until…shit. Until the only fucking seat left was right between Daniil and Zane.

I swallowed, and quickly tapped Lev’s shoulder. “Can I sit next to Ember, please?”

Ember glanced to him, her hooded gaze pleading, just for his eyes. But I saw it.

He shook his head, not even glancing at her. “I don’t think so. She said the interview wasn’t until after lunch. Not during. I’m not going to let you hound her while she eats.”

“It’s all right, Lev,” Ember stated quietly. “Let her sit there.”

He shook his head, still scowling at me. “Find another seat.”

“Lev…” Ember mumbled.

“Honey, I agree. You need to eat without being bothered. Build up your strength for the next event,” Cole murmured quietly, resting his arm on the back of her chair.

Her eyes closed for a second. She paused, and then nodded.

Dammit.

I kept my gaze on my ‘new’ assigned chair and gradually made my way to it. This was possibly the worst situation that could have occurred. That was what I got for trying to renege on a deal. Being sneaky was not my strong suit. I was still learning.

Zane pulled my chair out for me.

I did not say thank you. The asshole had just threatened me a few hours ago. I pushed my sunglasses up on my nose. It was not quite bright enough in here for them, but I still wore them after a quick glance earlier in the rearview mirror had shown my eyes were still horribly bloodshot. I started tugging my purse and duffle off my shoulder.

I paused when Kirill, a Russian friend of the Kozar’s, who was seated across the table from me, whistled loudly. I looked up, and he was staring. Everyone’s attention went instantly from him to me; they all seemed freakily in sync with one another and they all stared.