Page 146 of Fly's Path

Vex…I’m going to Vex to get dating advice.

It’s hard to let those words sink into my brain.

A man…a legend I thought was going to kill me a few days ago is the person I’m now going to for dating advice.

He probably grunts, ‘you’re mine’ to his wife, and she says ‘yes’ out of fear…

Now I’m just being dramatic. But still, if asked for odds, this is the last thing I ever thought I’d be doing today. Though encouraging Vandal to date during an op would be up there on the list as well.

Today is a day for impossible things to happen.

We can only hope that Vex has an actual suggestion that might work, because I’m not going to kill a little old lady just so that she doesn’t play matchmaker with my girlfriend.

What if he recommends that I kidnap Sheri? I mean, I wouldn’t mind having her to myself all the time, but I don’t think that’s the way to win points with an independent woman either.

Just walk in and talk to the man.

It’s not that scary.

Yes, he is and Viola Vincenti or Allan, whatever you call her now, is even worse.

Why am I flipping out? Sheri either loves me or she loves someone else. It’s just that easy.

When she’s in my arms, I would swear she’s completely and absolutely in love with me. That we’re going to be forever…

A goon, literally this guy’s muscles have muscles, walks me up to Vex’s office in his nightclub. The goon seems familiar, but…“Axe?”

“Yup. It took you this long to recognize me.”

“You look a bit different without all those weapons strapped to you.” And to be fair, my mind might have been elsewhere.

He shrugs, and his neck disappears. “Could have brought a few more, but they weren’t needed. Go right on in, the boss is expecting you.” Axe walks away.

I stand there staring at the door, feeling like this moment is going to be pivotal in my life.

Which is stupid.

“Which do you like better, diamonds or pearls?” Vex holds up a jeweler’s tray filled with diamonds and pearls. “The theme of the wedding is flowers, so I think she’d prefer the diamonds, but the pearls feel classic and elegant.”

WHAT? “Huh?”

“Keep up. I’m trying to pick a gift for Dahlia for our wedding. Do you think she’ll like the diamond set? Or the pearl set? MaybeI should buy both and let her pick on the day. Why do they make this so hard?”

My mind needs to make the mental shift from my slight freak-out to his. “What color is the wedding?”

“The theme is spring flowers, so there are dozens of them in all shades of pink, yellow, orange…Why?”

“Then get the diamonds, but have them replace the plain white stones with some colorful diamonds to look like the real flowers.”

Vex glances down at the sets and back up at me. “That’s brilliant. How did you do that? You know what? I don’t care. Whenever I’m buying her jewelry, you’re going to be my first call.”

Um. Great. I think.

He sets down the trays and turns his attention to me. “What brought you here?”

“Your advice…No, your warning. She’s doing it. Viola is making friends with my woman and trying to play matchmaker. What do I do to stop it?”

Vex’s rough chuckle grates on my nerves. “There’s nothing you can do. I warned you.”