Page 26 of You Were Warned: Part One

I make sure to be outside but out of sight at seven thirty when she normally heads to Ares’s Bar for breakfast, and sure enough, she opens her door and steps out. Normally I would move in and make myself known, but Jensen steps out with her. My fingers itch to grab my knife and slit his throat, but that is too nice a way for him to go out. Instead, I watch as they walk down the stairs while Jensen says something which makes her laugh, and jealousy twists in my gut. She never laughs when I’m talking unless she is laughing at me.

I’m surprised when they stop at Nixie’s office. Vesper knocks on the door, and they both disappear inside. I wait, and fifteen minutes later they both come back outside, then Vesper leads the dead man walking toward the bar.

I decide not to wait very long, and I push the door open, seeing that Vesper and Jensen are seated on the stools.

Rue looks up and nods. “Morning, Jester.”

Vesper’s shoulders stiffen at the mention of my name, and she straightens on her stool.

“Morning,” I say cheerfully, crossing the bar toward them.

Vesper turns and smirks at me. Jensen turns as well, and I see Vesper reach over and place her hand on his.

Breathe, breathe, breathe, I remind myself. You cannot kill him here, you cannot kill him here. I plaster on a bigger smile than I normally would.

“Good morning, love of my life.”

Vesper sneers at me. “Oh, look, it’s the jingle parasite.”

I reach them and place my hand on Jensen’s shoulder. My fingers find the muscle above his collarbone, and I apply the right amount of pressure, just enough to make my point without leaving a mark. Jensen tightens his jaw but doesn’t make a sound. Oh, I like them stubborn.

“Who’s your friend?” I ask.

Vesper glares at me, and I smile, so she holds eye contact and smirks back at me. “Jensen.”

I shift my gaze to him, my fingers still digging into his collarbone, and I smile, but not the same way I did to Vesper. “Nice to meet you, Lucky.”

Vesper

I know I have gotten under the Jester’s skin; he is trying to act normal, but I can see the irritation. Jensen sits to my right, and Rue is on my left, while Nixie does her briefing. Getting in new hires means a morning briefing, where normally we would be left to go about our day.

Rue leans into my side. “What are you up to?”

I snort. “Giving him a taste of his own medicine.”

Rue shakes his head. “I’m not sure how smart that is—the guy is a ticking time bomb. One wrong move . . .”

That makes me laugh. “That’s what I’m hoping for.”

“As long as you know he’s watching you.”

I shrug, already aware. I can feel his eyes on me. Normally he would be closer, but today he has positioned himself in the corner, leaning against the wall, his body angled toward me instead of Nixie. Glancing over at him, I smirk. He knows I’m taunting him, which means for now Jensen is safe; the Jester will want to know what I’m up to, more than whatever he has planned for Jensen. I have no doubt he will finish what he started with him; unfortunately for Jensen, he is a means to an end. If this lasts another day, or even a month, it’s simply entertainment for me. What other alternative does Jensen have? If he runs, he is as good as dead, and he knows it. At least I buy him some time to pull his shit together and come up with a plan.

Finally, after the briefing is over and Nixie has introduced the backdrops to everyone, we are dismissed. Rue hurries off, pissed that this took so long when he has food in the oven.

Jensen follows me outside, and right on cue, the Jester falls in beside us. “You should keep a good eye on your little pet. I would hate for him to go missing.”

“He is right here,” I say.

“For now.”

Jensen says nothing, which is smart. He has to know this is a game between us by now; he doesn’t strike me as an idiot.

“Have a good day, my love,” the Jester says and walks off ahead of us.

“I’m starting to think there is more going on between you two.”

I stop and grab Jensen by the arm. “If you want a chance to dig yourself out of the mess you’re in, to have any chance of coming up with a game plan, I suggest you keep your thoughts to yourself.”