Ubers, smiles and diversions

Two hours flew. In that time he’d had to throw out some Z-list celebrity who thought that just because he had work done that it was one good work and two made him appealing enough to not need to pay his tab. Neither was true and he looked like someone who could have been handsome if he hadn’t been smacked with bad plastic and poor intentions. He’d also had to payoff the crew of detectives that made such things disappear. The DJ had an issue with the dedicated network setup for him and they’d almost had to clear the place as a starlet had nearly od’d in the restroom on the first floor. All in all just another night of money-laundering and club-running.



He spotted her as she entered. Thanks to the five hundred micro cameras and mic’s hidden through out he was able to track her path from the curb through the club up to the Indigo Suite. He moved as she did entering from the employees entrance hidden out of sight via two alcoves. One of the man reasons the club’s opening had been delayed was the employees only access to the various VIP areas free of the clubs guest side foot traffic. It insured that service could be uninterrupted by virtually anything as well as offered means of egress without notice. It also taken several revamps of the cities blueprints of the club so as the space remained undocumented. Several thousand dollars of greased palms and it was a done deal. The employees areas were never shown on any blueprints.



Moving to her as she entered he took both her hands in his looking her over a smile on his face. “Its good to see you. So I wasn’t sure what flavor poison you liked so the sky’s the limit as they say." He said motioning to the wet bar set up with a width and variety seldom appointed to such rooms. Usually the guest had a tiered menu laid out for them to choose. “As its just the two of us I guess I am your bartender unless you’d like to do the honors…”

Her twirl was much appreciated she definitely was wearing that dress. The gold highlights hugging her while showing the goods. He smirked as she did the hidden meaning not lost on him. He’d not be doing the same as while the bulldog on his ankle was hidden the cut of his suit upon any real inspection would show the nine milli at the base of his spine under his coat. From a distance it was invisible but up close it was clear to anyone who knew what to look for.



“Damn girl you found a way to look even better or maybe I misremember our first meeting.” He didn’t hide the pure predatory gaze from her. It was better if they spoke with no games. “Thank you. Much appreciated." He said as she volunteered for bar duty and he accepted the glass of cognac from her. He could drink all night but decided against it a double of the good stuff was fine for now.



Watching her move behind the bar after taking a quick appraisal it was clear she was as skilled as her bar reputation stated. “So you disappeared. I guess the message wasn’t too well received. But with lal the trouble they were in the Triad stopped shooting their shot at me. Course word is there is a quarter mil on the wood for a shot at you.” He sipped slowly letting that sink in. Most would off their own mama’s for half that. He didn’t need the drama and she was worth more alive as a sign that he could do what he said he could. She was as safe with him as could be. The truth was even if they’d offered ten times that she was worth more alive as a black eye to them.

Lord settled and sipped as she corrected him and yet glossed over so much. He appreciated the truth and ignored the deception. It was the way of things. After such an initial meeting he’d hoped for more and yet wasn’t surprised. Everyone looked after their own.



" Yeah can’t say how they got their hands on a bigshot legal piece like Vainqueur. He’s a high priced mouth piece. And for him to lose that’s a rough break. Lotta money wasted. So you went home and got back-up that’s a good. Can you count on any of them now?"



He asked questions bouncing around the obvious. The obvious was he was deciding how much more to extend himself. Keeping her alive was worth a lot but he’d already spent a good deal to insure that and look for her. He was literally considering how valuable she was to him as they sipped and talked.



" I am glad you’re okay thats really good news."

He thrummed his fingers om the bar absently as he thought it through. "Okay, so your boy is no help right now. But I'd lobe to meet him. Sounds like the sort of guy I need to be friends with." Sipping he went on.

"Yeah it wasnt a bad movie but really you win every chance cause once you start losing its a hard habit to break." He caught the control wgen mentioning the lawyer. That said hed look into him. He was hoping for a coincidence he was the guy after all how many New Orleans transplants could there be operating in LA right now.

"So, Miss Vharos the offer still stand and we didn't shake on it so you could back out anytime. Whats it gonna be we workin or we just drinkin and leaving?"

Lord chuckled as she all but outed her friend and it made sense a little. He had no idea that the Kashyapa was so volatile. Or handy when things hit the fan. " That I do. I know exactly who your friend is and well when it comes to just sheer tissue mass well…"



Laughing at his own joke he went on. " So heres the thing your friend and I have a mutual ally in the Mayor. But for us both to keep our standings we have to stay winners. The triads have a similar arrangement though less specific. In short if we go to war openly we can all catch a beat down. The plan is simple make the Triads aware that if they screw with you they screw with me. There’s a few ways we can do that. The first way is the easiest. We could just infect you and let them know. Or I can give you a job where you’d be seen and known as one of mine."

He watched her wheels spin and he knew as she levelled her gaze that she was in. She wanted the bug. He’d have thought different. Being infected was a one-way ticket to being public enemy number one in most non lycanthrope circles. Plus, if word got out it was a sure fire mark against any chance at anything public no doctors no teachers no police or any of that. He didn’t think Dawn would try for any of that he however knew however that any proven destruction of property or criminal actions were automatic felonies and any felonies were considered death penalty cases.



"Yeah. Gonna hurt worse than anything you been through unless you want the easy way. But the easy upfront means a lot to pay on the back end. Every shifter I know been infected the easy way has a hard time surviving. Somethin about getting infected requires blood and pain. The ones who don’t pay that always get the short end of the stick. Don’t know why but its truest thing I seen. Every single solitary time."



He sipped waiting on her to decide but her word was all he really needed and would still give her a way out if she chose.

"Good choice by the way. And no not here. Only way we could even try anything here wpuld ne sexual. I try to keep the peace here its kind of a Sanctuary." He said ignoring the obvious that as male and especially as Rex he wouldn't raise a hand against her unless she forced his hand.

If she challenged him then wellball bets were off and the blood would fly. It was tje way of lions. The lionesses were safe from predation unless they challenged then all bets were off. Usually that would mean a display of power which in small minds meant sex willing or otherwise. He even unconnected never went that route. Though he knew most did. In fact most Rexes used the lionesses as their personal harem and whipping toys.

He was cut from a different cloth.

Finishing his drink he slid the glass to her signalling for a reload.

"Until we get you infected we'll get you to the compound and get you around the Pride. Itll teach you some of what we are. "