“Why are you making Lucien a cake? Why does he get a cake?” Jayden mumbled as he spooned a healthy helping of mashed potatoes onto his plate.
Haley, his mate, slapped Jayden’s hand when he dug in his spoon for another helping. “Save some for someone else, Jayden,”
“Yeah, Jayden. Quit being a pig.” Damon’s tone smacked of sarcasm.
“No, really, Granny. Why did you make Lucien a cake and not me? I’m your grandson.” Jayden’s brows drew together and he stabbed a piece of meat onto his fork.
“It’s not your birthday. When it’s your birthday, I’ll make your favorite cake too. Or trifle. You do love my chocolate trifle.” Granny patted his hand before passing a large bowl of green beans to him.
Damon snorted and whispered something to Jayden that sounded like “pussy.”
Barrett shoveled a forkful of buttery mashed potatoes into his mouth, grateful he was left out of this conversation. The less he said, the better.
“It’s Lucien’s birthday?” Jaxon’s head jerked up. He looked around the table. “I didn’t know that.”
“I don’t think he wanted anyone to know. I had to drag it out of him while I was in line at the grocery store. That boy is more tight-lipped than you, Barrett.” She pointed her fork at him.
“Lucky bastard,” Barrett mumbled and then shoved more potatoes in his mouth.
Guilt ached in his stomach. Maybe he shouldn’t have sent Lucien on such a dangerous mission since it was his birthday. Who was he kidding? If he hadn't sent Lucien, then a lot of them might not see their next birthday.
He’d had no choice. It had to be done.
“That’s probably why he wanted to go ride the Pig Trail. To celebrate his birthday.” Damon shrugged.
“Hey, we should go.” Ava, Damon’s mate and all-around troublemaker, brightened and elbowed Damon in the side. “We should ride the Pig Trail.”
Damon gave a lustful look at Ava. “How about I ride you instead?”
“Damon! No sex talk at the table.” Granny pursed her lips and then held up a finger. “Unless it involves my new line of vibrating panties.”
Just like that, his appetite was gone. Barrett threw his fork down and pushed away from the table.
***
Catty woke to the rhythmic, hypnotic strains of jazz drifting up from under her window, played by a lone saxophonist.
While tourists and some New Orleans residents might find this a lovely way to wake up, she did not. Every time she heard the sounds of saxophone music, it made her stomach twist into knots. For her, it meant another night of working in the club.
The light outside had faded to a light purple, soon to slip into inky darkness of night. Soon the energy of the city would change, become something darker, something stronger.
Turning over, she grabbed her phone.
Eight fifteen.
She blinked, remembering what day it was. Tonight was her night off.
She lay back and stared up at the ceiling. Her mind wandered to her friend.
Jill was leaving, getting out, starting over.
It was something Catty had longed to do but hadn’t dared voice, too afraid if she spoke it out loud it would disappear like wisp of smoke. Like a wish on a birthday cake, those hopes had to be kept silent until they grew into reality.
Her phone shrilled to life.
She grabbed it off the night stand composed of a stack of secondhand books.
“Hello?”
“We had one of the girls not make her shift, and we’re going to need you to come in and work.” Celine’s raspy voice made her heart sink.
“It’s my night off. I haven’t had a night off for two weeks now.” Her stomach twisted. She’d planned on treating herself to dinner at Muriel’s Jackson Square, her favorite restaurant.
“The club needs you.” Celine’s brusque tone was sharp and unrelenting.
She caught the meaning behind Celine’s words. If Big Mike found out she didn’t show up for work, he might take it out on her with his fists.
He’d never laid a hand on her, but she’d seen some of the girls after they’d refused to come in for a shift. They’d been short one night and Mary had had the night off. She’d made plans with some friends who were in town. When she said she couldn’t cover the shift, Big Mike had done a number on her. It had taken her two weeks to heal from the bruises on her face.
She shuddered and cleared her throat. “I just woke up, so it will be a while before I’m ready.”
“Good girl. Make sure you look extra nice tonight. There’s an urology conference in town tonight, so we are expecting a big crowd.”
She flung the phone across the bed and stared at the piece of plastic. She contemplated tossing it against the wall and breaking it into a million pieces so she couldn't be reached. But it wouldn’t matter if she had a phone or not. Big Mike would find her.