Blood Noir - Laurell K. Hamilton [102]
I looked at them from Rowe and Shadwell’s perspective. Even if you couldn’t feel the otherworldly energy rolling off them, no self-respecting guard would let them inside any room. They just needed signs that said bad ass. No, strike that, they didn’t need signs. It was too obvious to need anything else but them standing there.
“I don’t know how to explain this to you, Shadwell, Rowe, but they are the bodyguards of my friend. They won’t move out of the way as long as you have guns out. I appreciate the guns not being pointed at anyone, but they’re just doing their job.”
“We’re trying to do ours, too,” Shadwell said. He risked a tiny glance my way, then put all his attention back to the men in the hallway. “But you do not make it easy to guard you, Ms. Blake.”
I didn’t correct him to add the Marshal. I wasn’t feeling very marshally right now. I was sore, and tired, and scared, and I wanted badly to talk to the wolves in the hall.
I made my own gun more visible against the door frame, simply by moving my hand up. “Oh, I don’t know, Shadwell, I think I do a pretty good job of protecting myself.”
My voice sounded so confident. Good for me; inside I was screaming. I could feel Richard just a few yards away. He had to be here for a very good reason, and the only reason I could think of was to help me, or tell me something, like why I couldn’t feel Jean-Claude metaphysically. I wanted some answers, I needed some help, but me hysterical wouldn’t get the guards to move. Okay, maybe it would, but if I lost it that badly, it wouldn’t be pretend. I didn’t want to be that weak in front of the werewolves. Shang-Da didn’t really like me much. He thought I was bad for their Ulfric. There were nights I agreed with him.
“Don’t make me come out there, Shadwell.”
“That a threat?” he asked.
“No, more a plea, I can’t find a robe. I’d rather not flash the hallway.”
It was Rowe who gave me a longer glance than he should have, with what was standing in the hallway. All he could see was an arm to the shoulder, but there’s something about telling some men that you’re naked. It makes them a little distracted.
“Eyes front,” Shadwell said.
Rowe did what he was told.
“I can’t explain this to you, Shadwell, but I need them inside with me.”
“Why?” he asked, without turning his gaze from the men in the hall.
What could I say that would make sense, and not out Richard further than he already was? Nothing came to mind.
Crispin came up behind me. He whispered, “Why do you need them when you have me?”
I gave him a look that has made bad guys run for cover. He lowered his head, almost a bow. “Fine, fine, don’t waste the full look on me.”
“The stripper slept over,” Rowe said, and his voice made it sound like he didn’t approve.
“Who I sleep with is none of your business, Rowe.”
“How many men you have in there?” he asked.
“None of your business,” I said.
“It is if we’re supposed to guard you.”
“Then go, just go. I don’t need you. I don’t want you. Go.”
The stripper in question walked a few steps away and came back with the suit coat of the other tiger. Why hadn’t I thought of that? Too easy, too hard.
Crispin stood in the doorway, obviously nude. We moved back enough from the door so I wasn’t in view while he held the coat for me. He helped me into it while I traded hands back and forth with the gun.
“We can’t leave without orders,” Shadwell said.
“Fuck your orders,” I said. I was glad that the red tiger was tall and broad. It meant that his suit jacket covered me completely, almost to my knees. Crispin helped me button it. I looked like I was five and playing dress-up in my father’s clothes, but I didn’t care. I was covered, and that was all that counted.
I stepped out into the hallway, and realized that my gun was still in my left hand. I did practice left-handed. You never knew when you’d need both hands, or injure your right. But it wasn’t comfortable. But as I moved into the hallway,