Hard Bitten - Chloe Neill [95]
“And how do you propose to do that?” Ethan asked. “What bait could we offer that would entice Celina?”
The answer was easy. “Me.”
Silence.
“You have certainly grown into your position,” Ethan dryly said. “And your willingness to take risks on behalf of the House.”
“I’m well aware that she can thoroughly kick my ass. That makes it less a risk—if more of an inevitability.”
“You are stronger than the last time you met,” he pointed out. “You’ve bested shifters since then.”
“She knocked me out with a single kick to the chest,” I pointed out, my ribs aching in sympathy. “But that’s not the point. For whatever reason, as we’ve discussed, she’s fascinated by me. If Paulie tells her I’ll be waiting, she’d probably take advantage.”
Ethan frowned. “That is probably true.”
“I have to do it,” I told him. “We’ve identified Paulie, and we know he’s involved with Celina. But we can’t close down V—halt the distribution—until we have proof, at least enough evidence to take to Tate. We don’t have to take it to the GP,” I reminded Ethan. “We only need to give Tate enough information to nail Paulie and Celina so the CPD can close the loop. If we can’t rely on the GP to bring her down,” I quietly added, “then let’s help Tate do it.”
“She has a point, hoss,” Luc quietly agreed. “She’s our best means to pull Celina out.”
After a moment, Ethan nodded. “Work your plan, Sentinel.” He tapped his watch. “But first, go get dressed.”
I only just realized that he was already prepped for dinner in a slim-fit black suit and narrow black tie. That meant he’d be waiting on me.
“I’ll go change,” I agreed. I was also going to head upstairs and use the phone number Jeff had given me to send a message to Paulie Cermak.
One way or another, I was going to find her. GP be damned, I was going to bring her down.
Much to my surprise, I found no dress hanging on my door when I returned upstairs. The last couple of times I’d had to make social appearances with Ethan, he’d given me decadent couture gowns, presumably so I wouldn’t embarrass the House with my usual jeans and tank tops. At first, I’d been offended by the gesture. But even a girl who cut her fangs on denim and Pumas could appreciate good design when it presented itself.
This time, the door was empty of all but its small bulletin board, and the closet bore only the usual pieces of my wardrobe.
Oh, well. It was probably for the best. I didn’t really have time to be the girl who needed Lanvin just to leave the House.
Without a new option, I cleaned up and stepped into one of the other dresses Ethan had supplied. It was a knee-length, black cocktail dress, with a sleeveless bodice and swingy skirt, the fabric tucked into horizontal pleats from top to bottom.
I opted for the black heels Ethan had provided with the dress, as well as a holster that went beneath the skirt and held my dagger in place against my thigh. My Cadogan medal was my only accessory, and I left my hair down, my bangs a dark fringe across my forehead.
When I was made up, I sent a message to Paulie Cermak.
“TELL MARIE I’M READY TO MEET HER.”
The message sent, I slipped the phone into a small black clutch. It was time to go play with the boys.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
V IS FOR VALOR
E than was waiting on the first floor by the newel post and looked up as I stepped onto the final stair. “You look lovely.”
“Thank you.” I smoothed my hands over the skirt self-consciously. “No objection to the fact that I’m wearing this dress again?”
Ethan’s smile was teasing. “Don’t tell me you were looking forward to receiving another one?”
“That would be ridiculous. I’m well above such juvenile concerns.”
His smile turned a little more philosophical. “You like the things you like. You take great joy in those things, and you should never be ashamed of that. The pleasure that you take in simple things—food, clothing, architecture—is a very attractive quality.”
I looked away from the warmth in his eyes. “Are we ready?”
“You have your dagger?”
“I rarely leave home without