The stranger laughed. “Filthy habit, I’m told. And the company is often lacking. I can’t say that’s true tonight.” He stuck out his hand. “My name’s Liam. Liam Bell.”
Zane offered his hand and his name, finding himself growing warmer with the overt flirtation. Liam’s hand was rough and strong, and Zane liked the feel of it as he gripped it.
Liam continued to pat his pockets, a frown creasing his brow. “I seem to have misplaced my lighter; you wouldn’t mind if I nicked yours, would you?”
Zane placed his cigarette in his mouth and searched his pockets for his new lighter, but all he found was the pack of cigarettes and his wallet. He glanced around the brick wall to see if he’d set it down on a ledge, but it was nowhere to be found.
“Slippery buggers, aren’t they?”
Zane snorted. “If I hadn’t just lit up, I’d say my boyfriend stole it like he usually does.”
“Oh dear, that’s unfortunate.”
“What is? That he disapproves of smoking?”
“To say the least, yes. That you have a boyfriend at all is distressing.”
Zane choked on a laugh, growing warmer still.
“I’m sorry, I forget you Yanks are more coy than I’m accustomed to.”
Zane dismissed the apology with a wave. “It’s okay. I’m just sorry I don’t have a light now.”
Liam looked down at the cigarette in his hand and sighed. “Well. I suppose it won’t hurt me to miss one.”
Zane had a free pass for the weekend; he sure as hell wasn’t going to miss any. He was going to have to buy another lighter. He glanced over the crestfallen look on Liam’s face and shook his head. “We can’t have that.”
Liam arched an eyebrow, his lips curving into a smirk. He placed his cigarette in his mouth and stepped closer to Zane. Zane had to duck his head to place the tips of both cigarettes together, and Liam’s hand came up to cup them, brushing Zane’s face. Zane put a hand on Liam’s shoulder, holding him still. He had to close his eyes, because being that close to the man made his stomach flutter, and no one had done that to him since the last time he’d kissed Ty.
He sucked on the cigarette, stoking it enough to heat Liam’s and start it burning. Liam stepped away, nodding his thanks as Zane’s hand dragged across his shoulder. He blew smoke away from Zane’s face and winked. “Best chance encounter I’ve had tonight.”
Zane laughed uncomfortably and licked his lips, putting the cigarette in his mouth again so he wouldn’t have to say anything.
They stood together, enjoying their cigarettes and the warm night, watching the different sorts of people passing. A man in a top hat and cape strolled by, clicking a walking stick on the pavement. A woman rode the other way on a bike, fairy wings and ribbons fluttering behind her.
“It’s an odd sort of place, yeah?” Liam commented. Zane laughed. “That’s a big son of a bitch right there,” Liam added. He nodded toward the intersection as a man walked across the street. Zane’s eyes followed. It was unusual to encounter people that made Zane feel small.
“Hey Zane!” Ty called from the pool of light around the door of the tavern.
Zane glanced toward him and waved. “Be there in a minute.”
“Your boyfriend?” Liam asked.
“Yeah.”
Liam glanced toward the light. Ty was joined by the others and they stood around talking and laughing, waiting for Zane. It was dark enough in Zane’s alcove for Liam and Zane to stare without fear of being seen ogling them.
Liam looked Zane up and down one last time. “Lucky him,” he drawled.
Zane glanced at him, surprised. Typically when people saw Ty, the response Zane expected was “lucky you.”
“Perhaps I’ll see you around again. Without your boyfriend,” Liam added, giving Zane another wink before he turned and made his way down the darkened sidewalk, away from the tavern.
Zane took a step to watch him walk away. He had no intention of ever being with someone else again, but he could see why Ty enjoyed a harmless flirtation now and then. It was quite the ego booster. And kind of a turn-on. He wanted to get Ty back to the hotel and into a bed now. Thank you, stranger. He pursed his lips, turning his back on Liam Bell’s retreating form and strolling toward Ty and the others.
Ty put a hand around his waist when he joined them. “Making friends?”
Zane shook his head. “Arranging a tryst for later tonight.”
“Oh yeah?” Ty asked, his tone as casual as Zane’s had been. “Well, what happens in NOLA . . . goes home with an STD.”
A scream tore through the night and interrupted their laughter. Zane wasn’t the first to push through the door of the bar, but he could see the commotion over the shoulders of the men in front of him. A woman was in hysterics, being held in place by two men who were trying to ascertain what had frightened her so much. She finally gave up on words and pointed to the tiny bathrooms at the back of the bar.
A red stiletto sat in the doorway, blocking the door open. Beyond, Zane could see one bare foot on the floor.
Nick forced his way through the crowd, reaching the bathrooms first. “I’m a cop, I’m a cop, move aside,” he kept repeating, until he’d almost cleared out the area. One look into the bathroom was all he needed. He didn’t even try to step in to check the girl. He turned to them and gave a curt nod. “Call it in,” he said. “And don’t let anybody leave.”
Owen and Digger had stayed near the entrance, and they closed in to block the doors, preventing anyone inside from exiting. The patrons began to protest, panic building as they realized they were trapped.
“Everyone stay calm,” Zane called out, raising his badge so people could see it. “Remain calm until the police arrive and we’ll get this sorted out. We’re containing the scene and material witnesses, that’s all this is. We thank you for your cooperation.”
The crowd began to calm with his words. Nick nodded to him and smiled gamely. None of them were armed because neither Ty nor Zane had been given the chance to get their weapons before they’d been kidnapped. And it was merely luck that Zane still had his badge on him. He was surprised Ty hadn’t flashed his as well to help him calm people. Zane took a moment to glance around the bar for his partner. But Ty was gone.
Nick knelt at the door to the tiny bathroom and peered through the crack left by the shoe wedged in it. He had no jurisdiction down here, but it was ingrained to try to preserve a crime scene and that’s what he’d done. He felt someone kneel beside him, and was surprised to find Zane instead of Ty there.