SIX


          Robert winced as he sat down, his skin sickeningly pale under the restaurants harsh lights. Tuesday ordered two coffees from the hovering waitress. The girl smiled dazzlingly—at Robert.

“Can’t you turn that off?” she demanded sourly.

“What?” he asked, looking mildly hurt. “I can’t help it.”

“Uh-huh.”

“So how was Remmie’s party?”

“Do you really care?”

“No ma’am,” he admitted with a small smile.

“Didn’t think so. It sucked.”

“So articulate.” There was a pause in conversation as the waitress brought their coffees. Again, bright white teeth were flashed in Robert’s direction.

“I suppose I should tell you what’s going on,” she said with a quelling glance in the girl’s direction. Slow to take the hint, she eventually left.

“Good plan, kid,” he said, running his hand over his buzz cut black hair. He took a sip of coffee and waited.

“I’m pregnant.” Tuesday winced as coffee dribbled down his lips before he wiped it away.

“What? Pregnant? How? I mean—” he sputtered. “We haven’t…” He blinked. “Oh.” He settled back in his chair, crossing his arms. “Of course we haven’t.”

“How do I explain?”

“Quickly.”

“Okay,” she murmured, uneasy. “You know how sometimes things just kind of…happen?”

“Mmhm.” Tuesday sipped her coffee and stared at Robert. “Tuesday, that better not be all you have to say.” She blushed. “Details, lots of them; now.” The authoritative tone was back in his voice, the hard edge he used on the job obvious.

“Well. You remember the job we did a few months back, the…Syn case?” she asked, without waiting for an answer. “You got hurt the first day, remember? Oh…of course you do, you have the CAT scan to prove it.” She was babbling. Focus. “Anyway, while you were incapacitated I had to…infiltrate. And the quickest way to a vampire’s heart is through yours.” She tapped her chest.

“You let them bleed you?” he hissed, leaning across the table.

“No!” She glared at him angrily. “What else gets the blood flowing?” He sat back, still red, still pale. “You go a different direction. In order to find Syndy I needed information, her stomping grounds, whatever. So I went to someone for help.”

“Who?”

“Shut up, I’m talking,” Tuesday replied, looking away. She didn’t want to tell him that just yet. With a small smile, she continued, “Anyway I palled around with this guy for a bit until he gave it up—”

“After you did, I’m sure,” Robert bit out. Tuesday ignored him.    

“—And after I…well…you know…found Syndy…” Tuesday trailed off into silence.

“So, what?” Robert asked. “You’re carrying around some fucking leech’s kid?”

“Hey, it’s mine too!” she snapped.

“I’m sure you’ll make a great mom, too,” he snarled.

“Robert—”

“’No sweetie, this is a twelve-gage, mommy only uses silver shells in those’,” he mimicked.

“Please, stop—”

“So who is it?” he asked, allowing the anger into his voice.

“Adder.”

“Adder? Adder the Viper?” Robert stared at her in disbelief.

“I know it looks bad—”

“Looks bad? Nah. You only let the most villainous, disgusting, vile creature touch you, know you,” Robert snapped, “in the most Biblical sense.” He leaned closer to her. “I mean, the fuck were you thinking, kid?”

“I did what—”

“Who.”

“—I had to do to get that job done,” she growled. “And if it had been you, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

“’Cause I can’t get pregnant,” he said, “although it’s my lifelong goal. But you know, having my girlfriend knocked up by a vampire pretty much tops seeing the world in an air-balloon.”

“I’m not your girlfriend Robert,” she reminded him. “Whatever might have happened between us has been shot.” She took a deep breath. “You’re taking this way too personally.”

He stared at her for a moment before standing. “Pardon me. I hadn’t realized. I guess some women prefer the undead. I hope you and the brat have a nice life.”

“Robert!” she spat, grabbing his arm as he turned to live. “You’re not letting me finish. For whatever reason, Adder wants me to get rid of it.”

“That makes two of us,” he said.

“Pay a-fucking-tention, please!” She forced him to sit again. “You’re not listening. Adder is afraid of this.” She pointed to her stomach. “It means you’re in danger. They kidnapped you last night so I would go see him. If I don’t go with Kieran tonight, they’ll come back for you.”

“So what should I do?” he asked, pulling himself out of the emotion. First rule: never let yourself be dragged down she thought.

“Get as far away as you can, fast,” she replied. “When dusk comes, I want you to be elsewhere.” He nodded. “Don’t tell me.” Again he nodded. “Robert, there’s no way I’m giving up the one thing I have over Adder. I have a chance to bring down the sickest fuck we know. No matter how betrayed you feel, don’t lose sight of the end goal.”

“I understand,” he said coldly. His eyes had turned to steel. He was in hunter mode. Good boy.

“And remember: They wouldn’t come after you if you didn’t mean something to me.”