“Miss Jin! I am so sorry, I didn’t realize this was your… acquaintance. Please forgive me!” the host stammers, all his previous haughtiness evaporated.

“Hello, thank you for the… loan,” I say to Raven, who’s casually strolling past the now-apologetic host, still trailing a wisp of smoke. “I have some questions I want to ask you.”

"Oh, honey… answers? Such… precious commodities. They do come at a price, you know." she pulled closer and whispered into my ears. "But for you, Val… I might be persuaded to offer a… special discount. Come to the auction house tomorrow night… and if you can… intrigue me… well, let's just say I'm feeling rather… generous."

Sounds like trouble.

“Raven. Who’s that with you?” That familiar, obnoxious voice echoes through the hall.

“Master Lawrence, please!” His servants scramble to keep up.

"Oh, dear… such a… distraction. My appetite has… vanished." Raven murmurs, turning with a sigh.

The young man, Lawrence, promptly blocks her path. “Please. That’s who you’re spending your time with, Raven?” He points a manicured finger at me. “He’s… wait, twenty million?!”

“How do you even know about that?” I mutter, genuinely confused by his sudden appearance and knowledge.

“Money can buy anything. Including discretion. Or perhaps… Raven’s attention. Which, frankly, is far more valuable,” Lawrence says with a self-satisfied smirk, his eyes fixed on Raven.

Raven gracefully slips to the side, Wilfred smoothly stepping in to intercept Lawrence. With a flick of her wrist, Raven turns and saunters back towards her waiting vehicle, her heels clicking on the polished floor. Just before the door closes, she pauses, blowing me a kiss. “Honey, do be a dear and… take care of that… eyesore for me, would you?” The car door slams shut, and the vehicle speeds off.

Lawrence whirls around, glaring at me with undisguised fury. Well, I guess this is a surprise for both of us. I meet his gaze evenly. “So, what did you want with me? I know you followed me.”

“You’re new. I can tell,” he sneers, stepping close, invading my personal space. “Let me give you some free advice. Raven is… under my protection, shall we say. It would be…”

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Before he can launch into his predictable tirade, I smoothly draw the obsidian knife from my waist, the dark blade glinting in the light. I press the edge lightly against his throat.

I really can’t stand these cliché idiot millionaire brat speeches. Blah, blah, my woman. Blah, blah, you’ll regret it. It’s always the same.

“Master Lawrence!” His servants instantly swarm around us, a flurry of panicked movement.

So much for keeping a low profile. I need to find Bailey, and fast. Raven’s clearly a whole other level of complicated. This millionaire idiot will have to do for now.

“You imbeciles! Do something!” Lawrence screeches at his servants. “I am the grandson of Duke Lucretier! If…”

“Blah, blah, your grandpa won’t save you now,” I interrupt, rolling my eyes. “Shut it, or I’ll shut it for you.” I press the knife a little closer, just enough to draw a bead of blood.

I have to admit, this is kind of fun. I feel like I’m in an action movie.

Lawrence is now completely silent, trembling like a leaf. The servants, even the restaurant host, are frozen in place. You could hear a pin drop.

“Listen up,” I announce to the room. “I have nothing to do with Raven Jin. We only met today. It’s a purely business arrangement.” I pause for dramatic effect. “Now, get us a private room. Lawrence and I need a little… chat. Anyone who’s seen anything is coming with us.”

“This way…” The host, pale and sweating, practically sprints towards a private hallway, leading us to a large, luxurious room.

I spot a servant with a strange, gun-like device strapped to his waist. “You,” I point at him. “Hand over the weapon.”

He hesitates, but one glare from Lawrence sends him scrambling to obey. I take the weapon, a sleek, metallic thing, and point it directly at my own head. I pull the trigger.

Pew!

“Ahhh!?!?” Lawrence’s scream echoes through the room. But I’m perfectly fine, not a hair out of place. Everyone stares in stunned silence.

“Just a little demonstration,” I say, lowering the weapon. “Consider it a warning. Don’t try anything funny. Nothing will stop me. Any funny business, any strange noises, any extra people showing up, and his life ends. Instantly.” I fix them all with a steely gaze. “Nothing that happens in this room leaves this room. Understood?”

I’ll probably erase all their memories after this anyway. Just to be safe.

“I just need two things, and then I’ll let him go,” I say calmly. “Adamantine—as much as you can get your hands on—and I need you to figure out who this number connects to.” I show them the number the bounty hunter at the bar gave me.

Nobody moves after my command. “Go!” I repeat, nudging the obsidian knife a little closer to Lawrence’s throat.

“Go! You idiots! Move!” Lawrence yells, his voice cracking and tears welling in his eyes. “There’s some adamantine in my private vault! Grab it!”

“You won’t get away with…” Lawrence begins, glaring at me.

He really needs to work on his villainous monologues. They’re a bit cliché.

“Oh, I think I will,” I interrupt, giving him a cheerful smile. “And you really, really want me to. Because if I don’t, well… I’m taking you and everyone else in this room down to hell with me. Raven was right about one thing: you’re an idiot. If you keep threatening me, I’ll just kill you and everyone here before I leave.”

The room falls into a heavy silence once more. I wait patiently.