Taste of Karma (Sinner's Keepers #2) - Heather Long Page 0,2

might not think I remembered, but he hated Dallas. Always had. He was more of a thrill chaser, snowboarding off of the highest peaks in Europe or scuba diving in the Bermuda Triangle. Hell, bull riding was what brought him to Texas in the first place. And it wasn’t like Sin couldn’t incite a little harmless sin from anywhere.

That was what attracted me to him in the first place, dammit. I had a thing for the bad boys. Sue me.

“You know this is his bar, right?” she said through gasping breaths and misty eyes.

“Like he doesn’t have hundreds of these places all over the world in his favorite haunts,” I grumbled and gave it up. This was my time to relax, soak in a little me time. Not spend it waxing about all the ways Cipher irritated me these days. “Give me—”

Cipher walked in through the back hallway with Bish on his heels. I didn’t need ten guesses to figure out what they had been doing. Actually, considering the sand trailing in their wake, maybe I did.

“You know what, Quetta? Give me A Short Trip to Hell. Seems fitting.”

Shaking her head, she took the glass and swayed over to the back counter where a plethora of hard liquors, mixers, and beautiful garnishes all waited for her to use them. And use them she would in my beautiful cocktail.

I hopped on a stool, leaning my back against the wooden bar while I waited for the drink I ordered every single time Cipher and Bish were here. Out of the corner of my eye, I tracked the two Keepers in question as they settled on their favorite stools on the very end. They pretended not to see me, and I returned the favor.

I could still enjoy an hour or so here before heading home. Maybe even dole out a dose or two of karma on my way out. Who knew? The night was young.

“Sorry about that,” Váli purred as he slid onto the bar stool next to me, effectively blocking out Sin and Death.

Yay.

Shrugging, I tipped my head toward him, my new lustrous raven hair catching my attention over my shoulder. I really did love this color. It was so black, it almost seemed like there was blue in it. Inky perfection. “I get it.”

“Ah, I see Sunny and Hattie really made up.” He nodded toward the couple who were now twined around each other in the darkened corner.

“They’ll be out of here in the next ten minutes. How much?” A mischievous grin curled my lips as I flicked a glance at Váli. His answering smile almost had my toes curling.

Okay, who was I kidding? They totally did.

“Hmm, I’d rather wager something else. How about if they leave between now and ten minutes, I’ll complete one boon for you, but if they leave after that, then…” He smirked, his green eyes darkening to obsidian. “Then you’ll attend me on a vengeance run of my choice.”

“If you win, we won’t leave now? How do you know I won’t be busy when you want to exact a little comeuppance?” This actually sounded like fun. Karma and vengeance were so intertwined, I could be a wingman for him in a way I couldn’t for the other Keepers.

And let’s face it, a little deserved retribution was much more interesting than watching time.

“I’ll know.” He winked.

Váli could be such a terrible flirt. Still…I side-eyed him as Quetta slid me my drink. Only mine. Nothing for Váli. He shot her a smile, more teeth than sweet, and she just gave him a dour look.

“Oh, Quetta, my love…”

“Don’t,” she snapped at him. “Not one word out of that mouth if you know what’s good for you.”

My eyebrows climbed as I ping-ponged my glance between them. Hands on her hips, Quetta wore active bitch face like a fucking challenge, and Váli seemed torn between charging at it like a bull after a matador’s cape or obeying her.

Me? I just took a sip of my rich red drink and savored the heat blossoming in my belly with the fruity chaser. One could almost call it a Jägergasm of fruity proportions—sweet on the outside, with a fucking nasty ass punch on the inside.

As if drawn by the thought, I checked out Cipher via the mirror. His gaze locked on mine, even as a smirk curled his lips. Fucker winked at me and his smile grew, at least until I scoffed and refocused my attention to the stare-off between Váli and Quetta. From