“You’re not coming.”
“Am too.”
I sighed. Dense, stubborn, etcetera. “Prudence called me. Whatever that Salimah lady complained about with running into someone who looked like me? Prue says the same thing. Someone tried to break into her grandma’s shop tonight, over in Little China.”
Sterling guffawed. “And you’re just going to show up, alone? Just like that? What if it’s a trap? Or what if it really was that Thea psycho in disguise?”
“It’s – if it was Thea, then I’d have backup. And Prudence is still a friend. She wouldn’t set a trap for me.” I looked down at my hands, then back up at Sterling. “Right?”
He folded his arms slowly, his brow creasing as he did. “You going out there just because she called is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”
The blood rose to my cheeks. “Say what you want, but it’s not going to stop me. Get out of my way.”
To my surprise, Sterling stepped aside wordlessly. It made me stop in my tracks. I guess I was expecting a fight. He saw the look on my face, and shrugged.
“I’m not going to stop you.”
“You’re going to tell, aren’t you?” I stabbed a finger at his chest and regretted it almost immediately. Dead bodies were freezing cold, especially in the evening Valero chill, and vampires were no exception. It was like poking a slab of ice. “You’re gonna stay here and blab.”
Sterling chuckled and swatted my hand aside. “I’m not that petty, Graves. Not everyone gives that much of a shit about you.”
Something glimmered in my chest, bright and hopeful. “So – so you think I could be doing the right thing?”
He laughed. “It’s a terrible idea. Probably the worst you’ve ever had.” He brought his Zippo to his cigarette, and flicked. “I’ll come with.”
“You – I don’t – ”
He shoved me in the back. “Shut the fuck up and lead the way.”
I stopped, squinting at him. “Why are you being so nice to me? Why are you coming along?”
He shrugged. “I’m trying this new thing where I try to be a good teammate.” He grinned, fangs gleaming in the streetlight. “And if there’s a fight – well, I could always eat.”
Chapter 6
“There’s this great xiao long bao place just down that street.”
I eyed Sterling cautiously. I’d been there once for soup dumplings, with Thea, of all people. “You sure know a lot about food for a dead guy.”
“We’ve been through this. I don’t process calories.” He puffed on his cigarette, then stubbed it out on the sidewalk. “And you sure need a lot of bodyguarding for someone who’s supposed to be a mage.”
That stung more than it should have. “Hey. I didn’t ask you to come with me, so – ”
“Shh. Shut your stupid mouth, we’re here.”
Here was the outside of a Chinese apothecary, a nondescript little shop with wood-clad windows, one of which was shattered, the asphalt lined in fragments of glass. The store shone warmly from the inside, incandescence spilling onto the dew-damp sidewalk. Little brass chimes tinkled as Prudence pushed her way through the door.
“Look at this mess,” she said, lips tight with annoyance, though she must have known that I didn’t have anything to do with it. If I was responsible, would I really have come back to the scene of the crime? “My grandmother’s terrified.”
“I’m – sorry? I really don’t know what to say, except that I didn’t do this.”
Prudence’s eyes were still hard, but she spoke kindly. “No, I know. I believe. But did you have to bring this one with you?”
“Hey,” Sterling said, one finger raised. “You’d think I’d get better treatment now that you’re dating my buddy, but no. It’s prejudiced. You’re prejudiced.”
Prudence groaned. The door chime tinkled again, and this time Gil emerged. I honestly shouldn’t have been surprised that he was already there.
“He’s cool,” Gil said, patting Prudence on the shoulder. “Hardly ever shuts up, but Sterling’s cool.” He nodded at me, then at the glass on the ground. “Whoever’s dressing up as you did a number on Madam Chien’s shop.”