After one lingering look at Guy, Bianca let Tony lead her into the club.
THERE WERE A handful of high tables next to the dance floor. The best seats in the house and always full. But when we strolled in, bouncers were already clearing two.
A server approached. "Mr. Benoit just called--"
"And said give us whatever we want," Jaz cut in. To me, "You drink tequila?"
I didn't, not straight, but I said yes. Hope Adams might not down tequila shots, but I was sure Faith Edmonds would.
Jaz ordered a bottle and Max asked for Scotch.
"Where's Sonny?" Jaz asked.
>
"Took off," Tony said. "Bathroom, maybe."
We settled in, Jaz, Tony and me at one table, Bianca, Max and Rodriguez at the other.
The server returned.
Jaz stared at the bottle of cheap tequila. "Holy shit, you trying to poison us? The good stuff. The best stuff."
Her gaze darted around the table. "Mr. Benoit didn't say--"
"Then call him. Or, better yet..."
He was lifting his cell phone when Sonny appeared, a bottle of Patron Silver tequila in one hand and Glenlivet single-malt Scotch in the other.
"I didn't trust them to fill the order right," he said.
"Bro, you are a lifesaver. Grab a seat--" Jaz looked at the three chairs, already taken.
He pushed his chair back and tugged my arm, patting his lap. I obliged as Sonny passed the Scotch to Max, then opened the tequila.
"Guy is going to kick your asses," Tony said, waving at the bottle.
We glanced at Bianca, waiting for her to tell us to stop.
"Jaz can handle it," she said, mouth tight as she passed Max her glass.
"Sure, I can." Jaz grinned, the subtext--that Guy wouldn't chastise him for anything--flying over his head. "We deserve this." He handed me the first tequila shot. "Faith deserves this. When's the last time we pulled off a big job without a hitch? Without one scratch or one close call? We owe that to our newest recruit. The minute someone even thought of causing trouble, she knew it. How cool is that?"
"How fucking useful is that?" Rodriguez said, shaking his head. "Do you know how many times I could have used your power, Faith? Would have saved me a whole lotta time in juvvie."
"But then you wouldn't have gotten all that special high-tech training," Jaz said. "And put it to such good use."
A round of laughter. I glanced around, unaccustomed to talking so openly about my powers, but no one was close enough to overhear. With the booming music, we could barely hear each other.
Jaz lifted his shot glass and whispered, "Ready?" Then, ignoring the salt and lime on the plate, we downed them together. The tequila hit my gut like a fireball and I struggled not to gasp. Jaz's arms vibrated around me as he laughed, silently, not giving me away.
"So you really can read minds?" Tony asked as he finished his shot.
"Only chaotic thoughts. Sometimes."
Jaz shook his head. "Most times, judging by that demonstration at the hall."
Tony leaned forward. "So what am I thinking now?"