The Blood In the Beginning Read Online Free Page A

this way, how long have you been here?’
    What part of homegrown did he not understand? ‘Born here,’ I said slowly, ‘in LA, all twenty-four years of my life.’
    He pressed his lips together. ‘Good. Well done.’
    The whole exchange had me lost and so did looking into those hazel-blue eyes. This close, I could see flecks of violet.
    â€˜You’re an undergraduate? UCLA?’
    â€˜How …’
    â€˜Don’t be surprised, Ava. We run background checks on potential employees.’
    This — including Billy’s initial approach — had to be Cate’s doing. I made a mental note to thank her. Except a background check was not on my top ten list of favourite things. I wasn’t worried though. Working security for Daniel Bane? How could it get better than that?
    â€˜Drink?’ he asked.
    I caught a whiff of Scotch and frowned. At four in the afternoon? ‘No, thank you.’
    â€˜Of course,’ he said as if just remembering, ‘you’ll be starting tonight.’ It wasn’t a question.
    â€˜Wow. Thanks.’ I’d miss out on the scheduled full night’s sleep, but suddenly I didn’t feel the least bit tired.
    â€˜If you’re worried about your old job, don’t be.’
    I’d forgotten about it completely, which was weird. Maybe I should muster up a little more concern. ‘My loyalties to Lucky Lounge are …’
    â€˜Admirable,’ he cut in.
    â€˜I was going to say flexible. I’m part-time.’
    â€˜No-time, at this point. Lucky Lounge shut down today, license suspended for a month.’
    That was gonna hurt. ‘Guess I’m out of a job.’ I felt a smile creep over my face.
    â€˜We’d like to take you on trial here.’
    One door closes, another opens . ‘Is that a trial with full pay?’ I’d heard of trials that went on forever, at slave wages.
    â€˜This may encourage you.’ Daniel wrote a figure on a piece of paper. He folded it in half and slid it across the smooth tabletop. How formal was this guy?
    I opened the note. Just what I thought, slave wages. ‘This much per shift isn’t …’
    â€˜Per hour.’
    â€˜Oh … that’s good then.’ I unleashed the smile completely. Top dollar in my industry.
    He tapped the note with a long, manicured finger. ‘With six- to eight-hour shifts, three nights a week. Will that work for you?’
    â€˜Awesome!’ Okay, in this moment, sophisticated I was not, but my financial worries had lightened up on the spot. This would cover rent, and make up for the shortfall I owed on my tuition. I guess a place this upmarket could afford top wages. I knew Cate made a bundle, even without tips.
    He chuckled, his eyes sparkling. ‘Can you be back here at nine?’ Daniel took my giddy expression and head nodding for a yes. ‘Jason, head of security, will show you the ropes. You can report to him.’ He looked at his Rolex. ‘I’ll walk you up.’
    â€˜Terrific. Thanks.’
    Daniel leaned toward me and said something light and playful, which didn’t register. I was suddenly too preoccupied to compute his words, thinking either the guy ate raw meat for lunch, or … I laughed inwardly. He probably had just been to the dentist. How else would he have the scent of blood on his breath? ‘Thank you.’ Great. Now I was repeating myself.
    â€˜It’s good to have you on board,’ Daniel went on, oblivious to my inner dialogue, though his expression did look a little perplexed.
    I nodded, repressing the urge to keep thanking him. In this business, it was best not to come across as a complete suck-up. I stood, and he was beside me in one graceful movement.
    The walk across the floor dazed me; the music pounding, dancers gyrating and the cages lit up in bright lights. I’d gone from employed to unemployed to well-employed in one second flat. Hard to