“Desiree belongs to Concepcion’s coven and Eliza, to Hector’s.”

“Oh, that’s just great.”

Bennett thought for a moment, her lower brain working much harder than her upper one. “Would you like to leave?”

“What?”

“I don’t know about you, but I suddenly would prefer spending the evening doing something else. Of course, I’ve ushered in a lot more New Year’s than you, so if you’d prefer to stay here then—”

“No,” Ruby said, taking Bennett’s hand. “Actually, I’d…um…I’d like to get out of here. See what you have under those leather pants of yours.”

A sly leer crossed Bennett’s face. “Skin, darling. Nothing but skin.”

***

Ruby left the goodbyes up to Bennett, preferring to stay as far away from the newcomers as possible, and it wasn’t long before she was climbing into the back of the limousine. “What about Gus and Cathleen?” Ruby said when the driver closed the door. “Aren’t they coming?”

“No. The driver will return for them once he drops us off. They both wanted to stay until the fireworks, and I didn’t see a reason to change their plans. Max assured me they’d be fine, and he does put on a good show.”

“Oh,” Ruby said, eyeing Bennett. “Look, if you want to stay—”

“I don’t,” Bennett said, placing her hat and sword aside. “Like I said, I’ve seen plenty of New Year’s roll in, and I think I’ve had enough fireworks for the night. Besides, as soon as the festivities are over, Max and almost his entire flock climb into private jets and fly off to Tromso for a week. They’ll be leaving right after the last Roman candle fizzles out.”

“Tromso?”

“It’s a town in Norway, and because it’s so far north, at this time of the year, the sun isn’t seen. Max makes it an annual event, and those who go with him, love it. True, it’s still dark, but they’re out during the day, acting like…well, like normal people. It’s quite a treat.”

“It sounds like it, and speaking of dark,” Ruby said, looking around the limo. “I know I can’t see out of these windows, but can people see in?”

“No. They’re completely opaque,” Bennett said, pulling a bottle of champagne from an inset ice bucket on the bar. “Why?”

“And it’s…um…it’s about a forty-minute drive?”

Bennett gave Ruby a half-glance before filling two glasses and handing one to Ruby. “Yes, and again…why?”

Ruby drained the champagne in her glass, and setting it aside, she lifted her dress and straddled Bennett’s lap. “Because I’ve never done it in a limousine. Care for a quickie?”