Zion added, “Say something like, ‘I’ll just ask Lord Cordus which of his wines he thinks you would like best.’ That tells them you’re onto their game. Unless they’re looking for an excuse to get into it with him, they’ll back down.”

I’d never felt more like a rube. I’d need luck to get through the evening in one piece.

The traffic didn’t seem heavy, though I knew we must be close to New York City. After about fifteen minutes, we crossed what Kara said was the G.W. Bridge, then took a highway that put the river out our right window. Unfortunately, I couldn’t see much — just the twinkle of lights on the far side.

We went around a traffic circle and dove into the city proper. I’d never seen anything like it. The buildings pressed in on us from all sides, and there were cars everywhere, especially taxis. They seemed to have no sense of a safe distance from other vehicles. I was constantly sure one was going to clip us.

Although it was night, the streets were brightly illuminated. I found myself wondering how anyone ever got to sleep in such a place. Blackout curtains on every window?

Perhaps strangest to my eye was the lack of greenery. Small trees dotted the sidewalks, or lined the center median, but mostly it was stone atop stone, punctuated with metal. It all looked hard and alien.

Our destination turned out to be an imposing building, massive and boxy on the bottom, but topped with slender matching towers. It curved partway round a big traffic circle. The many lighted rectangular windows gave it a stacked look that reminded me of Legos.

We turned onto a street that ran along one side of the building. I’d thought from the front that it contained commercial space, but the entrance we pulled up to looked residential.

A valet, a buff young Asian guy, was waiting to take the car. He gave me an appreciative look as I stepped out. I felt myself blush.

“Hey, Koji,” Zion said as she got out of the car. “Not going to scratch her up, are you?”

Koji eyeballed the Porsche. “Fugly car like that, you should thank me if I did.”

“Huh. I hear envy.”

“Not even. That thing looks like a station wagon.”

Zion snorted. “You get your GT-R yet?”

“Nah. Almost ready to take the plunge, though. Any day now.”

“Perfect car for you, Koji: a ricer for a —”

“Don’t say it, woman. Your hotness will not save you.”

She grinned.

“Hey,” she said, sobering up, “anything we should know?”

Koji glanced around. “Lady Innin’s up there.”

“Seriously?” Kara asked.

“Yep. Keep your heads down.”

Zion grimaced. “Thanks.”