“I – um – worried?” he repeated mindlessly. He’d had an idea, of course, considering the state Damon had been in at the precinct, but Micah wasn’t supposed to know about that, so he played dumb. (It was probably easier than it should have been.)

Joelle nodded, allowing her fingers to trail down Micah’s neck. She played with the fabric of his shirt. “I don’t know why exactly, but he thinks you’re worth his time despite the fact you work the streets, spreading your legs for anyone who walks by like a common whore.”

Micah stiffened. “That’s not-” he started, but Joelle wasn’t finished.

“It’s strange. He doesn’t think anyone is worth his time, let alone someone like you. Yet here we are.” Joelle stared straight into his eyes. “He’s going to offer you a deal so good tonight that not even the devil would pass it up, because for reasons I don’t understand he thinks you’re worth it. For both your sakes, don’t fuck this up.”

Micah swallowed. “You’re fucking terrifying,” he admitted freely. His mouth wasn’t done there though. “Also, hot as hell. I mean, if I wasn’t as bent as a- a rainbow-colored pretzel, I’d probably be having to hide a very awkward fear-boner, right now.”

Yeah, safe to say his brain-to-mouth filter was completely eradicated at this point.

Joelle didn’t immediately react to his word vomit.

After a few seconds, however, her hard expression broke, and she let out a laugh through her nose, her red lips stretching into a huge, Cheshire grin. “You’re adorable,” she said. “I mean, not adorable enough that I won’t fuck you up if you mess with my brother…” she trailed off, leaning forward to kiss Micah on the forehead like he was some precious thing and not someone she’d just called a whore to his face. “But definitely sweet enough that I’ll also fuck up anyone who messes with you.”

“Uh… thank you? I think?”

She patted his cheek and ran a hand through his hair, almost like she was petting a puppy. “I have a feeling we’re going to get along just fine.”

“Don’t touch him,” Damon snapped, stepping between them – suddenly back from wherever he’d disappeared to. There was a thick, black coat in his arms, and Micah was flabbergasted – but too bewildered to protest – when the man tucked it around his shoulders. “I called Geoffrey,” he said, much less snarly as he addressed Micah. “The car’s around front.”

Micah blinked stupidly. “I thought you wanted to talk?” he said

Damon glanced around, a grimace on his face. “This isn’t the most… appropriate environment for what I want to talk about. I thought we could go back to The Mark…” he paused, as if debating something, “or we could go to my place, if you feel comfortable enough.”

Joelle frowned. “Damon, we weren’t finished-”

“I’ll deal with it tomorrow, Jo,” he snapped before his sister could finish whatever it was she was about to say. Damon glanced pointedly at Micah.