The six of them went in, keeping the same order that they always had.
Only this time, the men were inadvertently protecting Mae as well since she stood in the circle next to Sera. But they didn't mind. They would do whatever they needed to do to keep that relaxed look on her face.
And Mae seemed to be able to give her something that they couldn't.
The room beyond was all hard edges and soft manners: white cloth that had never seen a stain in its life, plates that matched, and chairs set at measured distances.
At the far end of the long table, a man in a white cowboy hat sat with his leather gloves folded neatly beside his plate and his badge turned so the engraving faced the door.
He did not stand.
He did not offer a hand.
It was like he barely even noticed their existence.
Clearly, he thought he was used to being the biggest predator in the room, and Sera couldn't blame him for that.
