Demon's Vengeance The Complete - Jocelynn Drake Page 0,12
mention of the Tattoo Artists and Potion Stirrers Society (TAPSS) had me closing the door in her face. The government agency that monitors and certifies all tattoo artists had been a regular pain in my ass over the years. I had a feeling that it was because a handful knew that I wasn’t exactly your run-of-the-mill tattoo artist and they were hoping that I’d finally leave the industry. Not fucking likely.
“Not interested,” I said.
She stopped the door from shutting by putting her shoulder into it while I pushed. “Please, Mr. Powell. I’m not here about Asylum!”
“Gage,” Trixie said in warning.
Frowning, I released the door and stepped back. Serah took advantage of the break and quickly stepped across the threshold as if it meant that I couldn’t throw her out. We’d see about that. Serah flashed a grateful smile at Trixie, who was standing beside the couch. Trixie didn’t smile back. The elf may be willing to hear what TAPSS wanted, but she wasn’t going to pretend to be happy about it.
Serah’s smile disappeared as she looked at me while tucking her badge in her pocket again. “The vamps warned me you’d be difficult,” she said in a low voice before taking a deep breath and starting again. “I was hoping that you’d be willing to consult on an investigation.”
“What investigation?”
“There’s been an incident at the Tattered Edge.”
“Then you should probably speak with Bronx down at Asylum. He worked there for a short time,” I said dismissively at the mention of the tattoo parlor on the north side of town. I wasn’t interested in doing TAPSS any favors, particularly if it got Kyle in trouble.
“Someone is already speaking with Bronx.”
This made my heart stop for a second before all my protective instincts came surging to the foreground. I stepped closer, backing Serah up. She hit the door, closing it behind her so that she was now trapped between it and me. “Bronx hasn’t worked for Kyle Wight in years. You’ve got the wrong troll if you’re looking to draw him in on whatever dirt you’re bringing against Kyle.”
“Kyle Wight is dead,” Serah announced.
I stopped cold. My brain locked up on those few words.
“What?” Trixie asked when I couldn’t.
“Kyle Wight was discovered murdered in his shop,” Serah said, looking straight at me. “Bronx isn’t a suspect. We’re talking to him to get information on Kyle. We think he was killed by a customer he had just tattooed. I was hoping you would come with me to the parlor and look over the remains of the ingredients and the design. Tell us what he did for the killer.”
Stepping away, I ran one hand through my hair. I hadn’t been close to Kyle. We made polite chitchat whenever we saw each other at industry functions or around town. He was an extremely talented artist, but a little too scattered to run a business. Bronx had told me years ago that Kyle wasn’t keeping up with his potion supplies and that was why the troll left, before he got drawn into trouble with TAPSS. I had always thought that it would be TAPSS that ended Kyle’s career. Not something like this.
“Yeah, I’ll help,” I murmured. I started to go for my coat in the closet when Trixie’s voice stopped me.
“I’m going too.”
“Trix—”
Trixie stepped forward, pinning Serah with a piercing stare. “My name is Trixie Ravenwood and I’m a tattoo artist for Asylum. I’ve been tattooing for several years longer than Gage. I want to help.”
“Um . . . yeah. Sure,” the TAPSS investigator said, still leaning against the door. “We’d appreciate the help.”
“Trixie, you don’t have to do this.” Stepping into her line of sight, I gently cupped both of her shoulders. “You’ve already had a long, bad day.” Thanks to me, I mentally added. “Stay here. Eat something and relax. I’ll be there and back again in a couple hours.”
“Are you trying to say that I can’t handle this, Gage Powell?”
A bark of laughter jumped from my throat and I dropped my hands back to my sides. “You’re the most capable woman I know. If you’re looking for a fight regarding my opinion of you or your abilities, you’re not going to get it.”
“Asshole,” she grumbled.
I leaned forward and gently kissed her cheek. “I love you too.”
The anger dissolved from her face in an instant and her shoulders slumped with weariness. She looked more worn to me now than when she first came through the door.
“Without being a sexist asshole, I am suggesting you