Heart of Vengeance (Alice Worth #6) - Lisa Edmonds Page 0,105
was an ass, especially if he showed up with a bottle of what looks like Charles’s very special reserve.” She rubbed her face. “Where is he now?”
I packed quickly, stuffing my clothes and toiletries into my backpack. “No idea. He said he’d be nearby, whatever that means.”
“Judging by how much he drank at the roadhouse, probably the closest dive bar.” She picked up my shopping bags and opened the door of my room. “He’s good with a sword, even after a bottle of tequila. He killed more of the werewolves than I did.”
I got the cat-dragon into her basket and covered her with the blanket. “I didn’t know it was a contest.”
“Of course it was a contest.” She carried my shopping bags and her own duffel to the vehicle. “Where’s Malcolm?”
“Out exploring. I’ll summon him.” I put my backpack and the basket in the jeep, then returned to the room to remove my wards on the door and window and make sure I hadn’t left anything behind. Lucy went to check us out of our rooms.
With my room emptied and the wards gone, I leaned against the side of the vehicle, closed my eyes, and tugged twice on the blue-green trace that connected me to Malcolm.
Almost instantly, he appeared beside me. “Hey, Alice. What’s going on?”
I let out a breath, relieved to see he was unharmed. “We’re hitting the road.”
He frowned. “Did you not get any sleep? You look awful.”
“If one more person tells me that, I’m going to start throwing punches.” I yanked open the back door for Daisy. She jumped into the back seat and settled in. Malcolm floated into the jeep beside her.
I shut the door, turned around, and found myself nose-to-chest with Ronan, in a black T-shirt, black jeans, and his leather jacket.
I jumped and magic flared on my fingers. “Son of a bitch!” I yelled.
His brow furrowed. “You do not look rested.”
I punched him.
He didn’t expect an attack, and I didn’t really expect my blow to make contact, so we were both caught off guard when my fist connected with his jaw. It felt like punching a tree. I shook my injured hand and swore. Belatedly, I noticed his Harley backed into a parking space several spots down from ours.
Ronan barely flinched. I figured his reaction was more from surprise than anything else. He raised an eyebrow. “Did that make you feel better?”
I scowled. Damn it, it wasn’t like me to be so jumpy, or to take swings at someone—especially when I didn’t know what they were capable of doing in retaliation. I reached for another protein bar, hoping food would help me feel more like myself.
“We’re leaving,” I informed him, as if loading up our bags hadn’t probably tipped him off.
“Did something happen?”
I shook my head. “We’re heading south, toward where we think the gravelings are coming through from the Underworld.”
Lucy’s voice cut in. “Don’t you ever track me again, Ronan. Not for any reason.” She approached the jeep from the direction of the motel office, her fingers twitching like she wanted to reach for her sword.
“My apologies, Lieutenant.” He inclined his head. It didn’t escape my notice that he didn’t say he wouldn’t do it again. “Shall we continue south, then?”
“You follow my orders if we run into trouble,” she warned. “This is a League operation.”
He studied her. “And if I refuse?”
“Then you can go back to swilling tequila and collecting bounties.” She opened her door. “People are dying. I don’t have time to measure dicks with you, and I don’t give a shit about your ego. Either join the team or don’t. Let’s roll, Alice.” She slammed her door.
I eyed Ronan. “So what’s it going to be?”
“I don’t play well with others, which is why I’m in the business I’m in.” He put his hand on my door. “But if a wolf made of magic and a ten-year-old clairvoyant witch tell me I’m supposed to go with you, I should go, just to find out why. Maybe I’ll get to bag a few more bounties along the way.”
Gotta pay for that tequila somehow, I thought, perhaps uncharitably. Out loud, I said, “I’m interested to find out what use you might be.”
He smiled slightly. “I look forward to proving my worth.”
I got in the jeep and buckled in. He shut my door and watched as Lucy put the vehicle in gear and pulled away without looking at him. Ronan turned on his heel and headed for his Harley.