breath and moaned as she let it out through her nose. “Would you rather we all live here? If I choose a partner, it only makes sense to combine our fortunes and properties. I wouldn’t dream of living across town. Of course, he would have to upgrade some of his rooms. They are a bit rustic.”
Christian stood and neared the door. “I’ll be outside.”
“Christian?”
He paused but kept his back to her.
“This isn’t about you. Despite the fulfillment that Keystone brings Viktor, he’s a lonely man. We make sense together, and I think he’s clever enough to know the value of a strategic pairing. We could become a power couple, and I haven’t seen too many of those in this city. I have resources at my fingertips. I’ll be extremely useful to Keystone.”
“You say it as if it’s decided.”
“You know me, Chrissy. I always get what I want.”
Chapter 17
I stood on the curb outside the club, searching the dark streets for Mr. Crawford. Despite the warm weather, I had put on a black blazer to conceal my light tattoo.
Why did Houdini always have to mess with my head? I couldn’t stop thinking about our conversation. Had I followed the rules instead of indulging in alcohol to smooth out the edges, I wouldn’t have drunk pure Sensor magic. But I didn’t deserve what had happened—or what could have happened—and the fact Houdini hadn’t intervened only solidified my opinion of him. In any case, that was a wake-up call. I needed to get my shit together before I turned into a wrecking ball and destroyed our plans.
“Hey, what goes on in there?” a young woman asked me from the line.
I ignored her as a black car pulled up in front of me. When the passenger window rolled down, I peered inside and saw Crawford behind the wheel.
“Get in,” he said.
“I’ve only got two hours. Where are we going?”
“Around the block. I know a place.”
As I climbed into the leather seat, I looked down at my leather corset and shorts. Dear God, don’t let this man take us to Taco Bell.
The car made a right, and we drove several blocks with classical music on the radio to fill the awkward silence. I thought about breaking the ice by asking him what he did for a living, but if my hunch was correct, it had something to do with cage fights. Outside the window, just above the streetlights, I glimpsed a falcon soaring through the shadows.
“So tell me about the side job you’re offering,” I finally said. “Are you sure that I’m qualified for whatever it is?”
Crawford pulled behind a large department store and drove past the dumpsters and loading dock. The large brick wall gave us complete privacy, and since the store was closed, we wouldn’t have to worry about an employee walking up. He shut off the engine but kept the battery on.
Crawford turned off the music. “I’m looking for a special woman. A Mage who’s dexterous, strong, and has powerful light. Are you that woman?”
“So I’ve been told.” Since I wasn’t supposed to know what he was offering, I had to sell myself without being obvious. “You can’t stop a bar fight without having all those qualities. Are you looking for a bodyguard?”
His tongue swiped his bottom lip. “I’m a wealthy man, and I can offer you a chance to make a lot of money. More than the chump change you make at that bar.”
“Doing what?”
“I need assurance that I can trust you.” Crawford exited the vehicle, slammed the door, and then got into the back seat. “Step into my office and we’ll discuss the details. I dislike modern cars. They build a wall between you and the passenger in the front seat.” He lowered an LCD screen from the ceiling and typed something on his phone.
I stepped out of the car and climbed into the back, making sure to leave my door open.
Crawford set his phone on the backrest and shifted toward me. “Close the door, please. I don’t want a spotlight on us.”
I shut the door and noticed a sword mounted on the ceiling. Not a big one, but he’d customized hooks to hold it in place and keep it out of sight.
Crawford twisted toward me and briefly touched the mole on his chin. The smell of his expensive cologne was overwhelming. “I’m looking for a woman who’s got fight in her,” he began. “Most of the ones I meet play by the rules. You’re not that kind of woman,