Basil (The Brinnswick Chronicles #3) - Michele Notaro Page 0,19
location.
I hated working nights, but from all the info I’d gathered about this incubus, he was a night owl, so I’d have no luck findin’ him during the day. Luckily, Ulma didn’t mind sitting with Rasha while she slept. Ulma was actually going to take my bed for the night, and I’d sleep on the couch if I got home early enough to do so.
But I knew I was in for a long night.
“Daddy!”
My eyes snapped open only a second before a bundle in princess jammies jumped on my stomach and knocked the wind outta me, making the piercing pain in my ribs hit me in the worst way. “Peanut,” I gasped.
She giggled, not realizing she actually hurt me. “Ms. Ulma left since you’re home now.”
“She did?”
Rasha nodded. “She just walked out the door.”
“Crap. Okay, gimme a sec, peanut. I need to give Ulma something.”
“Can I have cereal?”
“Sure. I’ll help you in a minute.” I sat up as she climbed off my lap, then I stood, grabbed the envelope of money from the table—being sure not to bend over because my ribs were killin’ me—and ran out the front door, yelling, “Ulma!”
She was already on her own porch, but she turned around at the sound of my voice.
I ran across the street and up to her steps, and said, “Thank you for sittin’ with her last night, Ulma.”
She waved that away. “It’s fine. You need me again tonight?”
Cringing internally, I asked, “Is that a problem?”
She sighed. “Nah. I got you, Hiro.”
“Thank you so much, Ulma, really.” She waved me away again, so I held out the envelope and said, “This is everythin’ I owe ya, plus enough for tonight and the rest of the week.”
“You got a good bounty last night, huh?”
“Yeah. Sucker got me good in the ribs, but it was worth it.”
She eyed me. “You need me to take a look?”
“Nah, but thanks anyway.”
She hesitated as she took the envelope from me. “You still got enough for food?”
For food? Yeah. For rent? Nah, not even close. But I nodded. “Yeah, it’ll do for now. I’m gonna grab another assignment tonight.”
She eyed me for another moment before sighing. “Yeah, yeah. Thanks, Hiro. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
I sent her my most charming smile, which made her roll her eyes at me and snort, then I chuckled, headed back to my house, and called out, “Alright, peanut, we’re gonna eat some cereal, get dressed, and go grocery shopping.”
“Can I push the cart?” Rasha was sitting at the table with a bowl of cereal in front of her and milk spilled all over the table.
Stifling a sigh, I asked, “Did you make yourself cereal?”
She grinned and nodded. “Ms. Ulma taught me how to pour.” The gallon of milk was practically the size of her, so it was no wonder she’d spilled it everywhere.
“Good job, Rasha.” I kissed the top of her head, then grabbed a rag to clean her mess up. We’d buy some groceries and get her oxygen tanks refilled today, and then I’d have to get another bounty before buying anything else. At least last night bought me a little more time.
Walking into the bar, I grimaced. If Ellwood didn’t show up tonight, I was going to be pissed. I didn’t want to waste any time not working on my next mark, but I had to make sure Ellwood wasn’t going to come near my family again.
I couldn’t even afford a drink, so I asked for a water—in a cup so they didn’t charge me for a bottle—so I didn’t look like I was just prowling the place as I waited. With the cup in hand, I found an empty table in the back corner so I’d see when the witch walked in.
Thankfully, he only made me wait about ten minutes before showing up. As he scanned the bar and found me in the corner, I couldn’t help but admire his physique. He was lean but muscled in a way that showed he worked for it but likely didn’t lift weights. He was thinner and shorter than me by a good half a foot, which I admittedly liked. I liked my partners smaller than me, whether they were men or women. Partners? Why the hell would I even be thinkin’ that word in the same sentence as Basil?
Shaking that away, I kept my eye on him. To be honest, Basil’s body wasn’t the only thing he had going for him, either. His long dark hair, braided back