Blood and Blade (Goddess with a Blade #6) - Lauren Dane Page 0,62

bullshit that you all missed? Would that be better for you? No. It’s better for us all if we work together. Period. Each group will pay their own way because each group benefits.”

“Then it can’t be a Hunter Corp. situation because that’s going to be a sticking point. You have to know that.”

Rowan wanted to stab him in the face for making this more complicated than it had to be Even though she knew he was probably right and, fuck, this was already more work than she wanted to think about. “Never mind. Forget I even said anything. Fuck you all.” She shoved some bread into her face.

“I’m unable to forget you said anything and you will be too. I imagine you’re going to have a new barrage of arguments for me when I get home from work. So see? Something to look forward to.” Clive ran a hand down his tie.

She snorted. “You can all just be in danger and deal with it yourself. It’s going to be me and the witches and if you fanged assholes come at me I’ll set you on fire.”

“That seems a bit rash.”

“You’re acting like you’re new here. Oh!” She brightened as her empty plate was taken and replaced with a trio of ice creams with pistachio brittle.

Rowan was still thinking about the idea of mixed teams of paranormals when Clive pulled up in front of their house.

“Where are you off to now?” he asked before she got out.

“Video meeting with London. I’ve got to go through my notes and work with David on next steps. We’re just sort of waiting now. Waiting for the other shoe to drop. There are pieces missing. The information is there. The clues are there, we just have to figure out where to look.”

“There are many people working on this. You’re not going to give up until you figure it out. Have faith. I do when it comes to you. You’re a dog with a bone which makes my life hard sometimes, but the bad guys’ lives even harder.”

She took his hand and squeezed when he was quiet for a few moments. Thinking, she knew, about having to face his people after what had gone down in London. “They already know and they’re going to support you,” Rowan said. “They know your leadership is strong and capable. You can’t control your asshole relatives. Most people have a few assholes in the family tree. Vampires more so because they’re all assholes to start with. They’re going to understand. And be glad you did what had to be done.”

“One hopes.”

Star galloped around the side of the house, a ball in her mouth. David ran after her, pausing to wave at them.

“There’s our daughter,” Rowan said.

“Go play with your dog,” Clive told her, pulling her to him for a quick kiss.

“I’ll see you later on. Be careful.”

“You too. I love you,” he told her.

“Love you too, Scion. Thanks for dinner.”

She got out and tossed the ball Star dropped at her feet and he pulled down the drive, heading back to town.

Chapter Seventeen

“Are things well?” David asked her as she approached.

“Well enough. How about you?”

“Elisabeth fed me. I returned many messages. Got in contact with Vanessa. The old owners of our new building said we can move in any time we want. For a fee, naturally, but it wasn’t so steep. Not that I let them know that. So if you’re agreeable, we can start furnishing it and getting people a place to work.”

“Let’s have Genevieve ward it before anyone starts working there. Do I have to go anywhere to look at furniture or anything like that?”

David laughed, patting her shoulder. “Deesse, I’d never make you do such a thing. We have contacts so I’ll use them to get things together. I have a sense of your style so I promise no leopard prints or five thousand dollar chairs that look terrible and feel even worse.”

She smiled at him. “Good to know. Let’s have a Hunter Corp. talk while we’re on the subject.” She told him about her idea for a multi-paranormal team as they alternated throwing Star’s ball and a very impressive stick she’d found somewhere or other.

“This is getting really gross,” Rowan told Star as she held the ball in two fingers. “Let’s go inside where it’s cool. You can drink lots of water noisily while we try to talk.”

Star barked and tore around the side of the house and in through a door that had been left