on your companions, which could make a hell of a lot of difference when it comes to this bitch.”
“And what if I don’t want you to know what I’m feeling?”
I arched one eyebrow at her and gave a little sigh as I flopped back down in my chair. “I can read your emotions. Not your thoughts. Right now, you’re suspicious and anxious, with a small hint of pissed. You wanted a trick or two to help. This is it.”
“Fine,” she muttered, shoving the button in her front pocket. With the button, there was no hiding the sense of relief and even a bit of disappointment. There was no doubt in my mind that she’d been hoping for something a little more, something flashy.
“I can’t do anything bigger to protect you. With magic soaked into this killer, I’m not sure what she can sense or what might be a trigger. We can’t risk scaring her off.”
“Oh, no. Sure. I totally understand. This is fine,” she quickly said, her disappointment evaporating in an instant.
“I’ll have your back, Serah,” I said, extending my hand to her.
She hesitated, an odd little smile lifting the corners of her mouth as she looked at it. “You know, I never thought I’d be comforted by the thought of a warlock watching my six, but I am,” she said as she shook my hand.
“Most people wouldn’t, but I promise, I’m not like them.”
Serah gave a snort as she released my hand and twisted around to scoop up her coat. “Something tells me you’re worse.”
I didn’t say anything as I walked her to the door. I certainly didn’t think I was worse, but then I wasn’t sure how many witches and warlocks were using demons to guard their shit. It certainly wasn’t something that placed me with the good guys. But what about the ends justifying the means? My intentions when it came to the demon were to take down the Towers and make the world a safer place for everyone. Wasn’t that a good thing? Did it really matter how I got it done?
A sigh slipped from my parted lips as I shut the door behind Serah and watched her walk down the street toward her little blue sedan. Too many questions and I didn’t have any of the fucking answers.
CHAPTER 9
Eddie was a pain in the ass.
Detective Edward Lebeau appeared at Asylum just before seven and promptly informed me that he thought it was total bullshit that some con man tattoo artist had been forced on him during a sting operation. In fact, the loudmouth prick didn’t hesitate to give me his opinion on tattoos, tattoo artists, and women on the police force—none of which was positive.
I naturally took some pleasure informing him that he wouldn’t only be accompanied by me, but by Bronx as well. As soon as Serah left the parlor, I was on the phone to my friend, informing him of the plan. Bronx was eager to help, but it had all depended upon the cop showing up after sundown. For once we were lucky.
The troll’s massive bulk and dark expression helped to intimidate dear Eddie, but it was a small bit of hypnosis on my part that finally changed the asshole’s mind about not letting Bronx tag along, which was a good thing in the end. Serah’s anxiety was already on the rise as I was sure she was either at the doctor’s office or on her way. I didn’t need to be distracted by the beanpole with attitude to spare. There was already plenty to worry about.
Eddie reached over and turned up a crackling police radio that was tuned to the operation. A stern voice was giving a quick update on a woman who had left the hospital and was headed toward the main southern transfer station for the Low Town bus service, putting her in the opposite direction from Serah.
A couple minutes later, he whipped the twenty-year-old Chevy Malibu with rust spots on the doors into an opening halfway between the medical offices building and the hospital. The position gave us a clear view of the path that Serah would take while the growing darkness helped to keep us hidden. I didn’t have high hopes that we would keep such a clear view of her the whole time since we wouldn’t be able to follow closely without raising suspicion.
“I need my feet on the ground,” Bronx suddenly announced as he pushed open the passenger side door and slid out.
“What the fuck!”