of the amphitheater. We’ve worked gigs there before. Anything unusual about your show – scenery, production elements, props? You do any aerial work, Ms Blanc? Anything dangerous or requiring outside experts? Fireworks? Any external contractors we’ll need to vet?”
“It’s all in the itinerary,” replied the manager, taking a large gulp of her champagne.
Judd couldn’t believe this. What a waste of time. “Fine, then. Anything else before we leave? Anything we need to know about tomorrow’s activities, interviews, transportation?”
The manager only rolled her eyes.
Blanc turned her back on them. “I’ve seen enough. You’ll do for while I’m here. You’re dismissed. Risa, be a love and show them out.”
Before Judd could say that they could find their own way out, the stylist stood. She hurried over to them.
“Don’t mind her,” Risa said as she held the front door open for them to leave. “She’s always extra snappish before an event. She doesn’t mean it.”
“Oh, I think she does,” replied Judd.
The door closed behind them and they bum-rushed the truck.
Normally, Judd would have at least swept the grounds. Even with the contract not starting until tomorrow, he would have felt honor-bound to protect a client who had no security of her own. But this time, he just followed everyone else into the king cab.
He drove away faster than was strictly safe.
“Oh my god. Guys, I’m so sorry.” Colin from the back seat. “She’s disgusting!”
Judd could practically feel Colin trembling with affront. “Sadly, I’ve experienced far worse in my lifetime. I suspect Isaac has too.”
He could see Isaac shrug out of the corner of his eye. The Omega sat behind Kevin on the passenger side. “Most of my life was spent in a cult. So not quite the same. But even I can tell that that woman is truly vile.”
“Was she that bad when we were kids?” Colin asked Kevin.
Kevin was slumped in the passenger seat. “This was such a bad idea.” He buried his head in his hands.
Isaac sighed. “Perhaps you should be grateful to know how awful she is. She left, so you never had to deal with her again. It’s an odd kind of closure, but it’s closure, right?”
“Finally using that advanced psychology degree, are ya?” Kevin snapped back.
Isaac flinched. “I’m only trying to help, dude.”
Kevin was instantly contrite. “Sorry. Argh! I’m really sorry, Omega. It’s just… look… I really don’t wanna be related to that.”
Colin murmured from behind Judd. “At least you don’t look exactly like her. Imagine how I feel.”
“This is a mess!” Kevin clearly wanted to shift and run. Instead he was stuck in a moving vehicle.
Judd tried to deflect. “Isaac, assessment?”
Without Alec there to rein them in, Judd wasn’t sure how to control the situation. His instinct was to lash out, to hit or to maim. Even now, when he was surrounded by pack, he wanted to hurt something. Someone. Lexi Blanc. So he leaned on the Omega.
Isaac’s voice was confident. “Narcissist. Profound lack of empathy. But probably not an actual psychopath. Technically speaking, an Alpha like that should be put down. However, she’s a loner. If she had a pack, they might stabilize her. Or she might turn demagogue. It all could be a side effect of celebrity status – being in the public eye all the time. However, being surrounded by human sycophants is probably a good thing. They have become her pack, and they obey her every whim. I bet she’s horribly nice when the cameras are on. My official advice would be to limit her direct interpersonal exposure to most shifters. Humans are regrettably accustomed to her kind of personality. Her DURPS file probably has a note to that effect. The SBI could be in town monitoring her because she’s unstable. Although that wouldn’t explain their interest in Colin or Trick.”
Judd agreed. He also thought it unlikely that Blanc herself was involved in criminal activities. She might even have made up the theft story for additional attention. “Right. Let’s just get through this weekend and satisfy our contract. Once Heavy Lifting isn’t in play, Xavier can’t get mad if anything happens to her.”
“I think we should introduce her to Max,” said Colin, snide.
“She thinks she’s the queen of mean.” Kevin perked up.
“Or Mana. Can you imagine?” The smile was in Isaac’s voice.
There was a short, awed silence while they all pictured their tiny formidable drag queen kitsune friend going up against Lexi Blanc.
“Lives would be lost,” whispered Colin.
“Whole continents,” Isaac intoned, somber.
The mood lifted.
Whatever Blanc had intended by being so awful, the four