for him. We have some leads but nothing—”
“Again,” she said, motioning to Sutter.
Sutter’s fist connected with Augustine’s jaw.
Fresh blood spilled across Augustine’s tongue. He spat out a mouthful of it. “Really? This is how you want to do this?”
Pellimento tugged on leather gloves, then took hold of one of Augustine’s horns, forcing his face up to look at her. “I know you took my son. If you don’t give him back to me, alive, I will cut one of these off and shove it into your heart.”
He jerked his head away, ripping the horn out of her grip. “I don’t have your son. I didn’t even know who he was until a couple of days ago.”
“Liar!” she screamed, sending droplets of spittle across his face.
Rage smoldered in his belly, sending wisps of heat through his bones. With the shackles on, there was no outlet for it, making him wonder if a smokesinger had ever spontaneously combusted. “Why would I take your son?”
She tipped her head. “Don’t play coy with me. We both know there are many reasons you’d want to hurt me.”
“You mean because you’re a bigot?”
“You and all those like you are an abomination. You’re unnatural. You should be exterminated.”
This time he smiled. “You know I’ve got a little human in me. There’s a very good chance you’ve got a little fae in you.”
She slapped him but the blow barely made an impact. “If my son isn’t returned to me by this time tomorrow, I will have the governor, who owes me a wealth of favors, declare martial law and lock this city down.”
He tsked. “The tourism board isn’t going to like that.”
“You have twenty-four hours.” She snapped her fingers at Sutter. “Give him a taste of what will happen to him if my son isn’t standing beside me tomorrow.”
As she walked away Sutter rolled his shoulders like he was loosening up for a big fight. “I’ve been looking forward to this, fae.”
The remainder of the team lined the perimeter of the gloomy space, assault weapons at the ready. What exactly did they expect to happen? Augustine glared at Sutter. Too bad fae powers didn’t include death by thought. “You don’t get out much, do you, human?”
Sutter’s stony face didn’t move. “You’re going to regret your involvement in the disappearance of Robert Pellimento.”
“I already told the senator I have nothing to do with—”
Sutter’s fist connected with Augustine’s jaw. Pain ricocheted through his skull. He hoped Grantham wasn’t taking the same kind of beating. Humans didn’t have the same kind of resiliency that fae did, but then, Grantham had done his time in the ring. If anyone knew how to take a punch, he did.
Sutter leaned in. “If the fae didn’t bring tourists to this town, Senator Pellimento would have run your kind out of here a long time ago. Now tell me what you know about her son’s disappearance, or I’ll introduce you to another more intimate pair of iron shackles.”
The guy apparently had a hard-on to please his boss. Maybe there was more going on between Sutter and the senator. As gross as that thought was, Augustine managed a grin. “I pegged you for the kinky type as soon as I saw you. Is that how the senator likes it?”
Sutter punched him again. “Tell me what you know.”
Augustine spat blood onto the concrete then sighed like he was bored. “I already have. Robbie was last seen getting into a cab. Based on what Grantham found out on our way over here and what I suspect he’s already told you, the cab company has no record of the fare.”
Sutter growled and leaned in. “I don’t like your kind any more than Senator Pellimento does.”
“Really? I never would have guessed.” A chime rang through Augustine’s head. Sturka. Not the best time for an incoming call. “Answer,” he mumbled.
“Boss, you’d better get here now. Something weird is about to go down.” Cy sounded rattled, a rare thing for the big fae.
Sutter barked in Augustine’s face. “Did you just take a call while I’m talking to you?” He shoved Augustine’s head back.
Augustine ignored Sutter. “Cy, are you at Ogun’s?”
“No, boss. He took her to—”
Sutter slid his fingernail beneath the com cell stuck behind Augustine’s ear and flicked it away.
Heat waves edged Augustine’s vision, narrowing his line of sight until Sutter’s ugly face was all he could see. He unclenched his jaw enough to speak and lowered his voice. “There is one thing I forgot to tell you.” He made his voice even