blasé about the whole affair. “Steve, how are you and that big dong these days? I haven’t seen you around the hood. Still slumming it with this crew, huh?”
His purr made me smile. I knew he’d throw me a sexual innuendo if he could speak.
I spread my hands for a much-too-serious Charity. “Early bird catches the worm. I got here first, and so, he's mine. Sorry, Charlie.”
“You know how it works,” Charity said. “A bounty hunter is the last option. If Roger’s organization can’t bring in the perpetrator, then they’ll put out a contract.”
“The perpetrator?” I lifted an eyebrow at her. “Good Lord, nerd. At least shorten it to perp. You’re really ruining my high with this gig, you know? You’re too stiff, that’s the problem. That’s got to really interfere with your daily calisthenics. Is that why you’re in such a piss poor mood?”
Charity’s lips tightened and her brow pinched. She must hate dealing with me. If she’d loosen up a little, and just take life as it came at her, she’d have so much more fun. Why did she never believe me when I mentioned that?
“Nearly there,” Penny murmured. “He’s listening for all he is worth, but he’s still a flight risk.”
That demon was a busybody. Whatever rumors he heard didn’t just come to him. Or maybe the first did, and he’d been actively seeking out more to piece everything together. Either way, it meant he was interested in advancement within the underworld legions, and that meant he was dangerous.
“Who initiated this contract?” Charity asked.
The breeze worried the hair on the shifters; all but Steve were tense and ready. They did not plan to back down.
Damn.
The large winery sprawled up to the top of the property. Picnic tables and lunch spots kept people loitering outside. If any of them decided to take a walk, they would see this altercation. We needed the mages to put up a magical screening so the humans couldn’t see us. I needed the mages to secure that mark, though. Decisions, decisions.
“Classified, I’m afraid. What did he get called in for, anyway? Is there a rule against guys that hairy having orgies?” I asked, taking a few steps toward them, my pouch open and casings at the ready. Some of the shifters knew the type of power I had at my disposal, but not all, and now I wondered if even that succubus did. Best keep my more unique powers under wraps, which would make this fight that much harder.
“Word is he helped set up some rituals to try to bring in his friends,” Charity said. “He hasn’t been able to yet, but it’s only a matter of time.”
“Who, him?” I gestured back his way, stepping closer again. “Nah, his kind are all about the sex. They are the life of the party. You don’t have to worry about this kind of demon bringing up a crew. He’s low power and usually pretty harmless.” I edged a little closer and dropped my voice.
“Look, why don’t you just take today off? He’s not going anywhere. Either he kills the host and heads back to the underworld, or I kill him. Either way, he’s out of your hair. Go check out the winery. Or, hell, you’re still in school, aren’t you? Head back to Seattle and hit those books. This is beneath you.”
Devon bristled, and a low growl rumbled through his throat. Apparently, that was a no. I rolled my eyes.
“A little longer,” Emery murmured, and I couldn’t tell who he was talking to.
Didn’t matter, though—I needed these insufferable shifters and fae to scatter. I wanted the secrets in that demon’s head. Then I wanted him erased from life.
“Right, fine, how’s this going to go?” I pulled my blade from its holster on my back, the steel sliding against the leather. “All you against me? We maiming or killing?”
Charity braced, uncertainty flashing in her eyes. Only Cole, the were-yeti, edged forward in anticipation. He’d wanted an excuse to ring my bell, and now he did.
I grinned. “I’m not letting you have this one.” I pulled my gun from the holster on my upper thigh. “If you want to tango, I want to be the lady.”
“You’re not making any sense,” Charity said, and she looked down at Devon, the alpha of this sub-pack in Roger’s jurisdiction. He wasn’t as good as Roger, though. Not yet, anyway.
Devon huffed, then lowered his head at me. That was a go.
“You sure?” I flipped off the gun’s safety. “All this for