on if they saw the monkey bars disintegrate or not.
“I’ll split it with you,” he said. “Fifty-fifty.”
Nathalie laughed callously. “Nah, you’ll jump me the second I put this down. I’m not stupid.” She lifted her free hand and started wiggling her fingers.
The wind blew harder, and he paled.
Most witches couldn’t do magic without speaking.
It was rare but not unheard of for some witches to do it with their hands alone, and when they could, it was usually considered a sign of substantial power.
If I weren’t being held hostage with a gun to my head, I might have been contemplating that little tidbit about her a lot more. As it was, the wind was enough to make the alpha step back.
“I’ll send the others away,” he said, gritting his teeth. It was starting to sound like pleading, and that wasn’t a good sign for an alpha that wanted to stay alpha long-term.
“What makes you think that would make me split it with you?” Nathalie said.
“You might be powerful, witch, but six wolves is still a lot for you. Human bodies don’t heal as easily as wolves. You think you could take all six of us at the same time? One swipe of claws, and you’d be down and out. I care about my pack, though, and don’t want to lose any wolves when I don’t have to.”
Nathalie seemed to consider that, and I couldn’t offer her any aid, given this whole thing counted on people believing she was a bounty hunter.
Eventually, she said, “Send the wolves away and have them patrol the streets so we don’t run into any problems. I want this job done. You come with me, and we split it sixty-forty, since I did do all the work.”
I could tell the alpha wanted to argue, but another twirl of her fingertips and a mist of rain had him cutting his losses. He nodded once. “Deal.” He extended his hand.
I couldn’t see Nathalie, but I could sense the derisive look she was giving him. “Forgive me for not moving this pistol, or my hand, until the wolves are gone,” she said tersely.
He inclined his head and then flashed a look toward his pack. The group stepped back slowly. When they were halfway across the park, they each turned tail and scattered.
Nathalie dropped her wiggling fingers to my shoulder and the wind and misty rain stopped. “Either walk head or walk parallel, but I’m not doing this with you at my back,” she said. The alpha grunted and motioned toward the road that led to the casino. They both turned, and I figured she was eyeing him the same as he was her.
Her foot nudged the back of my calf. “Get moving,” she snapped.
I shook my shoulder and her hand tightened, nails digging into me through my jacket and turtleneck shirt.
“We could knock her out,” the alpha suggested. I sent him a scathing look and started walking.
“Let me guess, you’ll carry her? Fat chance. I’d rather keep her gun on you, and we go with her awake.”
The alpha lifted both hands in mock surrender. “I’m just saying, it would solve a lot of our problems.”
Nathalie didn’t deign to give him a response, and neither did I.
The city was quiet as we made our way toward the casino in strained silence. My muscles were so contracted that I half expected to get a cramp. True to the werewolf’s word, we made it to the back door without him trying anything. I sensed Nathalie tense at my back.
“Open it,” Nathalie said.
My lips tightened in a grimace as I reached for the metal handle. The door squealed like a dying pig. The hall light flickered on and off. It wasn’t the bustling place it usually was when I came in for my gigs. The door at the end wasn’t in a constant rotation, instead it was closed and quiet. We approached the door on the right. My heartbeat kicked up again, and I took a breath through my nose and released it slowly, trying to calm my own nerves.
“Knock,” she commanded.
I lifted my hand, unsure who would answer with Ronny dead.
My worry doubled down when it opened, and it was Anders’ watery blue eyes that stared at me. His expression softened, then hardened. He stepped back, opening the door wide.
I’d never been on this side of the door.
Never seen much of it beyond Ronny’s barreled chest.
I had to say, I was disappointed by the metal table and chairs. The walls were a pristine