Vampire Debt - Supernatural Battle (Vampire Towers #2) - Kelly St. Clare Page 0,52
of my tongue, but I stopped myself from aligning firmly with Clan Sundulus, considering my reply. Should I look a potential gift horse in the mouth?
“I’m on no one’s side but my own.” Holding her gaze for a leaden moment, I spun on my heel. “Nighty night.”
Her laughter followed me inside the gates. “Goodnight, Miss Le Spyre. Be a dear and say hello to my brother Kyros, won’t you?”
I hummed. “Serious.”
“Fucking serious.”
“Fucking serious, Tom. You watched Grandmother’s recording. I need you to work for me. And I need to buy your house.”
Her throat worked. “The house is in my name. I had the mortgage transferred to me because Dad’s credit history is bad and the interest rate was sky high.”
“Things would be easier if your father doesn’t have to be involved, obviously, if you decide to sell,” I said carefully. “You’d receive the house back for free after I win—” I cut off, gurgling.
Ugh.
She shook her head. “If you win, I’ll pay you every cent for the fucking house that you gave me. Tetleys don’t accept handouts.”
Boy, didn’t I know it. Nothing made her angrier than charity—thus why I had to give her my hand-me-downs for Christmas.
“Just think about it,” I said. “You know why I’m doing this. You know why Grandmother did it. If you work for me from the estate, it means I can better ensure your safety too.”
Tommy shook her head, eyes fixed on the desk. “I just— My world was flipped a week ago and now there’s this to add to the shit heap.”
Guilt churned low in my gut. “I know.”
“Lucky, bats are my spirit animal.”
I frowned at her, then rolled my eyes. “Because bats sleep upside-down and your world was flipped?”
“That right there is why we’re friends. You speak Tommy Tetley. Yes, lovely. I’ll work for you—for double my current pay, not triple. I don’t know jack shit about HR. When I’m earning you buttloads, we can talk again.”
I studied her. “You have a way with words, friend.”
“When do I start?”
“How long have you worked at that laundry place?”
“Eight years.”
“How long have you hated it?”
“Eight years.”
I stretched my hand out. “How’s tomorrow?”
“You’ve got yourself a deal, Basil.” She slid her hand up my wrist and we slapped each other’s forearms in a salmon shake.
The telephone on the desk beeped. I swiped at it. “Yello?”
Fred’s voice flooded the line. “Miss Le Spyre, your 10 o’clock appointment is here.”
Fernando.
My lips curved. “Thanks, Fred. I’ll be out soon.”
Tommy’s brows were nearly in her hairline as I replaced the phone in the cradle. “I’ve seen that smile before. That’s your I’m about to hand someone their ass on a plate smile. Like that crazy bitch on The Hunger Games who files her teeth to points.”
What? Like fangs? Tempting, but I wasn’t a wannabe Vissimo.
“Fred will put you in touch with other members of my Churchill team who will mentor and guide you in your new role,” I said. “Your job is to expand my acquisition team. To do this, you’ll work under a fake name. I’ll need you and your father to live here full time—in case of backlash.”
Tommy pursed her lips. “That’ll be a hard sell to Dad… You said that Daniel’s under the impression a criminal chain is after us? I can just tell Dad that security measures are heightened until the criminals are caught and you want everyone on site until the risk passes.”
And this was why I’d hired her. I trusted her brain.
“Not a bad idea for the short term.” Most of my staff lived onsite anyway. “I’ll get Fred to spread the word to reinforce it.”
Tommy brushed off her ruby-red leggings and casual, mustard off-the-shoulder dress as she stood, looking effortlessly classy as always. “I’ll leave you to open the can of whoop-ass on whoever’s waiting outside. Just one more thing though.”
I peered up from the email sent by the CEO of MediKnow, my medical supplies company. “What’s that?”
She pointed at the three open jewellery cases by my elbow. They were delivered this morning. “We gonna talk about those massive fucking sapphires?”
The Udytrite sapphire set included a necklace, bracelet, and earrings inlaid in white gold. Udytrite was an invite-only custom jewellery designer. The set would have cost Kyros a small fortune.
I wrinkled my nose. “Want them?”
“Not my style. Maybe you could donate them to the op shop?” she said.
Huh? “What’s that?”
“A second-hand store. Y S I S, bitch.”
Your snob is showing. Dammit.
It was tempting, but donating the set wouldn’t have Kyros slamming down my