“His word?” Linda asked. “I didn’t realize we were living in medieval times. Any chance you got that in writing, boss?”
“Linda.” Myrtle grasped her hand. “I’m sure Mr. Penske is trying to do the best that he can. If he said we won’t get fired, I expect we won’t get fired, right?”
Their boss rose to his feet and straightened his tie. “Right.”
Ruby sighed. She was a high school dropout whose drug-addict parents had abandoned their daughters. No college degree to fall back on or family who could give her a leg up or a job with prospects. Her only assets were a nice set of tits and a firm ass. She had used them in the past to feed her sister and place a roof over their heads. Things were different now. She no longer had Trixie depending on her. “When will the deed pass over to the new owner?”
“I signed the papers this morning.”
“What?” She and Linda echoed each other.
The boss crossed his arms. “Girls, it’s a done deal. I’m getting too old to run this place.” He gestured to the piles of papers and files surrounding them. “I’m obsolete and I’m ready to retire.”
Nick crouched on the roof edge of a church. Still as stone as the dragons flew past. That had been a close call. The church had a couple of gargoyle statues in the front so what was a random third on the side? He breathed a sigh of relief, and watched them head back to the mountains.
Angie had a back scratching shop in the city. He’d heard her discuss business with Eoin. He glanced at his claws. Maybe she could use some help? He snorted, imagining the black dragon’s expression at the thought. Nick was tempted to ask just to see it, but he liked living.
Focus. He shook his head clear of distractions. The witchcraft shop was located in the upscale part of the shopping district. The witch must be making money or she wouldn’t be able to afford the real-estate. If she could create miracles, like her ad claimed, that wouldn’t surprise him. Who wouldn’t pay for their heart’s desire?
The storefront of Hex and Curse displayed packaged herbs in glass jars and an ancient text written in what looked like chicken. Upon entering, Nick sensed a magical ward go off, sounding like a bell. Leather bound books covered the right side of the wall and the left held shelves of herbs and other less common ingredients. The center of the room had a pentagram tiled into the floor that the witch had covered with a couch set and coffee table. He read the labels on the spell bottles sitting in racks—love potion, cramps, clear skin, boils…
Reading the price tag, he grimaced. He couldn’t afford a cup of coffee, let alone anything on the shelves. But before he left empty-handed and depressed, he needed to know if she could even help him. Maybe she had a payment plan or they could barter? Norm had always warned him not to make any deals with witches, but he’d never listened to his older brother. Why would he start now?
From the back room, a sophisticated woman in a pale pink dress suit entered the shop. She wiped her hands on a dishcloth. “Oh.” She paused behind the counter. “I haven’t seen one of your kind since I toured eastern Europe as a teenager.”
He flourished a little bow. The last thing a smart man did was insult a witch. He didn’t have any desire to wake up with boils in the morning. “Nice to meet you. My name is Nick.”
She slowly walked a circle around him, assessing him from head to toe. “You may call me Nikita…or mistress, if you’d like. What can I do for you, Nick?” She gestured for him to take a seat. “Please, join me in my counseling area.”
All the furniture seemed too dainty to support his weight so he perched on the edge of the largest chair. “Do you have something I can use to help people feel more comfortable around me? I’m having trouble finding a job.” He grimaced, recalling his conversation with Peter. “The way I look makes it difficult to find one. Maybe you have a like-me-better spell.”
“Are people afraid of you?”
Nick paused, about to say yes, but no one had screamed today or run away. They had just seemed wary. “No, but it’s obvious they’re not at ease.”
She nodded. “Shifters don’t tend to walk around in their beast forms like they do in other countries, so I can imagine their reaction when they see you.” She tapped a well-manicured fingernail on her chin. “I do have one a charisma spell, but I don’t think that’s what you want.”
“It’s not?” He leaned forward. A spell that made people trust him more would be handy. He could sell people anything…Ugh, he had to resist temptation. No, more swindling. If he wanted dragon forgiveness, he had to behave. “What is it I want then?”
“Tell me about your job prospects.”
Nick shrugged. “There’s this nice coffee shop close to my apartment, but I’m afraid I made a bad first impression.” He gestured to his body. “There’s a convenience store with a job opening locally as well. I didn’t want to apply until I spoke with you.”
Her eyes sparkled with amusement. “You’re easy to please. You wouldn’t want a higher paying job? With your charm, I’m sure you could move up corporate ranks.”
He threw back his head and laughed. “I don’t want that kind of stress. I like to have fun.” After all those years of ripping off people, he should be richer… Most of his crimes had been small, his victims well-off. He and his brothers had only taken what they needed to survive. Drawing too much attention from anyone was bad.
See what had happened to him with the dragons? Too much attention.
She caressed his chin. “You remind me of someone I once knew.”
“Someone special, I hope.” He used his most beguiling grin. “Who was he?”
“An old flame that I treated badly.” She broke eye contact and pulled away. “I regret that now.”
At another time, he might have used that to his advantage, but there was Ruby. Their friendship had just budded and he had a feeling he could coax it to more with proper care. Seducing a witch would crush any chance he had with Ruby. “I’m sorry to hear that.” He patted her hand. “Maybe helping me will lessen your burden.”
She gave him a sly smile. “You’re good.” On delicate heels, she stood and gracefully made her way across the room behind the counter. She unlocked the display case and pulled out a leather necklace. “Come here.”
He jumped to his feet and approached the witch. On the leather tie hung a circular charm that resembled a Native American dream catcher, except small bones were knotted within the web in the center. He pointed at what looked like a tiny femur. “What are those from?”
“Some things are better not known.” She rose onto her tiptoe and slipped the charm over his head.
His skin tingled. It felt tight, as if his flesh was shrinking. His shoulder blades burned. He glanced at his back in horror as his wings faded. Lightheaded, he gripped the edge of the counter. “Whoa, what’s happening?” The wood protested at his tight hold.
The witch trailed her fingers along his upper arm until she cupped his elbow and led him to the mirrored wall at the back of the store. Between the shelves filled with tiny bottles, a human man stared back at him. The petite witch rested her cheek against his arm and caressed his biceps. “You make a striking man, Nick. I don’t think you’ll have any problem finding the job of your dreams in this form.”
“It feels weird.” He ran his fingers through the thick, dark, wavy hair on his head. It grew just past his ears. “I’ll have to invest in some shampoo.” Nick had never had hair before. His face hadn’t changed. It had only shrunken and the hard edges of his stony features had smoothed away. He lifted his chin and inspected the rest of his new body. “Shit, I’m naked.” He clapped his hands over his groin. His shorts had fallen from his waist without him noticing.
“I know.” The witch caressed his behind before giving it a little tap. “You’ll have to invest in a new wardrobe, too.” She removed the charm from his neck and dangled it in front of him. “You like it?”
In the mirror, he watched as he returned to his original form. Wings, claws, and a stony complexion. He
flinched and tugged on his shorts. It would be much easier to make a living if he was human. “Are there any side effects to using a charm long-term?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t see why there would be.” Swaying her hips as she walked, Nikita made her way back to the counter.
His heart sank as she locked the item in a display case among other necklaces. “You can help me.” Not only that, she had something he wanted badly. Norm was right. He couldn’t trust a witch. If he tried to make a deal with her, she’d hold the power.
“Yes.” She laughed. “But not for free.”
“Nothing is for free.” He growled. “Unfortunately, I have no money. For me to earn some, I first need a job. You see the vicious circle?” This being honest thing was so much work.
“I guessed as much.” She tapped a long, manicured fingernail on her chin. “I’m sure a resourceful gargoyle like you can figure a way to obtain some cash. I hear you spent some time with the dragons…”
He scuffed a clawed foot over the marble floor. “Not willingly.” It didn’t take a genius to guess where Nikita was going with this. He had been scoping out the castle for the same reason. Treasure.
“You had time to find your way around the castle.”
“They had me chained to an outside wall.”
She made a frustrated noise.
“I’m not trying to be obstinate. I just want you to understand the situation. The reason I was chained to their home was because I’d been trying to locate their treasure.” He waited and was rewarded with a nod. Nick knew what she’d been hinting at. There was no other reason to want to be inside a dragon’s home unless you wanted to rob them. “I never found the treasure. To be honest, I don’t think they have one.” He’d witnessed how hard Angie and Eoin worked. He’d been poor his whole life and knew what scrimping for every penny looked like.
“Too bad.” She pouted. “The price tag on this pretty charm is quite heavy.”
He crossed his arms. “How much?”
“Ten grand.”
He snorted. “Is it made of Aztec gold?” Everyone knew gold infused with that much blood held a lot of magic. It was near impossible to find.
She shook her head. “Pixie bones.”
Nick shuddered and recalled the tiny body parts woven into the charm. She was right. He hadn’t wanted to know where they had come from. “Five grand.” Would he really wear dead fairy parts? He stared through the glass case at the charm and recalled the human male in the mirror. Yes, he would.
“I don’t bargain. Ten grand. My price tags are nonnegotiable.”
“What about a payment plan?”
“Do I look like a fucking bank?” She spun on her heel and snapped her fingers while muttering under her breath.
Suddenly, Nick’s skin itched like a thousand fleas were feasting on his flesh. He scratched and twitched until he escaped the shop. Once outside, it stopped. He glared at Nikita through the window as she returned to the back room.
Without that charm, he knew he’d be forced to continue his life of crime.
Chapter Six
Ruby’s legs felt made of lead as she climbed the stairs to her apartment. She heard the landlord’s booming voice as she reached the second floor. Grimacing, Ruby trod softly to avoid notice. Not an easy accomplishment in high heels.
“Ruby.” The landlord’s voice softened as he used her name. Her skin crawled. He was at least twenty years her senior. He’d once been in shape and still walked tall but his middle had grown pudgy. She imagined he could have been a drill sergeant from the way he spoke to people. Or maybe he was just a bully.
She paused with her foot on the first step to the third floor. Her escape. Mind too heavy with thoughts about work, she couldn’t think of a quick excuse to run.
Seymour pointed at Ms. O’Leary, the little old lady who lived directly below. “This is the last time we’re having this discussion about pets in the building. You get rid of that dog. The neighbors are complaining about its barking.” He turned his back on her.
The little old lady gave him the one fingered salute to his back. Her rheumy eyes growing clear and sharp. She winked.
Ruby bit her bottom lip not to laugh. She had needed that boost of morale. A reminder to straighten her spine and meet Seymour’s gaze. This was not the time for Ruby to start letting him boss her around. Even if she did owe him two month’s rent, going on three.
He leaned his forearm against the wall next to her head, crowding her against the stairs. “Sorry about the eviction notice. I have to follow procedure or I’ll get screwed if I have to take this to court.” He tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear. “This shouldn’t have to go to court, right?”
“Not unless you force me.” She batted her eyelashes at him and ignored her aching feet. Linda kept pushing her to wear more reasonable shoes to wait tables, but when Ruby wore the heels, she received bigger tips.
“I know times are tough now that your sister has moved out. I thought, maybe we could come to some kind of arrangement.”
Nausea burned its way up her throat and Ruby swallowed hard to keep the stomach acid down. “What kind of arrangement are you considering?” She knew what he wanted. Ruby hadn’t been born yesterday, but sometimes if she forced a man to say the words, they would chicken out and change the subject. As if verbalizing their base desires made them realize what they were trying to oblige her to do was wrong.
“You and me, a bottle of wine, my place…”
She forced a smile, hoping he wouldn’t notice how hard she clenched her teeth. “And my debt would vanish?”
He leaned in closer, his aftershave burning the inside of her nose. “Not all of it. I’d say one date for every month of rent you owe me.”
Ruby traced a line over his chest, wishing she could be anywhere but here. “I’ll keep it in mind, Seymour.” She wasn’t that desperate. Yet. She had to keep her options open if she wanted to keep a roof over her head though. Her sister or friends would give her shelter in a heartbeat, she had no doubt, but she wasn’t anybody’s charity case.
Ruby twisted around and climbed the stairs to the third floor, making sure she swung the goods in front of Seymour for good measure. It wouldn’t be the first time she’d had to use her assets for money.
She held her chin high as she reached the hall to her apartment and unlocked the door. A girl had to do what a girl had to do, especially to make sure her little sister didn’t go hungry. And there had been that one time she’d needed a doctor for Trixie when she had contracted pneumonia one winter.
No regrets. Ruby could do it again.
This felt different though. This time, she didn’t have anyone depending on her but herself, and for some reason, that didn’t sit well. Her fragmented soul might shatter if she crawled into Seymour’s bed. She flung her purse onto the table, placed the bag containing Nick’s meal in the fridge. He was a big boy and she’d packed him triple portions.
The last beer slid down her throat easily. Doing her best imitation of Nick, she chugged the whole bottle down. It wasn’t fair. She belched like a trucker. This was the land of opportunity. The place where the harder you worked, the more you gained.
What was she doing wrong? Things were going in reverse. She worked her ass off and had nothing to show for it.
Leaning against the fridge, she surveyed her home and sighed. At least, she had a home. Things could be worse. She had lived through worse. Now that Nick was her roommate, maybe it would be better. If he found a job.
She hung her head. What had she been doing, offering him Trixie’s bedroom?
A gargoyle for a roommate. She rubbed her eyes. It just seemed like the right thing to do. He was homeless and broke and alone. She had more in common with Nick than anyone else in her life. It wasn’t his fault society couldn’t see past his wings. And poor Ms. O’Leary on the second floor. She deserved a break as well. Ruby never heard her dog bark.
Empty beer bottle in hand, she stormed out of he
r apartment to Ms. O’Leary’s and knocked.
The door cracked open, a simple chain hanging between door and frame. “Yes?”
“I heard what Seymour said. If he manages to force you to get rid of your dog, I know someone who owns a no-kill shelter who would be thrilled to hold on to your dog for you. I bet you could convince her to keep him so you could visit whenever you want.” Betty was a werewolf, who had a soft spot for dogs. She had just opened a shelter outside of the neighborhood.
The old woman eyed Ruby up and down.
If Ruby had heard Ms. O’Leary’s conversation with Seymour, then most likely the old woman heard hers. Ruby had been called a slut or whore enough times that it rolled off her back like raindrops, but never from someone who mattered. She held her breath, waiting for Ms. O’Leary to speak her mind.
“Your bottle is empty,” she said.
Ruby stared at the beer still in her hand. “It’s been a bad day.”
“Wait here.” She closed the door in Ruby’s face.
She leaned her weight on one foot while she slipped the other foot out of her shoe and stretched it against the floor. Oh, that was good. She should’ve kicked them off before coming down here.
The door opened completely this time and Ms. O’Leary handed her a six pack. “I keep some in the fridge in case I have visitors, but no one comes anymore. You look like you need it.” She shook her finger at Ruby. “You do whatever you need to do to survive. Nobody cares about women like us and we need to stick together.”
Ruby clutched the six pack in one arm and hugged Ms. O’Leary with the other. “Amen.”
The old woman patted her cheek with a trembling hand and shooed the little dog back inside the apartment before closing the door.
This time Ruby ran up the stairs.
Chapter Seven
A distant dragon roar made Nick miss a wing beat. He swirled out of control for a second and caught his balance. One of them was close and he bet it was Eoin. Masquerading as a human would help Nick avoid recapture. He increased his speed, heading back to the apartment.
Not Her Gargoyle: Shifter Romance (Not This Series Book 4) Page 4