Savagery & Skills: Books 1-4
Page 65
“Don’t have a choice. This is the job.”
“And if I refuse?”
Resting his hands on the table, he leaned in close, growling under his breath, “Then a little birdy might be dropping off a tiny bit of information on a certain bounty hunter that will get her ass arrested. Or worse. Is that what you want?”
My gun and sword were across the room. And Damian was a big half-demon. The chances of taking him were slim to none. He trained me, after all, and I only ever bested him one time, and that was because he was distracted by some hot vampire walking in while we sparred.
His gaze drifted to where mine was aimed, at my weapons. He sneered. “I thought we were past this.”
“It’s Sector 13,” I repeated. “The Underground is bad enough, but I’ll be walking literally into the clutches of death.”
If anyone was smart, they avoided that sector. Not only was it known to harbor the worst of the worst criminals, but it was watched over by reapers. Old bastards who did what they wanted. The dead ruled that sector and very few entered without an invitation. The ball, I’d heard of it before, everyone had. Reapers always found it highly amusing that humans celebrated Halloween, so every year they threw a party of their own to mock them for it, along with all their traditions. There were rumors humans were often kidnapped, and no one ever saw them again. For years the Feds had been fighting to shut them down, but no evidence had ever been found. At least, nothing concrete. The mage was smart to hide there. The Gathered were strictly forbidden, so whatever this mage was accused of doing must have impressed the reapers—
“Wait, how did you get this invite?” I asked, confused.
“I’m a half-demon with very good connections. End of story.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I mumbled, waving the invitation back and forth nervously. “A ball. You really know how to ruin my day.”
“Big payday for us. If you pull this one off, maybe I’ll even let you take some vacation.” He looked around my apartment again. “Haven’t you made enough to live somewhere half decent? Is that a crack in the wall?”
“It is and what’s the point? Like I said, not here except to sleep.”
The truth was I was stashing away everything I made so I could make a run for it and get to another country. Hell, another continent would be ideal. Disappear. Since I became old enough to understand my arrangement with Damian, that had been the plan. Get money and get the hell out of here. I’d managed to stay off the radar so far, but all it would take was one slip-up. Or Damian deciding he didn’t like me any longer.
“Hmm. Just get your shit together and get to that ball.”
“These others after him, who do you think they are?” I asked, not watching him walk to the door. Already studying what was in the file before me.
“Other hunters, no doubt. Oh, and the Feds.”
“Right because that doesn’t make this about a hundred times harder.”
“You either do this mission, or you’re out. How about that?” he threatened.
I stilled, refusing to turn around.
“I expect to see that mage in your custody soon, or else this is the end of the road for us both.”
“And if I get killed in the process?”
“I’ll be sure to say something nice at the funeral. Though I’m pretty sure I’ll be the only one there,” he replied then walked out, slamming the door behind him.
Anger getting the better of me, I whirled around and chucked my coffee mug at the door.
It shattered, covering the floor in chunks of ceramic and coffee.
“Damn it. I really liked that mug.”
Leaving the pieces to pick up later, I found a small bowl, filled it with more coffee, dumped some creamer in it, way too much sugar, and sat at the table to get back to work making a plan that would not end with getting killed.
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Copyright © 2019 by Ciara Graves
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