by K. F. Breene
“This kitchen is tiny,” Zorn said and reached over Jack to grab the salt and pepper shakers.
“Well excuse us, Mr. Money Bags,” Daisy said. “I don’t see you inviting us over to your house for dinner.”
“You’re not magical. You’re not welcome on my side of the tracks,” he said, deadpan.
Daisy narrowed her eyes at him.
“I got you,” Bria told her. “It’s in the works.”
“What’s in the works?” Jack asked.
“Don’t you nevermind.” Bria winked at Daisy before turning her attention to me. “You’re not moving to Sydney, I take it?”
I shifted uncomfortably, wondering how much they knew. “No. This is my home. I’m staying here.”
“I sure hope you didn’t pass up a new house for sentimental reasons,” Daisy said.
“She didn’t,” Mordecai said, drooping. “She wouldn’t pass up a free house. She’s obviously invested in Kieran’s cause and wants to join the fight.”
“Is it the fight, or the man?” Jack asked, turning around.
All eyes drifted my way, but no one spoke, everyone waiting for an answer.
“Toot, toot,” Bria said, pulling the imaginary chain.
“Hey,” someone called down the hall.
I leaned that way so I could see.
Donovan smiled and came forward, leaving the back door open behind him. “What’s up, Lexi? You’re back, I see. What’s the verdict? We have a bet going.”
“She’s staying,” Jack called. “Pay up!”
“No way!” Donovan laughed, putting his hand on his chest as he swaggered toward me. “Demigod Kieran was dead set on you leaving. Dead set.”
“We found someone who doesn’t mind saying no to him,” Zorn said. “That might be useful.”
Jack turned toward Zorn with his eyes wide and mouth opened in an incredulous smile. “Oh how the tables have turned, Zorn. Suddenly you don’t blindly follow our fearless leader?”
Zorn’s brows lowered. “I’ve never blindly followed anyone.”
“We all know he sometimes gets an idea in his head,” Donovan said, stopping by me, “and gets stuck on it even though it’s not the absolute best approach.”
Zorn nodded and handed a tray of seasoned steaks to him. “Occasionally he can be unreasonable. Especially regarding the safety of a certain…pain in the ass.”
“He means you.” Daisy pointed at me.
“I think we all knew that, Daisy,” Mordecai said.
“Well, he could have just as easily meant me, Fido,” she retorted, and earned a scowl.
“There are times when it’s wise to…back off,” Zorn finished.
“And those are the times we’ll send in Lexi.” Jack nodded. “Good plan.”
Bria shook her head. “You should run to Sydney, Alexis. Not walk, run. But don’t worry, I won’t let them use you.”
“I feel like I’ve walked into a fun house,” I mumbled. When had I seen the Six act so easy going and loose? Then again, they were usually only together like this when Kieran was present.
I was starting to realize everyone else saw a very different side of Kieran than I usually did. A harsher side, with more impenetrable walls and harder angles. A guy who didn’t tolerate the word no, and reduced people to quivering messes on the battlefield.
I wasn’t sure how to feel about that.
Don’t waste your heart on me, Alexis.
Oh yeah. That was how.
“Oh, did you show her?” Donovan asked as Thane called from the back door, “What’s the hold up?”
Jack snapped his fingers and turned toward the fridge.
“Oh hey, Alexis.” Thane walked down to me, just another large, muscular man in a very tiny house.
“We do need another place to congregate,” I said, flattening against the wall so Thane could join us.
“You staying or going?” Thane asked.
“Staying,” Jack sang. He pulled a newspaper from the top of the fridge and handed it to me.
“Damn,” Thane said with a smirk. “I mean, great, because that vitals-grabbing thing you do will sure be helpful, but damn, I thought Demigod Kieran was going to put his foot down this time. He was set on it. Demigods don’t usually bend.”
“I wouldn’t talk about the boss’s lady grabbing your vitals,” Donovan said with a smirk.
“She defies logic.” Jack tapped a story on the right column on the front page. “They got their man, and all it took was Demigod Kieran vouching for your authenticity.”
“Huh?” I asked, looking at the paper.
“That’s that guy, Lexi,” Daisy said, smiling at me. Mordecai perked up, his tired eyes shining. “That guy at the freak show, remember? The one you called the cops about? See? I told you they’d track you down. But you were right—”
“I can’t believe you’re admitting it,” Mordecai said.
She scowled at him. “Shut up, Rover, I was right, too.” She refocused on me. “Like you said, it led them to Kieran’s office. He talked to the cop shop about you being legit.”
“You don’t seem so weird when a Demigod is vouching for you,” Jack said, laughing.
“All aboard,” Bria called.
I pushed away the banter and zeroed in on the newspaper article.
The criminal from the freak show that seemed like forever ago stared at the camera in his mug shot, his expression pissed off and his hair mussed. In the four-color picture above, a SWAT team surrounded an opened locker, the contents hidden.
“They got enough evidence to put him away,” Mordecai said. “The cop you called took point.”
I glanced over the story, chuckling. “Guess I can’t use it for a new business, even if I wanted to, since the credit went to an anonymous caller.”
“Demigod Kieran figured you’d want to keep your privacy,” Zorn said.
Bria huffed out laughter, but didn’t say anything.
“We could easily get around all that,” Daisy said confidently. “We could definitely make a business work.”
“Chump change,” Donovan said, smiling over my shoulder. “You’re working for Demigod Kieran now. You don’t need no freaking freak show.” He laughed and handed off the steaks to Thane before patting me on the back. “That’s cool, though. You helped bring down a murderer.”
“And soon, you’ll help bring down another,” Bria said with a violent gleam in her eye.
“Hear-hear!” Donovan said as he followed Thane out to the grill.
“Are we really signed on to help bring Valens down?” Mordecai asked quietly.
Jack glanced back, then Zorn did, as if they were equally as interested in the answer.
“Not we, Mordecai,” I said. “Me. I signed on to—”
“No.” Daisy held up her hand, stopping me. “We. We go where you go. We’re a family. If you’re getting involved, we’re all getting involved. Maybe not on the front line, but we’re in this with you. That’s non-negotiable. I still maintain that Kieran is a possessive, stalking asshole and a bad idea, but these other yahoos are okay, so I’m good to join this team.”
“You’d make too many bad decisions without us,” Mordecai said seriously. Jack and Bria burst out laughing. They didn’t know that it was mostly true.
I took a deep breath, fire burning through my veins. I’d never taken a stand like this before. I’d never aggressively stepped up to authority and put myself out there. But if I did it against anyone, it was always going to be Valens. It was always going to be the guy who thought he was above the law.
“Yes,” I said, the fire overflowing and strengthening my words. “Yes, we’re going to get involved. And come hell or high water, possibly literally, we’re going to win.”
“Atta girl,” Jack said, clapping. “Let the games begin.”
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Check out the exciting #1 Amazon worldwide bestseller by USA Today Bestselling author, K.F. Breene!
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Supernatural Bounty Hunter isn’t the sort of thing you see on LinkedIn. But with a rare type of magic like mine, I don’t have many options.
So dangerous or not, the job is mine. And it was going fine, until an old as sin vampire stole my mark, and with it, my pay day.
Knowing I’m poor and desperate, he has offered me a job. I’ll have to work by his side to help solve a top secret case.
Everyone knows not to trust vampires. Especially a hot elder vampire. But without any other jobs coming up, I’m stuck. As I uncover a web of lies and treachery, revealing an enemy I didn’t know existed, the truth of my identity is threatened. I might make it out alive, only to end up in a gilded cage.
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Also by K.F. Breene
Demigods of San Francisco
Sin & Chocolate
Sin & Magic
Sin & Salvation (coming soon)
Fire and Ice Trilogy (DDVN World)
Born in Fire
Raised in Fire
Fused in Fire
Natural Witch
Natural Mage
Natural Dual-Mage
Warrior Chronicles
Chosen
Hunted
Shadow Lands
Invasion
Siege
Overtaken
Darkness Series
Into the Darkness
Braving the Elements
On a Razor’s Edge
Demons
The Council
Shadow Watcher
Jonas
Charles
Jameson
Stand Alone
Secret of McKinley’s Mansion
Finding Paradise
Fate of Perfection
Fate of Devotion
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About the Author
K.F. Breene is a USA TODAY and Top 10 Kindle Allstar Bestselling author of paranormal, urban fantasy and fantasy novels. She lives in wine country where over every rolling hill, or behind every cow, an evil sorcerer might be plotting his next villainous deed while holding a bottle of wine and brick of cheese. Her husband thinks she’s cracked for wandering around, muttering about magic and swords. Her kids are on board with her fantastical imagination, except when the description of the monsters becomes too real.
She’ll wait until they’re older to tell them that monsters are real, and so is the magic to fight them. She wants them to sleep through the night, after all…
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