“I ripped through two Mafia guys just yesterday. I took exception to their intent to kill me. Some of the worst monsters I’ve seen are people. Every day, run-of-the-mill humans who are absolutely evil. I don’t relish it, but sometimes it’s necessary. Hunter would understand that.”
Unable to sit still, I jumped up to pace the small space. “I’m being stupid. Hunter knows my past. At least some of it.”
“Some of it? I don’t think confessions are a one and done kind of deal. When I met Arial, I thought she was too good for me too.” He spoke of his girlfriend who sometimes worked at the bar. His lips pressed into a quick smile. “Hell, I still do. But that female is crazier than I am. She wanted everything—the real, ugly, bitter truth of me, all five hundred years of my long and sordid history. So I told her. Damn if she didn’t still love me.” The glass made a clink as he set it on the coffee table and stood. “I gotta go. So we’ll see you later at the bar, yeah?”
I nodded. “Yeah. I’ll be there.”
“Bring your lockpick set.” He gave me a two-fingered salute and opened the door. “And plug in your damned phone.” He closed the door behind him.
I sat back on the futon, scarfing the last dumpling. Archie lounged in his feline form on top of the bookcase. I stared at my sparse furnishings in the one room. It felt even emptier now that Hunter was gone.
“Did you hear that, Archie? I’m apparently breaking into a Mafia flat with my best friend who’s not speaking to me.” Archie yawned, got up, and stretched before lightly jumping to the floor and strutting to his bowl. “Thanks for the concern. Yes, I’ll feed you before I go.”
Chapter Twenty
Hunter on breaking into apartments, safes, and hearts
Ihung out at Pinkie’s all afternoon, finally pulling a fresh T-shirt from my duffel before I set up for karaoke night.
Every crescent moon, Pinkie’s Bar became a mecca for supernatural beings wanting to travel through the portal. Something about the moon’s gravitational forces weakening the veil between realms. When those nights converged with karaoke nights, the bar would fill with both supernatural beings and drunk Shania Twain wannabes.
Julian had retreated to the office for a nap. I was sure his skepticism regarding the supernatural would take a major hit tonight. The guy would need his rest.
Pery came in, eyeing me warily.
“Abraham filled me in. I brought your car—it’s parked in the lot.” He handed me the keys. “What’s the plan?”
I went back to stacking napkins behind the bar. “Abraham is here, keeping the peace downstairs. Arial is coming in to help tend the bar. Cobb and Ziggy will be here to separate church and state.”
“Church and state?”
“Humans andothers.” I checked the condiments, popping a cherry into my mouth. “We need to Tom Cruise our way into Julian’s apartment, get the deed, and get out. Who knows when the cartel will show up, so we need to go tonight.” I straightened the glasses and turned the labels out on the liquor bottles.
Julian emerged wearing dark jeans and a cream-colored hoodie. The bruises around his eyes had almost vanished. “Abraham lent me some clothes,” he said, looking a little sheepish.
He seemed to know Pery already but was surprised when the wolf asked about Nigel.
“He feels like a memory but an elusive one you can’t quite picture. It’s familiar but not. Seems he’s pretty fond of Hunter. And Regge.”
“Did someone speak of me?” Regge came down the hallway from the back door, his professional smile on. The one that bar patrons overtipped and females fluttered their lashes for. I turned away quickly, catching Julian’s gaze on me. I tried to focus on my chores, but I felt Regge’s presence in my bones.
“Julian is going to help us with the hotel.” Pery said. He sounded hopeful.
“Is he now?” Regge pulled up a stool. The dark slacks stretched tight across his thighs as he sat down. “Tell me, why the sudden altruism?”
Julian sighed. “It’s not altruism. I need money to disappear—in order to survive. But… I seem to have a fondness for the place. I can remember every damn notch and scratch on the front desk. Maybe this is Nigel’s influence, but I don’t want the organization to get their hands on it.”
Regge straightened at the mention of Nigel, his look confused and astonished at the same time.
“Sucks, doesn’t it? Being the last to know something.” I couldn’t help it. As soon as I said it, I knew I was being a dick.
Julian hesitantly explained about Nigel’s new home. Being that it was his own body he was talking about, he seemed pretty chill.
Regge’s eyebrows furrowed, rose, fell and furrowed again, all in a second’s time. They had a language all their own, and my fingers ached to soothe them.
Abraham returned from the basement. “Okay, everything’s set downstairs. Marlowe is coming tonight to help so Pery will be with you. Pery’s mate, Skylar will help too. Cobb’s on duty tonight.” Abraham said. “Julian’s security in the building is tight. You’ll need someone to run interference.”
“Not my security anymore.” Julian handed me a slip of paper. “The code to get in through the garage is 1126. Here is the combination to the safe. Just clean it out.”
