“Next time send Switch. Nobody knows who he is, and that way you won’t have to involve my father.”
“That isnothis job,” Viktor informed me. “I cannot involve him when his primary purpose is to look after Shepherd’s child. If he involves himself in anything dangerous and men go looking for him, that puts Hunter in danger.”
“Sure, but you put my dad in harm’s way.”
“Let’s not be dramatic. Blue would not have allowed any harm to come to your father.”
“I’m talking about the heart attack he almost had jogging around the city and then seeing me in this outfit.”
Viktor’s laugh was a deep chuckle trapped in his chest, one that always made you feel good since he could be such a serious guy. It vanished just as quickly as it came. “You are okay?”
I sat back against the leather. “Pablo Russo is the name of the short man in the auction house. I thought he was the one in charge, but that’s not the case. He’s the guy who makes sure things run smoothly and does all the work, but there’s a woman in charge.”
“A woman?”
“Yep. My necklace fell off while fighting, but I met her afterward. She said her clients like seeing women reach their full potential in the ring. They pay six figures. I wasn’t sure how they could afford that, but she said the business has multiple streams of income. Members pay to watch, betting is optional, and I have a feeling some pay extra to interfere.”
“In what way?”
“Did you see the drawer open up with the knife? There were other gaps in the walls, not just that one. I think maybe there’s something going on where they bid on weapons. And then there’s sensory exchange.”
Viktor’s grey eyebrows drew together, and two lines formed between them. “Was the other fighter not a Mage?”
“She was, but Audrey—the woman in charge—is a Sensor. Before I left, she took the emotional experience of the fight and was going to sell it to the highest bidder. Apparently that’s where they get a lot of their money from. It’s not a single experience, but she implants it.”
Viktor slammed his fist against the desk. A cup full of pens rattled, and a little green candy rolled across the surface and then tapped across the floor.
As I watched it roll, movement across the room caught my eye from the sectional.
Hunter shuffled toward us, his hair sticking out in all directions and his eyes half-closed. He dragged a small blanket behind him, his right arm clutching a teddy bear.
I grimaced and lowered my voice. “Sorry, Viktor. I didn’t know he was in here.”
Viktor rolled his chair back and turned to look at Hunter. “It is time for you to go to bed, little one. Do you know how to find your room?”
“It’s dark,” I said. “The halls are a little scary.”
Viktor scooped him up in his arms. Hunter yawned, and his head lazily fell on Viktor’s shoulder. His eyelids drew down like window shades as he fell into a deep slumber. He must have been an adorable toddler.
“Walk with me,” Viktor said quietly.
I fell into step beside him, walking on the opposite side from Hunter. “I need to talk to you about the fights. I know Wyatt has more than enough evidence, but something else is going on.”
“And what is that?”
“I don’t know for sure. The woman’s name is Audrey. She’s a Sensor with reddish-orange hair and a British accent. Does that ring any bells?”
“Nyet.”
“She seems to have a lot of connections. She made me another offer but wouldn’t tell me what it was for. I had to choose between accepting the job or doing something more exciting. I think that’s how she put it. Anyhow, I chose the second option. I think we need to see what else they’re offering. She wants me back on Friday.”
“We have more than enough evidence to move in. Wyatt has run a check on the building owner, and we have the little man’s face and name. That would be enough for us to locate the woman if she escapes.”
“I know these fights are illegal, but how much time do you really think they’ll do? The fighters are there of their own free will, they’re compensated, healed afterward, and we still don’t have evidence that anyone’s watching the fights. All I saw were windows. If we can’t prove that anyone was watching, were they committing a crime?”
Viktor stopped in his tracks. After muttering a few words in Russian, he said, “Then we must go deeper.”
Shepherd’s combat boots tromped loudly as he marched toward us like a man on a mission. His tattoos always stood out when he wore a white tank top. Not just the large phoenix on his right arm but also the compass with Hunter’s name. “Sorry. I forgot my kid.” Shepherd reached for Hunter and collected him in his arms. “Come on, little man. Time for bed.”
