Shepherd hitched up his track pants and put his hands on his hips. “Sorry about that. What’s going on?”
I slowly turned the cap to release the air without the liquid bubbling out. “Nothing. Wyatt’s just ruiningGhostbustersagain.”
Shepherd chuckled and steered his gaze up to a wall lantern. “Sounds about right. Did he ever tell you he tried to make one of those little ghost-sucking machines?”
“Why am I not surprised?”
Shepherd wiped the sweat from his forehead. “It was back in the 80s. He contacted some guy at MIT. Then he researched the writers for the movie to see if any were Breed. I guess some dopes write our secrets in fiction. He was convinced that a Gravewalker had figured out how to vacuum up all the spooks. Nobody’s got time for that.”
I glanced down at his running shoes. “You should be dressed. Viktor might call, and you’ll be half naked and sweaty.”
He reached in his back pocket and checked his phone. “You should rethink your wardrobe. Not dark enough.”
“My leather coat and jeans are black.”
“Your shirt is red.”
My lips eased into a grin. “That’s to camouflage the blood.”
“I don’t see the gun I gave you.”
I opened up my jacket to show him the lining, which had my daggers. “I got more than enough weapons. Not to mention my buckle and boot.”
He put his phone back in his pocket. “Guns work better from a distance. It won’t kill them, but it’ll put enough holes in them that they might bleed out and weaken.”
“It’s loud and calls too much attention. Besides, a gun is harder to hide.” I finished opening my soda and took a sip. “Do you think we can really kill some guy on short notice? Does Viktor expect us to just walk up, tap the guy on the shoulder, and ask if it’s okay to murder him?”
“Never ask permission.”
We both chuckled.
Gem suddenly flashed past us. The quick movement lifted a tendril of my hair, and before it settled back down, Claude followed after.
“What’s going on?” I called out.
Niko jogged toward us, his hand running alongside the wall. “Wyatt just heard from Mr. X.”
Our phones started vibrating.
Shepherd checked his messages. “Gear up. He wants us by the front door in five minutes.”
Blue appeared at the end of the hall and quickened her step.
Wyatt poked his head around the corner. “Hold your ponies, Ladyhawke! You stay with me.”
She came to a stop and frowned. “It said everyone, didn’t it?”
“Did your phone vibrate?”
“No,” she bit out.
“Then you weren’t chosen. I need an assistant, and the boss wants you here,” he said, ducking out of sight.
Blue cursed as we headed downstairs. Shepherd took off ahead of us, probably to get dressed.
“Do you need anything from your room to get ready?” Niko asked.
When I reached the second landing, I looked back at him. “I was born ready. What did I miss?”
