I smiled and glanced around. “This place looks better than it ever has.” I’d offered to help with the cleanup, but Gary had insisted I leave him to it. The gnome wasn’t known for being gracious at accepting help.
“Yeah, it’s taken a while, but it’s getting there.”
I eyed him. I hated the thought of him being in a financial hole after being targeted by extremists.
“Listen, Mariam paid me for that job. If you need a loan–”
He instantly shook his head. “I don’t. Truth is, I was going to go to Ridick.” I winced and he laughed. “Yeah. The interest would have crippled me, but I didn’t think I had much choice. And then another party made me an offer. With zero interest. So I’m okay, Danica. I promise.”
I angled my head. “Tell me that other party wasn’t Samael.”
He clammed up. “I signed a non-disclosure agreement. And my finances are none of your business.”
I ran my hand through my hair. He was right, but the idea of him being in debt to Samael…
“I have very good lawyers,” he said. “Don’t worry about me.”
Samael had bailed Gary out. With zero interest. And he’d made him sign a non-disclosure agreement, which meant he hadn’t done it as a way to endear himself to me. There was literally nothing in it for him, but he’d done it anyway.
And that just plain confused me.
The demon I met just a few months ago… He hadn’t cared about anyone but his demons. Or at least, that’s how he’d appeared.
I pushed the thought away. “Okay. I’m going to go see what the kids want to show me.”
“I’ll let you know if I hear anything.”
The kids had grown their collection of ‘treasures’, and they solemnly took us through the newest additions– a long, pretty ribbon, a chunk of amethyst, and a shiny lock and key.
I waved to Gary as we left, and he nodded from where he was talking a witch through some of his best-selling charms.
Evie glanced at me as we drove back to my apartment. “You’re quiet.”
“Just thinking. Let’s grab some lunch at home, and then I need to go meet Kyla at my office.”
“Do you get a buzz when you say that? Cause I get a buzz when I hear it.Youroffice. So professional. I’m proud of you, Dani.”
That was the second person who’d said they were proud of me this week. I must be doing something right.
“I couldn’t have done it without Keigan. He pushed me into it, truthfully. I owe him big time.”
“He believes in you. It’s nice.”
“Yeah. It is.”
I parked and we walked toward my apartment lobby. “Listen–”
The world went dark. Dark and quiet. I reached for Evie. Our fingers brushed as I fumbled for her hand. She disappeared, her scream echoing within the darker-than-night spell.
12
Danica
“Fuck.”
I reached for my Colt, then changed my mind and pulled my Mark II. It was better for up-close fighting, and I wouldn’t have to worry about accidentally shooting Evie or an innocent bystander.
My power brushed against my shields and I focused, softening my main shield enough to let it through. My demon side wanted to rip and rend, which made it as dangerous as lighting up the parking lot with a gun.
