He stepped aside, unwilling to risk his life for his boss. “In there.”
The sound of his retreating footsteps told me he was hightailing it away from here. I slammed my hand into the door, forcing it open.
Nero’s men jumped to attention. Then they froze as they took in my wings. I didn’t put them on display often, but when I did, they had the desired effect.
“What the fuck is going on out here?”
Nero opened the door and stared at me. To his credit, he didn’t piss his pants. His expression stayed stony, his hands fisted by his sides. But I could see his pulse fluttering in the side of his neck. I gave him a slow smile, and the fluttering sped up.
“A word.”
He turned and stalked into his office. I followed him in, and he attempted to close the door behind me. I slowly shook my head.
“Your men are going to hear every word of this.”
Dull fury gleamed in his eyes. “What do you want?”
“Do you know who I am?”
“Vassago,” he spat out, and I grinned at him.
“It’s nice to know I mean that much to you.”
“You’re here to talk about the witch.”
“I’m here to make you pay for what you did to her bar.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Uh-uh. Lies just piss me off. Tell me, how much does sheoweof her father’s debt?”
He went very still. “I can’t give you the exact number. One of my competitors sent a virus into my system. Everything is gone, and I’m rebuilding.”
Mere and I would be having words later. She’d definitely left that part out when she’d told me about her little visit. Nero’s hand slid to the small of his back, and I lit up my own hand with demon fire.
“Do you think you’re faster than me?” I asked mildly.
His hand moved back to where I could see it.
“No,” he admitted.
I turned and set fire to the wall behind him. It was immediately engulfed in flames, and Nero cursed, launching himself away from the wall.
I snapped my fingers, and the flames disappeared. “Tell me… How much do your clients owe you now?”
Technically, I’d just come to put the fear of god into Nero so he’d forget all about Meredith. But she’d be…pleased with me if she knew no other humans would suffer the way she’d suffered.
He stared at what was left of the wall. Then his mouth twisted as his eyes met mine. “Nothing. They owe me nothing.”
I smiled. “Good man. Time for you to go into a different kind of business. Enjoy a fresh start. We all need them sometimes.”
Meredith would be happy this hadn’t ended in murder.
I turned and strolled out the door, snapping out my wings.
The sound of feminine shrieks made me freeze. I slowly turned toward the noise.
A short, bald man was dragging a teenage girl toward the house. She kicked out at him, and he simply buried his hand in her hair, giving it a yank.
