Be normal.
“Hey,” Myra called out. “We have a situation.”
“What is it?” I crossed the parking lot to her.
“Brawl at the wayside off the Easy. Wedding party gone bad. Someone got thrown in the drink and came up punching. Hatter and Shoe need backup.”
The wayside was a large parking area with access to the beach and the smallest river in the state of Oregon. There were restaurants and hotels nearby and the parking was obvious from the main road through town. Locals really never hung out there, but it drew tourists like honey drew badgers.
“Go,” I said. “I’ll be right behind you.”
“Nope. You are off duty. You got that? Until tonight is over, that vamp bite is gone, and that demon gives you your soul back, you are done for now.”
“Are you telling me I can’t do my job? I’m your boss, Myra, not the other way around.”
“I am telling you that Ryder and Shoe and Hatter and I can handle a couple of people in a shoving match,andwe’re not going to get bit by a vampire or possessed by a demon in the process.”
I couldn’t help it, I laughed. “Rude. I am not possessed.”
She squeezed my shoulder. “I’m not calling Jean in on this either.”
“Duh. Jean’s injured.”
“So are you.”
And okay, yes. I hadn’t stopped long enough to think of trading my soul away as an injury.
It had just seemed like taking actions, any actions, was a better use of my time. Especially if it meant staying one step ahead of, or gaining control of the chaos in my life.
“Going home is the best thing you can do right now,” she said a little softer now that she could see that the lightbulb had clicked on over my head. “I’m going to take care of this and get all the backup we need together for tonight.”
“Backup?”
“You know we’re not just going to rely on Rossi and a book of spells, right?”
No, I did not.
“Uh…”
“I’ve got this. You go home. I’ll send Ryder to pick you up tonight.”
“You want to jump in on my side here and tell my sister I know how to do my job?”
Ryder shook his head. “I know better than to get in between you two. But just so you know, I think Myra’s right on this one.”
I was torn between wanting to argue, and not actually caring enough about getting my way. If I wasted any more time fighting with them, they’d be too late to back up Shoe and Hatter.
“Fine. Go.” I waved them off.
Ryder caught my arm, tugged me to him. “It’s going to be okay. Everything. We’re going to make it all okay.”
I wanted to believe him, but I knew nothing was that simple. “You bet your ass we are.”
He grinned, shook his head, and reluctantly let go of my arm.
I stood there and watched as he hurried into the passenger side of the cruiser, was still standing and watching as my sister and my boyfriend drove away, red and blue lights flashing.
Chapter 17
