Yes, yes, they did. The councilmen were so greedy and jealous that they didn’t want to risk their minions getting the goods or information. They asked about any fingerprints and… Fucking monsters.
Seriously.
But knowing how disturbed bad guys could be was one of my best qualities and exactly how I was so good at my job.
And it was how we caught three cheetah councilmen and several aides, their shock beyond amusing as Elijah went himself and scooped them up.
And thenwe had a repeat performance with another council.
And another.
A fourth was a bit delayed but went off without a hitch.
“How in the world did you manage to get it—no one is so good you got it to be like this all in one night,” Phil muttered, scrubbing his hands over his face.
I saw the other confused expressions and desires to seriously sit me down and get to the bottom of a lot of my secrets.
Too many of them.
I shared a look with Kyle and nodded.
“After the head of the tiger council took the shot at the councilwoman at Christmas and made it clear she was on their radar as a target, we knew she would be the one they’d go after,” Kyle explained as he crossed his arms over his broad chest and stared down several of the ISLE brass without fear.
A penis would do that at times.
Mine was just being an idiot. Not really, but I was still cross about how things hadn’t worked out with my last plan.
“No one on the councils is stupid,” Kyle continued. “They might have gotten fat off the riches or lazy—drunk on power even but—”
“We heard whispers about your private residence being in the US, not Germany, just before New Year’s,” Gavin admitted.
“Yes,” I confirmed. “That was when we started this. ISLE has the most power in the US and the councils do as well—the best relationship and they’d be stupid to risk that.”
“You set it all up,” Dylan muttered as he studied the screens. “But how did you get it all to…” He blinked for a moment and then slowly looked at me. “You used the issues of the meeting to say you were going to move back to Germany. That the other council members spanked you or whatever and you were packing up to go to another residence.”
I looked away from his intense gaze and focused on the monitors. “Yes. Kyle and his team made it clear the ones we’vebeen watching were all going to make a move after that meeting because even Phil said that the demon council couldn’t fall while I was alive.”
“That wasnotwhat I meant nor—”
“Of course not,” I told Phil gently. I gave him a wink. “We know. Assholes hear what they want and what works for them.”
He swore under his breath. “But I know better than to be so stupid. I’m sorry. I’m really stupid—”
“Shewantedsomeone to say it, boss,” another guy comforted, clapping him on the back. “And it worked. They got the right message from her. I heard what you meant that night. It would be suicide to try and take her out with angels fucking protecting her, but—we’re all buried.”
“You are, and there’s no bad blood here,” I promised them. “One of the angels was going to say it specifically if you hadn’t. I wanted this even if the rest didn’t go to plan.”
Nobody could have a perfect batting average after all, right?
17
“This was dangerous,” Dylan said when it was clear all the traps were sprung and I was about to leave.
I gave him the look he deserved. “Yeah, of course, as opposed to being theDeputy Director of ISLE.” I felt better when a few people snickered. “Because otherwise I sit around and count my toes. I mean, I’m not already a councilwoman, billionaire, high up in a huge corporation or—”
“Right, yeah, point made,” he grumbled as he glanced around at all the people watching.
Which mattered to him. His standing with them or whatever.
