TWELVE
Evalle held up her hand and hoped Deek didn’t take that as a sign of war. Hard to tell with a centaur, and too late she remembered the sign of an open palm was an insult to Greeks.
Was Deek an Italian or a Greek centaur? The name suggested Italian, but most were Greek.
Oy! She closed her palm.
Centaurs didn’t have a sense of humor.
Deek stopped in front of her, his seven men spread out to the side and behind him. He was beautiful, but like a cobra, deadly with one bite. “What’s my sister doing out here?”
“It’s not my fault,” Bettina called out from where she and Kardos stood behind Evalle.
“Shut. Up.” Evalle ignored Bettina’s gasp. The girl was spoiled beyond heiress level and had probably never heard those words in her life. But right now, Evalle had much more important things facing her than some brat’s feelings. Like a centaur ready to rearrange her body parts.
She forced a smile for Deek. “It’s not what you think—”
Deek cut her off. “Bullshit. I ran the security cameras to find Bettina.” He jerked his chin toward Kardos. “That underage punk walked right into my club without paying or getting stamped. Which means he entered by majik. My territory. My rules. He’s going with me. Now.”
Kardos had moved forward and stood on Evalle’s left. Bettina had done the same, ending up on Evalle’s right, which was telling. Did she believe she was safer with Evalle, or was she staying on this side as a show of support for Kardos in some way?
Or was she just being an obstinate teen?
Evalle figured now might be a good time to redirect Deek’s anger. “You got bigger problems than a teenage witch whose powers are too immature to be a danger.”
Kardos ground out a sound meant to counter her insult.
She gave him a quelling look and returned her attention to Deek. “Someone else lured him into your club and used majik to get them past your guards.”
Deek scoffed. “Who would dare such?”
She’d known he was going to ask that, but she couldn’t tell Deek about Vyan while VIPER was trying to quietly flush out the location of the Ngak Stone. It would serve Vyan right to turn Deek loose on the Kujoo. She bet Deek could find him, but having an enraged centaur in the middle of things could hamper covert operations—kind of like tossing a live grenade into a group of paranoid schizophrenics.
And no one wanted that rock to end up in Deek’s possession.
She turned her hands palms up. “I’m trying to figure out who he is myself.”
“What’d he look like?” Deek directed that question at Bettina, who took a step back.
Bettina shook her head. “I don’t know. I was in the club one minute, then Kardos asked me to take a walk—”
“I knew it!” Veins popped up like cords beneath the skin on Deek’s thick neck.
Kardos took a step back. “I didn’t mean to ask her out.”
When Bettina hissed at him, clearly not happy with the way he’d said that, Kardos looked over at her. “Oh, baby, I didn’t mean it that way, just meant I had no idea that guy was screwing with me. Of course, I want to ask you out. I just had more sense to—”
“I’m going to kill him.” Deek bolted for Kardos.
Evalle cut him off and forced him back. Stopping a freight train would have been easier. She wouldn’t be surprised if her shoulder was bruised from it.
“Look, Deek, I can appreciate the feeling, since I’ve wanted to strangle him myself a few times, but he isn’t the danger here. Someone else is. Someone with a lot of juice that neither of us wants to confront without prep. And right now, I’m on the hunt for him. Until we find this guy, let us pass in peace. You take Bettina back with you, but make sure you keep an eye on her in case our mutual friend infiltrates her mind again and has her leaving with someone a lot more dangerous than a teen witch who can barely use his powers.”
Deek immediately postured, puffing out his chest and crossing his arms. “She’s always well guarded.”
Things were going Evalle’s way until Kardos snorted at that comment.
Deek went for his throat and she again had to ram her body into the mountain of steel—an action that left her winded.
Kardos, you idiot. If you want to die, there are much less painful ways to go about it. As well as ways that wouldn’t leave her bruised.
If Kardos kept this up, she’d reconsider handing him over to the centaur.
She forced Deek back a step, sure he was refraining from using majik only because a human might see them. But if this had been in the basement of the Iron Casket, there would have been no discussion. “Look, Deek, I’ll be in touch if I have anything new to share with you on the guy who breached your security.”
Deek let his gaze swipe across the three of them and finally gave a nod of assent. “Time to go, Bettina.”
The girl released a stream of air so quickly that she must have been holding her breath. She lifted her chin like an offended queen and headed toward the Iron Casket. Guards opened a path for her, then surrounded her, moving en masse with Deek at the rear.
Impressive.
Scary, but impressive.
“Sheez, that was close,” Kardos said in a spurt of relief.
Evalle rounded on him. “No shit, Sherlock. What did you think you were doing messing with the centaur’s sister? Since the moment she came on the scene a month ago, he’s let it be known to all creatures that to even look at her is suicide.”
“Well, I didn’t think he meant forever. Besides, that old guy doesn’t scare me.”
She rolled her eyes at his youthful arrogance. “When a being as powerful as Deek says, ‘Death to anyone who touches my sister,’ you can take it to the bank and make a deposit on it. Two-thousand-year-old centaurs aren’t known as bluffers. He’s forgotten more painful ways to kill someone like you than you and I will ever know.”
“Bluffers? What kind of word is that?”
Evalle ground her teeth as rage shot through her. Was that really the only part of her caveat that the imbecile had heard?
No wonder I don’t want kids.
“Did you miss the part where I said he was not kidding and you are the next bonehead on his menu?”
That seemed to permeate his stubborness. “Then maybe we should get out of here.”
No duh.
At least he was now making sense but unfortunately it wasn’t that easy. “First, I need you to explain a couple of things.” She took a look around, making sure they were alone. “I heard you met the Birrn demon here at the club. Is that true?”
“Yeah, it was crazy. Me and Kell were looking for some silver …” His face clouded with guilt. “I mean hunting for new revenue stream when a Nightstalker told us there was a guy at the IC who was willing to pay runners to pawn his goods.”
Evalle frowned at him. How could he have contacted a Nightstalker for information? Grady had talked to them once when they’d irritated him by almost getting killed trying to steal a hubcap on a moving vehicle, but the others ignored the boys. “You aren’t powerful enough to shake hands with a Nightstalker.”
“I didn’t. Kell was playing chess in Woodruff Park when I saw one shimmering, so I went over to talk to him ’cause it was just freaky weird. Never saw this one before.”
It still didn’t make any sense. “Are you sure it was a Nightstalker you saw?” She’d never known one to give up anything without a handshake, and it wasn’t like them to just hang out and shimmer. Fireflies they weren’t.
“I thought it was off, but he seemed sincere and then disappeared as soon as he told me about the deal at the IC.”
Yeah, it smacked of a setup. What the hell had he been thinking? “I’m surprised Kell got involved.” He usually knew better.
“He thought it sounded suspicious, so he went as backup.” Kardos got serious. “I told him to hide and not let anyone know he was with me, but when the Birrn grabbed me, Kell tried to help. Idiot.”
Relief blanketed her at the confirmation that the boys had been set up and had not pulled her into a trap. “Did the Birrn tell you anything?”
“Not really.” Kardos locked gazes with her. “Just that he had to find you.”
What was this? Open season on Alterants?
Or just open season on her?
She was the only one walking around free that she knew about. “You’re sure he wanted me specifically?”
“Yeah. He said he knew we were friends of yours. Kell still wasn’t going to call, but the Birrn threatened to eat me if he didn’t.” He shifted his feet. “Even then, Kell hesitated for a minute. Kind of sucks for the twin brother, right? Anyway, then Kell thought between the three of us we could get away even if he did call you. That was before the demon tossed us up to the light pole, where you found us. Sorry about walking you into a trap.”
Evalle shrugged. “It’s what I live for. And I’d rather you do that than the two of you get eaten by a demon.” She didn’t want Kardos to hesitate to call her again. “Now I’ve got to get going.” She walked over to her bike.
“You going to let me ride bitch?”
That stopped her as quickly as getting backhanded. Her anger reignited so fast and furiously that she was surprised she hadn’t already blasted him. In fact, she would spare Deek the trouble of killing Kardos.
Evalle turned slowly, expecting to find a smug look of arrogance on his face. “What. Did. You. Call. Me?”
His mouth was open but no words came out. Shock, or fear, sucked the color from his face. He was doing a great imitation of a fish suffocating from lack of oxygen until he finally squeaked, “What? You thought … I would never … no, I didn’t call you that.” He pointed to the bike. “The seat, Evalle. I was asking if I could ride on the back.”
“Oh.” She’d heard it with a comma before the word bitch. He’d meant the slang term for riding two up with the one on the back riding bitch.
Yeah.
“Okay, I’ll let you live. This time only.”
His cheeks flushed heavily with color.
Good. Maybe he’d lose some of the cockiness around her. She’d let Kell slide for most any infraction, but this brother would be right back in trouble in an hour if she gave him any leeway. “Your mouth is going to be the death of you. You know?”
“God, I hope not. I want to go out in my sleep next to some hot babe after a great harrumph harrumph.” Kardos stared at the ground and shuffled his feet. “How’d you end up here anyhow?”
She shouldn’t let him change the subject just to distract her from reaming him, but the truth was even if she spent all night chewing on Kardos she’d only end up with a sore jaw. With him, it went in one ear and out the other. “I was looking for you and Kell. Grady told me you were here. I need you and Kell to do something for me.”
“You got it. Whatever you want.”
She sighed at how fast he’d agreed. Yes, they were friends, but there were many of the preternatural kind who would bind him into slavery with that.
“I don’t want you or Kell talking to anyone about being with that Birrn last night or about seeing me there either. Especially about seeing me with the Birrn. You got it?”
His gaze slid away, but not before worry jumped into his eyes.
She was too late. “Crap! Who’d you talk to?”
“Not me.” Kardos held up his hands in surrender. “Kell talked to someone he was playing chess with at the park.”
Everyone from office workers to street people hung out in Woodruff Park. A favorite loafing spot for elderly men. And chess games cropped up like weeds beneath the shade of sprawling oak trees on the south side. Kellman picked up games with the old guys because, unlike Kardos, he didn’t go around seeking activities that would shorten his life. He liked the challenge.
Evalle had only seen the chess games in passing during the rare times she’d come above ground during the daylight and never long enough to remember anyone. “Do you have a name or any way to identify the old guy Kell told about the demon?” “Old guy” wasn’t much of a hint, since to the twins it could have been anyone over twenty-five.
“Wasn’t an old guy, not one of the regulars. I walked up while they were talking and asked Kell what was he thinking talking to a human about the Birrn. Kell said the guy wasn’t human and it was weird when he started talking, like everything around them slowed down and Kell felt compelled to tell him, like it was a relief.” Kardos squinted, thinking. “The dude was thirty maybe. Beefed up. Long black hair. He was Native American I think.”
Her stomach clamped down tight enough to make a diamond. Double crap.
Storm had tracked the boys from where she’d killed the Birrn. She lifted her watch into view. A little more than ninety minutes until she had to meet Storm at Piedmont.
Had he found out about the body in the morgue yet?
If he had, there was about to be another body in the morgue.
The only question was would it be his?
Or hers?