Witches for Hire (Odd Jobs #1)(72)

“You crazy asshole,” Jeremy muttered. “If your plan gets cocked up, I’ll confess my part to the Council no matter what you say.”

“As long as you give me time, I’m good with that.” Behind Desmond, the body shrank and squeezed itself into a small crystal just like the one Jeremy had seen in his office.

“And don’t wear that thing outside your home!”

“I won’t rub Perry’s death in everyone’s faces.”

Jeremy rolled his eyes. “Until the Council pisses you off again. Seriously, don’t carry the evidence on you because you want to brag.”

“I won’t.” Desmond looked Jeremy in the eyes. “This will go better for you if you admit this outcome was inevitable.”

“Of course. Killing people and lying about it is natural for us by now. As usual, I’m going to sit in my office with more secrets and hope the people I work with don’t notice anything different.”

“You might not like it, but we have to play it smart.” As Desmond moved closer, he still looked handsome with a shrinking dead body next to him. “I am pleased to hear you care about my well-being.”

“Because this was my problem to handle, not yours.”

“I was right about Perry making a move on you.”

“Twat.”

With a tip of Desmond’s hat and a low bow at the waist, Jeremy was yanked out of the store, shadows surrounding the building until it was covered from ground to roof in dark clouds. “You wouldn’t have me any other way,” Desmond whispered to Jeremy, whose feet didn’t stop moving until he stood at his driver’s side door.

Why does my romance always have to end with ripped-out hearts?




“CLIVE’S BEEN in his office all day long.” Simone blew out her cheeks. “He even cast some heavy-duty spells against eavesdropping. I wonder what’s going on with him.”

Jeremy shrugged nonchalantly, but he chewed on his bottom lip for a second too long. “He must be doing something very knightly and important.”

I can’t tell if I have a right to be suspicious, or if I’m more paranoid because of the recent drama. “You’re no help.” Simone tilted her head to the side. “I think I heard his door close.”

“Are you turning into a werewolf by osmosis?”

“Don’t mock me just because I want to be prepared if the shit hits the fan. It might be quiet since Phaedran withdrew his claim to be pack leader, but the asshole who started this is still out there. I’d think you’d be as unhappy with loose ends as I am.” The silence should have had Jeremy coming up with ten worst-case scenarios off the bat, but him being super calm was weird. I am not just being paranoid. Simone tapped her pen on her desk. “No theories from you?”

“At this point, I have no clue what’s going on either. As long as I’m not dragged into unnecessary shit, I don’t care.”

“Ah, the Jeremy we know and wish would look up the word positivity.” Simone checked her watch. “He’s been on the phone for twenty minutes.”

“Your dedication to shove your nose in other people’s business is impressive.”

“A dedicated witch would have cracked that eavesdropping spell by now.”

Jeremy tilted his head to the side. “What’s the difference between learning the bad news now and hearing it in the next five minutes?”

“You’re correct that I have bad news to report,” Clive said from the entrance to the inner offices.

A cat bell for her boss was going on Simone’s Christmas gift list. “So what’s the deal?”

“I don’t know if I’m surprised or disappointed in myself for trusting Desmond, but he’s gone back on his word and killed Perry,” Clive said with a grave edge to his voice. “That man has no human decency to care so little about how his actions could lead to more deaths.”

Simone sighed. Choosing between the hot magician and her job was inevitable since Levi hadn’t been fond of him either. “What’s our next move?”

“We look for more leads.” Clive scrubbed his hands across his face. “It won’t be easy. We have limited options.”

“Would it make any difference if Desmond acted in self-defense?” Jeremy asked.

“From the manner in which Perry was killed, I believe it’s safe to say that Desmond hunted him down like a dog without care of hurting civilians.”

Simone tapped her pen on her desk. “You look kinda pissed; like mano a mano, to the death kinda pissed.”

“In my world, I would consider it. Here, I believe duels are considered murder or manslaughter,” Clive said.

The stressful occasion called for chocolate and caramel, so Simone unwrapped a Snickers miniature under her desk. “That’s smart thinking, since Desmond’s tricks are amped down so no one’s seen how powerful he is.”

“But he shouldn’t be ignored either.” Clive bundled his arms to his chest as if that would stop him from getting out a sword and seeking out the magician right then.

Ugh, why am I surrounded by macho men? “So far you have a popular dude killing a man who wanted him dead very badly. Any action against Desmond isn’t going to look good for you in this town, and it’ll make our jobs a lot harder. I’m saying look at the bigger picture.”