Witches for Hire (Odd Jobs #1)(74)
Edarra’s gaze roamed the sidewalk and streets from atop hands resting under her chin. “Why did you offer to help Clive with something this dangerous?”
“The energy vamps hurt my husband by proxy. I don’t give a shit if Desmond is their real target. I will not let an attack on my family go unanswered.” Her amulet blinked a bright blue three times. “Ill will, the urge to kill, and Desmond in the source’s thoughts. Let’s check it out.” They put their snacks down and got out of the car. Simone walked in front with a camera in her hand to complete the tourist look, and Edarra followed close behind. Snapping a few pictures as she slowed down, Simone aimed her lens at a couple arguing near the rear entrance where a deliveryman waited with large packages. Her amulet glowed brighter. Simone pushed Edarra’s loose hair behind her ear so she could whisper, “I’m seeing what’s up with them, and you keep an eye on the deliveryman.”
Edarra nodded, and they split up.
Simone stopped next to the couple and frowned at her camera as if she couldn’t figure out the settings. “Flash or no flash,” she muttered. Displaying an embarrassed smile, she looked at the couple. “Hi, I’m awful with gadgets. Do you know how to work these things?”
The man snapped his fingers. A green fireball flared to life in his hands. “Cut the shit, bruja. You’re one of the soon-to-be-dead witches working for Clive.”
His female companion waved her hand and a piece of pole from the barricade broke off and flew into her grasp. “The knight should have stayed out of our business.”
Simone clicked the shutter release and looked at the screen showing the captured image. “Quemen,” she whispered.
The couple cried out and collapsed to the pavement, jerking in agony even though no fire touched their flesh.
A commotion from inside the theater distracted her, and Desmond in red-caped glory over a dark gray suit stormed toward them. The couple stopped bucking on the ground, picked each other up, and ran. Simone had no time to figure out why the hell Desmond had broken her hex, but when she turned to Edarra to tell her she was going after them, Edarra was gone. “The hell?”
Desmond paused as he squinted in the direction the couple had gone. “Tiresome peons.” He stretched his hand out toward them and twisted his fingers in a strange gesture.
“What did you do?” Simone asked because the couple didn’t stop running and continued to get away around the corner. If they ended up dead, there would probably be traces of her magic on them.
“Nothing that concerns you. The knight knows that I don’t want his help.”
“Jesus Christ, are all men this dumb?”
“I’m not weak enough to need him or the Council.”
“I’m not denying your strength, but you remind me of my coworker, Jeremy. He’ll get himself in all kinds of trouble and never admits when he needs help.” Simone looked at the man who had used his shows to help many of the covenless. There wasn’t a benevolent witch to take his place if he got killed, and the vacuum would throw Georgia into chaos. “He’s a bitter shit and keeps his distance from people. I’d hate to see you become like him.”
A smile played on a corner of the handsome magician’s mouth. “There are worse fates.”
“The deliveryman was in on it too,” Edarra called out as she rushed out of the theater. “His boxes smelled weird, but I didn’t think it was a good idea to confront him when anything could be inside of them. I got your people to contain them in a ward.”
“I appreciate your concern, Mrs. Machado, but I’ll handle the rest,” Desmond said.
Simone growled in frustration. “Why did you kill Perry? Why bring the Council down on your head when they were offering you a temporary free pass?”
At first Desmond began turning on his heel as if he was going to ignore the questions, but then he faced her. “There are some things so precious that you give up everything for them. If it was just my life, I could have kept my oath.” Desmond tipped his hat. “Good day, ladies, and try not to get yourselves killed. You’re not as annoying as your boss.” He slipped into the theater with a determined expression on his face.
“Do you think he’s protecting someone he loves?” Edarra asked.
“It wouldn’t occur to me that the tabloids missed the existence of a lover that important to him,” Simone said.
“Can you imagine what that person is like?”
Simone shook her head. “I can’t even fathom the existence of a person not blabbing to the world that they’re banging Desmond.”
“Maybe it’s a shy and sweet person who doesn’t like the limelight.”
“Either way, it has to be someone really weird.” Simone took out her cell phone. “I’ll update Clive.”
CLIVE NODDED. “I’m glad to hear you’re safe. Maybe ease your surveillance off a couple streets back.” Dammit. He glanced at Jeremy, who stared at him from the other side of the desk with a raised brow. This world is relaxing me beyond the point of reckless. “I’ll see you two later.” He hung up as Jeremy riffled through the possible client’s request folder.
“Did the surveillance on Desmond pick up something interesting?”
“You’ve made it clear that you want nothing to do with my crusades.” Numerous times and in the most disrespectful ways that you could. “Why are you interested?”